Best Bright Prime Lenses for E-PL6

I was looking through my B&H catalog and found some lenses I might be interested in, any thoughts on these bright primes for astro and landscape photography with the E-PL6?

Olympus

17mm f/1.8

25mm f/1.8

45mm f/1.8

75mm f/1.8

Panasonic

15mm f/1.7

20mm f/1.7

25mm f/1.7

25mm f/1.4

42.5mm f/1.2

Rokinon

24mm f/1.4

35mm f/1.4

85mm f/1.4

Looks like Panasonic has the largest selection of these lenses.

I'm also looking for a great 300mm telephoto prime. Is Rokinon's 300mm f/6.3 better than Olympus's 75-300mm or Panasonic's 100-300mm lens? What about Tokina's 300mm f/6.3 prime? Both of those primes are reasonably priced (are they the same lens?), so I'm not sure how good they are. The Panasonic 100-300mm is the fastest. How much do these weigh (do any of the above weigh too much for my camera?)

For the lenses on your list, being a lens hog I own these:

Olympus
17mm f/1.8
45mm f/1.8
75mm f/1.8

Panasonic
20mm f/1.7
25mm f/1.7

Rokinon
85mm f/1.4
300mm mirror

Choose the prime for the usefulness of the focal length. Most people don't really need that much variety in coverage.  I would suggest the 17mm first to find out if primes are fun for you. Then the 45mm. Here are my opinions.

-The Panasonic 20mm embodies all of the reasons why we use fast primes on M43. It's fast, small, sharp and almost an ideal focal length.  Its tradeoffs are well known, but rarely limiting. It focuses slow, and hunts in poor light on Oly cameras. If you use touch focus, it won't hunt.

-The Olympus 17mm is a more ideal focal length, also fast and small. I got spoiled by the 20mm IQ. The 17mm is is a little less sharp.

-Panasonic released a dud in the 24 mm f1.7. Don't buy it . Something is wrong in its focus algorithm. I'm hoping there will be an software update.

-You can't go wrong with the Olympus 45mm. Fast. Small. Not expensive. However, it is a limiting focal length being a short telephoto. Go here after you have a prime covering the normal range.

-The 75mm blows me away. I can crop and get sharper images than what everyone's friend, the plastic Olympus 40-150 zoom, can do. plus it's two stops faster. Go here when ready to spend big bucks for a true specialty lenses. Great for portraits, bars, stage events.

-The Rokinons are something you buy when they go on sale and you have the money to waste,

The Rokinon 85 is huge and heavy. You can get an M43 version, but most of us buy a DSLR mount and use an adapter, with the idea that it's easier to sell, except we never sell it. It's reasonably sharp after you learn how to focus. Better if stopped down.  If you shoot stage events, you might like it.

The Rokinon 300mm is a mirror lens. You have to be a goof to like it and it takes some work to get a keeper. I like mine. Not a mainstream lens, and it won't work well on an EPL6 anyway.

Don't forget the Sigma Art Lenses.  2.8  is plenty fast and they are sharp and inexpensive.  What focal length interests you?  The Panasonic 15 is highly regarded.

1.  The Tamron and Rokinon 300s are NOT the same lens.  However, both are catadiotric mirror lenses, with modest contrast and out of focus donut flare.  I own the Rokinon and it's mostly for me a desperation reach lens and for special effects on ponds and rivers.'

2.  I do not think ANY of your lens options are suitable for sky photography of Milky Way, auroras, etc.   Perhaps 12mm f2 Rokinon MF or an 8mm or 12mm fisheye would suit you better. Otherwise you need FX.  14mm f2.8 Rokinon MF on a Nikon or Canon FX body seems to be the people's choice.

3.  Ask your question on the Astrophotography Forum, whose posters have vastly more experience than myself.

alexisgreat wrote:

Olympus

45mm f/1.8

A nice one for some shallow DoF action. Can be used for astrophotography if you put the camera on a tracking mount, which is what I did for this shot .

75mm f/1.8

That would be amazing for astro, provided you have a tracking mount.

Panasonic

15mm f/1.7

This should be nice for astro landscapes. It will probably show some purple fringing with Olympus body. But even if so, that should not be a deal breaker.

25mm f/1.7

Not that sharp, some copies apparently have issues with autofocus. I like mine, because I like the bokeh. As for its use for astrophotography, I made a thread about it some time ago.

Rokinon

24mm f/1.4

35mm f/1.4

85mm f/1.4

Those are all FF DSLR lenses, don't bother.

But they also make some lenses designed for mirrorless systems, for example the 10/2.8, 12/2. Their 12/2 is a very good choice for astro landscapes, provided you get a good copy.

As for their FF DSLR lenses and astrophotography, their 135mm f/2 is excellent and should do really well for this type of thing. Of course, with a tracking mount. And it's probably a good idea mounting it via a solid adapter that has a tripod socket. Can't imagine this on an E-PL6 otherwise.

I'm also looking for a great 300mm telephoto prime.

Do you have $2500 to spare? Or at least $1800?

Is Rokinon's 300mm f/6.3 better than Olympus's 75-300mm or Panasonic's 100-300mm lens?

Completely different beasts. And no.

What about Tokina's 300mm f/6.3 prime?

I got one recently. Here's my first impressions , here's some birds , and here's my gallery with a lot more photos taken with this lens. On a E-PL6, don't even bother.

Both of those primes are reasonably priced (are they the same lens?)

That's because they are manual focus mirror lenses.

so I'm not sure how good they are.

They are tricky at best. Let's leave it at that.

The Panasonic 100-300mm is the fastest.

Not in terms of autofocus or aperture action. And the general consensus seems to be that it's not as good optically as Oly 75-300. But who knows how much of that is because of shutter-shock negatively impacting earlier users before e-shutter came along.

How much do these weigh (do any of the above weigh too much for my camera?)

Check the specs, it's there.

Astrotripper wrote:

alexisgreat wrote:

Olympus

45mm f/1.8

A nice one for some shallow DoF action. Can be used for astrophotography if you put the camera on a tracking mount, which is what I did for this shot .

75mm f/1.8

That would be amazing for astro, provided you have a tracking mount.

Panasonic

15mm f/1.7

This should be nice for astro landscapes. It will probably show some purple fringing with Olympus body. But even if so, that should not be a deal breaker.

25mm f/1.7

Not that sharp, some copies apparently have issues with autofocus. I like mine, because I like the bokeh. As for its use for astrophotography, I made a thread about it some time ago.

Rokinon

24mm f/1.4

35mm f/1.4

85mm f/1.4

Those are all FF DSLR lenses, don't bother.

But they also make some lenses designed for mirrorless systems, for example the 10/2.8, 12/2. Their 12/2 is a very good choice for astro landscapes, provided you get a good copy.

As for their FF DSLR lenses and astrophotography, their 135mm f/2 is excellent and should do really well for this type of thing. Of course, with a tracking mount. And it's probably a good idea mounting it via a solid adapter that has a tripod socket. Can't imagine this on an E-PL6 otherwise.

I'm also looking for a great 300mm telephoto prime.

Do you have $2500 to spare? Or at least $1800?

Is Rokinon's 300mm f/6.3 better than Olympus's 75-300mm or Panasonic's 100-300mm lens?

Completely different beasts. And no.

What about Tokina's 300mm f/6.3 prime?

I got one recently. Here's my first impressions , here's some birds , and here's my gallery with a lot more photos taken with this lens. On a E-PL6, don't even bother.

Both of those primes are reasonably priced (are they the same lens?)

That's because they are manual focus mirror lenses.

so I'm not sure how good they are.

They are tricky at best. Let's leave it at that.

The Panasonic 100-300mm is the fastest.

Not in terms of autofocus or aperture action. And the general consensus seems to be that it's not as good optically as Oly 75-300. But who knows how much of that is because of shutter-shock negatively impacting earlier users before e-shutter came along.

How much do these weigh (do any of the above weigh too much for my camera?)

Check the specs, it's there.

Thanks, based on what you said, I've put the Olympus 17, 45 and 75 on my list as well as the Panasonic 15. I'll stay away from Rokinon DSLR lenses and the mirror lenses though. Can only the Olympus lenses be autofocused?

I'll also take a look at the Rokinon ultra wide primes you mentioned:

"But they also make some lenses designed for mirrorless systems, for example the 10/2.8, 12/2. Their 12/2 is a very good choice for astro landscapes, provided you get a good copy."

About the tele primes, I need something to bridge my camera lenses to my telescopes. Looks like the Oly 75-300 is my best option. Out of curiosity, the lenses you mentioned weren't good for the E-PL6, did you say it because of weight considerations or other reasons?

I already have mirror lenses I want to use with my camera, they are telescope OTAs, the Nexstar 8 2000mm and ETX 90 1250mm telescopes. I assume I wont have any issues using these with the camera? The former is f/10 (f/6.3 with reducer) and the latter is f/13.8.

About the tracking mount, I do have one, but it's the one that came with my telescope. Would that work fine with the 75mm lens?

I've been told I can do AP with it, but limited to 30 seconds (but that's by using the 2000mm OTA as the lens). I should be able to do a minute or more with just the 75mm lens, no? I'll need a dovetail - tripod adapter for the camera though.

PSCL1 wrote:

1. The Tamron and Rokinon 300s are NOT the same lens. However, both are catadiotric mirror lenses, with modest contrast and out of focus donut flare. I own the Rokinon and it's mostly for me a desperation reach lens and for special effects on ponds and rivers.'

2. I do not think ANY of your lens options are suitable for sky photography of Milky Way, auroras, etc. Perhaps 12mm f2 Rokinon MF or an 8mm or 12mm fisheye would suit you better. Otherwise you need FX. 14mm f2.8 Rokinon MF on a Nikon or Canon FX body seems to be the people's choice.

3. Ask your question on the Astrophotography Forum, whose posters have vastly more experience than myself.

I see- I think you mean I need to go wider than any of my choices to do milky way landscapes or auroras with M43. Does Olympus have anything good in that area- I'm thinking 8mm or 12mm.

Michael M Fliegel wrote:

Don't forget the Sigma Art Lenses. 2.8 is plenty fast and they are sharp and inexpensive. What focal length interests you? The Panasonic 15 is highly regarded.

Thanks, 2.8 is fine, I just need something wide between 8-12mm and also something a bit more in the 20-40mm area.

baxters wrote:

For the lenses on your list, being a lens hog I own these:

Olympus
17mm f/1.8
45mm f/1.8
75mm f/1.8

Panasonic
20mm f/1.7
25mm f/1.7

Rokinon
85mm f/1.4
300mm mirror

Choose the prime for the usefulness of the focal length. Most people don't really need that much variety in coverage. I would suggest the 17mm first to find out if primes are fun for you. Then the 45mm. Here are my opinions.

-The Panasonic 20mm embodies all of the reasons why we use fast primes on M43. It's fast, small, sharp and almost an ideal focal length. Its tradeoffs are well known, but rarely limiting. It focuses slow, and hunts in poor light on Oly cameras. If you use touch focus, it won't hunt.

-The Olympus 17mm is a more ideal focal length, also fast and small. I got spoiled by the 20mm IQ. The 17mm is is a little less sharp.

-Panasonic released a dud in the 24 mm f1.7. Don't buy it . Something is wrong in its focus algorithm. I'm hoping there will be an software update.

-You can't go wrong with the Olympus 45mm. Fast. Small. Not expensive. However, it is a limiting focal length being a short telephoto. Go here after you have a prime covering the normal range.

-The 75mm blows me away. I can crop and get sharper images than what everyone's friend, the plastic Olympus 40-150 zoom, can do. plus it's two stops faster. Go here when ready to spend big bucks for a true specialty lenses. Great for portraits, bars, stage events.

-The Rokinons are something you buy when they go on sale and you have the money to waste,

The Rokinon 85 is huge and heavy. You can get an M43 version, but most of us buy a DSLR mount and use an adapter, with the idea that it's easier to sell, except we never sell it. It's reasonably sharp after you learn how to focus. Better if stopped down. If you shoot stage events, you might like it.

The Rokinon 300mm is a mirror lens. You have to be a goof to like it and it takes some work to get a keeper. I like mine. Not a mainstream lens, and it won't work well on an EPL6 anyway.

I've put the Olympus 17, 45 and 75 on my list as well as the Panasonic 15. I'll stay away from Rokinon and the mirror lenses though. Can only the Olympus lenses be autofocused?

About the tele primes, I need something to bridge my camera lenses to my telescopes. Looks like the Oly 75-300 is my best option. Out of curiosity, the lenses you mentioned weren't good for the E-PL6, did you say it because of weight considerations or other reasons?

I already have mirror lenses I want to use with my camera, they are telescope OTAs, the Nexstar 8 2000mm and ETX 90 1250mm telescopes. I assume I wont have any issues using these with the camera? The former is f/10 (f/6.3 with reducer) and the latter is f/13.8

alexisgreat wrote:

Thanks, based on what you said, I've put the Olympus 17, 45 and 75 on my list as well as the Panasonic 15.

For me, the 15mm and 17mm seem a bit too close to justified having both.

I'll stay away from Rokinon and the mirror lenses though. Can only the Olympus lenses be autofocused?

Sigma also makes AF lenses for MFT. Those are the trio of f/2.8 primes and the new 30/1.4 that was just announced.

About the tele primes, I need something to bridge my camera lenses to my telescopes. Looks like the Oly 75-300 is my best option.

Well, Panasonic has OIS, which is probably more effective than E-PL6's 2-axis IBIS.

Out of curiosity, the lenses you mentioned weren't good for the E-PL6, did you say it because of weight considerations or other reasons?

No, that's not the reason. Mirror lenses are very light, actually (which I guess might be part of the problem). You will have a hard time focusing a mirror lens on an E-PL6, unless it's on a tripod (I guess you mileage will vary depending on skill). At 300mm, even the 3-axis IBIS of my E-M10 can barely handle stabilizing live view. No idea how the 2-axis of E-PL6 would manage. And mirror lenses have an extremely shallow DoF compared to traditional lenses, so nailing focus is extremely important. See this for example:

I already have mirror lenses I want to use with my camera, they are telescope OTAs, the Nexstar 8 2000mm and ETX 90 1250mm telescopes. I assume I wont have any issues using these with the camera? The former is f/10 (f/6.3 with reducer) and the latter is f/13.8

I guess shutter shock might be an issue. I think we were already discussing this some time ago.

Astrotripper wrote:

alexisgreat wrote:

Thanks, based on what you said, I've put the Olympus 17, 45 and 75 on my list as well as the Panasonic 15.

For me, the 15mm and 17mm seem a bit too close to justified having both.

I'll stay away from Rokinon and the mirror lenses though. Can only the Olympus lenses be autofocused?

Sigma also makes AF lenses for MFT. Those are the trio of f/2.8 primes and the new 30/1.4 that was just announced.

What about these Rokinon lenses you mentioned:

But they also make some lenses designed for mirrorless systems, for example the 10/2.8, 12/2. Their 12/2 is a very good choice for astro landscapes, provided you get a good copy.

AF with these?

About the tracking mount, I do have one, but it's the one that came with my telescope. Would that work fine with the 75mm lens?

I've been told I can do AP with it, but limited to 30 seconds (but that's by using the 2000mm OTA as the lens). I should be able to do a minute or more with just the 75mm lens, no? I'll need a dovetail - tripod adapter for the camera though.

About the tele primes, I need something to bridge my camera lenses to my telescopes. Looks like the Oly 75-300 is my best option.

Well, Panasonic has OIS, which is probably more effective than E-PL6's 2-axis IBIS.

Good point, can the IS of the lens and the IS of the body be added together?

Out of curiosity, the lenses you mentioned weren't good for the E-PL6, did you say it because of weight considerations or other reasons?

No, that's not the reason. Mirror lenses are very light, actually (which I guess might be part of the problem). You will have a hard time focusing a mirror lens on an E-PL6, unless it's on a tripod (I guess you mileage will vary depending on skill). At 300mm, even the 3-axis IBIS of my E-M10 can barely handle stabilizing live view. No idea how the 2-axis of E-PL6 would manage. And mirror lenses have an extremely shallow DoF compared to traditional lenses, so nailing focus is extremely important. See this for example:

I already have mirror lenses I want to use with my camera, they are telescope OTAs, the Nexstar 8 2000mm and ETX 90 1250mm telescopes. I assume I wont have any issues using these with the camera? The former is f/10 (f/6.3 with reducer) and the latter is f/13.8

I guess shutter shock might be an issue. I think we were already discussing this some time ago.

Yes, but I'm talking using these in long exposure times only....shortest would be 15 sec and longest about a minute. Shutter shock is only an issue between 1/40-1/400, right?

alexisgreat wrote:

I was looking through my B&H catalog and found some lenses I might be interested in, any thoughts on these bright primes for astro and landscape photography with the E-PL6?

Olympus

17mm f/1.8

25mm f/1.8

45mm f/1.8

75mm f/1.8

Panasonic

15mm f/1.7

20mm f/1.7

25mm f/1.7

25mm f/1.4

42.5mm f/1.2

Rokinon

24mm f/1.4

35mm f/1.4

85mm f/1.4

Looks like Panasonic has the largest selection of these lenses.

I'm also looking for a great 300mm telephoto prime. Is Rokinon's 300mm f/6.3 better than Olympus's 75-300mm or Panasonic's 100-300mm lens? What about Tokina's 300mm f/6.3 prime? Both of those primes are reasonably priced (are they the same lens?), so I'm not sure how good they are. The Panasonic 100-300mm is the fastest. How much do these weigh (do any of the above weigh too much for my camera?)

Have you considered a wider lens as well. The incredible Oly 12mm comes to mind.

It a great focal length for both landscape and astro and the lens is tack sharp.

Then there is the Panny 14mm pancake, another sharp lens but at a giveaway price. Owning one of these is a no brainer because they are tiny even by M4/3 standards, sharp and dirt cheap. So even if wide does not interest you normally, it's worth having one of these for occasional use.

Wellington100 wrote:

alexisgreat wrote:

I was looking through my B&H catalog and found some lenses I might be interested in, any thoughts on these bright primes for astro and landscape photography with the E-PL6?

Olympus

17mm f/1.8

25mm f/1.8

45mm f/1.8

75mm f/1.8

Panasonic

15mm f/1.7

20mm f/1.7

25mm f/1.7

25mm f/1.4

42.5mm f/1.2

Rokinon

24mm f/1.4

35mm f/1.4

85mm f/1.4

Looks like Panasonic has the largest selection of these lenses.

I'm also looking for a great 300mm telephoto prime. Is Rokinon's 300mm f/6.3 better than Olympus's 75-300mm or Panasonic's 100-300mm lens? What about Tokina's 300mm f/6.3 prime? Both of those primes are reasonably priced (are they the same lens?), so I'm not sure how good they are. The Panasonic 100-300mm is the fastest. How much do these weigh (do any of the above weigh too much for my camera?)

Have you considered a wider lens as well. The incredible Oly 12mm comes to mind.

It a great focal length for both landscape and astro and the lens is tack sharp.

Then there is the Panny 14mm pancake, another sharp lens but at a giveaway price. Owning one of these is a no brainer because they are tiny even by M4/3 standards, sharp and dirt cheap. So even if wide does not interest you normally, it's worth having one of these for occasional use.

Thanks, I'm thinking about it now, are they both f/2.8 lenses? Giveaway price? I noticed that I use certain focal lengths a lot- 14mm, 25mm 40mm, 75mm and 150mm. Not much in between those. So I figured I would have better image quality with primes around those focal lengths, rather than a couple of zooms to cover the entire range.  I'd like to keep them at f/2.8 or brighter.

alexisgreat wrote:

Astrotripper wrote:

alexisgreat wrote:

I'll stay away from Rokinon and the mirror lenses though. Can only the Olympus lenses be autofocused?

Sigma also makes AF lenses for MFT. Those are the trio of f/2.8 primes and the new 30/1.4 that was just announced.

What about these Rokinon lenses you mentioned:

But they also make some lenses designed for mirrorless systems, for example the 10/2.8, 12/2. Their 12/2 is a very good choice for astro landscapes, provided you get a good copy.

AF with these?

No, Samyang (Rokinon/Bower is just a brand name for their lenses) only makes MF lenses.

About the tracking mount, I do have one, but it's the one that came with my telescope. Would that work fine with the 75mm lens?

Yes, with some limitations. Alt-Az mounts cause field rotation and their tracking precision may vary greatly depending on where you point them at.

I've been told I can do AP with it, but limited to 30 seconds (but that's by using the 2000mm OTA as the lens). I should be able to do a minute or more with just the 75mm lens, no?

Maybe, will depend on what you're aiming at. I was able to get 30 seconds with Oly 45mm (see here )

About the tele primes, I need something to bridge my camera lenses to my telescopes. Looks like the Oly 75-300 is my best option.

Well, Panasonic has OIS, which is probably more effective than E-PL6's 2-axis IBIS.

Good point, can the IS of the lens and the IS of the body be added together?

No.

I already have mirror lenses I want to use with my camera, they are telescope OTAs, the Nexstar 8 2000mm and ETX 90 1250mm telescopes. I assume I wont have any issues using these with the camera? The former is f/10 (f/6.3 with reducer) and the latter is f/13.8

I guess shutter shock might be an issue. I think we were already discussing this some time ago.

Yes, but I'm talking using these in long exposure times only....shortest would be 15 sec and longest about a minute. Shutter shock is only an issue between 1/40-1/400, right?

No. You may still get some unwanted effects on very bright stars. But for long exposures, it's trivial to work around. Just place some cover in front of the telescope (but don't touch it), fire a shutter, count to three and move away the cover. Problem fixed.

alexisgreat wrote:

Wellington100 wrote:

alexisgreat wrote:

I was looking through my B&H catalog and found some lenses I might be interested in, any thoughts on these bright primes for astro and landscape photography with the E-PL6?

Olympus

17mm f/1.8

25mm f/1.8

45mm f/1.8

75mm f/1.8

Panasonic

15mm f/1.7

20mm f/1.7

25mm f/1.7

25mm f/1.4

42.5mm f/1.2

Rokinon

24mm f/1.4

35mm f/1.4

85mm f/1.4

Looks like Panasonic has the largest selection of these lenses.

I'm also looking for a great 300mm telephoto prime. Is Rokinon's 300mm f/6.3 better than Olympus's 75-300mm or Panasonic's 100-300mm lens? What about Tokina's 300mm f/6.3 prime? Both of those primes are reasonably priced (are they the same lens?), so I'm not sure how good they are. The Panasonic 100-300mm is the fastest. How much do these weigh (do any of the above weigh too much for my camera?)

Have you considered a wider lens as well. The incredible Oly 12mm comes to mind.

It a great focal length for both landscape and astro and the lens is tack sharp.

Then there is the Panny 14mm pancake, another sharp lens but at a giveaway price. Owning one of these is a no brainer because they are tiny even by M4/3 standards, sharp and dirt cheap. So even if wide does not interest you normally, it's worth having one of these for occasional use.

Thanks, I'm thinking about it now, are they both f/2.8 lenses? Giveaway price? I noticed that I use certain focal lengths a lot- 14mm, 25mm 40mm, 75mm and 150mm. Not much in between those. So I figured I would have better image quality with primes around those focal lengths, rather than a couple of zooms to cover the entire range. I'd like to keep them at f/2.8 or brighter.

The Oly is an f2 and may well be the standout prime of M4/3 aside from the exotically priced lenses.

The Panny is a f2.5 but don't let that put you off, if not for the thickness of the lens caps, it a lens you could carry in a shirt pocket without noticing it's there.

alexisgreat wrote:

Does Olympus have anything good in that area- I'm thinking 8mm or 12mm.

The olympus 12mm f/2.0  http://www.dpreview.com/products/olympus/lenses/olympus_m_12_2

Astrotripper wrote:

alexisgreat wrote:

Astrotripper wrote:

alexisgreat wrote:

I'll stay away from Rokinon and the mirror lenses though. Can only the Olympus lenses be autofocused?

Sigma also makes AF lenses for MFT. Those are the trio of f/2.8 primes and the new 30/1.4 that was just announced.

What about these Rokinon lenses you mentioned:

But they also make some lenses designed for mirrorless systems, for example the 10/2.8, 12/2. Their 12/2 is a very good choice for astro landscapes, provided you get a good copy.

AF with these?

No, Samyang (Rokinon/Bower is just a brand name for their lenses) only makes MF lenses.

About the tracking mount, I do have one, but it's the one that came with my telescope. Would that work fine with the 75mm lens?

Yes, with some limitations. Alt-Az mounts cause field rotation and their tracking precision may vary greatly depending on where you point them at.

I was afraid of that.  So let's say I was pointing at something close to the celestial equator like M42, I might be limited to the same 30 seconds that I am when using a camera attached to the scope?

I've been told I can do AP with it, but limited to 30 seconds (but that's by using the 2000mm OTA as the lens). I should be able to do a minute or more with just the 75mm lens, no?

Maybe, will depend on what you're aiming at. I was able to get 30 seconds with Oly 45mm (see here )

About the tele primes, I need something to bridge my camera lenses to my telescopes. Looks like the Oly 75-300 is my best option.

Well, Panasonic has OIS, which is probably more effective than E-PL6's 2-axis IBIS.

Good point, can the IS of the lens and the IS of the body be added together?

No.

I already have mirror lenses I want to use with my camera, they are telescope OTAs, the Nexstar 8 2000mm and ETX 90 1250mm telescopes. I assume I wont have any issues using these with the camera? The former is f/10 (f/6.3 with reducer) and the latter is f/13.8

I guess shutter shock might be an issue. I think we were already discussing this some time ago.

Yes, but I'm talking using these in long exposure times only....shortest would be 15 sec and longest about a minute. Shutter shock is only an issue between 1/40-1/400, right?

No. You may still get some unwanted effects on very bright stars. But for long exposures, it's trivial to work around. Just place some cover in front of the telescope (but don't touch it), fire a shutter, count to three and move away the cover. Problem fixed.

Oh, so shutter shock side effects can happen at any shutter speed?  I suspect using the timer or remote wont help- or will it?  I could hold a piece of cardboard in front of the scope, wait for the shutter to go off (or press the button on the remote) and then count to three and then move the piece of cardboard out of the way.

maltmoose wrote:

If you can afford it the panasonic 15mm 1.7 would be a better choice than the 14mm, although its not as tiny its still compact.

That said I managed to grab a 2nd hand Ricoh GR which covers my 14/15mm prime and was much cheaper than a new 15mm panny. but its not 1.7 its 2.8 on apsc but was cheaper than i could get a 15mm 1.7 panny...

I have a 25mm oly coming as ive held off getting one for forever as i had the 20mm pancake. I may sell one or keep both dont know yet.

I've done the odd astro shot on the 20mm pancake but the 15mm 1.7 should be better still.

The 45 is great just get it.

17mm too close to 14 and 15, my ricoh also has a crop mode to cover the 17mm.

I want a 75mm but its $$$ and i have that focal length covered with other manual legacy primes but not 1.8...

I also want a 75-300 oly but cant justify the cost for a slow lens and currently have that covered with a 60-300 tokina manual lens that cost me 2.99!!!! fairly good at f8 and a bitch to manual focus even with peaking or IS.

I think I'm going to start with just one or two right now and see how it goes before moving onto the more expensive stuff.  I've had the bad experience before about buying things that were expensive and not using them much and then selling them for 10% cost at B&H used department or astromart or cloudy nights.  Someone mentioned a 12mm Oly prime.  I also want the 45mm so I might just start with those two for now.

Wellington100 wrote:

alexisgreat wrote:

Wellington100 wrote:

alexisgreat wrote:

I was looking through my B&H catalog and found some lenses I might be interested in, any thoughts on these bright primes for astro and landscape photography with the E-PL6?

Olympus

17mm f/1.8

25mm f/1.8

45mm f/1.8

75mm f/1.8

Panasonic

15mm f/1.7

20mm f/1.7

25mm f/1.7

25mm f/1.4

42.5mm f/1.2

Rokinon

24mm f/1.4

35mm f/1.4

85mm f/1.4

Looks like Panasonic has the largest selection of these lenses.

I'm also looking for a great 300mm telephoto prime. Is Rokinon's 300mm f/6.3 better than Olympus's 75-300mm or Panasonic's 100-300mm lens? What about Tokina's 300mm f/6.3 prime? Both of those primes are reasonably priced (are they the same lens?), so I'm not sure how good they are. The Panasonic 100-300mm is the fastest. How much do these weigh (do any of the above weigh too much for my camera?)

Have you considered a wider lens as well. The incredible Oly 12mm comes to mind.

It a great focal length for both landscape and astro and the lens is tack sharp.

Then there is the Panny 14mm pancake, another sharp lens but at a giveaway price. Owning one of these is a no brainer because they are tiny even by M4/3 standards, sharp and dirt cheap. So even if wide does not interest you normally, it's worth having one of these for occasional use.

Thanks, I'm thinking about it now, are they both f/2.8 lenses? Giveaway price? I noticed that I use certain focal lengths a lot- 14mm, 25mm 40mm, 75mm and 150mm. Not much in between those. So I figured I would have better image quality with primes around those focal lengths, rather than a couple of zooms to cover the entire range. I'd like to keep them at f/2.8 or brighter.

The Oly is an f2 and may well be the standout prime of M4/3 aside from the exotically priced lenses.

The Panny is a f2.5 but don't let that put you off, if not for the thickness of the lens caps, it a lens you could carry in a shirt pocket without noticing it's there.

Well, now I have some choices to make! I figured I would start out with two lenses, one ultra wide and one moderate zoom (50mm or under). Oly 12mm and Oly 45mm?