Pancake lenses

[PatrickO]

I'm about to take delivery of an Olympus E-420 with a 14-42mm kit lens. My main aim is to have a cheap "pocketable" camera.

I want to get a pancake prime lens, but can't decide which one.
The Olympus 25mm f/2.8 is cheap and cheerful. But I'd prefer a wider angle if that is going to be my main lens.

The camera has a Four Thirds lens mount and a x2 crop factor sensor.

Which other pancake lenses would fit (and autofocus) ?

Thanks, Patrick

 

[seriousrikk]

Olympus 17mm F2.8?

 

[woof woof]

This might help...

http://www.four-thirds.org/en/fourthirds/lens.html

 

[PatrickO]

Olympus 17mm F2.8?

I think that's a micro 4/3 which won't fit a standard 4/3 mount

This might help...

http://www.four-thirds.org/en/fourthirds/lens.html

Thanks for that, looks like the only pancake is the Olympus 25mm

 

[pepper]

no there's a panasonic lens thats either wider angle or has better f stops, shall have a quick search for you.
Sorry had a look, its not a pancake lens, its a 25mm f1.4 though!

This shows most of the 4/3 lenses available

http://www.four-thirds.org/en/fourthirds/lens.html

 

[justa1972]

Hi Patrick - how are you getting on with the e-420 ?

Can I ask where you got it from ? I'm after a small cheap but decent camera !

 

[PatrickO]

Hi Justin, the E-420 arrived yesterday and I'm charging the battery as I type. I got it new with the 14-42mm lens for £209 as an end of line from Argos on ebay:http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/OLYMPUS-E420-10MP-DSLR-CAMERA-14-42MM-LENS-NEW-/360291019489?pt=UK_CamerasPhoto_DigitalCameras_DigitalCameras_JN

Arrived in 2 days and is the full retail box with usual accessories and Oly warranty docs.

Compared to the Nikon D90 I had previously the E-420 is tiny. With the 14-42mm it just fits in a jacket pocket. I am thinking of getting the 25mm pancake which is about £200 which will make it very portable.

Reviews here http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympuse420/ and here http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Olympus_E-420/

 

[justa1972]

thanks Patrick - it is very tempting

Only thing that worries me is the lack of anti-shack technology...

 

[PatrickO]

thanks Patrick - it is very tempting

Only thing that worries me is the lack of anti-shack technology...

If you're looking for a good, small, cheap DSLR with image stabilisation...I'd suggest a Sony A200 or A230. Sony DSLRs have in-built vibration reduction unlike Nikon and Canon. You should pick up a brand new A230 with kit lens for around £300. Not as small as the E-420, but a lovely little camera with good IQ (I used one for a couple of months)