Need advice for lens to accompany my coming OM-D EM-5

[Agrivar]

20 & 25 suits slightly different purpose. Get both if you have the money : )

20 is small, light, very bright, good as a walk around lens, Relatively cheap. Approx $450 (2nd hand) -550 (new)
25 is larger, heavier, very very bright, good for very low light conditions, focuses faster than the 20mm, good when you need to shoot video in low light, Has the "Leica colours" Approx $780

 

[deregisteraccount]

I would suggest getting the Sigma 30mm F2.8 instead. The build quality feels cheap and the lens is slower, but the image quality is very good and its a lot cheaper than the Panasonic 25mm.
Sigma 30mm f/2.8 EX DN Lens for Panasonic/Olympus Micro 330963

 

[silencer13]

I would suggest getting the Sigma 30mm F2.8 instead. The build quality feels cheap and the lens is slower, but the image quality is very good and its a lot cheaper than the Panasonic 25mm.
Sigma 30mm f/2.8 EX DN Lens for Panasonic/Olympus Micro 330963

Thanks for the suggestion. But I don't understand.
You are suggesting I get this lens just because it's cheap, although it doesn't fulfill my needs at all?

 

[snip3r]

Just gotten the 20/1.7 . I would say the it's slow but the bokeh is pretty creamy and no rattlesnake

 

[silencer13]

Just gotten the 20/1.7 . I would say the it's slow but the bokeh is pretty creamy and no rattlesnake

Congratz, bro.
Mind sharing with me price/shop? Can PM if sensitive.

 

[zenotic]

guys, does it make sense to buy older four third lenses to pair up with the E-M5 ? I was wondering if it is significantly cheaper and since the kit comes with a mmf3. Any recommended lenses I should note ?

 

[silencer13]

2 4/3 lenses that I regularly see being praised in m4/3 systems are the Olympus 14-54mk2/2.8-3.5 and the Olympus 12-60/2.8-4.

Olympus Lens: Zooms - Olympus 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 II Zuiko Digital (Tested) - SLRgear.com!
Olympus Lens: Zooms - Olympus 12-60mm f/2.8-4 ED SWD Zuiko Digital (Tested) - SLRgear.com!

However, from what I hear, the AF will be much slower but these 2 lenses are super sharp and produce good quality.
If you can live with slow AF, they could be good buys.

 

[Agrivar]

2 4/3 lenses that I regularly see being praised in m4/3 systems are the Olympus 14-54mk2/2.8-3.5 and the Olympus 12-60/2.8-4.

Olympus Lens: Zooms - Olympus 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 II Zuiko Digital (Tested) - SLRgear.com!
Olympus Lens: Zooms - Olympus 12-60mm f/2.8-4 ED SWD Zuiko Digital (Tested) - SLRgear.com!

However, from what I hear, the AF will be much slower but these 2 lenses are super sharp and produce good quality.
If you can live with slow AF, they could be good buys.

The 14-54 mk ii is cdaf optimized so AF speed is acceptable. I can get sub 1sec AF lock. The 12-60 is not cdaf optimised so it will be 2-3 sec for AF lock.

 

[silencer13]

Is the 14-54mk2 as good as they say? Sounds like an interesting lens.

 

[Oly5050]

guys, does it make sense to buy older four third lenses to pair up with the E-M5 ? I was wondering if it is significantly cheaper and since the kit comes with a mmf3. Any recommended lenses I should note ?

No it does not make sense. If u already own them it might make a little sense. But to buy, i thk u r better off buying used m4/3 lenses.

 

[rhema83]

No it does not make sense. If u already own them it might make a little sense. But to buy, i thk u r better off buying used m4/3 lenses.

Exactly. Adaptors are made for existing lens owners. If you are starting afresh, always go for native lenses because they are designed for the system.

Anyway, HG and SHG 4/3 lenses are not cheap. You need to count the MMF-3 too because you can otherwise sell it. For all that money you can already buy some good m4/3 lenses.

 

[Agrivar]

Exactly. Adaptors are made for existing lens owners. If you are starting afresh, always go for native lenses because they are designed for the system.

Anyway, HG and SHG 4/3 lenses are not cheap. You need to count the MMF-3 too because you can otherwise sell it. For all that money you can already buy some good m4/3 lenses.

I got the 14-54 mk II from BnS sgd600. Bought the ma-1 adapter usd 91. Total cost = sgd 715. This is half the price of the to be announced 12-35/2.8 from panny. I'm used to the AF speed. But only drawback is no OIS. But with the em5, I think this works.

To those who don't need a bright zoom, that's ok. I need.

 

[zenotic]

thanks for the advice guys. I reckon that the mmf adaptor is more inclined toward the transition of four third users. Current adopters of the m43 would maximize/benefit from the system with newer lenses.

 

[rhema83]

I got the 14-54 mk II from BnS sgd600. Bought the ma-1 adapter usd 91. Total cost = sgd 715. This is half the price of the to be announced 12-35/2.8 from panny. I'm used to the AF speed. But only drawback is no OIS. But with the em5, I think this works.

To those who don't need a bright zoom, that's ok. I need.

$600 is a pretty good price for a 14-54 II. And that makes you an "existing lens owner". So adapting it to m4/3 makes sense to you.

In fact, my assessment of "making sense" is based on the prices of the currently available lenses. If the 12-35X is heavy and expensive, the adapted 14-54 II might even start to make sense for dedicated m4/3 shooters. But Olympus should really respond with a competing lens then.

 

[Agrivar]

Anyway this was posted on the other post on the EM-5, but though i'd post it here too..
its a youtube video on AF speed of several m4/3 & 4/3 lenses. Including the 14-54mkii.

M.ZD12-50mm/F3.5-6.3
LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm/F3.5-5.6
M.ZD ED14-42mm/F3.5-5.6
LUMIX G 20mm/F1.7
M.ZD17mm/F2.8
MMF-1+ZD14-54mmII/F2.8-3.5
MMF-1+ZD ED40-150mm/F4-5.6
MMF-1+ZD ED50-200mm/F2.8-3.5 SWD

OLYMPUS OM-D E-M5 AF Test/オートフォーカステスト - YouTube

 

[MichaelLee]

I got the 14-54 mk II from BnS sgd600. Bought the ma-1 adapter usd 91. Total cost = sgd 715. This is half the price of the to be announced 12-35/2.8 from panny. I'm used to the AF speed. But only drawback is no OIS. But with the em5, I think this works.

To those who don't need a bright zoom, that's ok. I need.

with MMF3, your combo is weathershield.

 

[Blu-By-U]

As many have mentioned, that 12-50 is already good for most purpose. What you need now is a bright to complete. Depending on your preference, that Lumix/leica 25/1.4 would be nice but the USD$849.00 (amazon) seems pretty steep. If you are going to buy that, why not put your money into the ZD45/1.8 @ USD399.00 and the Lumix 20/1.7 @ USD$499.00. (All prices are sourced off amazon). I am sure you can get a lower price at the shops.

Just my views.

 

[snip3r]

Congratz, bro.
Mind sharing with me price/shop? Can PM if sensitive.

Ur gear in already?

 

[zenotic]

need some opinion here, I've got a panny 20mm and is wondering if the 25mm is worth the extra weight and cash.

 

[snip3r]

need some opinion here, I've got a panny 20mm and is wondering if the 25mm is worth the extra weight and cash.

I rather you get the 45/1.8