Help me decide. Replacing my Panasonic 14-45 zoom with Panasonic 12-35?

Hello,

I have the old but highly regarded 14-45 f4 kit zoom. Using it on a Panasonic GX7. Used it for travel.

The 12-35 f2.8 zoom is on sale. $698 from Amazon.com.

Is the 12-35 IQ much better than the 14-45 IQ?

Pros/cons of the 12-35?

Also, if in the future I purchase an Olympus OMD -/EM10iI/ EM5II / Pen F cameras, is either lens usable with the Oly IBIS?

Thank you.

The 12-35 f2.8 zoom is on sale.

Is the 12-35 IQ much better than the 14-45 IQ?

I find it to be.

Pros/cons?

Pros? It's amongst the best 'normal' zooms in captivity and tiny for what it provides. Build quality is top-notch. Contrast and color rendition are outstanding, better than even the 12-40 Olympus. The built-in stabilization is very, very much better than the 14-45's.

Cons? It's pricey compared to a 14-45, but you aren't even comparing apples here. 12mm on the wide end is so much more useful it's hard for me to see even the 4/3 14-35/2.0 as a functional replacement for a 12-35.

The only other con is that it is, like most Panasonic lenses, fairly flare prone. These flares can render purple on Oly bodies, but the issue is not terribly pronounced on the 12-35. I've only seen problems in indoor venues with harsh and spotty artificial lighting, and I've seen problems with even certain Olympus lenses in these conditions, although to a lesser degree.

Also, if in the future I purchase an Olympus OMD -/EM10iI/ EM5II / Pen F cameras, is either lens usable with the Oly IBIS?

Both have switches, so compatibility is assured.

I should add that I bought my 12-35 at the original 1099USD price, and found it satisfying at even that level. I believe gray-market ones are 639 shipped these days, and at that price people who even ask about image quality ought to have one.

go and grip it.  12-35 2.8 is one of the best mid zoom in m43 series.  It will work well in all bodies.  Since you are using GX7, you get the benefit of OIS and a very fast autofocus.

Hi

if you like a zoom in that FL then you will not be disappointed. I was using my 12-40 indoors at the weekend and the extra speed over a kit lens made a big difference.

I used the 14-45 for a long time. An excellent lens.

The f2.8 12-35 is physically bigger and (I think) a little heavier, but where the 14-45 was excellent, the 12-35 is outstanding. It is breautifully built and you won’t know yourself with that constant f2.8.

I love the extra FOV width of the 12; I used to be irritated a bit by the 35 not giving me quite enough reach -- I love the 45 length so much I even got twitchy about the 14-42s not giving quite enough length vs the 14-45, and there is no way I will ever trade my Oly f1.8 45mm for the Panny f1.7 42.5!!!*

But with the G6 and even more so with the GX7, I have a solution -- the Ex Tele setting that uses just the central 8MPX (and is good for a pin sharp A3 print). This gives an effective 49mm with the zoom @ 35mm. I have this under a button -- the Ex Tele is switched on in the Rec menus but is only effective when the "M" setting recording quality/size is switched on and I have this under the bottom left button (you know, the delete button when viewing), so I switch in and out of it just by pressing the button.

Of course, you can do just as well with cropping a bit in PP, but I do like to do composition at the picture-taking stage.

Flare? Yes, it can happen, but you will find that it appears/disappears over a very narrow range of angles of light hitting the lens. Shift your viewpoint just a little or whatever, and it is gone. Totally. Given any amount of use, you will quickly get this under control.

I have to say I vary the package with the 12-32. When I am going out carrying the camera "just in case", I will have the 12-32 fitted. When I am going out to take pictures, the 12-35 is the first choice.

…

* Yes, I know this is kind of mental, but that's where my head is at. Even back in the day with the OM1 of blessed memory and that jewel of an f2 85mm Zuiko -- I loved the lens but always had to crop just a bit to get to a 90mm equivalent! When I moved to m43 and discovered the f1.8 45mm, I thought I had died and gone to heaven!

Thanks to all who chimed in re:   Pan to 12-35 f2.8.

Extra weight and size is not an issue over my 14-45.

As long as I can use the lens on Oly MFT (maybe a camera in the future?) without any IBIS issues I'm ok.

Ready to go for it.    

Lena

Hoorah to Henry!.. at last the benefits of using the x2 ext are recognised.. and of course using this on the cracking 12-35 change it into a nice portrait lens.  The 12-35 is a darn expensive lens.. but when you see the results...whooo!..I had the Oly 12-40 but found it too bulky/heavy and found myself leaving it at home.. the 12-35 is just so compact & light and that 12mm is light years more usefull than 14mm.  I have the pancake 14mm which is a joyous wee pandrop and is such fun on the G6.. and I didn't realise my Oly 45mm would get me a free slot in heaven..but if Henry says so.. it must be right😀

Replacing my Panasonic 14-45 zoom with Panasonic 12-35?

I did this and have not looked back. The 12-35 is a wonderful lens. I use the 12 end a lot, whereas I find the 14 was a little constricting. I sometimes miss that 45 mm length, but overall, I accept that limitation.

It is expensive, but I found it a worthwhile expense at far more than you are potentially paying!

Tom Axford wrote:

In my experience the image quality of those two lenses is very comparable.

I now use both the 12-35/2.8 and the 12-32/3.5-5.6 (I have disposed of the 14-45) which are also very comparable in image quality. The advantage of the 12-35 is the larger aperture, but the disadvantage is the much larger size and weight.

It really depends what you want. I use my 12-32 much more than the 12-35 because it is so much more portable; I use the 12-35 only when I need the extra aperture.

All are excellent lenses for image quality, so the decision depends on other factors (aperture, size, weight, etc.).

I agree with this. Image quality is comparable. If you don't need the faster f stop, don't do it. Buy something you don't have already.

One thing though, the 14-45 is a little more sensitive to SS. So I always use it with the electronic shutter if possible. The 12-35 is heavier and not prone to SS.

looks like BH has the 12-35mm f2.8 on sale for $699 http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/865111-REG/Panasonic_H_HS12035_Lumix_G_X_Vario.html?utm_medium=Email%201609636&utm_campaign=Promotion&utm_source=WeeklySpecials%20160321&utm_content=Retail&utm_term=Lumix-G-X-Vario

Definitely the best lens I have owned.  Bought mainly for landscapes, but also great around town.

I must have paid nearly double that deal 

Dave

I'm waiting for the Panasonic 12-60 mm.  It seems I am often wanting a focal length around 35 mm, and having to switch lenses right there always bugs me.

Len_Gee wrote:

Thanks to all who chimed in re: Pan to 12-35 f2.8.

Extra weight and size is not an issue over my 14-45.

As long as I can use the lens on Oly MFT (maybe a camera in the future?) without any IBIS issues I'm ok.

Ready to go for it.

Lena

Hello,

I was ready to hit the 'buy" button, until I found this thread re: 12-35 and flaw shooting video.

this thread re: flaw with flickering videos when zooming and video.

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3752038

Now I am concerned, because I would sometimes use the lens to shoot short memory video clips, as well as still photos, with GX7.

Any help understanding the flaw in the 12-35? Does video shot actually show flicker?

Thank you.

Lena

Just do it you certainly won't regret it - mine is on my camera 90+ % of the time since purchase 21/2 years ago. Watch the flare when shooting directly into the sun but quality even wide open is superb.

trevthebrit wrote:

Just do it you certainly won't regret it - mine is on my camera 90+ % of the time since purchase 21/2 years ago. Watch the flare when shooting directly into the sun but quality even wide open is superb.

Thanks!

I bought the 12-35 today. Now that I've added the 12-35 as my walk around lens, any suggestions for a telephoto or telephoto zoom to add to my travel kit?

Now using GX7, maybe an Olympus OMD EM5MKII, EM10II, or Pen F in the future.

Lena

Congratulations - I am prety sure you will be satisfied.

Most obvious choice for now is Panny 35-100/2.8 - they are designed to be coomplementary IQ and flexibilty wise.