This is second post in my series that started with part 1 . Both these posts are about my gear. This one specifically focuses on lenses. I shoot for hobby and therefore do what makes me happy, not what customers pay for. This is how I relax when my paying job stresses me.
I explained in my first post, how I moved over from DSLR to ML after finding the 40-150/2.8 PRO, and recently replaced the GH6 with a G9II.
I also shoot rehearsals and back stage stories for these shows. These locations are not well lit like the stage is. I started running into higher ISOs (over 6400) with the f/2.8 zooms. More on DxO and NR in another post, but let me just say I wanted to stay with ISO under 3200.
Increasing use of primes...
This year, I got a set of primes... 9/1.7, 15/1.7, 42.5/1.7 and 75/1.8. Earlier I had dabbled with adapted primes (especially Canon 50/1.8 and Nikon DX 35/1.8) but the slow AF-S was inadequate for my purposes. I still have those two lenses and adapters but I only use them for experimentation now. I do like the Nikon DX 35/1.8's rendering more than the Canon 50/1.8's for portraits. I also tried a Canon EF 100/2.8 macro with the adapter. Other than its size/weight, it was the best adapted lens in my experience for AF and image results.
The 15/1.7 proved to be the most versatile and now stays on my G9II all the time. I keep switching between the 42.5/1.7 and 75/1.8 on the GH5II as needed. The 15mm on G9II also comes in handy when I have to shoot landscapes and HHHR shots. The only reason I would replace my 15/1.7 is for a better 15/1.2 if one existed.
What I didn't like, now I like...
I used an 85/1.8 prime on both D810 and D7200 but never took a liking to it. Its rendering was not as good as the 70-200/2.8 zoom for my taste. Now I like the 42.5/1.7 and 75/1.8 a lot! My usual kit is G9II with 15/1.7 and GH5II with 42.5/1.7. In this respect, I must say that the additional DOF from m43 sensor size works in my favor. When I used 85/1.8 on DSLRs, the DOF was less than I wanted. Without AF fine-tuning, AF was not always spot on. And reducing aperture meant higher ISO. There was no DxO NR back then
Zooming with feet...
One thing I learned with the primes is to move around to compose the shots instead of turning the zoom ring. Of course, there is time and room to move about during rehearsals and I am enjoying shooting this way. I won't have that freedom during stage shows and hence the need for 40-150/2.8 zoom.
These days when I go out, I am often carrying the G9II with a wrist strap and the 15/1.7 on it. The GH5II, the 42.5/1.7 and 75/1.8 stay in a bag in the car or at the hotel if I am traveling.
My preference of zoom focal lengths...
Overall, I find m43 wide zooms not as good as the tele zooms. This may be contentious, but my opinion is based on experience with PL12-60 vs PL100-400. And also Oly 12-40/2.8 vs 40-150/2.8. If I shoot with both the Oly zooms at 40mm on the same camera and same settings, the shot from longer zoom looks noticeably better. If Oly made a 14-70/2.8 PRO that performed like this 40-150, I'd get it right away.
I now use the 15/1.7 mostly in place of 12-40/2.8, but there is a big gap between 15mm and 40mm. I need to find another prime in between but I am not yet sure which focal length I like. I might get Sigma 30/1.4. I also considered 25/1.2 but I hesitate because I was never a fan of the 'normal 50mm' FOV on DSLRs.
I also thought of the Panasonic f/1.7 zooms. While they may be good performers, they are too big and too pricey for my hobby. Sigma 30mm and 56mm have interested me more than the 16mm. I might get them on used if I find them cheap.
Primes vs. zooms...
As long as a zoom is available (in the bag, in the car, etc.) I did not learn to use primes. When the f/2.8 of zooms was not sufficient for indoor rehearsals, I was forced to use f/1.7 primes. As I started moving around and finding the right angle to shoot, the results were great and the experience was satisfying. I never thought during DSLR days that a 35mm prime would replace the 24-70/2.8, but that is what my 15mm mostly did. Well, actually, I had an idea but never committed to it because the zooms were so much easier. I said several times in my posts that I could cover an event with just 35mm and 85mm primes. I never went through with it. Now I do. I used to feel an anxiety travelling without zooms covering entire focal range. Now I don't.
The size/weight of gear was also a disadvantage with increasing age and arthritis. Downsizing helped me move more freely and do things that I always wanted to. There were times when people saw me without my camera and asked why I didn't bring one. Now they are happy to see me
Cost is real...
There is a cost to buying and replacing gear as we go through figuring out what that preference is. All that worked out for me. One difference is that I figured it out in under three years now, 2y 8m to be exact, while it took over 15 years with DSLRs. I can also say that I spent and lost less with m43 gear than I did with DSLRs. So, past experience does help.
One suggestion I would share here is to sell unused gear sooner than later, because the prices fall quickly. For the same reason, buy newer gear later than sooner. Some models are exceptions, but you know what I mean. When I switched from DSLR to ML, I donated several unused lenses to local high school's digital arts department because those five lenses together wouldn't fetch more than $100 if sold.
Summary...
Cameras, their ergonomics, lenses, and focal lengths, are all a matter of individual's preference. Those preferences are not set in stone either but can change.
As an example, I never liked 85mm lens on FF or APSC DSLR. Now I love the 42.5 and 75 primes! My preferred focal length on film camera was 35mm (or so I thought). May be that was the only prime I had and 'thought' I liked it. I now love the 15mm on mft, but did not like the 17mm. As some said in response to my recent post, I might love a 17mm when I try the f/1.2. Time will tell...
I am just sharing a few things I enjoyed in these nearly three years. As I said in my previous post, there was lot of help from this forum. I asked silliest of the questions, as an example, between the 12-40/2.8 and 40-140/2.8 which one would pair better with GH6 vs GH5M2. Even when there is no direct answer, a variety of thoughts usually give me a new idea. That's why I like interacting with helpful members.
Feel free to add your thoughts.
Thanks for reading!
I explained in my first post, how I moved over from DSLR to ML after finding the 40-150/2.8 PRO, and recently replaced the GH6 with a G9II.
I also shoot rehearsals and back stage stories for these shows. These locations are not well lit like the stage is. I started running into higher ISOs (over 6400) with the f/2.8 zooms. More on DxO and NR in another post, but let me just say I wanted to stay with ISO under 3200.
Increasing use of primes...
This year, I got a set of primes... 9/1.7, 15/1.7, 42.5/1.7 and 75/1.8. Earlier I had dabbled with adapted primes (especially Canon 50/1.8 and Nikon DX 35/1.8) but the slow AF-S was inadequate for my purposes. I still have those two lenses and adapters but I only use them for experimentation now. I do like the Nikon DX 35/1.8's rendering more than the Canon 50/1.8's for portraits. I also tried a Canon EF 100/2.8 macro with the adapter. Other than its size/weight, it was the best adapted lens in my experience for AF and image results.
The 15/1.7 proved to be the most versatile and now stays on my G9II all the time. I keep switching between the 42.5/1.7 and 75/1.8 on the GH5II as needed. The 15mm on G9II also comes in handy when I have to shoot landscapes and HHHR shots. The only reason I would replace my 15/1.7 is for a better 15/1.2 if one existed.
What I didn't like, now I like...
I used an 85/1.8 prime on both D810 and D7200 but never took a liking to it. Its rendering was not as good as the 70-200/2.8 zoom for my taste. Now I like the 42.5/1.7 and 75/1.8 a lot! My usual kit is G9II with 15/1.7 and GH5II with 42.5/1.7. In this respect, I must say that the additional DOF from m43 sensor size works in my favor. When I used 85/1.8 on DSLRs, the DOF was less than I wanted. Without AF fine-tuning, AF was not always spot on. And reducing aperture meant higher ISO. There was no DxO NR back then
Zooming with feet...
One thing I learned with the primes is to move around to compose the shots instead of turning the zoom ring. Of course, there is time and room to move about during rehearsals and I am enjoying shooting this way. I won't have that freedom during stage shows and hence the need for 40-150/2.8 zoom.
These days when I go out, I am often carrying the G9II with a wrist strap and the 15/1.7 on it. The GH5II, the 42.5/1.7 and 75/1.8 stay in a bag in the car or at the hotel if I am traveling.
My preference of zoom focal lengths...
Overall, I find m43 wide zooms not as good as the tele zooms. This may be contentious, but my opinion is based on experience with PL12-60 vs PL100-400. And also Oly 12-40/2.8 vs 40-150/2.8. If I shoot with both the Oly zooms at 40mm on the same camera and same settings, the shot from longer zoom looks noticeably better. If Oly made a 14-70/2.8 PRO that performed like this 40-150, I'd get it right away.
I now use the 15/1.7 mostly in place of 12-40/2.8, but there is a big gap between 15mm and 40mm. I need to find another prime in between but I am not yet sure which focal length I like. I might get Sigma 30/1.4. I also considered 25/1.2 but I hesitate because I was never a fan of the 'normal 50mm' FOV on DSLRs.
I also thought of the Panasonic f/1.7 zooms. While they may be good performers, they are too big and too pricey for my hobby. Sigma 30mm and 56mm have interested me more than the 16mm. I might get them on used if I find them cheap.
Primes vs. zooms...
As long as a zoom is available (in the bag, in the car, etc.) I did not learn to use primes. When the f/2.8 of zooms was not sufficient for indoor rehearsals, I was forced to use f/1.7 primes. As I started moving around and finding the right angle to shoot, the results were great and the experience was satisfying. I never thought during DSLR days that a 35mm prime would replace the 24-70/2.8, but that is what my 15mm mostly did. Well, actually, I had an idea but never committed to it because the zooms were so much easier. I said several times in my posts that I could cover an event with just 35mm and 85mm primes. I never went through with it. Now I do. I used to feel an anxiety travelling without zooms covering entire focal range. Now I don't.
The size/weight of gear was also a disadvantage with increasing age and arthritis. Downsizing helped me move more freely and do things that I always wanted to. There were times when people saw me without my camera and asked why I didn't bring one. Now they are happy to see me
Cost is real...
There is a cost to buying and replacing gear as we go through figuring out what that preference is. All that worked out for me. One difference is that I figured it out in under three years now, 2y 8m to be exact, while it took over 15 years with DSLRs. I can also say that I spent and lost less with m43 gear than I did with DSLRs. So, past experience does help.
One suggestion I would share here is to sell unused gear sooner than later, because the prices fall quickly. For the same reason, buy newer gear later than sooner. Some models are exceptions, but you know what I mean. When I switched from DSLR to ML, I donated several unused lenses to local high school's digital arts department because those five lenses together wouldn't fetch more than $100 if sold.
Summary...
Cameras, their ergonomics, lenses, and focal lengths, are all a matter of individual's preference. Those preferences are not set in stone either but can change.
As an example, I never liked 85mm lens on FF or APSC DSLR. Now I love the 42.5 and 75 primes! My preferred focal length on film camera was 35mm (or so I thought). May be that was the only prime I had and 'thought' I liked it. I now love the 15mm on mft, but did not like the 17mm. As some said in response to my recent post, I might love a 17mm when I try the f/1.2. Time will tell...
I am just sharing a few things I enjoyed in these nearly three years. As I said in my previous post, there was lot of help from this forum. I asked silliest of the questions, as an example, between the 12-40/2.8 and 40-140/2.8 which one would pair better with GH6 vs GH5M2. Even when there is no direct answer, a variety of thoughts usually give me a new idea. That's why I like interacting with helpful members.
Feel free to add your thoughts.
Thanks for reading!
