The micro four thirds lens tree.

Keith

Keith

The best camera is one that still works!
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Searching the net for micro four thirds lenses is great if you know what you're looking for ... which I don't! I know that Panasonic are a mover and obviously Olympus but what else is available? Cosina make a couple of pricey 0.95 offerings that would be nice! :D

I like the sound of the Panasonic 25mm f1.4 and have one ordered ... but what about a fast 35mm equivalent (17 or 18) prime that won't break the bank to go with the 25mm f1.4 when it gets here?

This is obviously an information gathering exercise on my part as I am a micro 4/3 virgin I must admit! :D


gathered information

Cosina 17.5mm f0.95

Cosina 25mm f0.95


Olympus 17mm f2.8


Panasonic 20mm f1.7
 
I haven't bought any m4/3 yet, but when I fantasy shop I usually gravitate to the 14mm 2.5

When I go flickr hunting for lens sample images I do not see huge differences in images produced by the wider primes, and when I have asked for opinions there doesn't seem to be strong feelings of one over another either. I kind of take that to mean that they are all pretty good, but none are really stellar or stand out as a clear winner.
 
back alley said:
the panasonic 20/1.7 is great...
Click to expand...



That's getting a little close to 50mm (equivalent) for me.

I'm going to go back and edit my original post to include everything that's mentioned which may help others who are also unsure.
 
I though Panasonic made a 17 or 18mm lens but I couldn't find it. Olympus has a 17/2.8 which cost around $250 US. CV makes a 17.5mm/0.95 lens which was reviewed on Huff's site in May.
 
I just found a new Panasonic 14mm f/2.5 lens on ebay for $160. I might go for that myself.


edit: the panny 14mm is ordered for $160.
 
The lack of fast AF lenses below 20mm is a bit annoying.

There is a M. Zuiko Digital ED 12mm f/2.0 and a Sigma 19/2.8. I hear focusing isn't much of a challenge unless you are within a couple of dozen centimeters from your subject.

There are a bunch of slow zooms too.

Fortunately you know how to use a manual focus lens. The $1,250 CV 17.5/.95 looks like your best choice.

Then there are a multitude of m4/3 lens adapters. Now you know why people spent a great deal of time researching, acquiring and testing countless adapted lenses.
 
Hmmm ... just noticed a 25mm Sumilux in the classifieds!

Tha't cruel! :p
 
semordnilap said:
Keith,

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

I think most everything available is listed there?
Click to expand...

Good overview. A few very new things are missing (like the new Panasonic 12-35/f2.8) but all in all it probably answers Keith's question.

Also note that you can use Four Thirds (not Micro-) lenses, too:
http://www.four-thirds.org/en/fourthirds/lense.html
AF will be slower and the lenses stand out a bit from the body because of the extra lens register, but they work. Which is nice, because Four Thirds lenses are relatively cheap nowadays and the lineup contains a few things not covered by Micro Four Thirds, such as fast telephotos (150/f2, 35-100/f2), a fisheye (8/f3.5) or wideangles of the more extreme kind (7-14/f4).
 
On my Panasonic GX-1 I use the following:-

Panny 7-14mm (brilliant lens, tack sharp corner to corner)
Panny 20mm f1.7 (as above)
Panny/Leica 25mm F1.4 (close to the above in FL but beautiful colour and bokeh)
Olympus 45mm F1.8

Schneider 25mm f0.95 (vignettes at 4/3rds but fine at 3:2) cost $400 3 years ago and destroys the CV Nokton equivalent.

Nikon 50mm F1.4 AI-s

Kern-Switar 75mm f1.9 macro

Contax G lenses:- 35, 45 and 90mm via adapters (sharpest of all and wonderful IQ)

Don't need anything else.
 
There's also the sigma 19mm f2.8 Keith which (despite being a little large) seems to be optically great, and is exceptionally cheap. I'll also say a word for the olympus 17mm f2.8 - which, I've said some harsh words about in the past, but is actually not a bad little lens (and once again very very cheap).

Personally I'd be so tempted to go for that nokton 17.5mm
 
If you're content with (relatively slow) zoom lenses, the Panasonic 7-14 is superb, but you cannot say it's cheap.
 
I'll probably take Sug's Panny off his hands as there's definitely a saving there! :)

I don't think I could justify the 17.5mm Nokton though ... not to mention thats a big lens to put on a little camera! :eek:

As a matter of interest the Nokton 17.5mm f0.95 can be bought for $150.00 less in Oz than Camera Quest has them listed for currently ... not that I was looking! :eek:
 
JSU said:
If I pull the trigger on a M4/3 camera it will be to use compact lenses, specifically one or more of the pancakes. From my perspective the Panny 20/1.7 is a must have lens.

The concept of adapting 35mm legacy lenses to a M4/3 camera seems counterintuitive.
Click to expand...


So ... are we talking a micro four thirds camera or the micro four thirds camera?

I agree with you about legacy lenses ... I know a lot of people are doing it but I can't really get my head around it! As a matter of interest that 17.5 Nokton is as big as the M mount 35mm f1.2! :eek:

That's the 17.5 on the far left!


voigt_m43_17_25_35_50.jpg
 
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