Quintesential M43 lenses

Just bought into the m4/3 universe. Got an E-M5 ii and a Panasonic GM5 for a companion pocket camera.

My more pedestrian/budget/starter lenses than most listed here:

What I have that I would not want to do without:

Pan 12-32 - so small, light, & flexible

Pan 14mm f/2.5, unless I could get a 1.7 or 1.4, though the 2.5 is nicely tiny on the GM5.

Pan 12-60 3.5-5.6EZ - flexible and weather sealed for use on the sealed EM-5 ii

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Would like to have:

-Pan 20mm 1.7
-25mm 1.4
-Olympus 12-100 f/4
-either Pan or Oly 100-400mm 4-6.3/5-6.3 respectively since I like to shoot the moon & planets. (any advice which is better?)

Thanks, It's been a while.

Over the last year, or so, I have replaced both my 12-40 f/2.8 and 40-150 f/2.8 with the f/4 versions and have realized that for my preferred shooting venues and camera (OM-5) the smaller and lighter lenses are a much better fit. I also have the 12-100 f/4 but that is sitting home most times and might be swapped for the 8-25 f/4.

I suspect that OMDS will eventually run out the clock on the f/2.8 lenses and f/4 zooms will be the standard, being complemented by the  faster primes.

Definitely 12-100, for me it’s the essence of mft system.

thinkinginimages wrote:

Some 1st gen Panasonic 14-42's (H-FS014042) had unusually stiff zoom rings. I had one of them. It was very noticeable if you had a 14-45. Three years later Panasonic released the 14-42 II (H-FS1442A )to replace it.

Perhaps getting down to the last few now, but at least a couple of reliable retailers here in Britain claim to still have stock of the G7+14/42 bundle... priced at £449 - which is £80 less than that camera paired with the 12/60 kit lens.

Peter

> I suspect that OMDS will eventually run out the clock on the f/2.8 lenses and f/4 zooms will be the standard, being complemented by the faster primes.

Though I have just acquired a second hand 35-100 f2.8 which seems quite useful. About the same size as the 40-150 f4 at its most compact, the 35-100 is internal zoom. I also realised that when I needed longer than 100mm, the 150mm of my 45-150 f4/5.6 was rarely sufficient. So I am tempted to add the 100-300 Panasonic.

Mark

NikonBiologist wrote:

I have the PL 25 1.4 but rarely use it and keep thinking I should sell it and get the 15 1.7. Seems well liked here!

Oh, and I really like my 12-100 and 300 f4. I'd probably replace the 300 first, though since my Olympus/OMDS gear is meant for wildlife in my kit.

I have both and the 15mm gets 10 times the use of the 25mm.

Olympus 25mm f/1.8 and Olympus 60mm f/2.8 macro.

You wrote:

"Laowa 7.5mm f2

Panasonic Leica 15mm F1,7

Olympus 40-150mm f2.8

Eventually I'd fill in with others, but I could get by with just those.

What are yours?"

Pana Leica 9mm f/1.7

Pana Leica 15mm f/1.7  (I agree with you on this one)

Pana Leica 25mm f/1.4

Panasonic 42.5mm f/1.7 (amazing lens for it's price)

Panasonic 14-140mm zoom (for daylight shooting).

I also own the 60mm Sigma f/2.8 and the 100-300mm zoom, but I rarely use them.  I am sure I could get by with the 4 primes I listed and the 14-140 for just about everything.

My list is relatively short - just the 12-100mm f4 and the Oly 14-42mm pancake zoom. The big one lives on my EM5 and the wee fella lives on my EPM2.

I have other lenses I quite like - the Oly 17mm f1.8 is my favorite of the Oly cheap-but-great primes, and I rely on my Panasonic 100-300mm for when I want to shoot birds. But both of those lenses are targets for upgrading, because in future I know I want to get the Panasonic 9mm f.17 and a better telephoto zoom, so they aren't "essentials."

unhappymeal wrote:

A_Mist wrote:

Definitely 12-100, for me it’s the essence of mft system.

Big and expensive? ;).

Quite the opposite, for what it is.

12-100 has 24-200mm FL (FF equiv), constant f4 aperture, top-notch IQ and build quality, blazing fast AF, best-in-class weather sealing, sync-IS, MF clutch and fn-button. It also focuses to semi-macro territory.

I have the laowa 7.5 and 10 f2 lenses, the leica 15 f1.7 and the leica 25 f1.4. I love having these small fast primes and they all have 46mm filter threads to make it simple using a a Nisi 75mm filter holder. None are weathersealed unfortunately, the only downside but I have my S1r for bad weather shooting.

I find myself rather intrigued with the olymous 12-100 though. It seems to be held in universally high regard which is not necessarily a given for a lens witb such a large range. Might be an option for some travel I have in my future.

unhappymeal wrote:

A_Mist wrote:

Definitely 12-100, for me it’s the essence of mft system.

Big and expensive? ;).

Today there is a £175 cashback, so it's only £1,024. 561g seems reasonable for a decent super-zoom.

The obvious comparator would be the Tamron 28-200/2.8-5.6 which costs £799 (without discount), has a shorter range, captures more light, and weighs 18g more.

My impression is that both give pretty good IQ, at least owners rave about both of them. You get Dual IS with the Olympus, a lens Fn button, and a snap focus ring. Weathersealing is also a differentiator.

I'd pick the Panasonic 12-35/2.8 and 35-100/2.8 over either of them. IRL I have different kit again. We all make different choices for our own reasons.  Having options is good.

My MFT kit comes in at 3 sizes: tiny, small and smaller than my FF kit. I don't think MFT kit is especially cheap for its IQ and shooting envelope. You can get really good bargains on used MFT kit, if you want small, cheap and decent. Panasonic mk i lenses are especially attractive.

Andrew

unhappymeal wrote:

ahaslett wrote:

unhappymeal wrote:

A_Mist wrote:

Definitely 12-100, for me it’s the essence of mft system.

Big and expensive? ;).

Today there is a £175 cashback, so it's only £1,024. 561g seems reasonable for a decent super-zoom.

The obvious comparator would be the Tamron 28-200/2.8-5.6 which costs £799 (without discount), has a shorter range, captures more light, and weighs 18g more.

My impression is that both give pretty good IQ, at least owners rave about both of them. You get Dual IS with the Olympus, a lens Fn button, and a snap focus ring. Weathersealing is also a differentiator.

I'd pick the Panasonic 12-35/2.8 and 35-100/2.8 over either of them. IRL I have different kit again. We all make different choices for our own reasons. Having options is good.

My MFT kit comes in at 3 sizes: tiny, small and smaller than my FF kit. I don't think MFT kit is especially cheap for its IQ and shooting envelope. You can get really good bargains on used MFT kit, if you want small, cheap and decent. Panasonic mk i lenses are especially attractive.

Andrew

This is the second time I purchased the 12-100 and I'm shooting it beside the 14-140 II. I'm...not really impressed. Is it better? Yeah. Is it 500 € and 250+ grams better? Nope.

I've been shooting my £90 40-150 R against my £924 40-150/2.8.  Did that extra £90 add value to my kit overall - absolutely.  Would I be happy only having the plastic fantastic - absolutely not.  Was the extra weight and cost of the Pro lens worth it over a good condition used 35-100/2.8 mk i - only just.

Andrew