Advice for newbie in m43- medium to long tele lens

Hi,

Advice will be appreciated regarding choice of more or less universal and afordble tele lens (~ 70-250-300 equiv FL) on m43.

From begining- decided to migrate from Canon APSC to smaller/ lighter setup.

As for walkaround/ travel/ everyday camera almost choosed lx100 m1, question on second body for tele end, as well as some art etc.

Regarding body- yet looks like gx80 is way to go.

( touched in local camera shop oly omd e-m10 mark3; pana g7 and gx80 - definately oly isn't for my hands, g7 feels perfect; but due to size gx80 looks more prefferable) ( but not so categorical against body size- g7 also seems an option).

On Canon i have Canon 70-200/4 and Sigma 50-150/2,8. Both with positive feelings- for me most favorite is Sigma; for my wife Canon ( mainly due to weight).

So is here comparable alternative on m43 for those lenses, especially taking in account than I'm not willing to spend on this setup (body +lens) roughly more than ~800-900 € ( if buying second hand)?

Also- how about efs- m43 adapters- maybe option is adapter to use Canon lenses on m43? Just afraiding than focusing speed will be quite unacceptable in this case?

Thanks for opinions!

The Panasonic 45-175 is very good, I got mine for 130 UK pounds used.

For affordable, the Olympus 40-150/5.6 seems to be the benchmark. The lens gets a lot of favourable comments from owners as well as people who regularly evaluate lenses.

You can get better IQ and/or longer reach, but it will cost you more. With a larger budget, the recommended list expands to include the Oly 40-150/2.8 and Pany 35-100/2.8 and the Pany 100-300/5.6

Girco wrote:

Hi,

Advice will be appreciated regarding choice of more or less universal and afordble tele lens (~ 70-250-300 equiv FL) on m43.

From begining- decided to migrate from Canon APSC to smaller/ lighter setup.

As for walkaround/ travel/ everyday camera almost choosed lx100 m1, question on second body for tele end, as well as some art etc.

Regarding body- yet looks like gx80 is way to go.

( touched in local camera shop oly omd e-m10 mark3; pana g7 and gx80 - definately oly isn't for my hands, g7 feels perfect; but due to size gx80 looks more prefferable) ( but not so categorical against body size- g7 also seems an option).

On Canon i have Canon 70-200/4 and Sigma 50-150/2,8. Both with positive feelings- for me most favorite is Sigma; for my wife Canon ( mainly due to weight).

APSC?, 1,5 crop vs 2.0 crop so the f2.8 zoom range of 50-150mm is not possible in m43 if you want to compensate the smaller sensor with faster Aperture.

PL10-25mm f1.7, PL50-200mm f2.8-4.0 pl12-60 f2.8-4.0 PL12-35mm f2.8 are faster zooms but at a higher pricetag. (there are some oly zuiko also)

Fastest (affortable) zoom is 35-100mm f2.8. And a nice walkaroundzoom is the 14-140mm (28-280mm EFL of FF.) fit's nicely on a GX.

if objects arn't always moving Dual IS2 does help for lowering iso and thus noise due the more possible low shutterspeeds as 1sec handheld.

There are faster Primes (f1.4 and f1.7 also to use in the m43 setup

So is here comparable alternative on m43 for those lenses, especially taking in account than I'm not willing to spend on this setup (body +lens) roughly more than ~800-900 € ( if buying second hand)?

Also- how about efs- m43 adapters- maybe option is adapter to use Canon lenses on m43? Just afraiding than focusing speed will be quite unacceptable in this case?

Thanks for opinions!

If the G7 feels perfect then a G80/90 can be good too.

Dual IS2, new shutter thus less shuttershock. 4k film things as post focus, focusstacking, stopmotion, bracketing, enz.

I go on photo walks with my GH3, and have the Panasonic 45-200, 14-140, and the Panasonic 100-300m. There is also someone I know who had the Panasonic 50-150 (I think that was it) and its a very sharp lens.

I find the 45-200 to be the weakest, but its also super cheap on eBay. The 14-140 is actually an amazing lens and I find it to be very sharp and the range is hard to beat; it will stay on the camera all the time. However, my favorite lens is 100-300mm. Honestly its pretty heavy, but I get very sharp photos from it.

If you are getting your first long lens, and are broke, the 45-200mm is great. I loved this lens until I saw the 100-300, which really doesn't give you that much more reach for the $, but is definitely sharper. People will complain that its soft, but looks good to me. Of course, I'm sure if I ever buy the $1,500.00 100-400mm lens then it will look horrible but unless a miracle happens I won't be getting that lens. I am also very careful not to drive nicer cars than mine, or else I might no longer be completely satisfied with what I drive now.

If I had to choose for you, well I would say if you have IBIS then probably the Olympus 50-150 which I assume doesn't have stabilization. If you are going to shoot lots of video, I might recommend the Panasonic 14-140 as the dual IS stabilization on the G85 I saw it is quite nice.

It seems you have some interest on G7 and GX85.

Wish you to know that during the period of GX7, GX8 and GX85, Panasonic had undergone a series of testing on these models and from GX85 onward, a new standard hardware be used on all future models.

• G7 is still a lens OIS reliance model.
• GX7, the first to have primitive IBIS;
• GX8 uses a fixed sensor to provide IBIS (non video supported), plus the earliest form of Dual IS;
• GX85 onward, a 5-axis IBIS floating sensor which supports still and video, Dual IS (later the Dual IS 2 on G85), a new designed shutter which can reduce shutter shock...

Therefore, in case if you really have interest on the better ergonomic of G7, I rather suggest you to have a look on the G85 (it is also WR and has all the oldies of GX85, a mic port, and DUAL IS 2). G7 has been a good mid range class model in its time. However for the technology driven of mirrorless world, the later is always the better.

Girco wrote:

Hi,

Advice will be appreciated regarding choice of more or less universal and afordble tele lens (~ 70-250-300 equiv FL) on m43.

From begining- decided to migrate from Canon APSC to smaller/ lighter setup.

As for walkaround/ travel/ everyday camera almost choosed lx100 m1, question on second body for tele end, as well as some art etc.

Regarding body- yet looks like gx80 is way to go.

( touched in local camera shop oly omd e-m10 mark3; pana g7 and gx80 - definately oly isn't for my hands, g7 feels perfect; but due to size gx80 looks more prefferable) ( but not so categorical against body size- g7 also seems an option).

On Canon i have Canon 70-200/4 and Sigma 50-150/2,8. Both with positive feelings- for me most favorite is Sigma; for my wife Canon ( mainly due to weight).

In M43 land, Canon 70-200 has eq AoV of 56-160; Sigma 50-150 has eq AoV of 40-120.

Since on Panasonic bodies like GX85 or G85 (instead of G7), Panny lens will enjoy DUAL IS or DUAL IS2 (stabilization) and DFD (faster AF speed), I shall concentrate on Panny lenses:

There are the low cost 14-140 f/3.5-5.6 mk-II, 45-150 f/4-5.6, 45-175 f/4-5.6, 45-200 f/4-5.6 mk-II.

On the higher cost option: 35-100 f/2.8 mk-I or mk-II, 50-200 f/2.8-4, 200 f/2.8.

In case if looking for a less effective stabilisation than DUAL IS and no DFD support (indeed the AF of Panny is very fast already), might also consider the Olympus 45-150 f/2.8 which could be a better matching to the Sigma.

The above is under the understanding on the 2/3ev smaller shooting envelope of M43 vs APSC (DoF and Noise on higher ISO).

So is here comparable alternative on m43 for those lenses, especially taking in account than I'm not willing to spend on this setup (body +lens) roughly more than ~800-900 € ( if buying second hand)?

I don't buy used.

I paid €335 for a new G85 (body only) from gray market a few months ago. 12-32 f/3.5-5.6 (around €80 if buy new in gray market in my city) and 45-150 f/4-5.6 (€120) can meet with your basic need. You have €300~400 spared for one more lenses.

I paid €280 for a new Panny Leica 15 f/1.7 2 years ago.

Also- how about efs- m43 adapters- maybe option is adapter to use Canon lenses on m43? Just afraiding than focusing speed will be quite unacceptable in this case?

Thanks for opinions!

fits into a small bag.  Try to get this http://www.roesch-feinmechanik.de/29701.html

Not very fast, but suffices for my needs. With a monopod/tripod and the Roesch tripod collar easy to hold slow speeds. f 7.1 is best  If I need more speed I use the divine Olympus 75 mm - extremely sharp

Girco wrote:

Hi,

Advice will be appreciated regarding choice of more or less universal and afordble tele lens (~ 70-250-300 equiv FL) on m43.

From begining- decided to migrate from Canon APSC to smaller/ lighter setup.

As for walkaround/ travel/ everyday camera almost choosed lx100 m1, question on second body for tele end, as well as some art etc.

Regarding body- yet looks like gx80 is way to go.

( touched in local camera shop oly omd e-m10 mark3; pana g7 and gx80 - definately oly isn't for my hands, g7 feels perfect; but due to size gx80 looks more prefferable) ( but not so categorical against body size- g7 also seems an option).

On Canon i have Canon 70-200/4 and Sigma 50-150/2,8.

So you'd need something around 150mm at the long end to get similar "reach"

I'm not willing to spend on this setup (body +lens) roughly more than ~800-900 € ( if buying second hand)?

GX80 body is around €400 brand new, so that leaves around €500 budget for a lens (or more if you buy the body second hand). Plenty of options there:

• Panasonic 45-150mm - cheap (less than €200), lightweight, compact and solid performance.
• Panasonic 45-175 - power zoom with internal zooming mechanism, which makes it the most compact telephoto lens in this range (it does not extend when zooming). At around €350 it is not as cheap. I'd say its compactness makes it a good companion to GX80. I own this. Love the size. Image quality wise, it
• Panasonic 100-300 II - this is a serious super telephoto lens. This is way longer than what you are used to with your Canon kit. I think it would be a bit on the heavy side for use with GX80, though. At around €520, this would max out your budget. I also own it (here's my flickr album for it ).

There's more options, but I think those are the most interesting ones.

As usual, the most interesting option is out of your budget. At €1500, Panasonic Leica 50-200mm f/2.8-4.0 offers great image quality and very nice range while still being small and light.

Girco wrote:

Hi,

Advice will be appreciated regarding choice of more or less universal and afordble tele lens (~ 70-250-300 equiv FL) on m43.

Olympus 40-150 or Panasonic 45-150 plastic fantastic's.  At one point I have both but sold the Olympus as I find the Panasonic noticeably better.

Regarding body- yet looks like gx80 is way to go.

Agree.  I have a GX85.  I got mine as a bundle - GX85 + 12-32 + 45-150 - for a 'few' dollars more than the body-only.

So I have a g7, that I later added a Panasonic 45-150, and I've long considered it a great lens.  Its not as sharp on the long end as others may be, but its still incredibly good for the money.  I got mine for $147us (a common price for it), and its been very good.

Some of my favorite portraits are shot with this, many of my favorite capture moments are done with this, its a small, light, stabilized, has panasonics DFD support, and for the price is plenty sharp in my book.

Its likely to get replaced with the 35-100 f/2.8 in the near future in my main setup, but it will live on in my fast and light kit for years I suspect.

If you want to use long tele lenses the balance and grip of the g80 is more suitable.

If you mostly are interested in WA -midtele use or the 14-140mm get the biggest lens GX80 is good enough.

I have the 100-300mmii and that's a big sodacan/coffemuk. With the g80 i can point it onehanded aldoh lens support with my secondhand is easier. 😉

Edit, weathersealing, it's comfort to know that rain and moisty conditions don't ruin electronics and button's and most new lenses which are updated are wr now a day's.

So for nature walks is wr a extra feature. In city's, well when it rains i go for a coffee.. Wait inside....😉

Girco wrote:

Well, looks like I decided to go with 14-140 II (which cames for around 350€ as kit with new body, also if I don't like it, can be sold for little lower). After browsing thru forums and tests, opinion is than IQ is even better than all other 45-150/ 175/ 200; except F2,8, which are far out of my price range. As well than I get very versatile zoom range. If I feel need for more reach at long end, than I can add later pana 100-300. As well as maybe some fast prime in 40-60mm range for low light/ playing with bokeh.

You will not regret it.

I shoot 14~140 along with 12~35 f/2.8. As I prefer a sharp across the frame output, I stop down 12~35 to f/3.5~4 majority of the time. I can get similar across the frame sharpness from 14~140 wide open. The major advantage to me, to have a constant f/2.8 lens, is for low lighting condition that I need the speed only.

Regarding body still dilemma between GX80 (GX85) and G80 (G81/ G85). In features and IQ they looks the same, except form-factor. Price difference is about 200€ in both cases- in kit with 14-140 as well as body only. Just want to decide is better grip of G80 and weather proofing worth it. ( assume than 14-140 will be weather sealed version in kit with G80).

These are 2 very different products. I have strong demand on size, weight and portability so always prefer a GX (I used GX7 and GX85). The recent discount triggered GAS and bought G85 a few months ago.

GX85 is perfect on size. But ergonomically not good as G85, shooting with larger lens might not be the best (I had issue on 45~200 + GX7/85, YMMV). GX85 is not WR (small weight to me), no microphone port (for video), no Cine like profile for video, less control on video AF sensitivity, smaller evf on 4:3 shooting...

In a word G85 is a higher spec model than GX85 at a cost of larger and heavier.

IMHO it is a choice of portability vs higher spec.

I have a GX80 and a G7. I much prefer the ergonomics of the G7, but I prefer the output of the GX80. I did have a G80 at one stage, but it developed a problem and I had to return it. However, while I had it, it was the best camera by far, as it takes the best of the G7 and GX80 and merges them together. Superb ergonomics, and great output.  Currently I'm mainly using the GX80, with a grip attachment that I picked up on ebay. It helps with handling longer focal lengths.

The G80 combined with the 14-140mm is a fantastic combination.