Buying First Prime(s) Questions - 20mm + Sigma 30mm & 60mm later? Or Conventional 25mm?

Hey guys, I'm new to micro 4/3 and legitimate photography and you all have been more than helpful so far. I'm wanting to buy a few primes for my EM10 but have a few questions, as the first prime I buy will most likely determine the lenses I buy next. This being my first legitimate modern ILC camera, I don't yet know how often I'll use it or how "into" photography I'll get, although I must ssay I'm loving it so far. Therefore, I want to buy some good, quality, not-overly-expensive primes, as I understand the need for fast sharp glass, and the kit lens isn't cutting it.

I already have the 40-150mm Oly and plan to keep that for long telephoto. There doesn't seem to be a cost effective wide angle lens, and I'd rather not shell out $4-500 USD on a wide angle right out of the gate; I'd rather get a couple less expensive lenses to cover more focal lengths. I was thinking if I went with the pany 20mm f1.7 (which I have tried and found the focusing speed to be acceptable on), that would align me nicely to maybe pick up the cheap, but allegedly very sharp Sigma 30mm f2.8, which I have also tried in store and liked, although it isn't as fast. Then, if I wanted to go even longer, I could look at the Sigma 60mm, or Oly 45mm...

The other option is to go for the great Oly 25mm + Oly45mm, but then I'm even more out of the wide angle, and this is a more expensive combo... My main question I suppose is this: If I start with the 20mm pancake, that would be my widest prime for a while. Then the next logical prime would be the Sigma 30mm for ~$130 used, because the 25mm seems too close to the 20mm. Would the 20mm, 30mm, and 40-150 suffice as a decent compact-camera-bag system to cover most needs? Or am I underestimating the need for something as wide as my kit lens, and I should just get the more modern Oly 25mm (or Pany 25mm f1.7) to start, plan on shelling out later for the 17mm (which I may never do) and skip out on ever buying the Sigma 30mm (as it's too close to 25mm)? The 20mm + Sigma 30mm seems to be a compelling combo, and very cost effective for a rookie. Appreciate any advice!

If it's going to be primes, the Panasonic 14mm and 20mm could both be had together for under $400 used, probably less. You can get a DMA-GWC1 converter lens for the 14mm and now you have  11mm.

I like the 20 a lot. Some people report it has high ISO banding issues with certain Oly cameras (and I think the GH3) that use a Sony 16MP sensor, so be aware of that.

If you get the 20 first, I would say skip the 30 and get the 45 next. It's a great portrait lens, faster than the Sigma, and based on comments by others I suspect a better lens than the Sigma (I've owned the Oly 45 and thought it was terrific; I've never used the Sigma 30).

I think the 20 and 45 will be more useful to you than the 20 and 30, and you might find you don't need anything in between those two.

Maybe it's just that I don't see things 'normal', but I don't favor the 20-30mm range... I have the 17/1.8 and 45/1.8 as my fast primes and they suit me just fine... Don't miss the gap between them, but then I don't shoot there much when I'm using a zoom.

Of course, if you see things 'normally' a 20, 25mm might be a better choice for you.  I agree I'd look at the 45/1.8 over the 30/2.8, for the faster aperture if nothing else.

I like the size of the PL 20, and banding shouldn't be an issue if you don't shoot at high ISO, but I do like the feel of the 17.  (I have the 14/2.5 for when I want a smaller package)

If you don't want to send the $ for a 9-18, you could pick up the 9mm body cap lens.

Brad --

I have five m4/3 bodies, a motely collection of m4/3 lenses, including all three Sigma primes.  In addition i've been shooting for 45 years and shoot now-legendary f1.8G Nikon primes in FF.

You are correct that the 30mm & 60mm Sigmas are excellent; the 19mm less so but adequate.  But yah need a wide; i'd tend toward the 14mm just from FOV considerations but, honestly, have no experience with it.  The Oly 12mm is excellent but ridiculously pricey for a small prime.

If you get the 30mm, i wouldn't get the 45mm: the change in FOV isn't big enough.  I'd go all the way to the 60mm, which is arguably one of the sharpest lenses in all of m4/3-dom.

The worst thing about the 30 & 60mm Sigmas is that the optical formulae were designed for NEX APSC image circles and are, thus, too big for m4/3.

You are getting in the range for the set of them where the Oly 12-40 f2.8 may also be considered.  Yes, it is bulky.  But it really is probably better optically below 25mm than any of these primes, save the very expensive ones.  It is an amazingly good zoom; the only mid-zoom that i have ever used -- and i've used a lot of them -- with no bad optical FLs and apertures to avoid.

I started with the Panasonic-Leica 25mm/1.4, 14/2.5, and Oly. 60mm macro. I later added a 45/1.8 and a 20mm/1.7 for better coverage and portability. A few observations...

- The 20's angle of view is right in between that of the 14 and the 25.

- I love the 25 most, but when I want wider and portable I use the 14 and 20 together. Both are excellent for static subjects indoors and out. (The 45 is also very small.)

- I find banding a significant issue with the 20 in scenes with high dynamic range/contrast at any ISO and any aperture smaller than f/1.7. It is avoidable by overexposing or using the OM-D HDR features, but my main solution is to use the electronic shutter of an E-M5 II.

- The 45 is a great lens. I prefer it to the 60 for general use. The Panasonic 42.5/1.7 is also worth considering.

- If you ever want a macro prime, the Oly. 60 isn't the only option - there's also a Pan. 30 and a Pan. 45. All are f/2.8.

Got an E-M10 (mark II) as well. It came with an Oly 14-42mm. For focal range coverage I got an Oly 40-150mm R. I was also deciding what prime to buy as my only prime for a longer while.

Eventually I will be buying an Oly 45mm, but for now it would be either a Pana 20mm f/1.7, Oly 17mm f/1.8 or Oly 25mm f/1.8.

I was interested in Pana 20mm because of its rendering and its focal range, sitting between 17mm and 20mm. However, according to some it got a rather slow AF... at least when mounted on an Oly body. As AF speed is important to me I ruled out Pana 20mm.

With a 45mm in mind, I favoured a Oly 17mm at first. It would form a great combo. But, it'll be some time before I buy a second prime. I already got good experiences with 50mm focal range (dSLR era). Oly 25mm is sometimes a bit narrow and it's not the no.1 portrait lens, but it would be versatile enough. It serves very well as an environmental portrait lens. Eventually I ended up buying Oly 25mm.

I'm happy with my choice

Not sure though what I will do when I got a 45mm in time...

Hi

One of my favourite primes is the Pana 20mm. Its a great FL for street and also portraits and across the table type shots. I also have the Voight 17.5mm and find that perhaps a slightly better FL for street, but a little wide for people oriented indoor shooting.

The Pana 20mm is a great compromise. In practice the slow AF is not a big issue unless you are a run and gunner.

The Oly 45mm is also a great choice. Another great all round lens if you like the FL (which I don't). I have one, but rarely use it.

And the EM10 is a fantastic camera. With the 20mm on it is all you could want as a walkabout.

I think you have to figure out what you like to shoot before you get into the lens selections.  Once you figure that out your choices for lenses will be much easier instead of trying to cover the ranges.  If you don't know then I would go with any 50mm equivalent.  In this case the 25mm offerings.  Disciplining yourself with a 25mm will help you to figure out very quickly what you like.  Then your question of lenses you might want will be much easier to answer.

brad1242 wrote:

Also, I hadn't seen the Pany 14mm f2.5 at all so thank you to those who suggested it! However, for a couple hundred bucks, is the f2.5 vs the kit lenses f3.5 at the same focal length really worth it?

I think some people have bought it at a very low price where it has been separated from a kit. So at perhaps £100 it might be worth it. I wouldn't pay much more because many of the kit lenses are at their best at 14mm so all you gain a bit of extra speed and perhaps compactness (unless your kit zoom is also a pancake style).

Mark

Depends a lot what you will use your lenses for.

Personally, I do mostly "social photography" - ie. carry around my camera to various events. Those situations are usually low light.

For taking a photo of a largish group around a table (6+ people) 25mm is just too narrow, unless it's a really big room and you can stand far back. 12mm is if possible a tad too wide, I think 17mm is ideal. 20mm might also work.

For that reason I actually sold my 25mm 1.4 as it was simply not useful. I carry around the 12mm f2 and 45mm 1.8 and together those cover the range sufficiently. For outdoors telephoto the Sigma 60mm should be okay - 2.8 isn't a problem at all.

If you are taking photos indoors I would decide between the Olympus 12mm f2, Olympus 17mm 1.8, Panasonic 20mm 1.7 and Panasonic 25mm 1.4 based on what focal length you will use. E.g. if mainly taking pictures of my kids, the 25mm would be ideal as its fast and super sharp - but it really hurts you if you ever _need_ that wide angle and have to decide who to exclude from the shot. The Olympus 45mm 1.8 is also fairly cheap with great optical quality. For the Sigmas, although cheap and with good optical quality, the 2.8 aperture could be restrictive indoors (they also look terrible) and I would personally only strongly consider (buy, if I was going to use it) the 60mm.

Agreed. Unless we're talking birdwatching, the 45mm and a wide angle can do pretty much anything.

Hi Brad.. good to see your enjoying the smaller fab quality of m4/3.. that 20mm f1.7 is a little classic..it often produces a very special character in the images that surprises me even after 4 years of shooting with it..and is also a top close up lens for flowers due to its very close focusing.  The 45mm Oly is one of the great bargains in m4/3.. a super quality tiny portrait & street photography lens..really sharp and renders beautifull creamy backgrounds in portrait work.. so for me they are the core of m4/3.     As far as the rest there i dont think there are any bad lenses in this format.    I have the Sigma 60mm which Kirk Tuck rates very highly.. and i totally agree and a real bargain too.  Not much is said about the Panny 14mm f2.5... but in practice is a little cracker with lovely rendering again.  And dare i mention that both Panny & Olly have the 2xext setting which i put on a FN button..and reviewers rubbish or ignore.. but which many shooters find a priceless addition... its a crop from the centre of the sensor so the quality is excellent.  So i hope you find all our feedback usefull.. MM.