Specialise lens for 4/3 camera

[Alan Koh]

Recently bought a Panasonic Lumix GF1 for my family member who will be going for holidays.
We have both DX and FX camera but with small children in the trip, the DSLR is heavy and bulky to carry around. For this reason GF1 is ideal.
But I am greatly disappointed because there is only a handful of lenses specially made for this camera. However I am not interested in the kit lens as they don't match my demand for performance quality.
There are lecia lenses that can fit into 4/3 camera with adaptors and multiply factor of 1.5
What I am looking for is high quality normal zoom lens for travelling use specially made for 4/3without the need for adaptor. Did lecia make such lens specially for GF1 or 4/3 camera?
Cost is not my major concern, I only want high quality specialise lenses.
Can anyone help me with more information on this subject?

 

[elgkh]

You can see all the m4/3 lenses here - http://www.four-thirds.org/en/microft/lens_chart.html

Other than the kit zooms, the other m4/3 zoom lenses are the 14-140mm and 45-200mm. I'm not sure about the quality of both though.

Try asking in the 4/3rds section of this forum, you'll get more answers there.

 

[Alan Koh]

Hi elgkh,
Thanks for your info.
I went into the website as suggested and the only lens for Micro 4/3 from Lecia is the 45mm f2.8. There is really not much choice. There are other 4/3 lenses but not Micro 4/3 from Lecia.
Since I have sold the kit lens I have now to replace it with Lecia DG Macro Elmarit 45mm f2.8ASPH / MEGA O.I.S.
Once again thank you.

 

[chalib]

The crop factor of m4/3 is 2x not 1.5x

 

[Alan Koh]

Hi Chalib,
Thanks for the correction on the crop factor of m4/3 which is 2x.

 

[ManWearPants]

I have been observing the m4/3. There are no high performance lens at the moment. Even the Leica branded ones are rumoured to be Panasonic designed so is not true Leica. Hence using the Leica-R with adapters seems the only option at the moment. If cost is not a problem, the Leica Vario Elmar 21-35 f3.5-4 ASPH and Vario Elmarit 35-70 f2.8 ASPH are probably your best zoom lens. The former cost US$2-3k while the latter is in upper US$8k. There is also a Vario Elmarit 70-180/2.8 but that will give you 140-360mm without any IS/VR. Not so easy to use. However, there is no wide angle zoom options since the crop factor is 2x and this is the reason I am sticking with a DSLR.

 

[elgkh]

Hi elgkh,
Thanks for your info.
I went into the website as suggested and the only lens for Micro 4/3 from Lecia is the 45mm f2.8. There is really not much choice. There are other 4/3 lenses but not Micro 4/3 from Lecia.
Since I have sold the kit lens I have now to replace it with Lecia DG Macro Elmarit 45mm f2.8ASPH / MEGA O.I.S.
Once again thank you.

You're welcome Alan! If you don't mind, please post some shots over at the 4/3rds section, I 'm sure there are some other people also interested in this lens.

I have been observing the m4/3. There are no high performance lens at the moment. Even the Leica branded ones are rumoured to be Panasonic designed so is not true Leica. Hence using the Leica-R with adapters seems the only option at the moment. If cost is not a problem, the Leica Vario Elmar 21-35 f3.5-4 ASPH and Vario Elmarit 35-70 f2.8 ASPH are probably your best zoom lens. The former cost US$2-3k while the latter is in upper US$8k. There is also a Vario Elmarit 70-180/2.8 but that will give you 140-360mm without any IS/VR. Not so easy to use. However, there is no wide angle zoom options since the crop factor is 2x and this is the reason I am sticking with a DSLR.

What I heard is that the lenses are designed by Leica, but built by Panasonic. I do not know the exact arrangement between the 2 companies though.

 

[wildcat]

I've been using m4/3 since it came out, and about four months ago, finally got tired of waiting for lenses and I think I've outgrown the list of lens, which is the main reason why I've moved to Nikon (could have easily moved to Canon as well) just for the list of prime lenses available, and I am not one to do manual focusing (just my personal limitation; many have tried tell me do this, do that, but it's just me and frankly, why do I need to when Canikon has auto-focusing primes that cost less?)

 

[g75yu]

Yes unfortunately the range of lenses for MFT is not very wide yet and quality will not match the usual DSLRs, but I guess that is the trade off for having a smaller camera for now.

If you can live with a fixed focal length, why not get the Panasonic 20mm F1.7 (which is supposed to be the best quality lens available). The kit zooms are not fantastic but they work ok for daylight shots.

 

[ManWearPants]

I've been using m4/3 since it came out, and about four months ago, finally got tired of waiting for lenses and I think I've outgrown the list of lens, which is the main reason why I've moved to Nikon (could have easily moved to Canon as well) just for the list of prime lenses available, and I am not one to do manual focusing (just my personal limitation; many have tried tell me do this, do that, but it's just me and frankly, why do I need to when Canikon has auto-focusing primes that cost less?)

Actually I am on the reverse track as yours. I am buying and keeping my manual focus lenses till the day that m4/3 goes 1.5x crop factor and are features rich. Then wham, bang, boink. I will drop the DSLR and go m4/3 with the same lenses.

Why MF lenses? the same reason why m4/3 over DSLR - size and portability.

 

[Alan Koh]

You're welcome Alan! If you don't mind, please post some shots over at the 4/3rds section, I 'm sure there are some other people also interested in this lens.



What I heard is that the lenses are designed by Leica, but built by Panasonic. I do not know the exact arrangement between the 2 companies though.

Hi elgkh,
The Panasonic Lecia DG Marco Elmarit 45mm f2.8 ASPH is not that great for those with high expectation.
This lens is designed by Leica but built by Panasonic. I still prefer German original lenses.
It is true that there are no high performance lens at this moment for M4/3.
For those who like compact camera, M4/3 with kit lens is good enough.
For me and my family members the M4/3 will be kept in "cold storage" for the next two to three years
until better lenses are available to suit this camera.
I still prefer my Nikon D700 Fx. The only problem is the weight of camera and lenses.
Anything better than that for me should be Lecia M9 (body alone is about S$11k+).
The M9 is a hot cake. Booking time is about 2 months.
Not for me at this moment. Two years later I may consider.

 

[giantcanopy]

till the day that m4/3 goes 1.5x crop factor and are features rich. .

when m4/3 "becomes" 1.5x crop factor it will not be called an m4/3 system liao

 

[ManWearPants]

when m4/3 "becomes" 1.5x crop factor it will not be called an m4/3 system liao

why not? you think it will be called m4/2....haha

 

[giantcanopy]

why not? you think it will be called m4/2....haha

the name m"4/3" was derived from the inch-based sizing system of video sensor tubes, so if any bigger mirrorless sensor they probably called it something else funky. m4/3 size to a 1.5x crop is prob like > 30% increase in sensor size leh.

 

[ManWearPants]

the name m"4/3" was derived from the inch-based sizing system of video sensor tubes, so if any bigger mirrorless sensor they probably called it something else funky. m4/3 size to a 1.5x crop is prob like > 30% increase in sensor size leh.

I thot m4/3 is due to the 4:3 aspects of photo? Anyway, I won't go m4/3 if the crop factor is 2x. I can't get WA with my lenses.