Which one to get : Olympus 12mm F2.0 vs 17mm F2.8 vs 45mm f1.8


If you are after quality it would be 12mm, 25mm (4/3 2nd hand might be cheaper now) for me. I did not push for 45mm because I read a forum that for professional portrait shots you would need an 85mm f1.4 more. Otherwise you need to get close with the 45mm to have the same level of detail and bokeh.

So now I am waiting for an 85mm f1.4 from oly or panasonic :D

To much reading in forums can be missleading unless you know a lot about what you are reading... The 45 f2 is a good portrait lens...It has the same angle of view as a 90mm lens on a FF body such as a 5d or a D700....(very close to the 85m FOV)....If you get an 85 for your M4/3, Its FOV will be similiar to a 170mm telephoto lense...You will have to stand back a bit to get a Head and shoulders shot...You really need to try out some ones 45mm before you knock it...I have an 85 f1.8 Nikon lens that I use on My M4/3 bodies sometimes, but I use it mostly outdoors as a tele street lens....:cool:

Cheers
 

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20mm is more versatile IMO, and it can focus pretty close, much closer than 45/1.8. It's very good for some close up works. I'd go w this one if I were you.

Currently I have the 14/20/45 kit, the best prime combo (balance of size, price and IQ) IMO.
 

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Confuse u more, 25mm panny leica f1.4... Muahahaha....

I second that.... love this lens...
great for low lights and indoor...

consider this combi.... oly 12mm for lanscape and street, pana 25mm for portrait, street and indoor, and samyang 7.5mm fisheye, for the fun of it with artfilters.....

cheers
 

AbsolutKev said:
Confuse u more, 25mm panny leica f1.4... Muahahaha....

You very bad lei,anyway,what I wanted to say has been brought up
 

You are right and 17mm which is a 34mm equivalent would be a good everyday shooting lens. But my kit lens cover the 14mm and 17mm range

Like you, I also just gotten the EP-L3 for abt 1mth plus, but I took the single lens kit (14-42), as advised by salesman to try out 1st, for I may not need "super zoom" ... until today I still thinking if I had made a wrong decision to save $250 :( Anyway that's history.

Today just collect my 1st prime lens (oly 17mm f2.8). I want one for its size and relatively cheap, though IQ may not be comparable to Pana pancakes ... happy ... still learning every day :P
 

Hi,

I'm getting the ep-3 soon,most likely tomorrow
reading the post here,

Here are some of my understanding

the panny 20mm f1.7 is the slowest lens?

the image quality on the 17mm f2.8 is not as good as the 20mm f1.7?

recommended lens would be panny leica 25mm f1.4? but this is ex.?

the m.zuiko 12mm f2 is wide angle , good IQ. but also exp right?

the 45mm f1.8 is faster then the 20mm f1.7?

the 20mm can focus closer then the 45mm..?

which one has the better image quality and speed , 17mm f2.8 or 14mm f2.5?

I don't know whether i can just buy the body and 2 prime lens. not really interested in the kit lens.

So after some reading , i looking into getting the 45mm f1.8 for head shots ..

and 1 that's abit wide. 12mm f2 would definitely be out of my budget.

so that leaves me with the 14mm f2.5 or 17mm f2.8 or 20mm f1.7. Don't think i can afford the panny leica 25mm f1.4
and i don't want to sacrifice focusing speed. which one is advisable to get?
 

I'm having a blast reading the comments of some of the forum members just starting into photography and yet going into detailed feature specs and spending a lot of money on specialists lenses.

My suggestion is to first enjoy photography and fully exploit your first lens before making more investments. The average camera these days is far ahead of the needs of the average phtogrpher.
 

I'm having a blast reading the comments of some of the forum members just starting into photography and yet going into detailed feature specs and spending a lot of money on specialists lenses.

My suggestion is to first enjoy photography and fully exploit your first lens before making more investments. The average camera these days is far ahead of the needs of the average phtogrpher.

Well said.
There is a difference between a 'need' and a 'want'.
I wish I have the 45mm f1.8 to capture a dance performance tonight but I will have to crank up the ISO and use my 40-150mm and try to exploit it's potential.
 

Hi,

I'm getting the ep-3 soon,most likely tomorrow
reading the post here,

Here are some of my understanding

the panny 20mm f1.7 is the slowest lens? - Slowest in what sense?

the image quality on the 17mm f2.8 is not as good as the 20mm f1.7? [most say it is softer. I haven't seen a copy that refutes this]

recommended lens would be panny leica 25mm f1.4? but this is ex.? [Recommended only if you don't mind the size compared to the 20mm. Expensive is a relative term. I must say it doesn't have the bang for buck quality of the 20mm pancake lens]

the m.zuiko 12mm f2 is wide angle , good IQ. but also exp right? [Expensive is again, relative. I don't find it worthwhile]

the 45mm f1.8 is faster then the 20mm f1.7? [Focusing speed? probably.]

the 20mm can focus closer then the 45mm..? [Google the minimum focusing distance. The answer is there]

which one has the better image quality and speed , 17mm f2.8 or 14mm f2.5? [I'd say 14mm. But they are different lenses. You can't base a purchase off image quality and speed alone without having a preferred focal length]

I don't know whether i can just buy the body and 2 prime lens. not really interested in the kit lens.

So after some reading , i looking into getting the 45mm f1.8 for head shots ..

and 1 that's abit wide. 12mm f2 would definitely be out of my budget.

so that leaves me with the 14mm f2.5 or 17mm f2.8 or 20mm f1.7. Don't think i can afford the panny leica 25mm f1.4
and i don't want to sacrifice focusing speed. which one is advisable to get?

I'd say, you need to find out how much is "wide enough". Varies between most people. 12mm to me is overkill.
 

Like you, I also just gotten the EP-L3 for abt 1mth plus, but I took the single lens kit (14-42), as advised by salesman to try out 1st, for I may not need "super zoom" ... until today I still thinking if I had made a wrong decision to save $250 :( Anyway that's history.

Today just collect my 1st prime lens (oly 17mm f2.8). I want one for its size and relatively cheap, though IQ may not be comparable to Pana pancakes ... happy ... still learning every day :P

The salesman gave good advice there....
 

I believe it's a good idea to use what is in the kit first. That's how I started with the ep1... Enjoyed it very much and gave me an idea what I actually wanted. The 17mm pancake served me well, so did the 14-42mm. After understanding myself and the kind of photos I enjoy taking, I've since decided the 12mm and 45mm are my preferred focal lengths.. So that's my combo now wherever I go. So it really depends on what you love most. Then get the lenses which suit you most. As a pen owner, my advise is, enjoy shooting :)
 

To much reading in forums can be missleading unless you know a lot about what you are reading... The 45 f2 is a good portrait lens...It has the same angle of view as a 90mm lens on a FF body such as a 5d or a D700....(very close to the 85m FOV)....If you get an 85 for your M4/3, Its FOV will be similiar to a 170mm telephoto lense...You will have to stand back a bit to get a Head and shoulders shot...You really need to try out some ones 45mm before you knock it...I have an 85 f1.8 Nikon lens that I use on My M4/3 bodies sometimes, but I use it mostly outdoors as a tele street lens....:cool:

Cheers

The forum I read was linked in one of the threads here. The 45mm is a top performer but the thread I read illustrated by means of pictures that you have to go up close to get the same quality with the 45mm as with the 85mm lens for canon/nikon. The portraits seemed to be better on the 85mm mounted on the PEN than the 45mm. So I got convinced to wait for that lens because of the pictures shown.
 

I'll recommend the 12mm.
+ Wide enough for traveling, particularly useful for indoors
+ Silent and fast focus (compared to 14, 17 and 20mm)
+ f/2 useful if you shoot often in low light
It's not a pancake but it's not like you're going to put in a pocket.

Relatively speaking, 17mm is noisy and focus isn't that fast.

45mm is quite limiting unless you're frequently shooting portraits. Actually for whatever lens you want to buy, you should limit to shooting with your kit lens to that focal length to see if you're comfortable.

Here are some photos I shot with the 12mm on GH2.



5992307171_10355ba774_z.jpg


[video=youtube;n3y9pPYC6rI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3y9pPYC6rI[/video]
 

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