All rounder lens for Olympus E-PL5

[durainello]

Hi all,

A P&S user considering to purchase the Olympus E-PL5 for travel and indoor shooting. But i understand the poison of buying lens is too great that i would like to keep it to the most minimal.
Hopefully the expert in here could shed some lights on which is the best all-rounder lens apart from those mentioned below and why.

The recommendations i received were:
Panasonic 25mm f1.4
Panasonic 20mm f1.7

But i would also like to ask if do i need an adapter for the above mentioned lens.

Appreciated.

 

[Rashkae]

All depends on what you shoot. I'd say a better all-rounder lens is the basic kit zoom lens.

 

[durainello]

Mostly portrait, indoor and night thats why looking at prime with a fixed aperture.

 

[Rashkae]

Mostly portrait, indoor and night thats why looking at prime with a fixed aperture.

They don't have a fixed aperture. They just have a large aperture. Are you sure you know what you are actually talking about?

Both lenses are very similar in specifications, so you won't really notice too much of a difference.

 

[durainello]

So it just 40mm vs 50mm?

They don't have a fixed aperture. They just have a large aperture. Are you sure you know what you are actually talking about?

Both lenses are very similar in specifications, so you won't really notice too much of a difference.

 

[Rashkae]

So it just 40mm vs 50mm?

and a slight difference in maximum aperture.

 

[durainello]

Any other lens worth mentioning apart from the 2 mentioned? How about 12-35mm?

 

[Rashkae]

Any other lens worth mentioning apart from the 2 mentioned? How about 12-35mm?

lots... but best to go read some reviews. It all depends on your needs.

 

[rhino123]

Actually no need to start buying specialised lenses at the moment, use the 14-42mm kit lens for a while learn of the limitation of that lens and what you wish to have in that lens, then you know what you truely wanted.

I have been using my kit lens for ages, and just return from a trip in Malaysia, the quality of that lens is amazing, not really top of the class, but not that bad either.

My point is, don't start spending too much, know what you really want then upgrade the lens. Sometime, you don't even need to upgrade.

 

[nitewalk]

Shoot with kit lens first. Not everyone suits a prime lens. Use your kit lens set at a certain focal length and keep shooting with that to see if you are comfortable shooting with one single focal length

 

[lewissac]

It doesn't matter if you have a so-called "crappy" lens. What make you so awesome is how to make use of that lens and turns into great meaningful image. Relying too much on lens upgrading just make ur pocket holes larger.

 

[SkyStrike]

The kit lens is usually the "best" all rounder lens to start off with. When you have played enough with the kit lens you will already know what you will want to upgrade to.

If you don't know why or what are you upgrading to/for, save the money and keep shooting. If you have to ask what lens is the "best", you probably aren't ready for the upgrade.

Usually people get primes because of their large aperture and also their image quality. If you also can't tell the difference between your kit vs those, don't bother getting it.


Also, you mentioned you shoot portraits and low light indoors, have you considered a flash instead of a lens?

 

[durainello]

So shall i get the single or dual kit lens ?

 

[rhino123]

So shall i get the single or dual kit lens ?

Depend on yourself lor. Do you forsee shooting alot in tele range or do you only shoot wide and short range.

If budget allows, get dual kit lens and you should have most range covered, if budget don't allow, then get the kit (14-42mm) should be enough for lots of use.

 

[Rashkae]

So shall i get the single or dual kit lens ?

Get what you need and not what we need. It's your money and will be your camera.

 

[Happyshooter]

I agree with the rest. Use the kit lens 1st, prime lens can be a pain in the ass to use.

I'd suggest getting the dual kit lens, but if you r upgrading from a PnS, you will have to get used to changing lens, else you will end up just using the 14-42 most of the time.

 

[durainello]

Thanks for all the informative advises, 1 more question - does the E-PM2 uses the same sensor as EM5? Comparing with E-PL5 I dont need the swivel screen, or the dial as i usually full time on AV or auto mode.

 

[rhino123]

Thanks for all the informative advises, 1 more question - does the E-PM2 uses the same sensor as EM5? Comparing with E-PL5 I dont need the swivel screen, or the dial as i usually full time on AV or auto mode.

I believe the shared the same sensor.

 

[durainello]

Dilemma again, E-PL5 or E-PM2 lol

I believe the shared the same sensor.

 

[rhino123]

Dilemma again, E-PL5 or E-PM2 lol

Well... the standard advise that I will normally give is,

1) Buy what you need and within your budget, never go beyond that and stretch your limits.
2) Go down to the shop and play with the two cameras that you have shortlisted, see which one feels better, have all the functions you want and the user interface make the most sense, then get that one.
3) Bring your spanking new camera out and have fun.