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

[ayuready]

I am still a rather new MFT user but I am beginning to love it. The size and weight is really a plus factor for me. The downside is that when I pair it with the FL600R, you will need to get a grip to feel secure. It is quite difficult to hold it nice and secure without a grip with the flash on.

Currently, I have 3 lens.
1) Kit lens 12-50
2) Panny 20mm
3) Samyang Fisheye

I love the 12-50 for the versatility, it works great for my trip to hong kong but the indoor experience is something else. The 12mm F2 is really really tempting me but I keep telling myself I dun need it. It is really expensive for something that I will not use that often.

The next lens I am looking at is the 45mm F1.8, with that it will solve the problem of low light portrait lens but that means I need to frequently switch lens for a different perspective.

I am still trying to get used to MF the Fisheye and I am having some trouble. Went for a buffet at Meltz yesterday and 90% of my FE shots were OOF. Argh.

Brought my 20mm to Yan Ting today and for food I think it works not bad.

likely to get similar combo as you!

currently had the 12-50 and 20mm. getting the flash as well.

will see how the balance of the flash with the camera, may invest in the grip if really need. but hopefully dun go back to the weight of DSLR, which is precisely why i switch over to m4/3 haha

 

[NiVleK]

likely to get similar combo as you!

currently had the 12-50 and 20mm. getting the flash as well.

will see how the balance of the flash with the camera, may invest in the grip if really need. but hopefully dun go back to the weight of DSLR, which is precisely why i switch over to m4/3 haha

I just took out my 60D to shoot my OMD with the gordy strap.

OMFG!!! I forgot how heavy it was. When I picked up the 60D, I was like "This is crazy."

 

[st3v4nt]

Finally I add my latest collection lens for OM-D. Add first I targeting for 75-300 or 14-150 / 14-140 but
finally I settled with mZD 40-150 since it's a bargain and still under warranty.
Will test it tomorrow to see the result.

 

[subisisniki]

so any users of 40-150? Hows the optics and af speed?

 

[rocketatw]

so any users of 40-150? Hows the optics and af speed?

if you are referring to the latest 40-150mm II R, i will say the IQ is good, sharp at centre, but abit soft at the corners which is common.
very fast af and very light. very portable for travelling.

 

[maldito]

I just took out my 60D to shoot my OMD with the gordy strap.

OMFG!!! I forgot how heavy it was. When I picked up the 60D, I was like "This is crazy."

which lens is attached to your 60D?

 

[tsaieh]

Recently purchase the oly 45 f1.8 and consider getting a landscape len. i have the 12-50mm kit len but like to get a either a manual len like the voigtlander 25mm F0.95, or the 17.5mm. the pana leica 25mm or the oly 12mm. if any guy like to shoot landscape, which len you guys prefer?

 

[aaahua]

Recently purchase the oly 45 f1.8 and consider getting a landscape len. i have the 12-50mm kit len but like to get a either a manual len like the voigtlander 25mm F0.95, or the 17.5mm. the pana leica 25mm or the oly 12mm. if any guy like to shoot landscape, which len you guys prefer?

none.. I gotten the 7-14 and im a happy landscape shooter most lens u mentioned are for portraits. They are too tight for landscape shots. Actually a good lens for landscape is the 14mm 2.5. Cheap, good, sharp and renders nice colours.

 

[iise7en]

none.. I gotten the 7-14 and im a happy landscape shooter most lens u mentioned are for portraits. They are too tight for landscape shots. Actually a good lens for landscape is the 14mm 2.5. Cheap, good, sharp and renders nice colours.

Yes Panasonic 14mm F2.5 is super-light and sharper when you shoot landscape or big group gathering photo. I bought it from BnS forum on last Sun at $250 with Leica hood. Very pleased with its lens.

 

[tsaieh]

so meaning to say if shooting landscape, prefer to be 14mm and/or below recommend?

 

[aaahua]

Guess you are new to photography or with interchangeable lens system. Suggest you play with your 12-50 Kit lens first. Understand the different focal lengths, their strength and weakness before jumping into buying the lenes.

From your questions you obviously do not know what you are buying but just want to acquire new lens.

Get your tripod and start shooting some landscapes, fully zoomed in and fully zoomed out with the 12-50. you will know which focal length is more for landscape and from there, you will be able to answer which lens is better for landscape..

 

[silencer13]

Recently purchase the oly 45 f1.8 and consider getting a landscape len. i have the 12-50mm kit len but like to get a either a manual len like the voigtlander 25mm F0.95, or the 17.5mm. the pana leica 25mm or the oly 12mm. if any guy like to shoot landscape, which len you guys prefer?

I am using the Panasonic 7-14mm for landscape. I find it's very good. Fantastic landscape lens. The ability to go so wide is very useful, great for shooting buildings too.
25mm and 17.5mm not really that suitable for landscape, they are quite narrow.

aaahua's suggestion is very good - experiment first to find out what you want and what you prefer.

 

[tsaieh]

I am using the Panasonic 7-14mm for landscape. I find it's very good. Fantastic landscape lens. The ability to go so wide is very useful, great for shooting buildings too.
25mm and 17.5mm not really that suitable for landscape, they are quite narrow.

aaahua's suggestion is very good - experiment first to find out what you want and what you prefer.

yup thanks guys. you are right. the 12-50 kit len is quite to experiment the focal length. i will do more shoot first.

 

[Johnbon]

If u like bokeh shots 25/1.4 is a must. U get 50mm eq which is quite suitable for street shooting. Wideangle I use 12mm.waiting for 35 100 if performance is good.

 

[Frosty1971]

Guess you are new to photography or with interchangeable lens system. Suggest you play with your 12-50 Kit lens first. Understand the different focal lengths, their strength and weakness before jumping into buying the lenes.

From your questions you obviously do not know what you are buying but just want to acquire new lens.

Get your tripod and start shooting some landscapes, fully zoomed in and fully zoomed out with the 12-50. you will know which focal length is more for landscape and from there, you will be able to answer which lens is better for landscape..

Best advice that can be given to any newcomers. Save them from collecting white elephants.

 

[nedy77]

Yes, Normally when we shoot more we will be able to answer our own questions

 

[Jupiters]

Cameras & lens don’t take pictures, photographers do. Cameras & lens are just another artist’s tools. It is entirely an artist’s eye, patience and skill that make an image and not his tools. All cameras can record what you are seeing. But, you have to SEE… The best lens you'll ever have is your eyes... Perfect your eyes before you perfect your gear...

“A photographer’s eye is perpetually evaluating. A photographer can bring coincidence of line simply by moving his head a fraction of a millimeter. He can modify perspectives by a slight bending of the knees. By placing the camera closer to or farther from the subject, he draws a detail. But he composes a picture in very nearly the same amount of time it takes to click the shutter, at the speed of a reflex action.” – Henri Cartier Bresson

 

[akuaku]

Well said

Cameras & lens don’t take pictures, photographers do. Cameras & lens are just another artist’s tools. It is entirely an artist’s eye, patience and skill that make an image and not his tools. All cameras can record what you are seeing. But, you have to SEE… The best lens you'll ever have is your eyes... Perfect your eyes before you perfect your gear...

“A photographer’s eye is perpetually evaluating. A photographer can bring coincidence of line simply by moving his head a fraction of a millimeter. He can modify perspectives by a slight bending of the knees. By placing the camera closer to or farther from the subject, he draws a detail. But he composes a picture in very nearly the same amount of time it takes to click the shutter, at the speed of a reflex action.” – Henri Cartier Bresson

 

[jin06]

I have the EM-5 together with the 20mm 1.7. I dunno if its just my lens but auto focus is terribly slow during low light situations. A bit slower than the GF1 together with the 20mm 1.7. Maybe its just my lens, just want to share my experience.

 

[Roran]

If you just want one lens to do it all, I'd suggest to go w/ the 20/1.7. Although it's only 5mm shorter than the PL 25/1.4, you'd have much room to walk (back and forth). I've used it along w/ my G3 for a 4 days trip to HK w/ the family, it covered everything. I also brought the 14-45 kit lens w/ me just in case I need slightly wider view, but only took it out once, didn't like its size, put it back in bag immediately.

I also have the PL25/1.4, but I think it'd be too tight to serve as an all-in-one purpose lens.

Performance wise 20/1.7 is really good, the optical difference between 20 and 25 is much smaller than their price diffenece.

Among the lens, 1.4 and 1.8 version always has huge price gap. Slightly above 50% price difference between 20mm and 25mm is not unusual. A slight Improvement in speed, or in bokeh, it makes the photo from good to great. Of course, there is a price to paid.