Are there affordable faster zoom options for Micro Four Thirds, or should I use primes instead?
Asked 7/13/2012
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I’m using a Panasonic Lumix GF1 with the 14mm f/2.5 pancake and also tried a used 14–42mm f/3.5–5.6 kit zoom. The zoom is much slower, especially indoors and at the long end, so I’m wondering whether Micro Four Thirds has any reasonably priced middle ground between slow kit zooms and expensive constant f/2.8 zooms. Does image stabilization meaningfully make up for the slower aperture, or is it more practical to stick with fast primes or adapt older Four Thirds lenses?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
3
You are doing the exact same move I did almost a year ago, but I bought the 20mm pancake lens.
I wanted zoom all the way, all my life I shot with a zoom lens so it was my wish to acquire the GF1 with the 14-42. But some friends kept telling me how the 20mm was awesome and forget the zoom, so since I was making a move to a more serious gear, I took sometime to read, read, read and look at samples from the 20mm, in the end I bought it.
What has been my problem since? Shooting wild life! Does it really matters, not that much, seriously, spending some good money just to have the ability to shoot some birds it's simply not worth it. After almost a year of using a prime lens, I am extremely happy with it, it's fast, it takes awesome pics, and it's very portable, if I am not planning to go out and take some photo gear, I can just take the camera with the lens. Sometimes do I wish I had that zoom? Yes, but seriously, it's not that big of a deal. I can work it out, walk a bit further or back.
As to the mater of talking about a zoom lens, well to the realm of Panasonic lens you are right the gap is huge, the 12-35 f/2.8, besides new, has a higher build quality, which makes its very pricey, the same lens with the build quality of the old 14-42 would be a nice addition for those with not so deep pockets. So your solutions pass through looking at Olympus lens (thing that I actually never did so I can't give you any insight), or work with your prime. If you worry about shooting indoors, why do you need a zoom lens?
Image stabilization, well this really varies from user to user since a person might be more shaky than another but since the GF1 has no viewfinder one typically shots only with two hands holding the camera and there is no 3rd point to hold the camera (usually face), this brings less stability, so it helps, but since I have no zoom lens I can't give a real input on this subject. I don't think you need an adaptor there are a lot of lenses for m43.
So answering to your title question? Don't get, use the 14mm prime lens and work your creativity out, if you really really need the zoom, attach the 14-42 and shoot!
p.s.- nice pics :P
Originally by user7557. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user7557
14y ago
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In practice, there usually isn’t much middle ground: kit zooms are typically f/3.5–5.6, and the noticeably faster zooms tend to jump to much larger, more expensive constant-f/2.8 designs. Stabilization can help with camera shake at slower shutter speeds, but it does not make the lens brighter and won’t help freeze subject movement indoors.
Based on the answers, the more practical solution is to use fast primes rather than chase a cheaper “fast zoom.” A prime keeps the system small, gives you much better low-light performance, and often better image quality. If you need more reach than your 14mm, consider adding a telephoto prime instead of replacing everything with a zoom.
Examples suggested were the Olympus 45mm f/1.8 or 75mm f/1.8. Those give you far more light-gathering ability than a kit zoom and are still compact. So if your main concern is indoor and low-light shooting, fast primes are the sensible route; use a zoom mainly when convenience matters more than speed.
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AI14y ago
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