Lens choice has long been a plus point for Micro Four Thirds, with both Olympus and Panasonic offering a range of lenses, and other manufacturers such as Voigtlander offering some interesting alternatives. Here are some new releases to tempt you:
Olympus 40-150mm F2.8 Pro - We already have the 12-40mm F2.8 Pro and it is a very fine lens indeed; so expectations are high for the 40-150mm. It was announced last year and the current release date is “second half of 2014”. We can take some comfort in the fact that it is now prominently featured in the latest E-M1 catalogue.
No price yet, but whatever they decide to charge, my piggy bank is going to be emptied for this one.
7-14mm F2.8 Pro - Panasonic already offers a 7-14mm F4; and a fine lens it is too; unless you have an E-M1 in which case the purple flare will drive you nuts; which is why I am selling mine (the lens, not the camera). Coming in 2015, will be this alternative from Olympus. Slightly faster (does this matter at such a wide angle?) and weather-sealed; price unknown.
300mm F4 Pro - Also slated for release next year, this will be a big expensive lens for those who need to shoot things a long way away (600mm field of view on a 35mm camera). Good for birding and sports, although the 40-150mm with a 1.4 or 2.0 adapter might be a more sensible choice (assuming they release an adapter).
25mm F1.8 - Unlike the above, this lens is available now. The direct competition is the Panasonic Leica Summilux 24mm F1.4 which sucks in more light but costs more money. A comparison from Robing Wong indicates the Olympus might be the one to go for; although Robin does now work for Olympus.
Panasonic
While Olympus has been releasing some very tasty lens over the last year or so, Panasonic have not been quite so exciting; at least that is my perception. A re-hash of the classic 20mm F1.7 (yawn) and the very capable but not stellar 12-32mm kit lens for the GM1 (not currently available separately). However they have redeemed themselves somewhat with the:
42.5 F1.2 - or to give it the full title: Panasonic Leica DG Nocticron 42.5mm F1.2 ASPH. Yes, it’s another Leica collaboration and F1.2 is not to be sniffed at. Very expensive at $1,400; but unless you want the manually focused Voigtlander F0.95 at the same focal length; this is your choice for a bokeh monster. Review here.
15mm F1.7 - Another Leica co-operation which I find hard to get excited about. No release date or price.
Kowa
Who? Yes, I had never heard of them either; but they apparently have a good reputation in the cine world and are now invading MFT with three very weird looking offerings:
Again, no release date or price; but that 8.5mm might be fun as a carry-around super-wide if it is not too expensive.
Is that all? No, I missed some out from Olympus and Panasonic, and there is recent stuff from Samyang and Voigtlander; but the above is enough to show that the Micro Four Thirds lens range continues to grow. As for me; just that 40-150mm Pro please Olympus, as soon as possible.
Info from 4/3 Rumors (sic). Some product photos from DC Watch
Comments 🔗
2014-02-20| Chris saysI recently picked up the Panasonic 14-140 II. I reckoned that 35-100 f2.8 is not long enough (since I also have the 75 f1.8). It’s a decent lens, but I never used the short end anymore with 12-40 doing that role of default lens.
The 40-150 Pro is very tempting. But with Panasonic body, I’m not sure I can handle the 150 end without good IBIS.
Nice gear reviews you have hear. I don’t see a lot of photographer’s blogs in Thailand.
2014-02-20| Zetton saysKowa’s will be released in this summer, they wrote so at CP+. http://www.flickr.com/photos/zetton_nara/sets/72157640976008153/ (though in Japanese language)
2014-02-20| Spike saysI think the Thailand photographer’s blogs are mainly in Thai.
2014-02-20| Spike saysThanks.
2014-02-21| Sproggit saysThere is a certain and potentially exciting evolution from Olympus at the moment, in which the release of each piece of top-end kit seems to herald the next evolutionary step… It feels as though the EM-5 brought us to the 12-40mm f2.8…. Which in turn took us to the EM-1…. Which now brings the 40-150mm f2.8. My hope is that this in turn yields a new body. Specifically, I’d like to see an EM-1 Mk II that delivers the same 11fps frame rate, but with full tracking and predictive autofocus. Something as sharp as the static AF would be nice. But in the same-sized case. Thanks.
If the current crop of lenses can follow a subject quickly enough - plenty of evidence that they can - then we’ll have something that will keep sports and wildlife photographers happy and, more the point, allow me to sell my EOS 7D and my L-Series lenses… Whoo!
2014-02-21| Spike saysThe predictive focus on the E-M1 is adequate; but nowhere near sufficient if you need guaranteed captures. It’s just a matter of time before they catch up to DSLR levels of tracking autofocus; at which point the mirror will become redundant.
Having said that, with nobody paying me, I would be quite happy taking the E-M1 to a sporting event. knowing that I would come back with a reasonable proportion of keepers.
2014-02-22| Andrew saysThe 40-150 (most likely a lovely lens as Olympus can do when required) seems to be size-wise inching back to 4/3 SHQ and DSLR size territory somewhat negating the “smaller is better or just as good” theme that pervaded 4/3 ( and M4/3 subsequently )….it seems the desire for autofocus motors will certainly make any new lens much larger than the old film counterparts…I have an old Nikkor 200 mm ( 35 mm) that is about the same size as the 12-50 kit lens with the EM5…maybe a bit heavier though…same with the new Sony A7/r - small camera - BIG lenses….although the Otus and the 55 seem worth the bother…eventually coming down to shoot with what you like and deal with the rest…
2014-02-28| Spike saysDealing with the rest usually includes managing the credit card bill…
2014-03-21| Parry saysSo many lenses, so little money. I understand dictators, organised criminals and dole spongers now.
I have made a vow never to buy modern AF lenses ever again and make best use of my . . . Comrades!