Author Topic: Lens recommendation - panny 14mm f2.5 or 45mm macro / oly 45mm f1.8? (Read 1956 times)

warhorst · « **on:** August 14, 2011, 06:50:23 AM »

hi guys n gals,

i am a long time lurker of this site.

I will be upgrading to a e-p3 body only, and selling my pl1. The only lens i am keeping is to amazing panny 20mm.

So i would like to get either the

1. Panny 14mm f2.5
2. panny 45mm macro
3. oly 45mm f1.8

i shoot street and travel....so weight is a priority.....anyone who own these lens care to share the experience?

thx.
J

adash · « **Reply #1 on:** August 14, 2011, 07:16:18 AM »

I have neither of these, but here is what I think:
Panny 45/2.8 is not a travel lens, it's a specialized macro lens, not that it will not perform excellent job at portrait shots, but Oly 45/1.8 will somehow be more suitable in that respect ( not to mention much cheaper).
You shared your preferred use - "street and travel", and for that respect the 14/2.5 will be great, together with the amazing 20/1.7 that you already have.

Make a quick test - try to see the world through the kit lens (assuming you did not sell it yet) at 14mm and 42mm, then you will know which the focal length that suits you best is.

Em5 Pete · « **Reply #2 on:** August 14, 2011, 07:23:49 AM »

Welcome to E-P1...
I have the 20mm, great lens... for both...

I don't own the 45 or 14, but.....

You may find having 45/1.8 is a bargain for a street lens... allows a little space between you and the subject, and f/1.8-2.8 are good f/stops for OOF backgrounds at closer subject distances.

And the 14mm will give a wider view for hip shooting at closer subject distances also. plus a 14 is a good landscape lens...

If your budget can afford the P/L 45 macro, go for it..

I use the National Geographic Waist Pack... it can holds: 3 lenses: 135mm Nikkor, 55mm Micro Nikkor, 20mm or 14-42 kit lens, with my camera around my neck... Extra Batts, cards etc,,,

cosinaphile · « **Reply #3 on:** August 14, 2011, 10:36:54 AM »

for street the 12 f 2 oly is nice

the 14 2.5 seems good too

lisandra · « **Reply #4 on:** August 14, 2011, 11:31:28 AM »

I agree, if its pure street, the new 12 mm f2 is impossible to beat. It's in the price range of the leica macro so you can afford it. It's a high quality proish lens so you're gonna be happy with the sharpness. Manual focusing is better than any other m4/3s lens out there. It's also the fastest focusing lens on the ep3.
One the other hand...for almost the same money you can get the Oly 45 mm and the panny 14 mm..I said almost the same money.
Get the new 12 mm, its a great street lens that'll never loose its value.

voyager · « **Reply #5 on:** August 14, 2011, 03:30:25 PM »

You should get the 45mm f/1.8. I'm sure you'll love it.

cosinaphile · « **Reply #6 on:** August 14, 2011, 05:06:05 PM »

its on my list too

warhorst · « **Reply #7 on:** August 15, 2011, 09:36:49 PM »

sounds great.

For the price of the macro, i sure can...ALMOST get 2 lens. =)

yeah, i am inching towards the 14mm n the oly 45mm f1.8.

thx y'all.

warhorst · « **Reply #8 on:** August 15, 2011, 09:46:15 PM »

btw, does the panny 14mm acts like the 20mm with a "motorized aperture blade" and sorta close down before opening to the actual F stop.

its hard to explain it in words......it kinda has a "preset" fstop @ +- f8 ( i assume), and when we shoot it kinda "reset" from f8 to the required f-stop we want, and once the shot is taken, it goes back to the "preset" f-8.

man. i dont know what i am typing. but yeah. try figure.

adash · « **Reply #9 on:** August 15, 2011, 10:07:36 PM »

I know what you mean. It's the camera body that stops the lens down in bright light, in order not to damage the sensor if you momentarily point it towards the Sun.
No idea if 14/2.5 does it, as I never used this lens, but it should, although to a lesser extent.
Even the kit zoom does that, but in the brightest sunlight.

peterb666 · « **Reply #10 on:** August 25, 2011, 06:06:37 AM »

The 12mm f/2 is the one to get.

Lens recommendation - panny 14mm f2.5 or 45mm macro / oly 45mm f1.8?