What is your favorite fast M4/3 Prime AF Lens?

Fav order:  42.5/1.2; 75/1.8; 25/1.4; 20/1.7; 45/1.8;

Usage order: 17.5/0.95 (I know, can't help it...sorry); 25/1.4; 42.5/1.2; ...distant 75/1.8. Rest very occasional

Of the lenses in the list, I have the 20/1.7, the 45/1.8 and the 75/1.8. The 75 is the best of the three, and the best lens I've owned, but that wasn't the question. Instead, it's the 45, which I for a long time used so much with such consistent good results that it felt like cheating. Coupled with the low price and small size, it's one of the true bargains in the system.

The 20 would have been a contender if it had worked better on my E-M5, but as it is I only trust it on my Panasonics.

20/1.7 , 75/1.8 , 300/4

This combination gave me a good range of focal length and speed for most of my daily usage with a reasonable weight and size.

All of them can fit in a normal backpack easily, I love this combination!

I own the 20/1.7, 25/1.7, and the Oly 45/1.8; I've also rented the 17/1.8 and 25/1.8, but didn't find either compelling enough to buy. (Though I did just pick up the 17 refurbished on the Olympus 25% off sale, so we'll see if I use it more often when I'm not limited to a rental period.)

The 20/1.7 is absolutely my favorite, and the one I shoot with the most often; I love the rich colors, the microcontrast, the sharpness, and the relatively small size, and the focal length is a good one for me. I still wish it focused faster, but most of the things I need faster focus for - birds, airplanes - I need a longer focal length anyway.

The 25/1.7 I bought when it was on the $99 sale, and I've been pleased with the pics I've taken with it; but I don't use that focal length as often, it's enough bulkier that it doesn't fit as well in the small camera bags I favor. Combine those with the relative closeness in focal length to the 20/1.7, and I just don't find myself using it that often.

The 45/1.8 is different enough in focal length to earn a permanent place in my kit bag; but the truth is, I don't use it all that often either. I don't shoot at that length as much as I do normal/wide; when I want to go long, I usually want more than the 45 gives me, so I use the Sigma 60 or the Panny 45-175.

markymark101 wrote:

only the 12mm gets my not recommended vote.

However when you need it, no other lens will do. I was using it at f2, 1/50 and iso3200 earlier this week.

Marty4650 wrote:

I expected the Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 to top the list. Not because it is "the very best lens" but because it was reasonably priced, it sold in huge quantities and was an extremely useful focal length.

If you remember back, this was the first fast prime for M4/3, and it got rave reviews. Everyone wanted one, and it seems a lot of folks bought them.

And, the reverse is probably true too.

There won't be a lot of votes for the Olympus 8mm f/1.8 lens because it costs a lot, has only been available recently, and is a specialty lens, so not very many people own them. But it might be a really fantastic lens.

On the other hand, it's been supplanted by many newer lenses that focus faster and still ends up top of the list. I just think it's unique in the m43 world. The 20mm focal length seems so natural for m43, and its combination of large aperture, tiny size and outstanding sharpness is not matched by any other lens.

I voted for the 15mm f/1.7 PL as it always seems to add extra "pop" to the images it captures.

The aperture ring is very handy when I use it on my GM5.

I'm confused - Sigma 2.8/60 is not listed. I think f2,8 is fast enough...

Well, I've checked another prime.

The 45mm 1.8 has without a doubt, in my mind, the best price-to-performance ratio of any lens I have owned. It's not my top pick because I rarely have use for that focal length. It's crazy not to own this lens though.

I voted the Olympus 25mm f/1.8. It is also the only prime I currently own.

tkbslc wrote:

Marty4650 wrote:

Thanks for the tip!

Generally speaking, if something works for 30 days, it will probably last for years. A "manufacturing defect" should show up right away. And that is all that warranties cover, as you pointed out.

Which is why I have no problem buying used or refurbished gear.

I tend to agree, however with an import lens the hassle factor of returning a bad lens is very high and should be considered. Now I've ordered 3 of my lenses from Japan (to USA) and had zero issues or complaints. But it's not quite the same as buying from Amazon.

Many grey market lenses are being sold through amazon prime. This is where you get the standard Amazon return policy, and you get the lens in 2 days. I bought my 15mm through amazon prime for $400. It was a great copy, so no need to return it, but I could have just returned it free through amazon. It is likely different if it isn't an Amazon Prime product.

Fotoke wrote:

I voted the Olympus 25mm f/1.8. It is also the only prime I currently own.

I was tempted to vote for the 25/1.8 but went instead for a new acquisition the 17/1.8. The 25mm is a technically better lens, and i use it for landscape and portraits, but the I really like the way the 17mm renders and its FOV is great for general use.

Bhima78 wrote:

tkbslc wrote:

Marty4650 wrote:

Thanks for the tip!

Generally speaking, if something works for 30 days, it will probably last for years. A "manufacturing defect" should show up right away. And that is all that warranties cover, as you pointed out.

Which is why I have no problem buying used or refurbished gear.

I tend to agree, however with an import lens the hassle factor of returning a bad lens is very high and should be considered. Now I've ordered 3 of my lenses from Japan (to USA) and had zero issues or complaints. But it's not quite the same as buying from Amazon.

Many grey market lenses are being sold through amazon prime. This is where you get the standard Amazon return policy, and you get the lens in 2 days. I bought my 15mm through amazon prime for $400. It was a great copy, so no need to return it, but I could have just returned it free through amazon. It is likely different if it isn't an Amazon Prime product.

very useful info! thanks