Getting back into E-M5

Looking for some advice but guessing i have the answer already.

I started with an original EM5.1 back in the day, with the kit lens.  Like many newbies, did not really appreciate that I should have learned how to use the camera first with the kits before buying more glass, but obviously did not do that.    Eventually sold the E-M5 and bought a used E-M1.1, as i had some older olympus lenses that i wanted to try out.   Also wanted to experiment with Primes so did that deal as well.

This is what i had (and sold)

Oly 12-50 (Sold with E-M5)

Pany 12-35 2.8

Pany 14 2.5

Pany 20 1.7 (Sold)

Sigma 19 / 30 (Both Sold)

Pany 45-175

Oly 17 1.8

Oly 4/3 to M43 adapter

Oly 14-54 v1 (4/3)

Oly 50 (4/3)

Oly 70-300 (4/3)

I love to shoot candids, kids/family, birds, nature etc.  No specific area jumps out at me but recently picked up an ol' E-PM2, and realized how much I like the compact nature of the smaller cameras.  I noted that the EM1.1 while a great camera, did not always get used due to its size and weight, which is by all means much less than any FF or otherwise but still, the camera that is with you is the useful one.  ergo the iPhone gets used a lot more than it should...

So now the real questions:

I just ordered an E-M5 MK3 package w/14-150 II lens.  I also ordered an Oly 14-42 EZ for my E-PM2.  Part of my reason of getting the new E-M5 was to share the E-PM2 to my now old enough daughter so she can try some photography.  Also the fact that we can share batteries makes things easier as well.

i need to now cull some lenses.  my first thought is to get rid of the following:

Pany 45-175

Oly 14-54 v1 (4/3)

as i need to recover some cost for my recent purchases these seem to be logical picks.  What do you think?

Thanks Jonas for your response.

i think that finding a balance of keeping useful lenses, and giving a go of the Travel zoom will be where i will end up going.  The 45-175 never really saw huge use and with regards to the heavy 4/3 lenses, it may be that i keep the 70-300 on the shelf for anything i may want to do around birding in really bright light.  

The 50Mm 4/3 is a very nice lens but can be a bit of a challenge,  i have the EC25 as well, which makes it a 1:1 so will see how it works with the E-M5.

Its always tough trying to figure out what makes sense, but seemingly having ultra compact (14-42 EZ) for compact use on the E-PM2 or E-M5, medium (12-35) for lower light use, or possibly the wide end use for scenery, and the large (14-150) for an all in one option.

Will see if I an justify keeping the 2 primes or getting a 15 1.7, or perhaps the 25 1.8 as potential other experiments.

cornellra wrote:

So now the real questions:

I just ordered an E-M5 MK3 package w/14-150 II lens. I also ordered an Oly 14-42 EZ for my E-PM2. Part of my reason of getting the new E-M5 was to share the E-PM2 to my now old enough daughter so she can try some photography. Also the fact that we can share batteries makes things easier as well.

i need to now cull some lenses. my first thought is to get rid of the following:

Pany 45-175

I've never had this lens, but along with the 14-42mm EZ lens (and the 12-50mm EZ lens that you sold and the Panasonic 14-42mm PZ lens), it is one of 4 electronic zoom lenses in the micro 4/3rds line-up. If you ever want to experiment with remote control setup using the OIShare phone app, these lenses can be zoomed by the phone app. All other lenses cannot be zoomed remotely.

Oly 14-54 v1 (4/3)

as i need to recover some cost for my recent purchases these seem to be logical picks. What do you think?

It is a nice lens, but note the average selling price on ebay is around $100 (there are some sales that managed to sell it for $200). Note, the E-m5 mark III does have the phase detect auto focus to allow you to focus this lens somewhat faster.

While the E-m1 mark I had the first generation of phase detect auto focus for micro 4/3rds cameras, IMHO, the implementation was badly flawed, and it wasn't until the E-m1 mark II that they worked out the bugs.

I originally thought it would be useful as a zoom in low light situations, but I see you have the Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 lens.  But on the other hand, it can go out to 54mm (at f/3.5) compared to the 35mm of the Pany lens.

Michael Meissner wrote:

cornellra wrote:

So now the real questions:

I just ordered an E-M5 MK3 package w/14-150 II lens. I also ordered an Oly 14-42 EZ for my E-PM2. Part of my reason of getting the new E-M5 was to share the E-PM2 to my now old enough daughter so she can try some photography. Also the fact that we can share batteries makes things easier as well.

i need to now cull some lenses. my first thought is to get rid of the following:

Pany 45-175

I've never had this lens, but along with the 14-42mm EZ lens (and the 12-50mm EZ lens that you sold and the Panasonic 14-42mm PZ lens), it is one of 4 electronic zoom lenses in the micro 4/3rds line-up. If you ever want to experiment with remote control setup using the OIShare phone app, these lenses can be zoomed by the phone app. All other lenses cannot be zoomed remotely.

I did not know that type could do this.  Sounds cool to try out before I sell the 45-175 and can also try when my 14-42 ez arrives.

Oly 14-54 v1 (4/3)

as i need to recover some cost for my recent purchases these seem to be logical picks. What do you think?

It is a nice lens, but note the average selling price on ebay is around $100 (there are some sales that managed to sell it for $200). Note, the E-m5 mark III does have the phase detect auto focus to allow you to focus this lens somewhat faster.

yes.   I think I got it for 115 locally purely to try and get that 35-54 range for cheap and get me the decent 2.8-3.5 aperture.  Comes at the option size hit but seems to take nice enough pics.  A bit soft wide open at 54 but decent at F4-4.5

While the E-m1 mark I had the first generation of phase detect auto focus for micro 4/3rds cameras, IMHO, the implementation was badly flawed, and it wasn't until the E-m1 mark II that they worked out the bugs.

I originally thought it would be useful as a zoom in low light situations, but I see you have the Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 lens. But on the other hand, it can go out to 54mm (at f/3.5) compared to the 35mm of the Pany lens.

My only thing now is that I need to give up one of the lenses.  It’s a hard thing to not have the 12mm end as I have found that extra bit of width to be invaluable at times. I am truly finding that the size of the camera and lenses is key with trying to stay as compact as possible, at least for transport   That was part of the reason I went with the 12-35 back in the day vs the Oly  12-40.  That and the fact back there was a $250 delta between the two.  
In a perfect world I would have the following

Oly 14-42 EZ

Oly 12-45 f4

Pan 15 f1.7

Pan 42.5 1.7

Pan 35-100 F2.8

Oly 75-300 II

I know an odd set of choices but thinking about how to optimize size and use cases for the em5 MkIII and the epm1.  It is what it is though and will have to see what I end up with in the end