Four-Thirds investment - need advice

[headfonz]

hi all,

i'm currently saving up for a 4/3 DSLR purchase around the middle of this year and i'm budgeting for the E510 after some deliberation. I need some advice on the lenses as i'm still not familar with 4/3 lens range.

i do mostly random street shots and now dabbling into portraiture with my friend's D80. i'm currently using a Panasonic FZ30 and don't use much of the telephoto end of the zoom range (most shots are below 150mm). so i'm looking for a good and bright walkabout lens and probably a good prime for portraits.

i'm considering the following options, hope i can get some advice here:

1. E510 body + ZD 14-54mm F2.8-3.5 + Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM

2. E510 body + Leica D 14-50mm F2.8 OIS + Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM
(kinda pointless to have both OIS and E510 shake reduction)

3. E510 + Kit 14-42mm F3.5-5.5 + Leica D 25mm F1.4 OIS + 2.0x tele convertor

on top of the body + lens, i'm probably adding a FL50 to the list. i'm not sure if some of the zoom lenses in the current line up can work as a good portrait lens, if there's any please let me know.

btw, i decided on 4/3 cos i think its a sound investment since i wouldn't be restricted to only 1 body manufacturer in the future and i would have access to a range of excellent lenses from Zukio/Leica/Sigma.

hope i can get some advice here, thanks

[microcosm]

Personally, I would recommend this set up instead:

E-510 and the new 12-60mm. And add a 50mm Macro later if you are into Macro shooting and portraits. The 50mm is very versatile. Read all the comments and reviews out there for the 50mm Macro.

My two cents.

[crumplerguy]

yep, the 12-60mm lens is yummylicious!! really cover all the bases! that will be my next big purchase.

anyone knows how much it will cost?

[headfonz]

Originally Posted by microcosm Personally, I would recommend this set up instead: E-510 and the new 12-60mm. And add a 50mm Macro later if you are into Macro shooting and portraits. The 50mm is very versatile. Read all the comments and reviews out there for the 50mm Macro. My two cents.

thanks for the help microcosm i'll lookout for the ZD 50mm, will have to wait till the 12-60mm to be available to see how much to save up for.

anyone here using the Sigma 30mm? any user opinions?

[holidaydom]

Quick word of advise regarding the 50mm f2.0 - it's a MACRO lens so expect slow focusing and some occasional hunting.

I've tried using it for portraits but find the slow focusing a little limiting (I'm not very good and perhaps that's why I expect my lenses to make up for what I lack in skill...)

The Sigma 30mm f1.4 has a very smooth bokeh but I find it a bit too wide for portraits - it's great for street shots though.

Keep in mind these are just my 2 cents worth. Take it with a pinch of salt and decide what works best for you. Either way - you can't go wrong with 4/3rds and Zukio lenses!

[VSonic06]

Originally Posted by headfonz thanks for the help microcosm i'll lookout for the ZD 50mm, will have to wait till the 12-60mm to be available to see how much to save up for. anyone here using the Sigma 30mm? any user opinions?

If you're not in a hurry, wait for the 12-60mm and the Panasonic/Leica 25/1.4.

I find the Sigma 30 a little too soft for my liking.

[headfonz]

Originally Posted by VSonic06 If you're not in a hurry, wait for the 12-60mm and the Panasonic/Leica 25/1.4. I find the Sigma 30 a little too soft for my liking.

i don't think i'm in a hurry right now although i almost bought the L1 last month after testing, right now i'm waiting for the E510 to be released to decide which one to get.

unless the new 10mp Live MOS sensor has issues, i should be going for the E510, else i can always get the L1.

can i just check, on the 4/3 website, it doesn't indicate the 35mm equiv focal length of the Sigma 30mm like the Zuiko and Leica lenses does. correct me if i'm wrong here but i'm assuming that its a 60mm after 4/3 sensor crop factor?

[headfonz]

Originally Posted by holidaydom Quick word of advise regarding the 50mm f2.0 - it's a MACRO lens so expect slow focusing and some occasional hunting. I've tried using it for portraits but find the slow focusing a little limiting (I'm not very good and perhaps that's why I expect my lenses to make up for what I lack in skill...) The Sigma 30mm f1.4 has a very smooth bokeh but I find it a bit too wide for portraits - it's great for street shots though. Keep in mind these are just my 2 cents worth. Take it with a pinch of salt and decide what works best for you. Either way - you can't go wrong with 4/3rds and Zukio lenses!

thanks for the advice, i think i'm fine with slow focusing cos i tend to take my own sweet time when taking photos and use manual focus most the time.

i'm new to the 4/3s world, so any advice and suggestions all 'seniors' here is very welcomed thanks

[drakon09]

All lenses currently are marked in 35mm equivalents.

So yes, the focal length multiplier (and not crop factor - urban myth) for four-thirds systems is 2x.

[headfonz]

Originally Posted by drakon09 All lenses currently are marked in 35mm equivalents. So yes, the focal length multiplier (and not crop factor - urban myth) for four-thirds systems is 2x.

thanks for clearing the doubt there cheers

[Rangefinder_fan]

Hey hey,
I agree with Holidaydom.
Zuiko glass is veyr very nice. The kit lens is good, better than what you'll get from other brands. The High Grade is exceptional. My first and only HG lens so far is the 11-22mm, and its become my primary glass for its colour rendition and details.

Good luck with your purchases.
The most difficult thing is to decide when enough is enough!

cheers

[drakon09]

Originally Posted by Rangefinder_fan Hey hey, I agree with Holidaydom. Zuiko glass is veyr very nice. The kit lens is good, better than what you'll get from other brands. The High Grade is exceptional. My first and only HG lens so far is the 11-22mm, and its become my primary glass for its colour rendition and details. Good luck with your purchases. The most difficult thing is to decide when enough is enough! cheers

Ain't difficult at all! Most of the time its the wallet or the wife that decides, whichever gets to you first.

[drakon09]

Originally Posted by holidaydom Quick word of advise regarding the 50mm f2.0 - it's a MACRO lens so expect slow focusing and some occasional hunting. I've tried using it for portraits but find the slow focusing a little limiting (I'm not very good and perhaps that's why I expect my lenses to make up for what I lack in skill...) The Sigma 30mm f1.4 has a very smooth bokeh but I find it a bit too wide for portraits - it's great for street shots though. Keep in mind these are just my 2 cents worth. Take it with a pinch of salt and decide what works best for you. Either way - you can't go wrong with 4/3rds and Zukio lenses!

You usually don't require quick focusing lenses for portraits; the primary problem about using the 50mm Mac for portraiture is that it is *too* sharp and resolves too much detail.

Zoom in and you can see *every* pore, stray hair, blemish etc.

[espion]

Originally Posted by holidaydom Quick word of advise regarding the 50mm f2.0 - it's a MACRO lens so expect slow focusing and some occasional hunting. I've tried using it for portraits but find the slow focusing a little limiting ...

My experience of the same lens is exactly the opposite: its fast and most suited for portraitures (example). It is my default lens, and I switched only when I need a wide angle or a long telephoto, or else it is most versatile. And for portraits the eyes are usually of sufficient contrast for the lens to acquire almost instantly.

The hunting certainly happens but it is a common problem with all passive autofocus cameras - they all need the contrast to work out the focal range, but even so ZD lens are still more effective than other lens like I have tried, esp third party ones from SIGMA for example. The latter is hopelessly lost when there is insufficient contrast.

[headfonz]

Originally Posted by drakon09 Ain't difficult at all! Most of the time its the wallet or the wife that decides, whichever gets to you first.

hahaha, good point there. good thing my gf doesn't control my wallet yet.

i'd like to start with a good walkabout lens and a prime for portraits 1st. since the ZD 50mm is a MACRO, then its a big bonus

don't think it will ever be enough lah, but i think just get what i will definately need 1st lah.

[drakon09]

The 12-60mm *may* take a while to arrive. If so, you'd probably want to hang on to the kit lenses until they do; from what I've seen from the E400, the new 14-42mm is an improvement over the old 14-45mm.

The 11-22mm is a proven product; but you may feel shortchanged by the 12-60mm when it does arrive.

Alternatively, if your wallet is a proven product as well, you may want to take a look at the 7-14mm. It is a specialist lens, but makes for interesting and excellent street shooting. Fantastic piece of glass that is.

[microcosm]

Originally Posted by headfonz anyone here using the Sigma 30mm? any user opinions?

There was a thread that showed the sample images taken by the Sigma. Personally, I don't really like it. But some like the lens for its bokeh.

Originally Posted by headfonz i don't think i'm in a hurry right now although i almost bought the L1 last month after testing, right now i'm waiting for the E510 to be released to decide which one to get. unless the new 10mp Live MOS sensor has issues, i should be going for the E510, else i can always get the L1. can i just check, on the 4/3 website, it doesn't indicate the 35mm equiv focal length of the Sigma 30mm like the Zuiko and Leica lenses does. correct me if i'm wrong here but i'm assuming that its a 60mm after 4/3 sensor crop factor?

The L1 is a pretty good camera too, but it is a little too bulky for my hands. The E-510 would be a better camera (because I trust Oly for their ergonomic design.) And yes, the Sigma is a 60mm lens after the multiplier factor.

Originally Posted by Rangefinder_fan Hey hey, I agree with Holidaydom. Zuiko glass is veyr very nice. The kit lens is good, better than what you'll get from other brands. The High Grade is exceptional. My first and only HG lens so far is the 11-22mm, and its become my primary glass for its colour rendition and details. Good luck with your purchases. The most difficult thing is to decide when enough is enough! cheers

Zuiko High and Super High grade glass is simply awesome and there is no doubt about it. I have bought all the High Grades, and if the SHG wasn't so heavy, I would have been very broke. Whew...

Originally Posted by drakon09 You usually don't require quick focusing lenses for portraits; the primary problem about using the 50mm Mac for portraiture is that it is *too* sharp and resolves too much detail. Zoom in and you can see *every* pore, stray hair, blemish etc.

Yup. But you can always soften the image mah...

Originally Posted by drakon09 The 12-60mm *may* take a while to arrive. If so, you'd probably want to hang on to the kit lenses until they do; from what I've seen from the E400, the new 14-42mm is an improvement over the old 14-45mm. The 11-22mm is a proven product; but you may feel shortchanged by the 12-60mm when it does arrive. Alternatively, if your wallet is a proven product as well, you may want to take a look at the 7-14mm. It is a specialist lens, but makes for interesting and excellent street shooting. Fantastic piece of glass that is.

Woah... the 7-14mm is not an easy lens to use. I sometimes get problems with the 11-22mm... that is why I gave up the 7-14mm.

[diCam]

headfonz, why not join us in our meeting on 5.4.2007?

http://forums.clubsnap.org/showthrea...=264634&page=3

[Mikefellh]

Originally Posted by drakon09 You usually don't require quick focusing lenses for portraits;

Having done portrait shooting on the weekend, once I have focus I won't even refocus unless I or the model move a significant distance...the camera's on a tripod,, the model is situated within a certain area...no need to refocus. Once I get a focus lock I'll switch off the autofocus.

[headfonz]

Originally Posted by drakon09 Alternatively, if your wallet is a proven product as well, you may want to take a look at the 7-14mm. It is a specialist lens, but makes for interesting and excellent street shooting. Fantastic piece of glass that is.

i'm positively certain that my wallet is not a proven product ...so i'll leave the 7-14mm in my wish list for a long time

i'm consider getting the E510 body only (if oly sg does have the option when it is released) and save the couple of hundred $ for a FL50. that's why i'm looking for a good general purpose lens like the ZD 12-60mm or Leica D 14-50mm as my main lens.

thought since it will be my 1st DSLR purchase, i might as well plan it properly