I realise that my unbridled enthusiasm for Micro Four Thirds has been indirectly responsible for the ruining of many other wallets, to the extent that if I had been on commission I would have received enough cash from Panasonic and Olympus to buy… well, I suppose another bloody lens.
The latest potential victim is a friend who made the mistake of buying a Canon lower end DSLR with a Tamron lens and now discovers it doesn’t do much more than his old compact cameras in terms of image quality. He is pondering the new Nikon D600 full frame camera, with a suitable lens attached, and very nice that would be too. But he was wondering whether for much less money and bulk, he could join MFT and still get good enough IQ. Only he can decide the answer, my only contribution has been to throw a selection of reviews and image samples in his direction to help him in his decision.
He wants to start with a zoom lens with a range roughly equivalent to a 24-70mm on full frame. He could spend $1,000 plus on the new Panasonic X 12-35mm, but a much cheaper and smaller option would be the Panasonic 14-45mm.
Just as an aside, isn’t my hand lovely?
I then suggested it would be good to have a low light prime available for those special moments, and the classic Panasonic 20mm F1.7 pancake would be just the ticket.
For not a lot of cash, especially at current GX1 prices, a powerful and portable solution.
And, with the substitution of the GF1 for the GX1, it’s exactly what I started out with nearly three years ago. So what went wrong? How did I move from this simple setup to the cabinet full of lenses that now graces my home? Let’s chart my rocky road to addiction.
December 2009 - Spike buys a GF1 kit which includes the 20mm and 14-45mm. This is to be an alternative to his 1D and suitcase full of Canon lenses; for use on casual days. For the next six months Spike enjoys the heady rush that comes from using this amazing little setup.
June 2010 - Spike realises he is not using his 1D any more, apart from sports shooting, and resolves to sell all his Canon lenses, apart from one. Cash inflow ensues; champagne for everyone!
With money burning a hole in his pocket and at risk at being co-opted for the purpose of handbags, Spike decides something a little longer would be nice (she who must be obeyed agrees, until she discovers he is talking about lenses). So, in June 2010 he buys the Panasonic 45-200mm, doesn’t like it, sells it and gets the Panasonic 100-300mm.
Then in August 2010 he decides he would like something a little wider (she who must be obeyed agrees, until she discovers he is talking about lenses). The Olympus 9-18mm is purchased and does OK until March of this year when the better and wider Panasonic 7-14mm replaces it.
Finished? Of course not. October 2011 sees the availability of the wonderful little Olympus 45mm at a reasonable price. It would be a crime not to own one; so that joins the collection; at which point the 14-45mm is consigned to the cupboard unless specially required.
Early this year and the Summilux 25mm F1.4 replaces the 20mm pancake in the bag. It’s much bigger and more expensive; but the images are so beautiful and F1.4 is nice to have.
Finished? Nearly.
Final indulgence has been the Olympus 75mm F1.8, purchased in June of this year and never regretted for one moment; what an amazing lens.
So what goes in Spike’s bag for an outing when he wants to be sure of being able to cover almost anything? This lot:
Panasonic GX1 Pansonic 7-14mm Summilux 25mm Olympus 45mm Olympus 75mm
Every one a winner; I just need to take better photos to do them justice.
For occasions when I know I will need more reach, then there is the 100-300mm For macro there is the Yashica 55mm, and then there is an assortment of other oddities which are pulled out when I want to try something different.
I do have a rule, which I rarely break, and that is whatever I take has to fit in my very small camera bag.
It’s a Think Tank Retrospective 5 and is the result of research that has resulted in almost as many camera bags as my wife has handbags (of course, I exaggerate). It’s light, tough, flexible, packed with clever features, and specifically designed not to look like a camera bag. Best of all, it will accommodate my camera and the four preferred lenses, but with no room for any more.
The current camera and four lens setup weighs just under 1.5 kg, twice the weight and a lot more volume than the original 14-45mm and 20mm kit. Do I need it? No. If you forced me to tour Europe with just the 14-45mm and 20mm, would I feel unhappy? No, unless you made me go to France.
All these alternative lenses are just an indulgence. But hey, you only live once, no pockets in a shroud etc etc. But… that Olympus 45mm is sooo sweet. And that 75mmm, well, just look at the shots it produces. And the Summilux, it’s designed by Leica for goodness sake, and if you close one eye I could swear you can see “the Leica look”. And the 7-14mm, crispy wide angle goodness; you just need it sometimes.
Bugger it, I need and love them all.
My name is Spike and I’m a lensaholic. There should be a help group for people like me.
Comments 🔗
2012-10-19| Spanky saysMy friends call my Retrospective 5 a murse. You really should consider the 14mm 2.5. For the times you need the wide shot and don’t have the 7-14 it will handle those duties and will fit inside on of the side pockets in the bag or use it as a lens cap.
Lovely hand btw. You missed your calling as a hand model.
2012-10-19| Robin Parmar saysI can only agree with Spanky. For those on a budget who care about IQ, or simply don’t like zooms, I recommend new arrivals to MFT start with the 14/2.5 and 45/1.8. There’s very little that this insanely small and cheap combo can’t handle. (If you need a longer or wider lens, you will know it.) I also have the 20/1.7 but think many will find the slow AF too annoying. Perhaps the 60/2.8 macro would be an appropriate third prime, since it doubles as a portrait lens for stage work, etc. as well as being an excellent macro.
As for Canon, they are crack dealers. They sell inferior models to hook people on their brand. These people inevitably wonder why they can’t get the pictures they want, so they upgrade once, upgrade twice, and if lucky end up with the sort of system they could have started off with. Canon profits three times, and the flood of items with their name on it makes it look like they are a dominant force in the market. If one wants an SLR, just buy Pentax and a few superior lenses and forget about it.
2012-10-19| Spanky saysRobin I would get the 75 1.8 before the 60mm Macro. Sure it isn’t a macro lens but you can get an adapted lens for much less and same reach. The 75mm is just a stunning piece of glass that just sucks in light and could easily work as a portrait lens. I’m tempted to try it next week when I have a shoot lined up.
Canon is decent enough and I think its true of any camera, you need to know what you are doing with it. I have a 400D that I bought in Thailand because it was too good to pass up and could sell it for profit in the US. I have yet to sell it and I can take pictures with it that most would assume came from a higher level camera. It comes down to skill and knowledge, not gear. I do respect you for championing the Pentax brand. For those of you that shoot with them you guys are loyal and flag carriers.
2012-10-19| Wally saysI have learned from Spike, and others, that it is not so much the camera itself that produces good, sharp photos but rather the glass that sits on the front of the camera. I have just bought the fairly new 40mm f2.8 STM lens for my Canon 400D and I am chuffed to bits with the rsults so far, it’s my only prime at the moment. It says ‘Macro’ on the lens body, but I’ll await a professional opinion on that !
2012-10-19| dude saysI mostly agree: MFT is a really nice system. I really enjoy my GX1-double-lens kit buuut: It is really disappointing that there is no cheap 50mm equivalent lens. There are only two standard primes: The Panasonic 25 F1.4 and the 20 F1.7. I’d sure love to have one of them but even the cheaper 20mm is twice the price of a Nikon/Canon 50mm F1.8. And I really don’t understand why they can’t sell the 20mm for 200€. It’d be awesome! (although Nikon glass would still be cheaper - without being worse)
2012-10-19| Spanky saysThe 50mm 1.8 is a stellar performer for the price.
2012-10-19| Spanky saysThe 25mm is Leica glass is why. You can look at the Sigma which has a 30mm. Not as fast or as sharp but reasonably priced. You can find the 20mm 1.7 on eBay or used for around 200€. Good source for lenses is MU-43.com.
2012-10-19| Clive saysI can’t help myself… I just can’t resist the temptation (sorry Spike) to call him a “Lightweight”…
I found my way to Pattaya Days whilst researching possible destinations for a holiday in Thailand. I was hugely impressed with Spike’s pics and (owning both a 7D with a L-Series glass from16-35 through 100-400 and the Powershot G12) I failed to see why he was ranting about MFT all the time…
A small amount of banter ensued. Eventually, Spike rather challenged me to stop making prejudicial judgments when I hadn’t actually had an MFT camera to use. Well, I wasn’t going to roll over on a challenge like that, was I???
December 27th last year I ordered a GX1 kit, with the stock 14-42mm (which is darned impressive for a kit lens), and the Panasonic 20mm f1.7 (because Spike suggested it was a stonking prime…). He was right, of course…
Then I added the Voigtlander 25mm f0.95, which is truly epic, but which doesn’t get as much use as it’s eye-bleed sharpness deserves…
I nearly managed to kick the habit, lasting all the way until June, at which point along came an Olympus 45mm f1.8 and the handy little CCD eyepiece. That proved to be my undoing, however… since it was soon followed in July by the Panasonic 7-14mm f4.0 and the Olympus 40-150mm… and then the 100-300mm Panasonic in August…
Of course, it would be irresponsible of one to acquire so many toys without a few silly accessories, so I soon threw in the wireless remote shutter release, a decent Gorillapod and the bl00dy marvellous Maxpedition Sabercat bag to put stuff in to carry it about. Oh, and don’t forget the tripod. Brian, from 3LeggedThing. Epic, just epic.
And do I feel guilty for my year of self-indulgent photo-debauchery? Well, let me put it like this… If the threatened “Christmas Bonus” actually materialises from my … ahem… glorious employer, then there is a good chance that 14-42 and 40-150 will have to make way for the 12-35mm f2.8 and the 35-100mm f2.8. And the scary thing is that all of this lot still weighs about the same as my 7D and the 100-400mm, and in the Sabrecat it’s way easier to lug about.
Tempted by that Olympus 75mm though. And maybe a decent macro too… and then maybe a second body, so I don’t have to fumble with lenses when I’m out and… and… and…
And this is all Spike’s fault, your Honour. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it…
;o)
2012-10-19| dude saysI don’t dare to buy used lenses online because I’m afraid of dust on the inside and scratches on the front element. The Sigma seems to be very good value for money. F2.8 is nothing to write home about but it’s not half bad either… What I’m secretly hoping for is an silent&fast-focusing update of the 20mm pancake - in that case I could easyly pick up an “older” 20mm at a lower price. For now the 14mm is versatile enough - you just need to walk a lot and get real close.
2012-10-19| Spanky saysI have bought my 14 and 20 through eBay and not had any problems. My 25 was bought through Amazon on a return. The MU-43 forum is really good. I have bought a G3 body there for below even eBay price. It is worth the risk and with buyer protection it isn’t a huge issue.
2012-10-20| Spike saysYou are definitely a worse case than me. A bit surprised you haven’t succumbed to the 75mm yet though; you know you can’t resist….
2012-10-20| Spike saysThe 20mm is definitely over-priced, Panasonic cashing in on its cult status. The Summilux; well it’s a Summilux and it’s F1.4. I wonder what the upcoming 42.5mm F1.2 is going to sell for…
2012-10-20| Spike saysOh, and yes Brian is wonderful.
2012-10-20| Grant saysWell he would be wouldn’t he, he’s got three bloody legs… Mind you, so has Rolf Harris!!
2012-10-20| The Lightweight saysA shocking report, has anyone considered founding MFT Anonymous?
2012-10-20| Clive saysWait, what? I thought this was MFT Anonymous…
2012-10-20| Spanky saysThis is more like the cult of MFT and Spike is our leader.
2012-10-20| Spike saysWhich reminds me; your cult subscriptions are overdue.
2012-10-20| Spanky saysI wasn’t informed of the dues structure when joining.
2012-10-20| Grant saysIt’s free to get in, you pay to get out…
2012-10-20| dude saysI thougt we were supposed to put our monthly fees in these kodak photo-printers! Well… that’s where mine’s going anyways…
2012-10-21| Ron saysYou might have to buy back all those Canon lenses you sold. They have entered the fray with the EOS M.
2012-10-21| Spanky saysEOS M is a different mount and to use a EF lens you need an adapter. Spike wrote about the EOS M. It’s Canon’s attempt at trying to enter the mirrorless market with a piss poor design and idea.
2012-10-22| Spike saysCanon have entered the fray to the extent they are hiding around the corner from the fray, armed with a water pistol and with a bag over their head instead of body armour. This is my view on the EOS-M : 2012_07_canon-delighting-you-always Summary: it’s shit.
2012-10-22| Grant saysYou can be quite uncompromising sometimes. Do multinationals ever sue? I’m sure you’d get away with a plea of diminished responsibility, m’lud…
2012-10-22| Spike saysUncompromising? Don’t get me started on Mitt Romney.
2012-10-22| Spanky saysHe has a book full of women! Me and Bill Clinton are going to hang out with him regardless of political affiliations.
2012-10-22| Grant saysOh, I’ll look forward to that! It scares me a little that nearly half of a very large country thinks he’s remotely suitable for high office. Do let me know the other topics that come under the heading of “don’t get me started”, just so that I can avoid them of course…
2012-10-23| Spanky saysGrant I won’t tell you exactly who my employer is but suffice to say I live right outside of Washington DC. I will let slip that I have had a sexual experience with a Senator when Ted Kennedy’s Portuguese Water Dog humped my leg at a formal. RIP Teddy not so much the fucking dog.
2012-10-23| Grant saysHow gloriously apt that Teddy had a water dog. It wasn’t his first… And if you’re hangin, with Bill, decline the cigar…
2012-10-23| Spanky saysHave stories about him too.
2012-10-23| Spike says“Ted Kennedy’s Portuguese Water Dog humped my leg”. I wish we had known this earlier, it explains so much.
2012-10-23| Grant saysI disagree totally! It raises so many questions the universe may cool before we’ve been able to ask them all…
2012-10-23| Spanky saysYou have questions I make up answers!