shopping for micro 4/3 lens

[majid]

Ahem, the Digilux 3, a.k.a Panasonic L1, is a Four-Thirds camera, not a Micro Four Thirds one, and is thus not compatible with m43 lenses. Since the flange distance of 43 is much longer than m43, it is not possible to make an adapter, just as you can't mount Leica M lenses on a SLR (except perhaps as a macro lens without infinity focus).

 

[semilog]

Olympus 12-60 2.8-4 SWD. It's a bit bulky but it's a truly wonderful lens, focuses extremely fast and silently, is extremely sharp straight from max aperture, has terrific macro capability, and is at its optical peak at 35 mm eqivalent. It has a bit of barrel distortion at its widest setting of 24 mm eq. but there is very little by 28 mm eq. and essentially zero at 35mm. Representative reviews here and here.

For a fixed lens there are a few interesting choices: Olympus 25/2.8 pancake (50 mm eq.), Olympus 50/2 macro (optically perhaps the best non-exotic 4/3 lens, but focus speed is suboptimal), and the Leica 25mm Summilux (optically lovely, hard to find, (even) more expensive than the 12-60, and *much* bulkier than you might expect). You can get the 25 pancake and the 50 macro for less than the Leica. If I were going fixed-only, that's what I'd do.

There's also the amazing 150/2. Oooooh, I want that lens a lot.

By the way, the 12-60, the 50, and the 150 are all weather-sealed. The Olympus 25 is not, and none of the PanaLeica lenses are sealed either.

Here's a pic taken with the 12-60. Yes, that's skunk cabbage. It stinks. The lens does not!

 

[retnull]

For 4/3rds, there is a 25mm f1.4 Summilux by Panasonic/Leica...expensive, have not tried it myself, but have seen very nice results from it online.

 

[semilog]

I should add that if you really want shallow DOF you are going to want to go with the PanaLeica 25/1.4 or the Olympus 50/2. Or the 150/2 😀. Or any of a number of wonderful old Olympus SLR lenses mounted on an adaptor.

 

[Mazurka]

For a fixed lens there are a few interesting choices: Olympus 25/2.8 pancake (50 mm eq.),

As Majid already pointed out, this lens is not compatible with the Digilux 3.

 

[Andy Kibber]

As Majid already pointed out, this lens is not compatible with the Digilux 3.

I'm pretty sure it's a 4/3 lens, not a micro 4/3 lens:

 

[semilog]

If you're thinking about the 25 Summilux -- and you should be! -- you'll probably want to look at this, this, and this.

 

[semilog]

All the lenses I've mentioned here are 4/3. They can be mounted to 4/3 or µ4/3 bodies (the latter with an adaptor).

Lists:
4/3
µ4/3

 

[Tom Diaz]

my digilux 3 will be here tomorrow -- am looking for a good panasonic / leica lens for it -- something that has nice texture and rendering -- I tend to like shallow depth of field -- any recommendations?


corrected title to looking for 4/3 lens

I owned this camera (which is a 4/3 and not m4/3 camera, as has been pointed out).

The 25mm f/1.4 Summilux is a fantastic lens. So, see if you can find one. It probably will not be at a bargain price, and it's not small. However, you will not be disappointed with the quality of the images.

The Leica "kit" lens is also excellent. Again, not compact or light weight.

If you are going to stick with this camera you may want to investigate the Olympus 4/3 lenses, too. Their 50mm f/2 Macro is considered one of the great lenses of all time. However, for this and other 4/3 lenses, consult this Panasonic web page:

http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/download/fts/index.html

It will tell you whether you can autofocus on a Digilux 3 with a particular lens and also whether you need to update the firmware on either camera or lens or both.

Tom

Tom

 

[Mazurka]

I'm pretty sure it's a 4/3 lens, not a micro 4/3 lens:

Okay my bad. Was thinking about the 17/2.8. After all, this is the micro 4/3rds forum, no?😱

 

[Andy Kibber]

Okay my bad. Was thinking about the 17/2.8. After all, this is the micro 4/3rds forum, no?😱

Haha I though that might be what you were thinking of! Sorry to call you out on it, just wanted the OP to have the correct answer.

 

[kuzano]

Personal experience with the 14-50 Leica Vario Elmarit

Personal experience with the 14-50 Leica Vario Elmarit

Very big lens, heavy. While it adds Image Stabilization in lens, it is not as sharp, or as light, as any of the three weather sealed Olympus 4/3 lens listed.. 12-60, 30, 50.

Since it was Panasonics L-1 kit lens,(a heavy camera in it's own right) small size and light weight seemed not to be a goal. I was surprised at how much sharper the Olympus 14-54 Mk I lens was, when I got that lens. Also a good selection in the $300 used category, I might add.

All of the 4/3 lenses can be adapted to m4/3, although all may not utilize the latest focusing functions on the Micro bodies. Tricky area here, if you are aiming toward micro bodies eventually. There is a fine line of selection choices between Oly and Pana and 4/3 and m4/3. Adapting M4/3 lenses back to standard 4/3 is not possible. Adapting all sorts of legacy lenses with appropriate, but different, adaptors is possible for both 4/3 and m4/3

Personally, for my own budget, I'd buy the used Olympus 14-54 for $300. Mine outshot my used $400 plus Leica Vario Elmarit handily and weighed a lot less.

 

[semilog]

Kuzano has a great point here. In terms of price-performance the 14-54 is hard to beat. The second version is still less than $500 new. Both versions are weather sealed and a bit more compact than the 12-60.

The 12-60 has just a bit more contrast, and slightly wider range (useful mainly at the wide end), and faster focusing (SWD=USM), but at higher cost and bulk.

The Leica lenses do have built-in IS, and the Oly lenses do not (Oly uses sensor-based IS). The Oly lenses are weather-sealed, and the Leica lenses are not. For me this last point is definitive. YMMV.

 

[Tom Diaz]

got my first lens --- went with the elmarit 14-50 -- just didn't have the funds for the summilux - YET

Now, another thought - I'm busy producing some printed high end greeting cards - almost thought about dropping $45 on the skink 4/3 pinhole system to do some florals and surreal landscapes --- any thoughts?

also, are there any 4/3 MACRO lenses that are any good???

thanks everybody so far for your help...

I haven't used it, but the Olympus 50mm f/2 macro has the reputation of being one of the best macro lenses ever, and it's a 4/3 lens.

 

[kbg32]

You better make sure your sensor is clean before using a pinhole lens, or you'll be spending a whole lot of time cloning out dust specks!