Quintesential M43 lenses

ahaslett wrote:

12-40/2.8

Andrew

That is one of the most amazing kit lenses that I've ever acquired. I ordered an OM-1 and a Lumix G9 as my first two M43 cameras. The OM-1 with its kit lens trounced the Panasonic with its starter lens. I'll be using the 12-40mm/F2.8 in greenhouse applications, or video shoots.

I'm evaluating a Lumix Leica 50-200 mm F2.8-4 lens for architectural photography. Coming from the Canon and Nikon full-frame world, I was a bit disappointed by the softness of the Lumix lens (might be due to the atmosphere on the day the photo was taken).

I'm reserving the M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25X IS PRO as a candidate for the Quintessential M43 lens list, based on reviews. This is as close to Unobtainium as one can get in the photography profession.

DailyPlanet wrote:

ahaslett wrote:

12-40/2.8

Andrew

....

I'm reserving the M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25X IS PRO as a candidate for the Quintessential M43 lens list, based on reviews. This is as close to Unobtainium as one can get in the photography profession.

If the current refrain It Is going on forums these days come true, I would get It for a few bucks, maybe few thousands. I would be the happiest.

LeonardoV wrote:

DailyPlanet wrote:

ahaslett wrote:

12-40/2.8

Andrew

....

I'm reserving the M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25X IS PRO as a candidate for the Quintessential M43 lens list, based on reviews. This is as close to Unobtainium as one can get in the photography profession.

If the current refrain It Is going on forums these days come true, I would get It for a few bucks, maybe few thousands. I would be the happiest.

Given the size of my existing kit and storage space, I’d need to budget for a bigger house.

Andrew

I'd rebuy the P 42.5/1.7 & O 75/1.8, instantly, at least as long as my GX850 and/or GM1 are working alright. I don't use M4/3 as my sole/primary system anymore but if I was doing so I'd add the P 20/1.7 and/or PL25/1.4 II to that list... (still have the former, probably gifting away the latter) As much as I like it, I'm not sure I'd hunt for another refurb deal on the O 12/2, I've kept it for video for now but if I was starting anew I might get Laowa's 6/2 and 10/2 instead of the 7.5/2 I've got and the Oly 12/2.

I obviously like my primes, I don't miss my PL8-18 since I'm shooting a FF 17-28, if I didn't have the FF system I'm not sure if I'd rebuy the PL8-18 or if I'd stay with a slimmer system. The O 9-18 & P 35-100 f4-5.6 make for a pretty neat and underrated combo you can't put together on other systems (Sony 10-20/4 G looks sweet but the E mount teles... ehh). The P 35-100/2.8 is the other favorite I'm not sure whether I'd rebuy or not. I like the primes better in general, but the zoom is clutch for some events.

I guess P 35-100 + 56/1.4 would make sense if I wanted to slim things down to 2 teles, tho I'd miss the 42.5/1.7's MFD and max magnification! Kinda depends on the other primes if it were my primary system (eg 10+20+42.5 vs 12+25+56). I guess it says a lot about the system that my shortlist is basically 3-4 Panas, 1-2 Olys, and 2-3 third party lenses (from 2 different brands). Wouldn't be the same without that mix! Laowa has been huge for UWA primes and Pana never made a really small UWA zoom or a longer tele prime even tho they're my go to small choice at other FLs.

Edit: Oops, how could I forget the Samyang 7.5/3.5 fisheye... Sometimes I leave it behind, sometimes I bring it and don't even use it, but whenever I do it's still fun to see what I can get with it, and on a second body there's no stress to switch it out. APS-C has some similar FEs but all the FF ones are super chunky and un-appealing.

Larzac wrote:

All Olympus :
- 17-25-45 Pro. For portraits and studio, I love these lenses, the only downside is that they are pretty heavy and fat. All are perfect wide open.
- 75 mm slow but amazing.
- 60 macro, I couldn't live without this lens and for me it is a major argument to use m43.
- 12-100, so good and versatile, OIS... but on the heavy side while traveling.
- 12-40 2.8 (v1). Not in love but useful.
- the plastic 8mm, for fun

Now interested by a lightweight travel setup : the 8-25, the 40-150 f4, and the 20mm...

Well, there is so many good lenses in the Olympus-OM lineup, too many!

I use Hoya and Urth UV filters. No complaints.

Agreed, the 12-100 is heavy. But you can amortize the weight by getting a light CF tripod and using OEM batteries (rather than a handful of less reliable batteries).
Heck, who needs a tripod with thr great IS!

I don't use filters on telephotos. I use Formatt Hitech these days. No protective filters, ever.

ahaslett wrote:

Samuel Dilworth wrote:

ahaslett wrote:

I tend to use Hoya.

Interesting. Did you get them from a trustworthy shop? I ask because Hoya filters are very widely counterfeited. I wouldn’t want to buy them from eBay or a third-party seller on Amazon, for example.

Maybe I should buy a Zeiss T* protective filter and see how that does.

The German companies B+W and Heliopan make very fine filters with typically brass mounts and Schott glass. Of course they are expensive.

I tested a 77 mm Heliopan carefully with my old Nikon 80-200 mm f/2.8 when I used a Nikon D800 and couldn’t detect a deterioration in image quality.

Sorry if I’m telling you things you know very well.

I buy my filters from shops but it’s a good point.

Thanks for the suggestions. I see Wex stock B+W. Robert White carry Zeiss and Hasselblad. All similar prices, depending on materials and coatings. Those titanium ones are pricey!

Andrew

B+W have gone up in price a lot over the last few years, pretty sure my last 67mm was like 2x the cost of the previous to last one I'd bought... But I still swear by them. The new Basic/Master relabeling is a little simpler even if it did come with a price hike (and slightly nicer knurling).

Some good points.  Thanks!

generationfourth wrote:

Even if you have any of the other UWA m43 options, even if you don’t like UWA fov, like myself, the new 9mm embodies what m43 is all about. Great value and a ton of fun thrown on a small body. The ultra close focus distance + capturing the subject’s full environment + the option to blur the crap outta the background all creates very unique composition opportunities that I never even thought of.

aside from the 9mm I’ll add the usual suspects: 20 1.7, and 14-140. A truly underrated lens: p35-100 2.8

M4/3 really deserved something like the PL9 so much sooner IMO, the Laowa UWAs sort of bridged the gap a little but the 7.5/2 didn't focus nearly as close and MF'ing that close is annoying anyway. The 10/2 didn't arrive until shortly before the PL9...

Yes I guess we all have our own (sometimes irrational) list of quintessential lenses.

My very own includes

Lumix 20/1.7

Olympus 12-100

Lumix 12-32

Sigma 60/2.8

Of course I own and use many more but the above are the ones that I'd likely never give up using

If someone robbed me of all my 20 or so lenses, I am 100% sure the first lens tat I would buy the next day is the..... cheap little 12-32.

thinkinginimages wrote:

cba_melbourne wrote:

If someone robbed me of all my 20 or so lenses, I am 100% sure the first lens tat I would buy the next day is the..... cheap little 12-32.

I do like my Panasonic 12-32. My Panasonic 14-42 II would be my alternate choice. I don't even think about them being on the camera. They're solid, general purpose, lenses.

Could it be there's other people out there that like these.....kit lenses? After all the decades of kit lens bashing...

I think most of the Pana kit lenses are generally well regarded around here and viewed as well above average for kit lenses. The 12-32 was/is one of the cheapest smallest ways to get a 12mm, I don't use mine a lot but I like it.

Impulses wrote:

thinkinginimages wrote:

cba_melbourne wrote:

If someone robbed me of all my 20 or so lenses, I am 100% sure the first lens tat I would buy the next day is the..... cheap little 12-32.

I do like my Panasonic 12-32. My Panasonic 14-42 II would be my alternate choice. I don't even think about them being on the camera. They're solid, general purpose, lenses.

Could it be there's other people out there that like these.....kit lenses? After all the decades of kit lens bashing...

I think most of the Pana kit lenses are generally well regarded around here and viewed as well above average for kit lenses. The 12-32 was/is one of the cheapest smallest ways to get a 12mm, I don't use mine a lot but I like it.

The 12-32 is not that robust but its performance is excellent.  I view it as a must-have disposable item, easy to buy used.

Andrew

Sam Bennett wrote:

What are yours?

1. 17/1.2 - My favorite "general purpose" prime. Superb optical quality, absolutely gorgeous bokeh wide-open (where I sit with it probably 95% of the time). Wide enough to get good "context" in environmental portraits while the DoF is shallow enough to help with a bit of separation.

Robin Wong, the youtuber and Olympus ambassador, says the Olympus 17mm f/1.2 lens gives the user a feathered bokeh that is creamy. That is a convincing endorsement.

I have a Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 25mm f/1.4 II ASPH that I'd like to pair with the above lens.  Does this make sense, or should I budget for both the Olympus 17mm-f/1.2 and 25mm-f/1.2? This lens combo would have to work well in video recording applications, as well.

Samyang 7.5mm F3.5 fisheye

Oly 17mm F1.2

Oly 75mm F1.8

Those seem to be all I actually need for what I shoot (travel and concerts). Would love to add the Oly 300mm but it's out of my price range for now.

DailyPlanet wrote:

Sam Bennett wrote:

What are yours?

1. 17/1.2 - My favorite "general purpose" prime. Superb optical quality, absolutely gorgeous bokeh wide-open (where I sit with it probably 95% of the time). Wide enough to get good "context" in environmental portraits while the DoF is shallow enough to help with a bit of separation.

Robin Wong, the youtuber and Olympus ambassador, says the Olympus 17mm f/1.2 lens gives the user a feathered bokeh that is creamy. That is a convincing endorsement.

I have a Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 25mm f/1.4 II ASPH that I'd like to pair with the above lens. Does this make sense, or should I budget for both the Olympus 17mm-f/1.2 and 25mm-f/1.2? This lens combo would have to work well in video recording applications, as well.

I've never used the 25/1.4, so I can't comment on that. But to be honest, I find the 25/1.2 underwhelming - it doesn't really have the "magic" that the 17/1.2 and 45/1.2 have. Apparently it's a simpler optical design, so it makes sense that it doesn't have quite the same qualities.