Low light lens for my Lumix G7 or buy new camera

Hi,

I’m new to this forum and I’m a beginner photographer. I have had my Panasonic Lumix G7 for about 5 years and I only have the 14-140mm lens. Recently I became excited about photography again.

I’m looking to see if it’s worth it to buy a prime lens for indoor low light photography and some night photography. Mostly for family & new born moments and when I feel like doing some nice night shots. So far I believe my options are:

Panasonic LUMIX G 25mm f/1.7 ASPH
Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN C
Panasonic Lumix G 20mm f/1.7 II

Olympus M. Zuiko 25mm or 45mm f/1.8

or any other MFT lenses you recommend with AF?

my budget is 300 usd.

my other option is to sell my camera+lens and buy a Sony RX100 latest version?

what do you recommend please?

thanks,
Asir

asirvr4 wrote:

Hi,

I’m new to this forum and I’m a beginner photographer. I have had my Panasonic Lumix G7 for about 5 years and I only have the 14-140mm lens. Recently I became excited about photography again.

I’m looking to see if it’s worth it to buy a prime lens for indoor low light photography and some night photography. Mostly for family & new born moments and when I feel like doing some nice night shots. So far I believe my options are:

On IQ, the newer models indeed does not give material improvement. The improvement would be on hardware side, more features etc.

Think of ISO1600 vs ISO3200~6400, 2~3 stops slower shutter speed for non IS lens and 4~5 stops for DUAL IS combo... Normally for shootings which slow shutter speed is usable, a newer body will help.

Regarding indoor shooting, usually I could imagine limited shooting distance. If so, I would look for a wider angle lens. Likely a 35mm to max 28mm eq AoV of FF, i.e., 14 to 17.5 for M43.

Surely if you love to shoot head shot, a longer lens might also be useful like 20 to 25. Longer than that might be more restrictive IMO.

Panasonic LUMIX G 25mm f/1.7 ASPH
Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN C
Panasonic Lumix G 20mm f/1.7 II

Olympus M. Zuiko 25mm or 45mm f/1.8

or any other MFT lenses you recommend with AF?

my budget is 300 usd.

my other option is to sell my camera+lens

G7 and an used 14~140 (I assume the f/3.5~5 6 mk-I) would give you not much on selling them.

and buy a Sony RX100 latest version?

what do you recommend please?

thanks,
Asir

asirvr4 wrote:

Hi,

I’m new to this forum and I’m a beginner photographer. I have had my Panasonic Lumix G7 for about 5 years and I only have the 14-140mm lens. Recently I became excited about photography again.

I’m looking to see if it’s worth it to buy a prime lens for indoor low light photography and some night photography. Mostly for family & new born moments and when I feel like doing some nice night shots. So far I believe my options are:

Panasonic LUMIX G 25mm f/1.7 ASPH
Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN C
Panasonic Lumix G 20mm f/1.7 II

Olympus M. Zuiko 25mm or 45mm f/1.8

or any other MFT lenses you recommend with AF?

my budget is 300 usd.

my other option is to sell my camera+lens and buy a Sony RX100 latest version?

what do you recommend please?

thanks,
Asir

As has already been suggested, you'll want the lens to be on the shorter side, not more than 25mm.  Indoors, if the lens is long, you may not have room to back up enough.  My favorite lens is the Olympus 12mm f/2 but even though I bought a used copy, it would be out of your range.  Before that I tried out the Panasonic 20mm, f/1.7, but I found the focusing to be very slow so I returned it.  Don't be afraid to look at refurbished or used to widen the options within your price range.

asirvr4 wrote:

Hi,

I’m new to this forum and I’m a beginner photographer. I have had my Panasonic Lumix G7 for about 5 years and I only have the 14-140mm lens. Recently I became excited about photography again.

I’m looking to see if it’s worth it to buy a prime lens for indoor low light photography and some night photography. Mostly for family & new born moments and when I feel like doing some nice night shots. So far I believe my options are:

Panasonic LUMIX G 25mm f/1.7 ASPH
Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN C
Panasonic Lumix G 20mm f/1.7 II

Olympus M. Zuiko 25mm or 45mm f/1.8

or any other MFT lenses you recommend with AF?

my budget is 300 usd.

my other option is to sell my camera+lens and buy a Sony RX100 latest version?

what do you recommend please?

thanks,
Asir

The cheapest options that autofocus are 25 1.7  and youngno 42mm

the 25 is serviceable and a good normal option.

I would get a 42.5 from panasonic, but that is 345 usd .

You are lucky that you already have your 14-150 and can use it to trial out the various focal lengths. I do think that 45 is a little long for indoor use, so would rule it out. But you can try your existing lens at 20, 25, 30 and 45mm indoors to see how tight it would be for you.

One thing to consider is that the newborn will not stay a newborn for long! Soon the little bundle of joy will be scooting, then crawling, then careening at fast speeds throughout the house. For that reason the autofocus speed of your lens comes into consideration. I love my Panasonic 20 f/1.7, but the focus speed is not great. Therefore I would rule it out.

Of the remainder of the lenses you listed, I do not know their focus speeds. But you can check out reviews online. Some helpful sites are cameralabs.com, Lenstip.com, opticallimits.com, lensrentals.com (look in their blog - the micro four thirds review are far back), 43rumors.com sometimes has some reviews, photographylife.com, and sansmirror.com are all pretty decent. Rob Trek has a good youtube site also.

Good luck!

i think with your intended future usage to take some photo of your kids, i would not suggest 20mm 1.7 due to its slow AF speed

45mm is too long to be used in typical indoor to the point it started to annoy me as I often need to find a place to backup and those who do not understand photography will think you are crazy to shoot that far from your subject.

So I guess the 25mm 1.7 is the best low light lens with good AF speed within your budget. but I do think the oly 17mm 1.8 fits perfectly with your requirement but it's more expensive.

getting the latest RX100 is a worse option for your low light due to the slower F2.8 lens + smallish 1-inch sensor and you might need to spend a lot more(it's not a cheap cam, at least in my area) than just getting a new budget low light lens even after you sold your current kit. I don't see you get anything better out from that option unless you are taking pic with it in good lighting condition.

Try the PanLeica 15mm 1.7, Used. This lens is suitable for about 90% of my shooting. It renders colors beautifully and is a very well crafted jewel of a lens. If you look hard enough you should be able to find a nice copy.

Enjoy your new hobby!

...25 1.7 and Olympus 45 1.8. Both are great. Though the 45 definitely can be a little tight indoors.

The Panasonic has a very nice contrast to it, the Olympus a little less so.

pattymeboy wrote:

Try the PanLeica 15mm 1.7, Used. This lens is suitable for about 90% of my shooting. It renders colors beautifully and is a very well crafted jewel of a lens. If you look hard enough you should be able to find a nice copy.

Enjoy your new hobby!

Another vote for the PL15/1.7. I've owned and used m4/3 gear since the original G1, and this remains my absolute favorite m4/3 lens. I've taken almost 14,000 images with mine over the last six years (mostly with the 16Mp GM1/GM5 sensor) and it still operates flawlessly despite leading a fairly hard life. The P25/1.7 is definitely applicable to your needs, has good IQ, and is far cheaper, but the PL15 is a special lens.

asirvr4 wrote:

Hi,

I’m new to this forum and I’m a beginner photographer. I have had my Panasonic Lumix G7 for about 5 years and I only have the 14-140mm lens. Recently I became excited about photography again.

I’m looking to see if it’s worth it to buy a prime lens for indoor low light photography and some night photography.

Yes i bought the PL15mm f1.7 for that reason. Great little lens.

Mostly for family & new born moments and when I feel like doing some nice night shots. So far I believe my options are:

Panasonic LUMIX G 25mm f/1.7 ASPH
Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN C
Panasonic Lumix G 20mm f/1.7 II

Olympus M. Zuiko 25mm or 45mm f/1.8

or any other MFT lenses you recommend with AF?

my budget is 300 usd.

That's a limmited budget. Secondhand can stretch the quality jump.

my other option is to sell my camera+lens and buy a Sony RX100 latest version?

what do you recommend please?

the G80 is a far better camera then the G7 not in sensor but the use of it and the softer shutter which have much less shuttershock.

Maybe a secondhand 12-32mm f2.8? For first goal? And then saving up for a G90?

(newer sensor and 20Mp instead of 16Mp.)

If your renewed enthousiast about photography is a short one, the set is stil sell able.

If it last you can buy a nice improved body and maybe some lenses from a guy who wants the g9 or what ever is the top then. Or buy new on sale.

The 14-140mm f3.5-5.6 I or newer weatherproof one are optical the same , the first older 14-140mm  if you have that one: a type 2 aka 14-140mm f3.5-5.6 mk1 is a improvement.

thanks,
Asir

ISO1600 isn't the worst thing in the world on the 16mp sensor ya know. When kid is asleep the dual IS on 14-140 lets you get away with slow shutters too. Sure you don't want to save the money for a bike or ipad for the kid?

Emsquared wrote:

ISO1600 isn't the worst thing in the world on the 16mp sensor ya know.

yep, i have my G80 on max auto 3200 iso and use i-iso to have lower iso when it's not moving. stil a f1.7 is very nice to have around.

When kid is asleep the dual IS on 14-140 lets you get away with slow shutters too. Sure you don't want to save the money for a bike or ipad for the kid?