What fast 35mm eqiv. lens would you recommend for m43?

Hugh J wrote:

Bots_Revenge wrote:

I agree that now that I've stumbled upon wanting a good 35mm equiv. lens I see the hole. All my other lenses are spectacular. The 17mm f1.8 just isn't and makes my shots look like they are coming from a P&S camera. This is embarrassing for me. I shoot alongside with people with 5D mk IIIs and I like to hold no punches.

Unless you post examples of this I think that "makes my shots look like they are coming from a P&S camera" is more than a bit hyperbolic. Also, if you want to "hold no punches" then just get a 5D MkIII. Expecting m43 to get anywhere close to FF performance as far as DoF and high ISO is just unrealistic. If you're getting the "P&S" look from base ISO then I'm calling bull.

It really all comes down to the photographer, because if you're any good the bride won't care if your 17/1.8 isn't pin sharp across the frame at the pixel level. Joseph Victor Stephanchik is a very successful wedding photographer who uses the 17/1.8. You'd do well to study his work and see what happens when you concentrate on your craft rather than the gear.

http://jvsworkshops.com/1-day-lighting-workshop-monterrey-mexico-august-5th-eight-spots-remain/

http://jvsweddings.com/

I always find it a little amusing when amateurs turn their noses up at gear that top pros use without issue for their bread and butter work. That, to me, should be far more "embarrassing".

Thank you for your comment. I'll check out the links.

You make a valid point regardless of that you are calling me an amateur. I'm reminded that I have no need to convince anyone except my clients.

Considering you have the E-M1, I would put the Voigtlander 17.5mm at the top of your list. This was the number one 35mm focal length I was interested in for a prime lens on my two camera bodies. I looked at the other options, but after reading the reviews and assorted commented by owners I just didn't get that comfortable feeling about them. The Voigtlander had always been intriguing from the first photos I saw by other owners so I knew that someday I would want to own and use one myself. For me the 17.5mm Voigtlander practically lives on my E-M1 since it is just about (IMO) the perfect focal for everyday photography, and when the 17.5mm isn't there one of my other two Voigtlander's is usually mounted there. With the focus peaking and the image stabilization of the E-M1 it is a perfect combination of camera and lens. Give it a try by renting one and I am sure you won't be disappointed. Right now it is one of my most favorite lenses. Yes, it is a big lens and also manual, but you quickly realize an exceptionally well built lens. The trade-offs I feel support owning and using it, and I seriously doubt you would be disappointed.  I sure haven't.

Dale

Thanks, Dale. I will ask for it in the store to test it.

Enir4 wrote:

I was looking for a high quality 35mm equivalent for my GX7 and EM1. I tried what is supposed to be the best, the 15mm, not 35 but quite close. I found that it was not good enough, particularly for the price. The lack of a good 35mm equivalent is, to me, the main hole in the m43 system. Anyhow, since I needed a very good 35, I ended up buying the Fuji X100 ( not the 100S). I'm very happy with it..

Enrique

wow - here the X100 costs just over twice the 15mm F1.7 lens. So the X100 gives more than twice the performance as the EM1 or GX7 with the 15mm F1.7 lens?

Must be truly amazing.

Eric Nepean wrote:

Enir4 wrote:

I was looking for a high quality 35mm equivalent for my GX7 and EM1. I tried what is supposed to be the best, the 15mm, not 35 but quite close. I found that it was not good enough, particularly for the price. The lack of a good 35mm equivalent is, to me, the main hole in the m43 system. Anyhow, since I needed a very good 35, I ended up buying the Fuji X100 ( not the 100S). I'm very happy with it..

Enrique

wow - here the X100 costs just over twice the 15mm F1.7 lens. So the X100 gives more than twice the performance as the EM1 or GX7 with the 15mm F1.7 lens?

Must be truly amazing.

Here, and elsewhere as far as I know, the X100 I bought, not the X100S, is less expensive than the 15mm f/1.7.
In the first place, aside from an excellent lens it includes a camera, double viewfinder etc.
In the second place, I never heard before that twice the price means twice the quality. It is more, I think, a matter of diminishing returns.
But we re digressing. Yes, I'm very happy with my X100, thank you for asking. Excellent lens, good sensor, much more compact than my GX7 and EM1 with the 15mm lens.

Enrique

Today I quickly tried the Voigtlander 17.5mm f0.95 and the Panasonic/Leica 15mm f1.7.

1. The Voigtnlander

- very heavy, but feeling as sturdy as a piece of concrete. I switched from Nikon D3s to m43 mainly due to weight, so this is a decisive factor

- manually focusing with it is relatively fast for someone like me who has lost their muscle memory for this task. The focus peaking on the GX7 works quite reliably even when I try to shoot as if I'm in a hurry - like I often am during a wedding. Indeed, I still miss focus but with practice I can become more proficient.

- the aperture ring is so loose that I rotate it even by holding it. I sometimes found myself shooting at f2 without ever feeling that I've changed aperture. That's also because there are no steps on the ring and it rotates smoothly.

- the lens' sharpness is ok at wide open - the way I'd shoot it often.

2. The Panasonic/Leica 15mm f1.7

- it's very tiny and super light. It's all plastic and for weight's sake this is a good thing. I wish my 42.5mm f1.2 Nocticron was plastic so it wouldn't be so heavy for a m43 lens.

- the build quality is good. Everything feels tight.

- the aperture ring is tight and clicks noticeably. I like it.

- the lens, compared to the m.Zuiko 17mm f1.8, strikes me as very noticeably sharper. Viewing its images at 100% remains a pleasure. With the m.Zuiko I'm always reaching for the sharpness slider.

- AF feels significantly faster

My conclusion is that I'm going to buy the Panasonic/Leica 15mm f1.7 because it provides a good balance between low weight, excellent sharpness on par with my other great lenses, it's half the price of the Voigthlander, it provides me with the fastest AF from the three. It also is reasonably small to put it in my pocket with my E-PL5.

I'm happy that I found a worthwhile contender as a ~35mm equiv. lens.

What's left for me to decide is whether to get rid of my m.Zuiko 12mm f2 or to keep it. If I keep it I'll always be wondering whether to put it on instead of the 15mm f1.7.

Bots_Revenge wrote:

Today I quickly tried the Voigtlander 17.5mm f0.95 and the Panasonic/Leica 15mm f1.7.

1. The Voigtländer

- very heavy, but feeling as sturdy as a piece of concrete.

Isn't it great!

- manually focusing with it is relatively fast for someone like me who has lost their muscle memory for this task. The focus peaking on the GX7 works quite reliably even when I try to shoot as if I'm in a hurry - like I often am during a wedding. Indeed, I still miss focus but with practice I can become more proficient.

If you set the aperture @ f5.6 you can use zone focusing with the distance scale. Infinity is around 4-5 feet, so it's pretty easy to wander around, compose and shoot without needing to focus. I'll sometimes carry mine at waist level and just shoot without framing.

- the aperture ring is so loose that I rotate it even by holding it. I sometimes found myself shooting at f2 without ever feeling that I've changed aperture. That's also because there are no steps on the ring and it rotates smoothly.

The aperture ring was set to be stepless. You can change the aperture ring between stepless stepped by pushing and rotating the narrow ring in front of the aperture ring. When the aperture dot is yellow, it's stepless. White means stepped. Stepless is a big advantage for video. All the current M4/3 Voigtländer Noktons have the same feature.

jeffharris wrote  :

If you set the aperture @ f5.6 you can use zone focusing with the distance scale. Infinity is around 4-5 feet, so it's pretty easy to wander around, compose and shoot without needing to focus. I'll sometimes carry mine at waist level and just shoot without framing.

I sometimes do the same with the 14/2.5 with A set @ 4.5.... (as for a Voigtlander 0.95, wish could afford one)