Oly 12-40 Pro 'out'..Panny 14-45 'in'..well maybe.

If you really do need 2.8 normal ZOOM, you do not need 2.8/12-40.

For myself, I use fast primes, and normal zooms.

Because you may be regret the the decision. I have just bought the 12-40 to replace the 12-60 also for size and weight reason. Yes I understand your concern but size and weight is a relative things but image quality is absolute and there is nothing out that can outdo the 12-40 for size and sharpness and at a constant F-2.8. I am going to sell the mighty 12-60 after having 12-40 for a couple of weeks. I never thought the 12-60 can be replaced.

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3855442

Dave in Wales wrote:

I'm considering letting the Oly go and replacing it with a Panasonic 14-45mm f3.5-5.6.

Why, because the 12-40 is just TOOOO BIG AND HEAVY.

I don't really need f2.8.

I've had the the Panny 14-45 before, years ago, beautiful little lens.

'Little'...isn't that what M4/3 is supposed to be all about?

The 14-45mm is a fantastic little lens, but far too often where I live (rainy Pacific NW) f/5.6 forces me to use higher ISO than I would like. I photograph my kids a lot so I want faster shutter speeds, and it can get quite dark in the woods around here, even in high Summer.

While the 12-40mm f/2.8 is a chunk, it's nothing compared to the Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8 I used to haul around... or the Tokina 12-24mm f/4 ultrawide I often carried with it.

That said I don't want to carry the 12-40mm all the time. Without a doubt it is my most used lens these days, and an E-M5 with a 12-40mm f/2.8 is far lighter and smaller than my old Nikon D200 with that 17-55mm f/2.8. But what I absolutely love, love, love about m4/3 is that I can swap out the 12-40mm for my 9-18mm or 20mm f/1.7 and it completely transforms the camera. My Nikon D200 was still huge even with a 35mm f/2. prime attached.

The 14-45mm always pleased me in terms of image quality, but far too often I just needed a wider aperture. I held onto my 14-45mm to have when I wanted to leave the heavier 12-40mm at home, but so far that hasn't happened.

Sean