See also my Lens Buyers' Guide for Micro Four Thirds.
Currently available lenses
| Panasonic Lumix G 7-14mm f/4 (HF007014) | |
 | An extreme wide angle zoom. This lens is among the most expensive in the Micro Four Thirds lineup, and is popular for its very good sharpness. It has a hood built in, and you cannot mount a filter on the front, due to it's curved front lens. |
| Samyang 7.5mm f/3.5 Fisheye | |
 | A third party manual focus full frame fisheye lens. Review |
| Panasonic Lumix G 8mm f/3.5 Fisheye | |
 | With a 35mm camera equivalent field of view of 16mm, this is a traditional fisheye lens. Review Using the fisheye lens as a macro lens |
| Olympus 9-18mm f/4-5.6 | |
 | A more compact version of the Four Thirds lens with the same focal length range. One of the reasons why it is more compact, is the collapsible construction, much like the Olympus 14-42. When ready for use, it is much longer. |
| Olympus 12mm f/2 | |
 | A high end wide prime lens. |
| Olympus M.Zuiko ED 12-50mm f3.5-6.3 EZ | |
 | A premium standard lens. It features power zoom, and is weather proofed, meaning that it can withstand some moisture. |
| Panasonic Lumix G 12.5mm f/12 3D lens (H-FT012) | |
 | The lens has two separate lenses for a 3D effect. While the focal length of the two lenses is 12.5mm, they project two smaller images on the sensor, so the effective focal length is 65mm in 35mm equivalent. This means that in reality, this is a long normal lens. The lens has a fixed aperture of f/12. |
| Panasonic Lumix G 14mm f/2.5 Pancake lens (H-H014) | |
 | The second pancake lens from Panasonic, being even smaller than the original Lumix 20mm f/1.7. Review Distortion correction |
| Olympus 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 | |
 | The lens is collapsible, taking up less space when not in use. The illustration shows the lens in collapsed state. It is approximately twice as long when ready for use. |
| Panasonic Lumix G X PZ 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Power O.I.S. (HPS14042) | |
 | A kit lens from the premium "X" range. It features power zoom, which can only be operated with the zoom lever. There is no zoom ring, and neither is there any focus ring. The lens must be extended (motorized, automatic) before using. When collapsed, it is remarkably compact. |
| Panasonic Lumix G 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Mega O.I.S. (HFS014042) | |
 | The basic kit lens offered with Panasonic G2 and G10. The difference to the 14-45mm kit lens, is that this one has a different optical formula, no metal mount, and no on/off switch for image stabilization. A comparison with the Lumix G 14-45mm A simple bokeh and sharpness comparison with the 14mm pancake, and the 14-140mm superzoom |
| Panasonic Lumix G 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6 Mega O.I.S. (HFS014045) | |
 | The basic kit lens offered with Panasonic G1 and GF1. |
| Panasonic Lumix G HD 14-140mm f/4-5.8 Mega O.I.S. (HVS014140) | |
 | Review Autofocus speed comparison |
| Olympus 14-150mm f/4-5.6 | |
 | A superzoom, with slightly better specifications than the corresponding lens from Panasonic. On the other hand, it does not have built in image stabilization. Olympus camera bodies have image stabilization based on sensor shift, and so you don't need this lens property with an Olympus camera body. One could also guess that the Panasonic lens is better suited for video recording. |
| Olympus 17mm f/2.8 | |
 | Pancake prime lens. For a prime, it has been criticized for having a not very impressive max aperture, and also somewhat disappointing sharpness. |
| Panasonic Lumix G 20mm f/1.7 (HH020) | |
 | Pancake prime lens. This lens has become very popular, with small its footprint, large aperture, and good sharpness. It does not come with a hood, but you can buy a third party 46mm screw in hood. An example video capture with the Panasonic Lumix GH1 Bokeh comparison with the Lumix G HD 14-140mm Using the Lumix 20mm as a portrait lens |
| Panasonic Leica DG 25mm f/1.4 | |
 | Fast normal prime lens. It is much more compact than the similarly specified lens for the Four Thirds format. |
| Cosina Nokton 25mm f/0.95 | |
 | Ultra fast normal lens. This lens has manual focus and manual aperture selection only. There is no electronic contact between the lens and the camera, meaning that the camera cannot even record the aperture used. |
| Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f/4.0-5.6 | |
 | Compact tele zoom available October 2010. |
| Olympus 45mm f/1.8 | |
 | A long awaited portrait lens for the Micro Four Thirds format. Review |
| Panasonic Leica DG Macro-Elmarit 45mm f/2.8 1:1 Macro Mega O.I.S. (HES045) | |
 | Leica co-branded combination of macro and portrait lens. The Leica name stands for a high price point, but also good quality. A study of the bokeh at various apertures A study of the diffraction effects when using smaller apertures Example use of the touch screen AF with Panasonic GH2 |
| Panasonic Lumix G X PZ 45-175mm f/4-5.6 Power O.I.S. (HPS45175) | |
 | A compact tele zoom for the Micro Four Thirds system. This belongs to the premium "X" range, and features power zoom. The power zoom can be operated with the zoom ring (zoom by wire), or with the zoom lever. Review Sharpness comparison with the older Lumix G 45-200mm |
| Panasonic Lumix G 45-200mm f/4-5.6 Mega O.I.S. (HFS045200) | |
 | A fairly compact tele zoom for the Micro Four Thirds system. This lens provides good value for money, especially for Panasonic camera users who will want O.I.S. in the lens. Review Bokeh comparison with Lumix G HD 14-140mm and Panasonic Leica Lumix DG Macro-Elmarit 45mm f/2.8 1:1 Macro, all at 45mm An example video capture |
| Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 75-300mm f/4.8-6.7 | |
 | A compact long tele zoom to be released December 2010. |
| Panasonic Lumix G 100-300mm f/4-5.6 Mega O.I.S. (H-FS100300) | |
 | This is a long tele zoom. Typical uses for this lens would be sports and wildlife. Compared with professional safari lenses, though, it has a somewhat small maximum aperture. Review |
Gaps in the lens lineup
I think a professional grade standard zoom would be very useful. This could be, e.g., a zoom in the range 14-50mm, or so, with an aperture of around f/2-3.5 across this range. With fast, near-silent focus, it would also be good for video recording.
As a side note, rumors say that this kind of lens is in fact coming. A lens with the attractive specifications 12-50mm f/2.5-3.3 HD Mega O.I.S. could be announced soon by Panasonic. This would be a very good lens for videographers and photographers alike. Some rumor also quotes this lens as 12-75mm f/2.5-3.3, which I find less plausible, since it is a very long range for a large aperture zoom. It has also been reported as 12-36mm f/2.5-3.3. We can hope that such a lens will make it, whatever the final specifications will be. Probably, the lens will be about as large as the 14-140mm G HD lens, and about the same price, perhaps even more expensive.
I must disagree that the 14mm would be more useful if it were a 12mm. Panasonic are - very intelligently I think - differentiating themselves by moving away from the traditional lengths, thus they release a 20mm (40mm equiv - close to the 'perfect' 42mm) rather than a 25mm (50 equiv).
ReplyDeleteThe traditional 'next lens down' is the 35mm, which like the 50mm I find a little long for the job of standard wide -it's neither here nor there. 28mm is perfect for shooting 2 people fairly close, as 42mm is perfect for one.
I've always been frustrated that Canon don't make a high quality 28mm, and one has to choose 24mm or 35mm. 24mm is again, not wide enough for landscapes or architecture, but too wide to be useful for natural shots of people. Also, by making a 14mm rather than a 12mm they 'leave room' for another wider lens beneath that (see below).
I consider a true landscape etc. lens to be 20mm and wider (again, Canon don't make a good one), so I'm keeping a close eye on Panasonic, as I imagine their next lens after the 14mm, will be a 9mm or 10mm as you wish for. That I think would give them a great line up at the wider end.
Also I think the main benefits of the 14mm will be quality and speed more than size. I hope!
Anyway, thanks for the great blog, really useful to those of us thinking of moving to M4/3
Yes, you are right that for general use, 28mm is probably more useful than 24mm. Perhaps I was just being misled by the "funky" nature of a wider lens.
ReplyDeleteA lot of people are saying they'd rather 12mmm, but I'm definitely in the 14mm (i.e., 28mm) camp. I've been waiting for this lens for months, and still no announcement. What's the delay?
ReplyDeleteWhen I was shooting film back in the 80s and 90s, 28mm on my Nikons was my standard lens. That field of view is how I see the world, at least photographically. I'm currently using the 14-45 on my GF1, but I'm going to ditch that as soon as this 14mm pancake hits the market. Small, (reasonably) fast... that's my kind of lens! Bring it on, please!
We'll start of with the greatness of this lens. This lens is the best constructed m4/3 yet. It is optically amazing and fast. The autofocus is ultra silent and quick (I only have Pani bodies). The feel of this lens is magnificent. When you pull back the ring to manual focus, it has hard stops and the focus speed is variable depending on how fast you turn the ring. While not up to the quality of Leica (what is?), this lens is a true gem. There are currently only 2 m43 lenses that go this wide (7-14 and 9-18) and they are bigger, heavier, and 2 stops slower. I am not sure why the m43 bunch is caught up on the 28mm length but this lens is a welcome step in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteHi, m43photo:
ReplyDeleteIs the Leica 25mm, f/1.4 lens for m43 systems available in your area yet? I'm still waiting. People in Asia have already tried their hands at it.
No, the 25mm f/1.4 lens is not yet available.
ReplyDeleteFrom my point of view, it is not too interesting, as I think the Lumix 20mm f/1.7 essentially covers the same uses for me. I can see that the 25mm f/1.4 is better in some aspects: It has a larger max aperture, it has faster autofocus.
On the other hand, it is larger and heavier, as well as more expensive. I wouldn't count on it being better optically, although it is probably very good.
Hello, m43photo:
ReplyDeleteMy Leica 25mm is on its way!!!
After 3 months of waiting, finally, it will be arriving next week! Just in time for the holiday party snapshots!
I got the Olympus 12mm after 'speaking' with you last time. Thank you again for your pointers. The Oly 12mm is definitely a keeper. Have been practising exclusively with it in the last two weeks. It's a very interesting experience to 'feel' the prime lenses of different focal lenths through practice. Before, it was the Nikkor 50mm, now the Oly 12mm, then it will be the Leica 25mm.
So far, i still like the angle of view of the 50mm the best, but I understand one can't do it all and I need the others to cover all the bases.
Still sorting out the photos, a much more strenuous process than I ever imagined. Little by little, I'm getting closer to have them ready to be shared.
I think the important ones that are still missing are:
ReplyDelete1. Normal zoom at constant f2.8 (14-45mm)
2. Portrait zoom at constant f4 (50-200mm)
3. 17mm f2.0 or lower
4. Longer macro (say, 60mm f2)
f1.4 from 35mm to 90mm would be nice, of course, but I value compact size more in this system. So I'd be happy with f2 or f1.7 if that means it will keep the size and weight down.
Hmm. Perhaps also a 35mm f1.7, just to add a little quirky choice for people like me who are used to 35mm/75mm travelling combos on our film rangefinders.
Hi
ReplyDeleteCracking blog, loads of really useful info, clearly presented.
I read your review of the Panasonic pancakes with interest. I am also considering buying the Olympus Zuiko Digital 25mm 1:2.8 Pancake Lens. However its not clear whether its micro four/third compatible. Also how does it compare against the Pansonics?
I would welcome your advice.
Many Thanks
Yes, the Olympus 25mm f/2.8 is on the list of AF compatible lenses, so you can use it on a Micro Four Thirds camera. But you need an adapter, the Panasonic DMW-MA1, or Olympus MMF1/MMF2 (any of these will do).
ReplyDeleteThe autofocus will not be as fast as with genuine Micro Four Thirds lenses, but it works for still images.
Thanks for the advice did not realise an adapter would be required. Think I'll save up for the HH020 instead
Deletemuch obliged
It would be really useful if Olympus would consider a weather-proof fast tele-zoom to go with the OM-D, something like 75-300 but with a usable f4 at the long end! Similarly, a weather-proof fast standard zoom is in order, as the 12-50mm is just too slow, and the rest of the line-up are not weather-proof! Forget the video features for once!
ReplyDeleteUntil such become available the appeal of a weather-proof system is very limited, and indeed the usage of micro43s for any (semi)serious fast action photography is nearly impossible.