Upgrading lenses for travel

Hey everyone,

I'm a Gx8 user and have been using it with the panasonic 14-42mm. I have been traveling with this combo for the past five months. While I have been pretty happy with it, there have been more than a few instances when I felt very limited by the lack of a wider option and a longer reach. I feel that my photography has improved and I now aim to take pictures that have some artistic value in my eyes rather than taking pictures for the sake of preserving memories.

I have recently reached Hong Kong and have already spent hours wandering around it's many photography shops. I'm looking to upgrade my lens collection to address the issues that I mentioned. If possible I will try to find the Oly 9-18 for landscapes and other wide angle photography. I am unsure about how to lengthen my reach. I have looked at the Olympus 40-150 that I can get 2nd hand for pretty cheap. I have also seen the Olympus 14-150 ii and the Panasonic 14-140.

I would prefer to buy one lens as a walk around lens and use the wide lens only when needed. That said I don't want to compromise IQ too much and I understand that that is the case many times with super zoom lenses.

Will the difference between a 2 lens combo and one super zoom be very noticeable?

I would love to read everyone's thought on the subject. Especially from people who have used the super zoom lenses while traveling.

I had the Oly 40-150, and it is very good, especially for its low price. I sold that to get the Panasonic 45-150, which I thought was a bit better in IQ and build, plus it has OIS that will work with the Dual I.S. capability of the GX8, for not a lot more money.

Heh, I sold that to get the Panasonic 14-140 v.II, for the convenience of having one lens to cover that entire range. It really has very good IQ for a super zoom, but it's a bit more expensive and can exhibit some shutter shock at the 1/60 to 1/320 shutter speeds, where it is best to use the e-shutter if possible. I think its IQ is really as good as the 45-150.

Having an ultra-wide is great. I have the Panasonic 7-14, but most folks think highly of the Oly 9-18, and it has a more usable "walk-around" long end range.

If your budget is limited and you're willing to change lenses, get the 9-18 and the Panasonic 45-150, would be my advice (as opposed to just getting the 14-140 and foregoing the 9-18).

Thanks for your reply!

While I am on a tight budget I plan on getting the lenses 2nd hand and in a trade in deal for my 14-42. I hope that that will enable me to solve both issues at once.

I LOVE my 9-18mm OLY. (both of them).  I also have the 40-150 and its good for long reaches. IMO I would keep the 14-42, -1- its handy, covers the wide-Tele gap and -2- I doubt you would get very much $$ for it, enough to make it worth while.

Daniel42 wrote:

Hey everyone,

I'm a Gx8 user and have been using it with the panasonic 14-42mm. I have been traveling with this combo for the past five months. While I have been pretty happy with it, there have been more than a few instances when I felt very limited by the lack of a wider option and a longer reach. I feel that my photography has improved and I now aim to take pictures that have some artistic value in my eyes rather than taking pictures for the sake of preserving memories.

I have recently reached Hong Kong and have already spent hours wandering around it's many photography shops. I'm looking to upgrade my lens collection to address the issues that I mentioned. If possible I will try to find the Oly 9-18 for landscapes and other wide angle photography. I am unsure about how to lengthen my reach. I have looked at the Olympus 40-150 that I can get 2nd hand for pretty cheap. I have also seen the Olympus 14-150 ii and the Panasonic 14-140.

I would prefer to buy one lens as a walk around lens and use the wide lens only when needed. That said I don't want to compromise IQ too much and I understand that that is the case many times with super zoom lenses.

Will the difference between a 2 lens combo and one super zoom be very noticeable?

I would love to read everyone's thought on the subject. Especially from people who have used the super zoom lenses while traveling.

There are a few ways to go…

Panasonic 45-150mm is the natural companion to the 14-42mm II. It's not as convenient or simple as the 14-140mm II.

SELL the 14-42mm and put that toward the 14-140mm. It's a fun lens, with surprisingly good image quality, roughly on par with the 14-42mm and 45-150mm combo.

I'd suggest the 7-14mm f4 over the 9-18mm. The 7mm end is pretty amazing to have at your disposal. Coupled with the 14-140mm, it's an excellent, all-around set. All you'd need is a fast prime for low light, like the 15mm or 20mm.

Other options involve any of the weathersealed 12-xx mm zoom lenses. The 12-35mm or 12-40mm (which I happily use with my GX8), or the recently announced Panasonic 12-60mm. There are very few reviews and the one that did appear used a faulty copy of the lens.

I like this one - very light, good rendering

Going lightweight, I usually use Lumix 20mm and Sigma 60mm (first for speed, the second for excellent sharpness)

Panasonic  12-42 and 35-100 F4/5.6 plus one fast prime will cover most of your needs.  Small, light, and sharp.

Michael M Fliegel wrote:

Panasonic 12-32  and 35-100 F4/5.6 plus one fast prime will cover most of your needs. Small, light, and sharp.

If the image quality is similar it comes down to how much I am able to invest. I will just have to see what kind of bargain I can get and what I can afford.

Thanks

I prefer zoom lenses over primes. I'd rather not have to change lenses too often especially on the go while hiking or walking on the street.

I'm afraid that if I divide that reach in two I'll lose possible shots while I switch the lens. Having a separate wide lens isn't as much of a problem because it will be used mainly for landscapes but my other lenses are used for photography that requires speed(street photography and the like)

I might not have a choice though if my budget won't allow it.

Daniel42 wrote:

Hey everyone,

I'm a Gx8 user and have been using it with the panasonic 14-42mm. I have been traveling with this combo for the past five months. While I have been pretty happy with it, there have been more than a few instances when I felt very limited by the lack of a wider option and a longer reach. I feel that my photography has improved and I now aim to take pictures that have some artistic value in my eyes rather than taking pictures for the sake of preserving memories.

I have recently reached Hong Kong

If you are still in Hong Kong, why not pay a visit to Sim City (here) where you could find the most reliable 2nd hand camera dealers as well as grey market dealers for your gears. (P.S. without testing to you r 100% satisfaction, never pay...). Fortunately or not, for foreigners local manufacturer's warranty means nothing.

and have already spent hours wandering around it's many photography shops. I'm looking to upgrade my lens collection to address the issues that I mentioned. If possible I will try to find the Oly 9-18 for landscapes and other wide angle photography. I am unsure about how to lengthen my reach. I have looked at the Olympus 40-150 that I can get 2nd hand for pretty cheap. I have also seen the Olympus 14-150 ii and the Panasonic 14-140.

I would prefer to buy one lens as a walk around lens and use the wide lens only when needed. That said I don't want to compromise IQ too much and I understand that that is the case many times with super zoom lenses.

Will the difference between a 2 lens combo and one super zoom be very noticeable?

I would love to read everyone's thought on the subject. Especially from people who have used the super zoom lenses while traveling.

For UWA, IMHO I would prefer 7-14 f/4, not as big as Oly's f/2.8, much cheaper now, similar great IQ to the pro sibling, no purple fringing problem on Panny body... and that 2mm in wider side means a lot ... It gives you a real UWA than 9-18.

Single and twin lens setup indeed has merit of their own. Both options (14-140 II vs 14-42  II + Panny's 45-150, I don't know Oly's version) are offering similarly good IQ.

Single lens would save all the inconvenience of changing lens. 2 days ago I shot in a Temple and changed lenses for 30-40 times for 200 shots....

Twin lenses setup would always allowing us to hold a lighter weight combo (the other lens in bag/pocket). It would be a lot if shooting under 35°C outdoor for a whole day... In future if you have 12-32 or 12-35 f/2.8 replace 14-42II, you might even have a better coverage than 14-140 II.

My wife prefer single lens and I use the twin lenses setup.

Daniel42 wrote:

If the image quality is similar it comes down to how much I am able to invest. I will just have to see what kind of bargain I can get and what I can afford.

I have all three lenses and never use the 14-42mm II. At that range. I prefer a couple of primes.

My girlfriend mostly uses the 14-140mm II and I'll sometimes use the 45-150mm to augment different sets of primes or with my 12-40mm. The other day I carried just the 12-40mm, but wished I'd brought the 14-140mm instead.

If you can swing it money-wise, get the 14-140mm II!

I use the 14-140 most of the time and only swap to a prime when I see something amazing.

The superzooms are most useful hen you don't have a lot of time to change lenses. Granted, it only takes a minute, but you gould be shooting lotzs of photos in that minute. Or if you just don't want the hassle of constantly changing lenses.

Keep in mind 16mp is pretty sharp anyway, you only really need super sharpness if you are going to blow the image up larger than 14" or heavily crop it. For routine uses: online viewing and photos for the wall or video, you kit lenses will out perform the medium anyway. 2MP for online viewing, 6mp for prints, 2mp for full HD video, and 8mp for 4k video.

Folks who shoot birds need all he resolution and zoom they can get because they heavily crop the images.

There is a subtle sharpness difference with high end lenses but at those resolutions its probably only for the pixel-peepers.

When I shoot models, I like to use a prime for the details in the eyes, but the kit lens I originally shot with did an amazing job too.

Daniel42 wrote:

Hey everyone,

Will the difference between a 2 lens combo and one super zoom be very noticeable?

I don't think so.

I would love to read everyone's thought on the subject. Especially from people who have used the super zoom lenses while traveling.

But if you want to see a difference, you should try 1 or 2 better primes, like the PL 1,7/15mm and a P 1,7/42,5 or Olympus 1,8/75.

Peter

Daniel42 wrote:

I'm afraid that if I divide that reach in two I'll lose possible shots while I switch the lens. Having a separate wide lens isn't as much of a problem because it will be used mainly for landscapes but my other lenses are used for photography that requires speed(street photography and the like)

I might not have a choice though if my budget won't allow it.

I agree with you, with two lenses and needing to change lenses, and you lose the shot.  Typically, I have been in tour type situations, walking with a group, or on a bus, or whatever, and you need the speed and versatility.

For me, the ideal setup might be the 14-140 v.2 and a fast prime, say the 15/1.7 (although I use the 20/1.7 because I bought a long time ago) or the 17/1.8 to cover you for indoors, night and museum type settings where the 14-140 (or even the 14-42 you have) just don't work.

Having a separate ultra wide is a good option.  Because it is small and light, I use a GM1 I bought used for a song on eBay with my 9-18 or Samyang fisheye.  It is in the bag, all the time, mounted and ready to go.

If I go really light, it would be the GX7, 14-140 and the 20.

Budget is an issue, I realize, but it might not hurt to think about a setup as described above for planning to arrive at that state eventually.

Currently, although I have the GM1 and the wides, I am split between two lenses for the GX7, using the 12-35/2.8 and 45-150, and have lost shots changing lenses, or in a situation with wind, rain, dust, where I do not want to change lenses.

Another vote for the 14-140 here. Used to be that you lose a lot in quality by going with a superzoom vs a two lense setup like the 14-42 + 45-150, but that's just not the case anymore. I see no reason to go with the two lense setup versus the one superzoom.