Fast Primes - Decision Time

[Graham]

For a while I have been thinking of going over fully to MFT.

I'm using the E-PL1 with zooms covering 9 - 150, which is excellent coverage and provides very good images.

With the E-M5 and ever more fast primes becoming available, from various manufacturers, I'm considering switching from the 4/3rds top-pro zoom lenses to achive a similar the Image Quality

Using an analysis program (ExposurePlot) on my image files, I could achieve a similar coverage of my 4/3rds kit with MFT primes selected from the focal length most used. I'd just have to move back & forth a bit more.

With the OM-D and 4 fast primes the kit would look remarkably similar to my OM4ti kit and would be of very similar size, and a bit lighter...

Ian very kindly let me use his 12mm (London walkabout) so I'm aware of the IQ that produces. His latest portraits are clear evidence of the IQ available from the 45mm and everyone raves over the Pany 20mm. With a 75mm f/1.8 on the cards, this may well be my future kit.

While zooms are so useful and my 14-35 f/2.0 is excellent, the weight advantage of the MFT is hard to ignore.

Very much looking forward to seeing just how good the E-M5 is in real world situations.


http://www.wega2.vandel.nl/

[Ned]

Yes, even though the Zuiko top-pro zooms have no equals for their class, a good prime lens can still match its quality without requiring the top-pro designation.

So basically you're trading off zoom capability for compact size, without sacrificing lens speed or image quality... just zoom. Sounds like a good trade to me, as I have already discovered for myself.

[David M]

I'm thinking along similar lines but aren't bothered about the size of the primes and may put together a set of manual focus lenses.

The m4/3 fit primes that appeal to me are the 7.5mm f/3.5 Samyang for a fisheye and the 17mm and 25mm f/0.95 Noktons.

I've still got 12 OM primes to fill in any gaps between the above lenses plus the Samyang 85mm f/1.4 in 4/3 mount.

[gnod]

so...what ended up happening?