m43 mid-range zoom suggestions

[stompyq]

I will be picking up a Olympus em-10 soon and need a mid to relatively longish zoom to pair it up with. Size is a big consideration for me and the smaller it is the better. I'am confused with all the different options out there and if I should stick with Olympus native lenses or look at other brands (i.e Panasonic). Any suggestions?

For context I have a olympus 25mm 1.8 that I'am very happy with. Not really concerned with the wide end. I don't want to get the 45mm 1.8 prime

 

[jsrockit]

Hmmm, a zoom huh Pramodh? I seem to remember getting dissed for using one this weekend. 😉

 

[stompyq]

Hmmm, a zoom huh Pramodh? I seem to remember getting dissed for using one this weekend. 😉

Haha. this is to take to Sri Lanka when I'am on vacation. I carried a 55-200mm VR zoom for my Nikon D7000 last time and used it a few times. I need to replace it. And no john, that zoom your using still looks ridiculous😀

 

[Godfrey]

I will be picking up a Olympus em-10 soon and need a mid to relatively longish zoom to pair it up with. Size is a big consideration for me and the smaller it is the better. I'am confused with all the different options out there and if I should stick with Olympus native lenses or look at other brands (i.e Panasonic). Any suggestions?

For context I have a olympus 25mm 1.8 that I'am very happy with. Not really concerned with the wide end. I don't want to get the 45mm 1.8 prime

I've heard good things about the M.Zuiko 40-150mm lens, very nice for a consumer grade lens, and the Panasonic 35-100/2.8 is also supposed to be an excellent lens (but quite a bit heavier/more expensive). They have a lower-end f/4ish lens too, quite a lot less money and weight.

Frankly, there aren't any "bad" lenses in the Olympus/Panasonic mFT lineup. Of course the pro-grade lenses are the best performers, but it's amazing what can be done with even the least expensive options.

G

 

[dfatty]

one option is the olympus 12-50mm zoom, which gets generally good reviews.

http://www.photographyblog.com/revi...igital_ed_12_50mm_35_63_ez_review/conclusion/

it's not as small as the 12-42 kit lenses (there are a bunch of versions) but i like this option for travel because it's water resistant/proof. i used it with an e-m5 on the maid of the mist boat tour at niagara falls and had no issues, so the water resistance is quite good i think.

some folks also like the oly 14-150, which is your basic superzoom for m43. that and a fast prime might cover everything you need to do, though of course the 14-150 is a pretty slow lens.

panny lenses are also very popular on the olys, like the 12-35 and 35-100 2.8s. excellent lenses but pricey. the oly 12-40 is the counterpart to the 12-35 and is also supposedly excellent, though a little larger than the panny 12-35.

those are the only zooms i'm familiar with, here's a lens chart with a whole bunch more:

http://www.four-thirds.org/en/microft/lens_chart.html

 

[FA Limited]

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1082159-REG/panasonic_h_fs35100_lumix_g_vario_35_100mm.html

there is the tiny new 35-100 but you'll have to wait till November

 

[rhl-oregon]

Pramodh, I bought a 40-150 Zuiko for a NZ trip a few years ago. It's fat, but maybe 4" long unextended. As Godfrey says, it performed well for the price. I couldn't interest anyone on rff last year at a bargain price, though.