M43 Perfect Lens Selection? What have you?

bl0at3r

bl0at3r

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Alan
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I'm currently having an internal debate with myself regarding the best selection of lenses to acquire so that my M43 will give me a full coverage of focal lengths.

So far I have P14, P20 primes and P14-42. I also then have 2 lenses for my D5100 - N18-55 and N35 prime (btw - I am probably selling DSLR and moving exclusively to m43 - again!).

The trouble is with having 2 different systems and lenses that are very close in the focal lengths that they cover, is that they overlap and I am lacking in ultra wide and telephoto.

What is your perfect lens line up? Is the 45-200 more popular/better IQ than the 100-300 for example? How about the 14-140mm? What about the 7-14 vs the 9-18?

For info I shoot anything and everything so don't have a particularly speciality and want to cover as much focal length as possible.
 
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I have the following

Samyang 7.5mm
Panasonic 7-14mm
Panasonic 14mm
Panasonic 20mm
Panasonic Leica 25mm
Olympus 45mm
Panasonic 14-42mm
Panasonic 100-300mm

The lenses I use the most are the 7-14, 25 & 100-300, the image quality on these is amazing. Think I have all I need apart from a macro, was looking at the Panasonic Leica 45mm, but will wait to se what the Olympus 60mm is like first.

Oh and I never use the 14-42
 
bl0at3r said:
Interesting thanks Julian

The 25 is a very nice lens - I assume it focuses quicker than the sometimes lethargic 20?
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Yes no complaints, don't use the 20mm now.
 
Probably not needed as you've got this focal length covered, but I've got the Sigma 19mm focuses nice and quick (quicker than the 20mm). It's not a true pancake lens which is a shame
 
Alan,

The 100-300 is a cracker of a lens, I did have some issues with it on my OMD though, in fact ironically enough the only Panasonic lenses I didn't have any trouble with were the 7-14 and the much maligned 20mm!

Its one of the reasons I ditched the OMD, aside from the 45mm all the lenses I had / wanted were Panasonic and if Olympus/Panasonic can't get them to work properly on the OMD then it just wasn't going to be a fulfilling experience, get very frustrated with the 100-300 a few times just refusing to focus at all.
 
It's MF most of the time for me with Voigtlander 25mm f0.95 and Minolta 55mm f1.7. I use a Panny 20mm f1.7 sometimes if I want the most compact combination possible and hardly ever use a 14-42mm but it's there if I want it.

Currently, honestly, I don't use aything as I injured my arm weeks ago and it's causing so much pain and discomfort I can't really do anything at the mo :thumbsdown:
 
I have the 9-18 Oly, but wished I had the 7-14 Panny. I have the 20mm Pannny and 45mm Oly for street stuff, have never really made my mind up which is better.
I use the original 14-45 for travel or when I can't make my mind up which lens to take out, I only ever take one lens out, unless travelling.
 
I have

Samyang 7.5, Panasonic 14, 25, Oly 45 and panny 14-42 (on a second camera that ms arad85 uses). I'm happier with the 25 and 45 than I am with the Canon L lenses I have.

I'm moving to m4/3 and will end up with 7-14, 12-35, 35-100 when it is released and the 25 and 45 primes (I'll probably sell the 7.5mm), although I may change the 35-100 for an oly 75mm prime. I don't often shoot above 100mm equivalent, so I have no need for anything longer, although I might get some long manual lenses....
 
Interesting thread. I have the Panny 14mm and 45-200mm but looking to pick up a couple more primes, hopefully the PL 25mm and a 45mm lens.

What is the difference, and which would people recommend, between teh Oly 45mm and the Panny 45mm ?
 
You don't say which body you finally want to end up with, which might have bearing on your lens choice.
None of the Oly lenses have OIS as it is all dealt with in body, and the E-M5 is of course dust/water resistant.

For what it's worth on a recent holiday to China, I took a pair of PEN bodies EP-1 & 2
and on the lens front, I took 7-14mm, 14-140mm & 100-300mm with 20mm & 14mm to pack in the evenings and for low light and compactness.

In theory I thought that would cover all bases, but wonderful though the 7-14mm is, you can't use it with a ND Grad to tone the skys down a bit. We were blessed with grey/white skies for most of the holiday.
From that point of view, the 9-18mm might be worthy of consideration, depending on your main use for a wide angle.

The 14-140mm vignetted at the wide end when I used a polariser or screw in ND-grad as the filter frame wasn't thin enough.
I didn't use the 14mm pancake much.
 
My next buy,when i get some money is going to be the 12-35 F2.8 panny,and maybe add 45mm.

At the moment

12-50 olympus
14-45 panasonic
20 panasonic

:)
 
philshep said:
Probably not needed as you've got this focal length covered, but I've got the Sigma 19mm focuses nice and quick (quicker than the 20mm). It's not a true pancake lens which is a shame
Click to expand...

Have read good things about the sigma but a shame it is quite big

Dave in Wales said:
All Panny

7-14
14-45
PL25
PL45 Macro
45-200
Click to expand...

Have any of these mis-behaved on the om-d Dave?

chrism_scotland said:
Alan,

The 100-300 is a cracker of a lens, I did have some issues with it on my OMD though, in fact ironically enough the only Panasonic lenses I didn't have any trouble with were the 7-14 and the much maligned 20mm!

Its one of the reasons I ditched the OMD, aside from the 45mm all the lenses I had / wanted were Panasonic and if Olympus/Panasonic can't get them to work properly on the OMD then it just wasn't going to be a fulfilling experience, get very frustrated with the 100-300 a few times just refusing to focus at all.
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Thanks Chris

woof woof said:
It's MF most of the time for me with Voigtlander 25mm f0.95 and Minolta 55mm f1.7. I use a Panny 20mm f1.7 sometimes if I want the most compact combination possible and hardly ever use a 14-42mm but it's there if I want it.

Currently, honestly, I don't use aything as I injured my arm weeks ago and it's causing so much pain and discomfort I can't really do anything at the mo :thumbsdown:
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Nice lens Alan - hope you get well soon.

Danny_Two said:
I have the 9-18 Oly, but wished I had the 7-14 Panny. I have the 20mm Pannny and 45mm Oly for street stuff, have never really made my mind up which is better.
I use the original 14-45 for travel or when I can't make my mind up which lens to take out, I only ever take one lens out, unless travelling.
Click to expand...

I'm also trying to have as few lenses as possible but cover the greatest range - the 7-14 seems to get universal praise.

chrism_scotland said:
Depending on what you like the pricey Panasonic 12-35 f2.8 might be a good all in one... perhaps with a 45mm?
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Does look like a nice walkabout lens

arad85 said:
I have

Samyang 7.5, Panasonic 14, 25, Oly 45 and panny 14-42 (on a second camera that ms arad85 uses). I'm happier with the 25 and 45 than I am with the Canon L lenses I have.

I'm moving to m4/3 and will end up with 7-14, 12-35, 35-100 when it is released and the 25 and 45 primes (I'll probably sell the 7.5mm), although I may change the 35-100 for an oly 75mm prime. I don't often shoot above 100mm equivalent, so I have no need for anything longer, although I might get some long manual lenses....
Click to expand...

Seems like a sensible selection - I'm interested in the 35-100 too

When are you actually going to make the move to M43? you seem to be taking a while :lol:

Spy said:
Interesting thread. I have the Panny 14mm and 45-200mm but looking to pick up a couple more primes, hopefully the PL 25mm and a 45mm lens.

What is the difference, and which would people recommend, between teh Oly 45mm and the Panny 45mm ?
Click to expand...

Have a read of this monster thread - http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1041&message=41665794

peak4 said:
You don't say which body you finally want to end up with, which might have bearing on your lens choice.
None of the Oly lenses have OIS as it is all dealt with in body, and the E-M5 is of course dust/water resistant.

For what it's worth on a recent holiday to China, I took a pair of PEN bodies EP-1 & 2
and on the lens front, I took 7-14mm, 14-140mm & 100-300mm with 20mm & 14mm to pack in the evenings and for low light and compactness.

In theory I thought that would cover all bases, but wonderful though the 7-14mm is, you can't use it with a ND Grad to tone the skys down a bit. We were blessed with grey/white skies for most of the holiday.
From that point of view, the 9-18mm might be worthy of consideration, depending on your main use for a wide angle.

The 14-140mm vignetted at the wide end when I used a polariser or screw in ND-grad as the filter frame wasn't thin enough.
I didn't use the 14mm pancake much.
Click to expand...

GX1 and probably an OM-D, or maybe a G5/3.

I want the GX1 for pocketability with the pancakes and then the bigger body with EVF for the wider and longer lenses. Plus then all my lenses are interchangeable rather than having 2 different systems.

I like the look of the 9-18 but can't help think the extra 2mm is the bit I'd need/want :help:

Seen a couple of mods for the 7-14 with filters on the front.

simonblue said:
My next buy,when i get some money is going to be the 12-35 F2.8 panny,and maybe add 45mm.

At the moment

12-50 olympus
14-45 panasonic
20 panasonic

:)
Click to expand...

The P45 gets great reviews too :thumbs:

Thanks all
 
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Photos taken using Panasonic 100-300mm on EM5. None of Chris's focusing problem:

7822273328_e08153112c.jpg


7822275320_f001086be9.jpg
 
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bl0at3r said:
Seems like a sensible selection - I'm interested in the 35-100 too

When are you actually going to make the move to M43? you seem to be taking a while :lol:
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There's a big for sale thread in the Canon section ;). Once some of that sells the 7-14 and 12-35 will be ordered.

I finally decided yesterday that I could actually end up with better lenses and money in the bank moving to u4/3. I'm very happy with the G5 and will get another body when the sensor improves significantly (possibly GH3, possibly not).

I'm happier with the photos I take on m4/3 plus it is lighter and smaller.
 
arad85 said:
There's a big for sale thread in the Canon section ;). Once some of that sells the 7-14 and 12-35 will be ordered.

I finally decided yesterday that I could actually end up with better lenses and money in the bank moving to u4/3. I'm very happy with the G5 and will get another body when the sensor improves significantly (possibly GH3, possibly not).

I'm happier with the photos I take on m4/3 plus it is lighter and smaller.
Click to expand...

You've seen the light then Andy, hopefully you'll not regret it either. The freedom of not lugging expensive heavy Canon L lenses is really liberating and as you say, quality is equal with a good number of mft lenses and money in the bank. I got rid of my canon gear in one job lot to MPB
 
arad85 said:
There's a big for sale thread in the Canon section ;). Once some of that sells the 7-14 and 12-35 will be ordered.

I finally decided yesterday that I could actually end up with better lenses and money in the bank moving to u4/3. I'm very happy with the G5 and will get another body when the sensor improves significantly (possibly GH3, possibly not).

I'm happier with the photos I take on m4/3 plus it is lighter and smaller.
Click to expand...

Excellent decision :thumbs: GLWS

ShrubMonkey said:
You've seen the light then Andy, hopefully you'll not regret it either. The freedom of not lugging expensive heavy Canon L lenses is really liberating and as you say, quality is equal with a good number of mft lenses and money in the bank. I got rid of my canon gear in one job lot to MPB
Click to expand...

Your photostream proves what you can do with M43 Julian :thumbs:
 
I am pretty satisfied with my m4/3 collection, I have:

Pana 7-14 (used a lot)
Pana20 (seldom used)
Pana 14-45 (used a lot)
Pana 45-200 (used least)
Pana 100-300 (used most)
Oly 12-50 (great for macro)
Oly 75 (just got, not sure how much use it will get)

and legacy glass, most of which is very sharp:

Oly OM 50 f1.4 (seldom used)
Oly OM 50 f1.8 (seldom used)
Oly OM 100 f2.8 (most used)
Oly OM 135 f2.8 (often used)
Oly OM 200 f4 (often used)
Oly OM 300 f4.5 (sometimes used, very heavy)
Oly OM 2x converter (designed to be used with 100, 135 and 200)

All of my legacy glass put together cost less than the Olympus 75 on its own!

I have an OM-D EM-5, a Pana GH2 and a Pana GF1

Waaay too much stuff and I will be starting to sell some off, but it's fun :D
 
ShrubMonkey said:
You've seen the light then Andy, hopefully you'll not regret it either. The freedom of not lugging expensive heavy Canon L lenses is really liberating and as you say, quality is equal with a good number of mft lenses and money in the bank. I got rid of my canon gear in one job lot to MPB
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Yes. I haven't used the 5D2 in ages and the fact that the focus is from the sensor and not phase detected means focus is spot on every time. I'm thrilled with the two primes (25 & 45) and they are sharp as anything. 7-14 - whilst expensive - will cover the 17-40 replacement and the 12-35 will do the 24-105.

I may well offload to MPB on anything I can't sell here. Did you get a good price?
 
Glenn Surtees said:
I am pretty satisfied with my m4/3 collection, I have:

Pana 7-14 (used a lot)
Pana20 (seldom used)
Pana 14-45 (used a lot)
Pana 45-200 (used least)
Pana 100-300 (used most)
Oly 12-50 (great for macro)
Oly 75 (just got, not sure how much use it will get)

and legacy glass, most of which is very sharp:

Oly OM 50 f1.4 (seldom used)
Oly OM 50 f1.8 (seldom used)
Oly OM 100 f2.8 (most used)
Oly OM 135 f2.8 (often used)
Oly OM 200 f4 (often used)
Oly OM 300 f4.5 (sometimes used, very heavy)
Oly OM 2x converter (designed to be used with 100, 135 and 200)

All of my legacy glass put together cost less than the Olympus 75 on its own!

I have an OM-D EM-5, a Pana GH2 and a Pana GF1

Waaay too much stuff and I will be starting to sell some off, but it's fun :D
Click to expand...

WOW - interesting that you added whether it gets used or not - very helpful too :thumbs:

arad85 said:
Yes. I haven't used the 5D2 in ages and the fact that the focus is from the sensor and not phase detected means focus is spot on every time. I'm thrilled with the two primes (25 & 45) and they are sharp as anything. 7-14 - whilst expensive - will cover the 17-40 replacement and the 12-35 will do the 24-105.

I may well offload to MPB on anything I can't sell here. Did you get a good price?
Click to expand...

7-14 is on my wishlist - Kerso was cheapest but just when I was ready to buy he is not sure when he is getting anymore :(
 
arad85 said:
Yes. I haven't used the 5D2 in ages and the fact that the focus is from the sensor and not phase detected means focus is spot on every time. I'm thrilled with the two primes (25 & 45) and they are sharp as anything. 7-14 - whilst expensive - will cover the 17-40 replacement and the 12-35 will do the 24-105.

I may well offload to MPB on anything I can't sell here. Did you get a good price?
Click to expand...

I considered the price very good, far better than LCE quoted and my local (Sussex camera). They paid the carriage too, I decided that it was worth not having the hassle of selling privately and individually.
 
bl0at3r said:
WOW - interesting that you added whether it gets used or not - very helpful too :thumbs:

7-14 is on my wishlist - Kerso was cheapest but just when I was ready to buy he is not sure when he is getting anymore :(
Click to expand...

I got my 7-14 from Kerso, at the time LCE had a used one for £900 :o
 
I cracked. I've just ordered the 7-14 and 12-35 from DigitalRev and asked MPB for a quote on all the unsold stuff I have..... I also ordered an OM 135mm f3.5 from the Bay to play with. I'll wait to see what the 35-100 X reviews like and what the price is (and see if there are any special offers on the LL site).
 
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Pana 14mm - Only had it a week or so but have used it a fair few times.
Pama 20mm - At the mo attached to my GF1. Love it for street photography.
Oly 12-50mm - Attached to my OM-D. 2 days old, so too early to say.
Oly 14-42mm - Haven't used for ages.
Pana 14-45mm - Haven't used for ages.
Oly 45m - At the mo attached to my EP-1. Love it.
Pana 40-200mm - Used a few times, keeping for when I need extra length
 
I only have the 14-45 and 45-200 with my G2. I haven't moved to primes yet as I really don't know which focal lengths would work best for me.
I had the 14mm but sold it this week as it just wasn't being used and I need the money at the moment. I'll grab another one soon though.
 
Glenn Surtees said:
I am pretty satisfied with my m4/3 collection, I have:

Pana 7-14 (used a lot)
Pana20 (seldom used)
Pana 14-45 (used a lot)
Pana 45-200 (used least)
Pana 100-300 (used most)
Oly 12-50 (great for macro)
Oly 75 (just got, not sure how much use it will get)

and legacy glass, most of which is very sharp:

Oly OM 50 f1.4 (seldom used)
Oly OM 50 f1.8 (seldom used)
Oly OM 100 f2.8 (most used)
Oly OM 135 f2.8 (often used)
Oly OM 200 f4 (often used)
Oly OM 300 f4.5 (sometimes used, very heavy)
Oly OM 2x converter (designed to be used with 100, 135 and 200)

All of my legacy glass put together cost less than the Olympus 75 on its own!

I have an OM-D EM-5, a Pana GH2 and a Pana GF1

Waaay too much stuff and I will be starting to sell some off, but it's fun :D
Click to expand...

Interesting collection of lenses you have there Glenn.

I was interested to see that your two MOST USED lenses are the Pana 100-300 and the legacy Oly OM 100mm and had a few questions:

1. What do you mostly use these two lenses for ?
2. Given they both cover 100mm how is it they are both used most (if you see what I mean) ?
3. Is there a reason (eg quality, performance) why all your legacy lenses are Oly and there aren't any Canon FD in there ?

Thanks :thumbs:
 
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Spy said:
Interesting collection of lenses you have there Glenn.

I was interested to see that your two MOST USED lenses are the Pana 100-300 and the legacy Oly OM 100mm and had a few questions:

1. What do you mostly use these two lenses for ?
2. Given they both cover 100mm how is it they are both used most (if you see what I mean) ?
3. Is there a reason (eg quality, performance) why all your legacy lenses are Oly and there aren't any Canon FD in there ?

Thanks :thumbs:
Click to expand...

I use the 100-300, mostly at 300 when I take these:

Turkish1.jpg


puffin4-2.jpg


The Oly 300 prime is no slouch either:

P8180594-2.jpg


I use the 100 because it is sharper, smaller and faster than the 100-300 at the 100 end and use it to take these:

fly-1.jpg


P7140303.jpg


I use Olympus OM legacy glass because it is mostly smaller and lighter than equivalents from other manufacturers and because I'm an old Olympus OM-1 shooter and I like the lenses.
 
ShrubMonkey said:
That Oly 300mm prime looks good Glenn
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Yes, it is pretty good, there is quite a bit of CA but Lightroom gets rid of it and it is heavy, not really in m4/3 territory but has a tripod ring and a built-in hood and it cost me £100

P8180727.jpg
 
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ShrubMonkey said:
I considered the price very good, far better than LCE quoted and my local (Sussex camera). They paid the carriage too, I decided that it was worth not having the hassle of selling privately and individually.
Click to expand...
This is now exactly what I have done. All remaining kit is off to MPB tomorrow for a sum just slightly less than I was trying to sell here. Just not worth the bother IMHO.

I am now officially a MILCer :D (and I'll have cash waiting for a good deal on a 35-100 f 2.8 - or perhaps an Oly 75mm - or maybe both! ;))
 
arad85 said:
This is now exactly what I have done. All remaining kit is off to MPB tomorrow for a sum just slightly less than I was trying to sell here. Just not worth the bother IMHO.

I am now officially a MILCer :D (and I'll have cash waiting for a good deal on a 35-100 f 2.8 - or perhaps an Oly 75mm - or maybe both! ;))
Click to expand...

Congrats - better update the info under your avatar then :thumbs:
 
arad85 said:
This is now exactly what I have done. All remaining kit is off to MPB tomorrow for a sum just slightly less than I was trying to sell here. Just not worth the bother IMHO.

I am now officially a MILCer :D (and I'll have cash waiting for a good deal on a 35-100 f 2.8 - or perhaps an Oly 75mm - or maybe both! ;))
Click to expand...

Nice one, no hassle route ;)
 
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