Which body should I get to suit both Oly 12mm f/2 and Pana 12-35mm f/2.8?

Hi everyone,

Looking for some advice to help guide my next purchase.

Background info:

• I own a Panasonic G85 with a Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 as my only lens
• I may soon be getting a manual lens as well (Kamlan 50mm f/1.1 - manual focus)

My partner:

• Is looking for a MFT camera
• 90% will be getting the Oly 12mm f/2.0 (wants something to take the 'whole' picture, okay for selfies, good for low light, good bokeh)
• Currently deciding between EPL9 vs. GX850.  The EPL9 is not yet available (in Australia) but its positives currently is the in-body stabilisation.  The GX850 I believe does not have in-body stabilisation but it could work with Pany lenses that do (e.g. my Pana 12-35mm)
• Also having 4k is preferable (which rules out EPL8)

Some questions I'm pondering:

1. Am I correct in understanding that if I want the Oly 12mm, then the best 'IS' I will get is using an Olympus camera (i.e. EPL8 or EPL9) because it has in-body stabilisation and only an Oly camera will be compatible with the lens?  Or will in-body stabilisation work with any lens?
2. If I get the Pana GX850 with the Oly 12mm - there will be no stabilisation at all right?
3. For any potential future MF lenses that we get - there is no difference in having an Oly or Pana body right?  Because there is no electronic contact and therefore they will perform the same?  Will it just be dictated by in-body stabilisation (if any)?
4. Any idea how much the Oly EPL in-body stabilisation will benefit the Oly 12mm (over a Pana body?)
5. Any other small/budget MFT bodies to consider?

Any thoughts or answers welcome!

User0828333613 wrote:

1. Am I correct in understanding that if I want the Oly 12mm, then the best 'IS' I will get is using an Olympus camera (i.e. EPL8 or EPL9) because it has in-body stabilisation and only an Oly camera will be compatible with the lens? Or will in-body stabilisation work with any lens?

The recent Panasonic cameras (like your G85) that offer in-body stabilization will work with the Olympus 12mm lens.

However, dual-IS only works with the same manufacturer for both camera and lens.  I.e. on your Panasonic G85, dual-IS will work with the modern Panasonic lenses that offer dual-IS support and use a combination of sensor shift and lens stabilization.

If you mount an Olympus 12-100mm or 300mm on the G85, the camera will only use sensor shift stabilization.

If you mount the Olympus 12-100mm or 300mm lenses on an E-m1 mark II, then it will offer the Olympus version of dual-IS.  However, I would imagine the low end bodies (E-m10 mark III or E-PL9) might not offer dual-IS support.  Since I don't own one of the two Olympus lenses that offer lens stabilization, I haven't tracked which bodies support it.

Note, some of the Panasonic wide angle lenses like the 7-14mm and 8-16mm don't offer lens stabilization.  This is because you would tend to be shooting at shutter speeds faster than the default rule of thumb of when you need stabilization (reciprocal of 2*focal length, or 1/24 second for the 12mm).

1. If I get the Pana GX850 with the Oly 12mm - there will be no stabilisation at all right?

That's right.  Just make sure the shutter is 1/30 or faster for the 12mm lens.

1. For any potential future MF lenses that we get - there is no difference in having an Oly or Pana body right? Because there is no electronic contact and therefore they will perform the same? Will it just be dictated by in-body stabilisation (if any)?

As I said previously, dual-IS (on bodies that support it) only works if the manufacturer of the camera and lens are the same.

For the past few years, Olympus cameras offer an option of whether to prefer the lens stabilization or sensor shift stabilization when you mount a Panasonic lens with stabilization on an Olympus body.  I tend to set it to use the lens stabilization, on the theory that lens stabilization works better on longer lenses.

However, if you plan to use that, make sure the E-m10 mark III or E-PL9 still have the option, since in 'simplifying' the camera, Olympus seems to have thrown out a lot of their higher end functionality.

Some Olympus lenses have a button on the lens that you can assign to camera operations on Olympus bodies.  Panasonic doesn't allow you to program this button.

Olympus and Panasonic lenses rotate the zoom and manual focus rings in opposite directions.  Those of with both sets of lenses, just have to cope with adjusting to the lens that is mounted on the camera.

1. Any idea how much the Oly EPL in-body stabilisation will benefit the Oly 12mm (over a Pana body?)

For a wide angle lens, not that much.  For a telephoto lens, it will allow you to use slower shutter speeds.

1. Any other small/budget MFT bodies to consider?

Any thoughts or answers welcome!

I really hate what they've done to the E-m10 mark III (and presumably E-PL9).  You might want to look at the previous generation (E-m10 mark II and E-PL8), particularly for refurbished or lightly used deals.  I recently picked up a refurbished E-m10 mark II to use as a good weather camera due to its OLED viewfinder, and it fits in with my other Olympus cameras.

I find since I've been using Olympus since 2002, I tend to prefer their way of doing things, and I have to think when I pick up the G85 how to translate the Olympus action into Panasonic.  You might want to do it the other way, and favor Panasonic bodies because they will be similar to your G85.

43review wrote:

Unless you need 4k, try to get a used OMD M10.1.

I would tend to say OMD M10 mark II instead of 1. The mark I only had 3 axis stabilization (the mark II and III have 5 axis). The mark I also uses the TFT LCD viewfinder which is problematical if you wear polarized sunglasses, while the mark II and mark III have OLED viewfinders like the OP's G85.

The E-m10 mark III eliminates a lot of the Olympus special sauce in the name of making it simpler.

You get IBIS and ELV and the Sensor is as good as the other 16MB MFT body.

The weight is nearly the same and it is a tat bigger than the PL9.

if you need 4k go with the GX80.

I would not buy any body today without IBIS.

The main differences between all MFT Bodys today are:

16/20 Mpix

Fullhd / 4k

Ibis / Ois

and AF-C

Also:

• Whether the body is splash-proof (i.e. E-m1 mark I/II, E-m5 mark I/II, G85, GH5, etc.).
• What type of viewfinder is offered (or if a viewfinder is offered)
• What type of video support (including if it supports external microphones)

Oly Pen F.  Excellent performer, fantastic styling and a good size to pair with those lenses.

Michael Meissner wrote:

. . .

Olympus and Panasonic lenses rotate the zoom and manual focus rings in opposite directions. Those of with both sets of lenses, just have to cope with adjusting to the lens that is mounted on the camera.

I don't know about Panasonic but Olympus has a setting to reverse the focus ring direction, so you can set them to be consistent.

if you can find one, GX8 if you can't.  Or vice versa.

F.

Nice deal, enjoy!