Really Needed - very fast widish zoom

How about a 15-30 f1.4 pro ?

Until today I thought no more lenses were needed in the m43 lineup, but today I found I needed one that isn't yet available

I was at a village show photographing vehicles in the arena and alternating shots were at 17mm and 32mm, I hadn't anticipated this and so only had the Panasonic 14-140 with me which meant f3.5 - f4.

The big problem was even the far end of the arena and crowd were also in sharp focus

An f2.8 wouldn't be good enough as regards blurring the background, and using 2 cameras with fast f1.4 primes wouldn't work either as you couldn't swop fast enough.

I realise that a 15-30 (or even better 15-35) constant f1.4 would be pricey and heavy but I would snap one up immediately if under £1200.

And before anyone starts - I don't want to buy a FF as a second system!

Are there any others here who would enjoy a very fast widish zoom that covered a useful focal range?

Adrian Harris wrote:

How about a 15-30 f1.4 pro ?

How about the Sigma 18-35 f/1.8 in Canon mount on a smart adapter?

using 2 cameras with fast f1.4 primes wouldn't work either as you couldn't swop fast enough.

Really? What's so difficult in having two cameras around your neck, both switched on?

I realise that a 15-30 (or even better 15-35) constant f1.4 would be pricey and heavy but I would snap one up immediately if under £1200.

Keep dreaming...   I don't see that happen below £2K.

Are there any others here who would enjoy a very fast widish zoom that covered a useful focal range?

Not me, personally. A 12-60 f/2.8 would be nice but I fear the price.

stateit wrote:

ZZzzzzzzz....

Kluunkk...(noise of falling off seat while asleep)

Thus i assume your photography obviously doesn't require one

Yawn .

Mark9473 wrote:

Adrian Harris wrote:

How about a 15-30 f1.4 pro ?

How about the Sigma 18-35 f/1.8 in Canon mount on a smart adapter?

I haven't tried that lens (basically because I don't have access to one) but I have tried a sigma 10-20 which worked great on an aps-c DSLR, but its image quality when used on m43 is appalling. I am sure a speed booster may help, but it's an expensive risk. I would rather Olympus or Panasonic make the real deal.

using 2 cameras with fast f1.4 primes wouldn't work either as you couldn't swop fast enough.

Really? What's so difficult in having two cameras around your neck, both switched on?

You think l haven't tried that?

... It may work well with static subjects, but I don't do a lot of that 'sort of thing'!

I realise that a 15-30 (or even better 15-35) constant f1.4 would be pricey and heavy but I would snap one up immediately if under £1200.

Keep dreaming... I don't see that happen below £2K.

Are there any others here who would enjoy a very fast widish zoom that covered a useful focal range?

Not me, personally. A 12-60 f/2.8 would be nice but I fear the price.

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Mark

Adrian Harris wrote:

How about a 15-30 f1.4 pro ?

Until today I thought no more lenses were needed in the m43 lineup, but today I found I needed one that isn't yet available

I was at a village show photographing vehicles in the arena and alternating shots were at 17mm and 32mm, I hadn't anticipated this and so only had the Panasonic 14-140 with me which meant f3.5 - f4.

The big problem was even the far end of the arena and crowd were also in sharp focus

An f2.8 wouldn't be good enough as regards blurring the background, and using 2 cameras with fast f1.4 primes wouldn't work either as you couldn't swop fast enough.

I realise that a 15-30 (or even better 15-35) constant f1.4 would be pricey and heavy but I would snap one up immediately if under £1200.

And before anyone starts - I don't want to buy a FF as a second system!

Are there any others here who would enjoy a very fast widish zoom that covered a useful focal range?

Nope. I shoot events with three bodies, generally with 12, 20, and 45mm primes mounted. I can switch cameras in a few seconds.

Since you have the right camera for it, get the ZD14-35 f/2 and of course the MMF-3.  It works very well on my older EM-1 so it should be even better on the newer model. They are selling used for much less than their original price now.  It is the best available for m43.

Thank you all for your input - much of which was really valuable.

Re swapping between two cameras, it always makes me smile when people suggest that. Today I was photographing a motorcycle hill climb, and I am sure that with a little more practice I'll be able to get the swap time below 1/10sec going from camera to camera including re-finding the subject in the viewfinder and reframe and refocusing