Recommendations for micro 4/3 lenses?

[TheDrift-]

I am thinking about getting a small micro 4/3 as a carry round camera to complement my DSLR, maybe a Pen F or the new GM7 if that's announced soon.

The micro 4/3 system has a wealth of lenses, does anyone have any good recommendations to point me in the right direction to get started?

As its a carry round small size is important, I was thinking maybe a pancake fast 35mm equivalent and maybe a small zoom in the 24-70 area?

Any recommendations?

 

[MCAsan]

I sold off all my DSLR equipment and went m43. I have two Olympus E-M1 bodies and these lenses: 60mm macro, 7-14mm Pro, 12-40mm Pro, 40-150 Pro, and the 1.4TC. I will order a 300mm Pro later this year. The Pro series of lenses are at least as good as the Canon L glass I owned in the past.

So much depends on what you want to shoot. I do landscape and wildlife so I want weatherproofed bodies and lenses. For me non-sealed bodies like the Pen F and non sealed lenses are of little interest.

 

[TheDrift-]

I sold off all my DSLR equipment and went m43. I have two Olympus E-M1 bodies and these lenses: 60mm macro, 7-14mm Pro, 12-40mm Pro, 40-150 Pro, and the 1.4TC. I will order a 300mm Pro later this year. The Pro series of lenses are at least as good as the Canon L glass I owned in the past.

So much depends on what you want to shoot. I do landscape and wildlife so I want weatherproofed bodies and lenses. For me non-sealed bodies like the Pen F and non sealed lenses are of little interest.

Thanks

I am going to use it as a walk around camera, one to keep on me at all times. So I am looking in the 35mm prime or 24 to 70 region.

Any of the more specialist stuff I'll use my DSLR for...so it's just good sharp small everyday lenses I was mainly looking for

 

[MacRy]

I used to have a M43 camera before going down the Fuji route and I really wanted the Panasonic 20mm F1.7 as everyone raved about it. I couldn't afford one so went for the Panasonic 14mm F2.5. I wasn't disappointed as it was a great little lens. Tiny as well.

 

[MCAsan]

24-70mm for 35mm systems equals to 12-35mm for m43. The 12-40mm F2.8 Pro would be an excellent choice. It is the walk around lens in the Olympus Pro lens series. Note that Olympus lens does not have IS because IS is in the bodies. The exception will be the new 300mm Pro which has IS. When that lens is mounted on a Olympus body with IS the two IS systems interwork for a combined ~6 stops of IS. You can hand hold the 300mm Pro. You would do that with a 35mm system's 600mm lens.

Suggested forum: https://www.mu-43.com
Suggested Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/482933475079982/

 

[phrehdd]

There are plenty of choices out there and the Olympus is a great option. I tend to go with the Fuji line up but just as easily could see the Olympus fitting your needs. There are others too that are excellent options and perhaps hitting up some of the photo-hardware sites would be helpful. (DPReview comes to mind though it is not perfect.)

 

[TheDrift-]

Thanks the 12 40 seems a little to big for my needs, may as well bring out my 5d and the 24 70, the panny 20 1.7 looks ideal and great reviews, thanks

 

[the future]

The Olympus 17/1.8 is not much bigger than the Panasonic 20/1.7 and will focus faster; it's also closer to the classic 35 mm equivalent focal length.

A very nice and tiny walkaround zoom is the Panasonic 12-32.

Be sure to try the camera(s) in store as handling can be quite different. The Panasonic GMs are *very* small; this may be exactly what you're looking for or it may be an ergonomic disaster.

Personally I like *slightly* bigger cameras and think the new Pen-F looks absolutely amazing. Expensive, though.

 

[MCAsan]

Olympus and Panasonic make m43 bodies. Note that the new Pen-F is not weather sealed.

Stick with the same brand for bodies and lens to get the best image stabilization. Why? Because IBIS from company's body does not interwork with the OIS in the other company's lenses. Olympus does IBIS and not OIS in their lenses (except for the new 300mm). Panasonic does OIS in the lenses and no IBIS, except for their new GX8.

 

[kingalexthe1st]

Haven't been on here in quite a while but this discussion tempted me enough to reply.

Correct me if I'm preaching to the converted, but no-one has mentioned it yet: if you buy an Oly body, you can use both Oly and Panasonic lenses as the IS is in the body. If you buy the Panasonic body, you can use both types of lenses but the Panasonic doesn't have IBIS and put their IS in the lenses, so the panasonic lenses are the only real option there.

I'm surprised no-one has mentioned the Olympus 14-42 EZ pancake lens. It's a pancake (obviously) and has the relatively 'standard' FOV of 28-84mm FF. It has rubbish aperture (f/3.5-5.6), but with the IBIS of an E-M10ii, say, then you can get your longer exposure times without any bother, and have a very pocketable walk-around camera.

Alex

 

[TheDrift-]

Hi

Thanks for all the help, I think I am going to go for an olly (i think my heart belongs to them as I still use a 35RC film camera from time to time!)

Weather sealing isn't an issue for me, if I'm out in bad weather and if thats the case I will likely be 'serious' shooting so will use my DSLR.

I am really just after a 'fun' camera to have around often and keep me inspired the Pen F seems to fit that bill, albeit at a price, although I would expect it to come down in price a couple of months after launch...(which will be really handy if the 5dmk4 finally makes it appearance!)

Thanks for the heads up on the image stabilisation, I had never really considered a 4/3 camera until the weekend so I am really playing catch up...would you need to turn the lens IS off when there is IS in the body (would they interfere with each other?) or is it fine to leave them both on.

Lenses wise I think I am set on:

The panny 20 1.7 mk 2

A toss up between the Olympus M.Zuiko 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 ED EZ vs Panasonic 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 ASPH POWER OIS LUMIX G X VARIO from what I read the panny is a little bigger but a little sharper...although i think you can get the Pen F bundled with a 14/42

If it helps anyone else i found this site which lists a lot of 4/3 lenses, with pics so you can see the relative size:
http://hennigarts.com/micro-four-thirds-lenses.html

Of course as when always looking at lenses you go completely off mission, and now am wondering if i can justify the cost of a Lumix G Leica DG NOCTICRON (I know its not small!!) but not at the moment!!

 

[kingalexthe1st]

Thanks for the heads up on the image stabilisation, I had never really considered a 4/3 camera until the weekend so I am really playing catch up...would you need to turn the lens IS off when there is IS in the body (would they interfere with each other?) or is it fine to leave them both on.

I don't know enough to give a complete answer on that. All I do know is that an on Oly camera you have the option of telling the camera to 'prefer' IBIS or OIS. No idea about Panasonics, perhaps someone else can answer that.

Good luck with your camera and lens purchases, I think you're going to have a lot more fun with the m43 system than you think

Alex

 

[dwig]

The Olympus 17/1.8 is not much bigger than the Panasonic 20/1.7 and will focus faster; it's also closer to the classic 35 mm equivalent focal length.

A very nice and tiny walkaround zoom is the Panasonic 12-32. ...

+1 to both lenses, though the Pany 20 is also a good consideration.

The Pany 12-32 is a good fit to the OP's wants. The Oly 12-40 that others have mentioned, while a very good lens, is a very poor fit as it is hardly "compact".

 

[ocabj]

Recently, I added a m43 kit to compliment my existing Canon dSLR kit (been on Canon dSLR since 2005).

• Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II
• Olympus 17mm f/1.8
• Olympus 45mm f/1.8
• Olympus 60mm f/2.8 MACRO
• Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8

If you want to stay as small as possible, I think the 17mm f/1.8, 45mm f/1.8, and 75mm f/1.8 are going to be all the lenses you need. Maybe add the 12mm f/2, as well.

 

[robgendreau]

I know you want small but the 14-140 or 14-150s aren't that big, and very versatile. I'm coveting the Oly 14-150 right now cuz it's on sale for like $200 off....

But my very fave Oly lens is the 60 macro. I find it to be my go-to outdoors hiking lens. I thought it would be a bit too long, but it seems to work out, especially with panoramic landscapes.

In combo with my Panny 20mm it's a great setup.

 

[TheDrift-]

I know you want small but the 14-140 or 14-150s aren't that big, and very versatile. I'm coveting the Oly 14-150 right now cuz it's on sale for like $200 off....

But my very fave Oly lens is the 60 macro. I find it to be my go-to outdoors hiking lens. I thought it would be a bit too long, but it seems to work out, especially with panoramic landscapes.

In combo with my Panny 20mm it's a great setup.

Ahh lens fever, think I might have caught it for the Panasonic Leica noctalux 42.5..which I know is not small..!!

I have preordered the oly pen f, with an kit zoom 14-42 and ordered the Panasonic 1.7 20mm to go with it.

If I got on with it then maybe just maybe for the noctalux

 

[Erlang]

I swapped from DSLR to M4/3, a PL5 and love it. I have the 14-42, but I tend to use my 17mm 2.8 or 45mm 1.8. (Wish I had the 17mm 1.8 and the 75mm 1.8)

All lenses are Oly but I'm currently waiting for a Samyang 12mm 2.0 to arrive principally for long exposure star and milky way shots.

I've even had some fun with the 15mm cap lens.

 

[Nismo73]

I swapped from DSLR to M4/3, a PL5 and love it. I have the 14-42, but I tend to use my 17mm 2.8 or 45mm 1.8. (Wish I had the 17mm 1.8 and the 75mm 1.8)

All lenses are Oly but I'm currently waiting for a Samyang 12mm 2.0 to arrive principally for long exposure star and milky way shots.

I've even had some fun with the 15mm cap lens.

On my em5 m2, the pan20mm is super sharp compared to the oly17mm 1.8, but slower focus. Got rid of the 17mm. Gonna try the oly25mm vs the 20mm for sharpness soon.
If the 25mm oly is just as sharp as the 20mm and focuses faster, I would use the 25mm on the street, but would still keep the 20mm.