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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> m43 lens recommendations please : And a question
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09/24/2016 09:07:05 AM · #1
Alright, so I have 1 lens for my GH4: Panasonic Lumix 20mm f1.7 ASPH

I have an adapter for my Canon lenses, but would like to move away from them and buy into the m43 lenses. I'm currently looking for a good wide angle and have come to the conclusion that these 2 are the best bang for buck:

1. Panasonic LUMIX G Leica DG Summilux 15mm f/1.7

or

2. Rokinon 12mm f/2.0 NCS

The difference I can see is that with the panny I get some autofocus and that little bit extra DOF. With the Rokinon you get 2mm wider FOV and it's about 50USD cheaper where I'm at. Can anyone see any reason why one would get one over the other? I actually don't mind manual focusing since I'll be using the peaking on the GH4 (I have GH3 listed as camera because I couldn't find GH4 in the lineup)

I'd like to add Voigtlander to my bag but that'll have to wait until I can afford it. I need a good portrait lens as that's what I like to shoot when I don't do video on the GH4. Looking for any advice on how to slowly add to my m43 bag.
09/24/2016 12:04:48 PM · #2
Can't speak to the equipment, but to have any equipment added to the roster, you need to start a ticket. Click on the 2nd from the bottom (Equipment Addition/Change) and let us know what you want added/changed.
09/24/2016 12:07:45 PM · #3
Did you mean m43 or m42 lens?
09/24/2016 12:26:58 PM · #4
I can't offer advice on which lens to purchase but don't buy something because it seems good enough. If you enjoy the micro 43 platform and plan to stay a while then get the best lens for the job. Lenses tend to hold their value better than camera bodies so it's money well spent. Refurbished or used might be an option worth considering.
09/24/2016 01:37:06 PM · #5
Oh, micro four thirds... Duh. Sorry about that.
09/24/2016 02:32:10 PM · #6
Originally posted by insteps:

I can't offer advice on which lens to purchase but don't buy something because it seems good enough. If you enjoy the micro 43 platform and plan to stay a while then get the best lens for the job. Lenses tend to hold their value better than camera bodies so it's money well spent. Refurbished or used might be an option worth considering.


good advice. once you have used a really good lens (for me that is an old prime), the others are ho hum. so this advice is not just about the money.
09/24/2016 05:03:22 PM · #7
So much choice with M43 and all lenses are amazingly sharp from wide open as you would have found with the 20mm f1.7.

As you already have the 20 the 15 is reasonably close in focal length and you might be better going with an Olympus 12mm f2 (yes you can put Olympus lenses on panasonic bodies). This is a more expensive lens and if you don't need the f2 you might look to pick up a used Panasonic 12-35mm f2.8 lens or an Olympus 12-40mm f2.8 lens (which has closer focusing). The Panasonic is the more compact of the two.

For WIDE you could also look at the Panasonic 7-14mm f4

Another choice would be the Samyang 7.5mm fisheye lens (also known as Bower and Rokinon) It is full manual but seeing it is to wide once you set the focus to about 1-2 feet in front of the lens everything is then in focus so you just shoot. Can be defished, is small and light and cheap. Gets heaps of praise.



For a portrait lens either the Olympus 45mm f1.8 or the newer cheap Panasonic 42.5 f1.7 should be perfect for you (this is an 85mm FF lens equivalent focal length)

Jaime Silva Flickr - Does lots of portraits with the Oly 45 f1.8 and Oly 75 f1.8

Message edited by author 2016-09-24 17:10:25.
09/24/2016 05:27:12 PM · #8
I have the Rokinon and use it on my Olympus camera. It's a fun little lens and I use it more for the big nose animal looks than scenery.

Here's one taken in winter of 2014



And here's one I took earlier this month:

Cow pic

I think for the price it's a pretty good lens.

edit to say - whoops. My Rokinon is a 7.5mm lens.

rokinon

Message edited by author 2016-09-24 17:30:55.
09/24/2016 07:16:42 PM · #9
If I had the cash right now I'd buy the Panny 7-14 and 12-35. Unfortunately I don't have the cash so I'm starting a bit smaller. I figured a few prime lenses to start would be good.

The 2 lenses I listed above seem simlar in many ways so I figured I'd ask for some real world experience.

The wider lenses are more for video whereas the longer lenses are for portrait work (Not paid, hobby).

I've been using a cheap adapter for EF lenses to m43 camera. No i.s sucks and when using something like my 100mm which becomes a 200mm, it makes things difficult to shoot.

I'll take a look at the lenses recommended.

09/24/2016 07:28:12 PM · #10
I thought the Panasonic 15mm was quite expensive.
Maybe you are thinking of the 14mm f2.5?
09/24/2016 07:34:46 PM · #11
You could also look at a speed booster for all your canon lenses.
Their focal length would be multiplied by .07 (I think that is correct) and they become 1 stop faster.
It's like a 1.4 teleconverter in reverse and where the teleconverter makes things softer the speed booster makes the lenses sharper.

Your 24-70 would become a 16.5-49mm f2
The 50mm would become a 35mm f1

09/24/2016 08:30:31 PM · #12
Originally posted by RamblinR:

I thought the Panasonic 15mm was quite expensive.
Maybe you are thinking of the 14mm f2.5?


Where I'm at the Panasonic LUMIX G Leica DG Summilux 15mm f/1.7 is 430 USD

The Samyang is 380USD
09/24/2016 08:44:24 PM · #13
Definitely the 15mm for that price then.
A secondhand 14 should be cheap but might not be fast enough for you at f2.5. It is tiny, smaller than the 20mm.
Still wonder if 15 will be wide enough compared to the 20mm though.
09/25/2016 06:22:38 PM · #14
Don't forget the Sigma m43 offerings but they are all f2.8

19mm
30mm
60mm

09/26/2016 07:58:45 AM · #15
how wide do you ant to be? the crop factor on 4/3 is about 2. so you really need a wide angle to get wide. i ended up putting my 14-42 up for sale and going with the leica 20/1.7 becuase i'm not really losing that much to get much more shallow dof.

the 14mm (28mm equiv) was wide enough for me even thought it wasnt really that wide. i'd think you'd want the 12mm to get far enough away from the 20mm you have now. the 15mm will only get you 10mm equiv away which isnt much, the the 12mm will put you 16mm away.

you may also want to look at the 8mm/8 , its cheap and not the best lens in the world and its f8 but it will get you really wide for cheap.

fwiw, the 20mm 1.7 is absolutely fantastic, if your subject matter allows, look into stitching together some frames from the 20 in post as an alternative.
09/26/2016 09:08:10 AM · #16
FYI - Nice place to follow Micro 43 trends 43 Rumors.
09/28/2016 07:51:35 AM · #17
to add, i have the Olympus 45/1.8, its become a favorite of mine since i love the 85mm focal length for portraits. Its fast nice, bokeh and very sharp.

a fast prime on 4/3 is mandatory to get shallow dof from the smaller sensor.

Message edited by author 2016-09-28 07:52:00.
09/30/2016 12:57:25 PM · #18
I'm looking at 1 set of lenses for photography (I love the 85mm focal range) and 1 set for video, with some of those overlapping.

I need something wide for video and something with image stabilization. But the I.O.S comes with a price tag. I thought that maybe with that I could get a nice 3 axis gimbal instead.

If only money were not an object.

I think I'm going to bring my GH4 into the store, take a few test shots and see what I like. I'm leaning towards the Samyang right now. But if I can sell a couple of my Canon lenses I might pick up the 7-14...not sure.
10/06/2016 12:23:24 PM · #19
My vote would be for the Rokinon 12mm f/2.0 NCS (Samyang). The 15mm is one of the most over priced M43 lenses out there. Massive barrel distortion. I've used the cinema version of the Rokinon & it's quite sharp, especially from F2.8 to 8. As far as depth of field wide open, the are similar as the shorter focal length closes the gap of the difference in aperture.

Also check out the 12-60, which I have on my GH a lot due to it's weather resistance. It also adds image stabilization. I would imagine that ebay, etc. is about to be flooded with them considering the about to be released G85(80) offers it as a kit for only a $100 more than the body alone. I preordered mine from Amazon even though I already own the lens.
10/09/2016 12:38:16 PM · #20
Useful thread. I've mostly stopped using my Canon DSLR's since getting an Olympus micro 4/3. Image quality is great and it carries more easily on the bike. But I love my wideangle and this thread has given me some things to look at for the Olympus.

The lenses I have been looking at to replace my kit lenses are the Olympus 14-150 (all in one solution that should have a similar range to my Canon 18-135) and the 14-42 pancake lens (will be able to fit it in a jersey pocket with this mounted). If anyone has either of these, some feedback is appreciated,
10/09/2016 12:48:17 PM · #21
Originally posted by insteps:

but don't buy something because it seems good enough. If you enjoy the micro 43 platform and plan to stay a while then get the best lens for the job.

Generally good advice, though I tend to stay with good but less expensive gear because I take some risks with mine, taking photos while riding. My camera has gotten dropped occasionally. Shots like this would be fun with a wideangle. I've done it with my Canon DSLR and 10-24 once, but the combo is really too bulky and heavy for such use.

10/09/2016 03:37:06 PM · #22
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

Useful thread. I've mostly stopped using my Canon DSLR's since getting an Olympus micro 4/3. Image quality is great and it carries more easily on the bike. But I love my wideangle and this thread has given me some things to look at for the Olympus.

The lenses I have been looking at to replace my kit lenses are the Olympus 14-150 (all in one solution that should have a similar range to my Canon 18-135) and the 14-42 pancake lens (will be able to fit it in a jersey pocket with this mounted). If anyone has either of these, some feedback is appreciated,


I have the Olympus 14-150 F 4-5.6. Besides my kit lens that came with my Pen E-P2 back in 2011, this is the first lens I purchased for micro 4/3. Amazingly versatility except in low light situations. The Olympus 40-150 F 2.8 Pro would blow this lens away but it's huge for micro 4/3 standards. For bike rides, on sunny days, it would be a good choice. Pair this with a fast prime and you're set.

I'd probably buy the newer version 2 that's dust and splash proof.
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