Micro four/thirds uber primes

Mr Bump

Mr Bump

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Just purchased a used Olmpus OM-D EM5 Mk II in the classifieds and for testing got hold a a kit zoom.
My main love is primes though to replicate my fave film camera a Nikon FE2 with 35mm and 50mm lens.

looking around the Panasonic 20mm (40mm in old money) seems to get a very good rating.
Also the Panasonic 25mm Leica edition (50mm old money)

Whats the thought here?
 
Depends on your preferred focal length really and whether or not size is a consideration (the 25mm is quite large by m43 primes standards) and whether or not you need f/1.4. Both have fantastic IQ.

There is also the new Panasonic 25mm f/1.7 which is supposed to be pretty good by the first reviews (not sure it is readily available).

The Olympus 25mm is also good, this is a good comparison review: http://robinwong.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/olympus-mzuiko-25mm-f18-lens-review.html

I have the PL25 and given my time again I would probably get the Oly but that is purely down to the physical size and it has a slightly wider field of view.
 
My main thoughts are I am used to shooting with a 35mm lens on my FE2 and when I use my 50mm lens I find it a bit close for standard shooting.
I do fancy the Leica 50mm but I need something closer to my fave 35mm focal length.
 
Well, the other options are the Oly 17mm which is good but not as optically good as the rest of the primes or the PL15mm which is optically stunning.
 
This one, I had considered it

Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 15mm F1.7 ASPH
 
I had the p20 1.7 and it was superb, awesome IQ, rendered beautifully and incredibly sharp BUT was a little slow to focus in low light so had to go. Many love it though
 
Mr Bump said:
This one, I had considered it

Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 15mm F1.7 ASPH
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's the one.

If you're someone who believes in stuff like 'rendering' then the PL lenses are said to have 'it', whatever that may be and some think the Oly primes are a bit clinical.

Don't buy it myself but you pays your money.

The thing with the Oly 17mm is that wide open the CA at the edges and around OOF areas (forget what it's called) is bordering unacceptable for me. It is nicely built though and sharp enough (but not as sharp as any of the other primes).
 
My thoughts are at this moment either the 15mm Panasonic Leica or the 20mm Panasonic and maybe the 25mm Panasoic Leica (although if I buy the 20 Panasonic it puts these close) and down the line I would like a Macro lens and the 60mm looks nice.
 
Most Primes are soft wide open to be fair, I generally run most at F4 and just use wide open for dark indoor scenes.
 
Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 15mm F1.7

Humm £400......best start saving
 
Mr Bump said:
Most Primes are soft wide open to be fair, I generally run most at F4 and just use wide open for dark indoor scenes.
Click to expand...

Not in the world of m43 they aren't :) One of the great things about m43 is that you can expect lenses to be super sharp wide open.

Given what you've said I think the P20 is probably the lens you want, at least you can pick one up cheaply and see if it works for you. It isn't as quick to focus as some of the newer ones but it is still pretty quick (my Nikon 50mm f/1.4 is pretty slow to focus too). The mk1 version is said to be a little bit sharper.
 
Think the Sigma is f2.8, no?

THe 15mm and 25mm combo would be what you're after I reckon.
 
JYC said:
Think the Sigma is f2.8, no?

THe 15mm and 25mm combo would be what you're after I reckon.
Click to expand...

No, there's a new f/1.4 version which looks pretty nice but it is actually an APSC lens so is pretty chunky by m43 standards.
 
Possibly not for this requirement but the Sigma 30 and 60 Art lenses are quite nice.
 
I keep reading that the Oly 17mm f1.8 isn't as good as the rest but I have to say that I think that it is... It's well made, better than most MFT lenses, the snap manual focus system is wonderful, it focuses quickly and the optical quality seems to be more than simply adequate to me and in fact good. When looking at lenses at round about the 35mm equivalent focal length it is IMO well worth a very serious look.

I also have the Panasonic 20mm f1.7 and it too seems to be a good lens although it is a bit slow to focus so this may need to be taking into consideration depending upon your needs.

The Oly 25 and 45mm f1.8 seem to be good to me and can be found used at very reasonable prices as can the Panasonic 14mm f2.5.
 
Mr Bump said:
looking around the Panasonic 20mm (40mm in old money) seems to get a very good rating.
Also the Panasonic 25mm Leica edition (50mm old money)
Click to expand...
Optically those are both total winners.
Also not expensive and a great value lens is the Olympus 45mmF1.8
and creme de la creme the Olympus 17mmF1.8 : long but superb.
(I have loads of primes but try to get the cheaper end. This 20mm gets the most use but only cos I've mislaid my 17mmF2.8)
The Pana-Leica 15mm is cool too.
 
I think I will take a punt on the 15mm Leica with a view to adding the 25mm Leica at a later date.
 
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Ulfric M Douglas said:
Optically those are both total winners.
Also not expensive and a great value lens is the Olympus 45mmF1.8
and creme de la creme the Olympus 17mmF1.8 : long but superb.
(I have loads of primes but try to get the cheaper end. This 20mm gets the most use but only cos I've mislaid my 17mmF2.8)
The Pana-Leica 15mm is cool too.
Click to expand...
Did you mean creme de la creme Olympus 75mm F1.8??
 
Aah ... yesss ... the 75mm ... why did I write 17mm just 'cos I was about to mention my old lost lens :(
 
Anybody for the Sigma 19/2.8 Art ? I have the 30 and 60 and they're pretty good in my book.
 
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