Thanks everyone for leaving a comment and sharing your favorite tiny lenses. I've been on the road and not able to reply, but I have read every comment.
In my 40 years as a professional photographer, I dragged myself to the point of exhaustion with heavy equipment. A 600mm f:4 with two tripods was included while sneaking through the woods to portray ravens. And now Olympus without a tripod and those wonderful little lenses. Finally a pleasure to be a photographer again.
Totally agree, I was Canon, FF and APS-C ,and with battery packs, tripods, heavy L lenses, for each trip I was carrying +-10kg and once, I tried a friend's OMD5, with the 12-60mm panaleica and 50-200mm, what a difference, same focal coverage in 3kg as my 10kg Canon. And the good point, EF lenses can be adapted to MFT with AF, IS everything, with a 100€ adapter.
The LUMIX 15mm 1.7 on an Oly Pen F was my initial EDC MFT kit. It was small, fast and sharp, and helped me define the monochrome style I’ve stuck with. Plus it had personality! But any mft PanLeica lens might have tagged along depending on the need.
One of my favorite lenses is the Lumix G 30mm f2.8 macro. This lens is super sharp with a super fast focus and is a macro to boot. I can use it as a normal lens, above the waistband portrait lens as well as a macro. I find it to be very versatile.
The Olympus 17mm 1.8 has been surprising me so much lately. It feels perfect on the Pen F and the manual clutch is something I’ve wanted desperately for some time now, even if the distance scale isn’t very intuitive.
Having tried dozens of M43 lenses, my favourite tiny zoom lens is the Panasonic Lumix G Vario 35-100mm f/4-5.6. It's excellent optically, weighs 135g and gives you an FF equivalent range of 70-200mm. Sure, it's slow but if you use it with a stabilised body, it gives you fantastic results in many situations
I love my Leica 15mm 1.7 and now the 25mm and 50mm 2.0 TT Artisans. They are amazing! Great quality and exceptional images! They look great on my Pen F and on my OM5.
The Lumix 14-42mm powerzoom is seriously underrated. It was discounted shortly after release nearly ten years ago due to issues with shutter shock in the earlier Lumix cameras, which have been fixed in recent bodies. I find it produces especially pleasing color, and its ratio of size to focal length is unmatched even in m43.
I've this lens, got in a GF3 "Xmas special kit", camera + 14mm 2.5 + 14-42mm, for me the only drawback of this lens is the "camcorder like" zoom but it's a very good lens, I own for nearly 12 years and never encounter any problem with it.
@@mmadmic You're lucky! I have this lens as well, also bundled with GF3. However, my copy of the lens does indeed suffer from blurriness when the in-lens O.I.S. is enabled. The pictures aren't just "soft", they look smeared and are unusable. With O.I.S. off, the pictures are nice and sharp. The camcorder-like power zoom was too annoying to use, so I switched to Lumix 12-32mm. It looks and feels cheaper but the image quality is good and it's more fun to use.
The Olympus 45mm 1.8 is really an excellent lens, I love it. Haven't used the Lumix one you mention so thanks for sharing that it could be superior! You're right ppl always recommend the Olympus one ..
Great review, thank you! Not tiny, but one of my favorite M43 lenses is the Lumix G Vario 14-140mm f/3.5-5.6 II ASPH. I like the wide to telephoto focal lengths this lens offers, yet in a very compact package.
I was going to suggest the 14-140mm too! An amazing lens to bring on a trip when packing must be limited. I used it on a ten week solo hike last summer as my only lens, and I'm really happy with it. And yes, it is tiny for what it does!
Nice summary. I think you should have included the Olympus 9-18mm f/4.0-5.6, which for an ultra-wide is amazingly small (I think there's some magic going on there). Also, in that same area is the relatively new PL 9mm f/1.7, which is even smaller and lighter (but prime, not zoom, of course).
My current favourite lens is small for what it is (although not exactly tiny) - The Sigma 60mm 2.8 - 120mm equipment sounds not very practical but it's brilliant for portraits and also excellent as a second lens when travelling for a cool change in perspective. It's optically incredible and small enough to take everywhere.
Great idea to include weight and filter size!! Thanks! My favorite tiny lens is the Panasonic 9mm 1,7. With their almost macro capability is a must in m43 world.
The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 9-18mm f/4-5.6 is a small and very good wide angel zoom and the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 45mm f/1.8 is unbelievable sharp lens for portrait.
I adore the Olympus 75 mm f1.8 and the 12 mm f2. Every picture I take with them are just gorgeous. Not small but superb is also the Panasonic Leica 42.5 mm f1.2.
I decided to grab a gx850 recently for the body size. I finally got my hands on a 14-42mm g x vario and I love it! It has pleasing colors and quality and the motorized lens is pretty exciting to see. Thanks for sharing this under appreciated lens
Hi Matti!! Hummm of all the lenses you brought I only have the kit Lumix 12-32mm, and though I find it very good, I stilo prefer the EZ 14-42mm kit lens from Olympus, even being less wideangle than the Lumix kit. It is my favourite Olympus lens by far and probably 90% of my day to day photography was made with the mzuiko 14-42mm EZ kit lens. But I would also like to highlight the Olympus 30 and 60mm macro lenses that are marvelous for macro and are tack sharp and minimal when compared with apsc or FF macro lenses. I bought in to m43 as a day to day and travel camera, for the portability for the quality and size it has and I astonished by the quality.
I had the olypmus 17mm and 45mm f1.8 lenses on me EP3 and I loved both of them regardless of any situation. I really like the 20mm panasonic because it’s so small but the 17mm Olympus killed it on performance every time. The 20mm Panasonic is really noisy when trying to focus so I found it hopeless for video when using the camera’s built in microphone. I also like lots of the old Leica mount classic lenses by Industar. Theres a great pancake lens that even with an adapter is no bigger than the 14mm f2.5 Olympus. I’m really enjoying your channel. It’s refreshing that so many photographers are shouting out for Micro 4/3. The compact nature of these beauties gives them a truly special niche when cameras are starting to get too big again.
My 2 favorite small lenses are missing! I love Pana 15/1.7 and Oly 45/1.8 These were the only primes I had for some time and I didn't feel I need another. I love Oly 75/1.8 too, but wouldn't call it 'tiny'.
I found a gf2 with the 14mm lumix lens for 40 euros. I use it without watching the screen, holding it in my palm like a flashlight and shooting with the thumb. Great fun and amazing pictures. My 4 years old grandson is now getting good at framing a picture with this combo (with a wrist leash). He is addict to photography
Lawoa 50 mm 2x macro lens is fantastically small. Little long, but thin! So it’s definitely small in this area. And man, it’s is So sharp, no chromatic aberrations, and fantastic as a portrait lens!
For a different point of view I love the look of the Laowa 4mm with the sensor set at 2x crop so that the image fills the frame. Set the focus at 1 meter and aperture to f8 and almost everything should be in focus.
Very good and comprehensive overview, thanks! I‘d like to add the Laowa 10mm/f2-tiny and optically great-, of course the Leica 15mm (that I prefer over the Oly 17mm) and the versatile Oly 9-18mm.
Great video Matti! I have the Olympus Pen F & Olympus 17mm f1.8 and recently bought the 12-32 & 35-100 you mentioned for a big trip. Great combo and tiny! Love it.
A vote for the Olympus 75mm f/1.8 - extremely compact for its reach, metal construction, affordable and sharp-as. I believe it should be sold with a sharpness warning and a packet of bandaids. Incredible performance and value for money IMHO.
I own the Lumix G 14-42 3.5--5.6 pancake lens and the Lumix 25mm 1.4 prime. These are so very lightweight and useful. When I don't have anything in particular I want to shoot and just want to do some walking around, these lenses are easy carries. For my zoom, I bring along a very lightweight friend, my old Olympus 40-150 4--5.6. It isn't the best performer and clearly not in the Pro line, but it takes some fine shots--just don't try for birds in flight and other such action. Paired with my trusty first gen OM-D EM-1, this combo gives me all the optical range I need, from wide angle to telephoto, with basically no penalty weight. Are they as good as my Zuiko pro lenses? Of course not. But for a casual day out, you don't even have to think about bringing them along, the burden is so negligible. Thanks for the reviews!
My favourite is the Panasonic 14-140. No bigger than a kit APS-C 18-55 and lighter than most. Yes, it was a kit lens on several cameras as an option, including the G6 and G7. As a result of some amazing Amazon Christmas promotions on those two cameras, I’ve got two of this lens and although I do not know which is which, both are in regular use on my grab-and-go cameras. One is currently on an Olympus E-M1 MkII and the other is on a G7, although until this year it was almost exclusively on a G6.
I have 12-32mm and 14-45mm Lumix kit zooms, I think the 14-45mm is the better optical performer and what you lose at the wide end you gain in the extra zoom length.
I have recently "rediscovered " my 14mm F2.5, a lense I bought primarily because it was cheap many years ago. It is sufficiently small allowing me to carry a second camera body with a "big" lense in the same compact case. Has been a pleasure to use, very sharp for my landscapes but practically invisible in a crowd or street scene. The only tiny lense I have, in practice the slowness has not been a problem.
my small MFT bags that fit almost all situations : 1/ prime lenses and great picture quality : Lumix GF-6 + 14mm 2.5 , 17mm 2.8, 25mm 1.8, 45mm 1.8 and/or the 60mm 2.8 + 2 spare batteries, it fits in a tiny bag. 2/ Smallest option, single lens : Lumix GF-6 + 14-150mm + 2 batteries 3/ Balanced size/quality : Lumix GF-6 + 14-42 pancake + 40-150 (kit one) + 2 batteries Or replacing the Lumix with an OMD-5mkIII when I really want more pixels. I also use the trio Sigma art 19-30-60mm 2.8 and the Meike 6.5mm 2.0, very good lens (but some, including mine needs to be adjusted as focus ring distances were incorrect)
At least on olympus, the compact kit kens opens at the lower zoom and not where i left it, you are guaranteed to lose the decisive moment by the time the lens opens and you adjust the zoom. I sold it for pennies then i made the mistake of buying the lumix 20mm which has a focus slower than anything you can imagine, and you are guaranteed to lose the decisive moment. My favourite is the leica 12-60
The DJI 15mm f1.7 is my favorite small MFT lens. People are too quick to replace the 12-32mm. It is fantastic for it' size. I find the 14mm makes flat and lifeless images. The 20mm is just too slow and misses focus but I love that focal length.
I have the Lumix 12-32 kit lens, and the Panny-Leica 25mm f1.4, and they are both great! I like the 12-32 as a "standard zoom", just wish it was weather sealed. I also have the lumix 45-150, which I don't think is that well regarded, but is a nice size. The 12-32 and the 45-150 make a great pair for travel, super light.
@@willb1242 the shorter end is a reasonable portrait lens. I've found it to be sharp enough for my tastes. It's not that fast, but gives good enough bokeh. Basically. I think you need to be really into lens specs and pixel peeping to really care.
I have always thought it strange that the 14-42mm PZ gets forgotten. Paired with the super sharp 45-175mm PZ it is a dream and very practical video walk-around kit. Especially if adding the Laowa 7.5mm f2 The Olympus 17mm f1.8 is another favorite of mine. Anyone complaining about sharpness has never used it. It is a delight to use. Another forgotten about lens is that 42.5mm f1.7. It is definitely a better lens than the Olympus, yet the Oly 45 1.8 gets all the love. I don't understand that.
Of those you featured, I have the Lumix 12-32mm, Lumix 12-60mm and the Lumix 14mm. Other 'tiny' lenses I have are the Olympus 9-18mm, a Samyang 7.5mm and a Lumix 25mm f1.7. The 25mm does not seem to play well with my Olympus bodies, the focus is in front of where the focus point is but this does not happen on my GX80. I'm thinking of trading the 25mm in but I am more than happy with the rest,
Exactly! The lenses are all just as useful as they day they were released, but virtually all of the small bodies have been discontinued. 2nd hand prices indicate there's still some demand, so I hope they make a comeback.
Excellent video. I have been using MFT for some time now with the GX9, and most of my lenses are Olympus with the exception of a few. I love the 25mm f1.4, that tends to be my go to street photography lens, but I have to say that the 14mm f2.5 is sharper than what a lot of people have said. Definitely a great system to use.
For me it's hands down 14mm F2.5 so far, always sits on my EPM2 and in my pocket/backpack for the street snapshots or landscape shots as companion to my E-M1 mk II on hikes. Sometimes I'm buying cheap small sets (and usually resell them), so if I finally manage to get something with the 12-32mm pancake, I'm keen to ry how it would work as 14mm replacement. I was often missing the extra focal lengths for architecture shots...
I would give a very big shout to the PZ14-42 you covered. I have had the 12-32 on the GM1 (gone) and the Ollie 14-42EZ on an E-PL1 (gone). Both lenses I quickly replaced with the PZ14-42. I have given the PZ14-42 a lot of use, about 10 years, durable and reliable. Mechanically the power zoom is a lot better than the 14-42EZ (known to fail) and the glass better than the 12-32 (which does have a smaller than normal mft lens projected image circle to fit the GM1). It does have Power-OIS and works great on Olympus backs too. Practically glued to my E-PL7. The pancake Lumix 20mm f/1.7 used to be a favourite but cannot AFC, which makes the Leica 25mm f/1.4 more useful (besides being awesome) although that is quite heavy (and that ridiculous lens hood). The eggcup size Ollie 45mm f/1.8 also needs a mention. A must-have lens. It wants its lens hood, why do Olympus charge extra.
Interesting to see the 12-60mm there, not obviously classifiable as tiny but as you say very compact for its focal range. This was the first m43 lens I owned, and it confirmed that this was the system for me. It's recently been usurped as my 'default' lens by an Olympus 14-150mm which is almost exactly the same size, and which seems very sharp. I also have the Olympus 45mm, which for me negates the argument that m43 has significantly worse shallow depth of field than 35mm 'full frame'. I mainly photograph nature: landscapes, when I'm often wanting have to have everything in focus, and macro details where obtaining blurred backgrounds is rarely difficult. If I *do* want shallow depth of field it's for portraits. An 1.7 or 1.8 short telephoto may not have the same shallow DoF as dedicated 85mm 'full frame' lens, but it's very comparable to a 50mm f1.4, with a more sympathetic focal length for portraits. How many 'full frame' users carry a dedicated short telephoto with them everywhere there go, just in case the want to photograph portraits? If they are carrying a prime, it's likely to be a nifty 50, so opportunist portraits in 'full frame' will mostly be taken mainly on 50mm lenses. There's very little reason not to carry a m43 40something prime if there's even the slightest chance it will be used. I regularly stick mine in a pocket when going for a hike, because why not? How many 35mm users can say the same?
Great recommendations! I have the panasonic 12-32, the panasonic 20mm, and the olympus 17 mm. Weight is next to nothing- carrying these small super- performers!
M.Zuiko 14-42mm 1:3.5-5.6 II R. It's collapsible but on my photowalks I keep it open and ready, and won't miss any shot. I prefer it's manual zooming ring over electric zoom in some other lenses.
Hi Matti - I was just using the 14mm on my E-PL6 my sis gave me, at night. Don't forget the Samyang / Rokinon 7.5mm fisheye manual focus and I put a bit of tape to reduce the risk my moving the focus ring accidentally. You just made me aware of the Leica 25mm f/1.4 - one day I might use that instead of my 20mm but $$$$
The Pana-Leica 15mm is certainly bigger than the 14mm - and I was happy with the 14mm until I started using it for Infrared. If sharpness matters at all in IR (and may be it doesn't!) the 14mm lacks IR sharpness towards the corners. Possibly I was just looking for an excuse to move to the Pana-Leica 15mm, but I'm happy with the 15mm for all situations! I miss the diminutive size of the 14mm though....
There's lots of great tiny prime lenses from both Panasonic and Olympus. I own the Olympus 1.8 lenses (17, 25, 45) but I've also owned both the 14 and 20 Panasonic, and I now own the 9mm, which arguably could be classified as "tiny." I'm sorry I sold my panasonic 14mm, because this is one focal length Olympus has ignored. I may buy it again. We are spoiled by choice.
Thanks for the nice look back at tiny lenses for MFT, Matti. Your channel is one of the ones I counted on when I was starting out. The Panasonic 15mm f/1.7, one of my favorites, is the one I would have to include. It works wonderfully well with my GX9. My most unusual choice for a tiny "MFT lens" is the Leica 35mm Summicron-M f/2 (v.4) using an M to MFT adapter. They're hard to come by now; mine is from 1982. Zone focusing at f/8 or F/11 works well for street photography (faster than any manufacturer's autofocus) and opening it up to f/2 makes it a compact portrait lens (as if it was 70mm).
I'm fortunate enough to have almost all of these lenses, just missing the Oly 17, Lumix 25 f/1.7, and Lumix 42.5 f/1.7. I don't see a reason to have the Oly 17 because I have so many lenses with similar focal length but I know it's loved by many people. Instead I have a Mitakon 25 f/0.95, Sigma 30 f/1.4, and Sigma 56 f/1.4. I have the first version of the 14 f/2.5 and my copy is excellent. My 20 f/1.7 II is also optically excellent. Of the 2, I generally use the 20 f/1.7 more often. It basically stays attached to my GX85 most of the time. I like to use the 12-32 and its 35-100 cousin with my GX1 when I'm feeling nostalgic or when I need a small kit for my GX85 (usually also paired with the 14 or 20 mm pancake lens). I also have an early copy of the 14-42 PZ and it was horrible. I bought it used off KEH back around 2013 and it had ghosting and other focus issues that made the output even worse than many review samples. I was only last straw with it so I took a chance disassenbling it (I was an AME with microelectronics training) and found some of the focus and OIS elements binding. I cleaned, lubed, and reassembled and the output is much better. Though now used to the 12-32, the 14-42 basically collects dust like my old Sony a6000 with its kit zooms. The M4/3 systems is so flexible that I continue to be very happy with it. Between my GX1, GX85, G95, and G9, I have just about everything I need to do anything from casual outings to weddings, portraits, and events (with larger faster zooms of course).
In the analogue/vintage world, my favourite lens at the moment is the 38mm f/1.8 Pen F kit lens (about 55mm equiv). It has a tiny focus throw, is pretty fast, and has close focus at about 25cm. I'm really not sure why I like it so much, I'm not /that/ much of a fan of 50s, but the ergonomics and close focus have just made it super versatile.
@@timothykieper It's the standard lens for the (film) pen f half frame system, so it's x 1.5 (or 1.44 really I guess). (2x would be if you adapt it to MFT). (I should have been clearer which Pen F I meant).
What I'd love to have is a small prime with weather resistance, preferably in the 15-20mm range. I'm not aware of anything like that. The 25/1.4 mk II is weather sealed, but I'd like to have something a little smaller and wider, even if it wasn't f/1.4
I do have 14-42 PZ and 12-60 among others, and honestly - 12-60 is useless. It is barely smaller than 14-140 and I was regretting not having some extra length almost every time. The 2mm on wide end are rarely needed and are better covered by zuiko 9-18. For having "everything on the go" I am aiming to carry 14-140, 9-18 and 25 for dark situations. Just 3 lenses with 18-280 FF equivalent and 1.7 aperture option.
I‘ve been using the Olympus 45mm f1.8 lately and am pleasantly surprised. Quite sharp and of course, small and light. Perfect for my art style photography. Interesting video, Matti. Am about to go out with my smaller Oly EM10 mk4, to try the M.Zuiko Dig 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 II R MSC, plastic, bought used. So far it‘s proved it‘s worth too, although not the sharpest.
I discounted the 12-32 lens as a cheap kit lens, but this tiny lens has a really useful focal distance that is perfect for walking around. Let me also chime in that you really should have included the 15mm Leica/Lumix. Its my favorite and most used lens. The Laowa is probably the biggest surprise in my kit. I get way more use for this focal distance than I thought I would, and the build quality is absolutely amazing. Finally, I absolutely love that 42.5mm lens. I need to get more use from it. Thanks for your review.
I find the 45mm Olympus to be very sharp, and when on sale for $299USD a very good bargain -- same goes to the 25mm Olympus. I do like the Lumix 30mm macro which is sharp edge to edge and quick to focus. I was considering the Leica 15mm, but I already have the 14mm which is so compact and seems great for street. Alas, I seem to gravitate on back to the 25mm lenses due to the length being something great for pretty close, to across the street shooting -- same with the 30mm. A bit of a tilt, or being near someone while using the edge of frame on a 25mm will have no distortions --- it kinda spoils a photographer, as it is so well controlled. The geometry just seems perfect and easy with the 25mm MFT lens. On the other hand, after using a wider lens on several cameras, you can see some of what is often spoken of regarding being closer and more within the scene, and because of the width, very easy to point the general area and still grab a shot. Including a bit more in the frame might bring in, or find by accident, more things going on around that shot -- this is true. This is not to say the 25mm is not telling a story, as it indeed, most of the time, includes what you see going on, with some room from side to side, and enough background for sure -- MFT includes background with decent sharpness with ease. Most of the time, in my opinion, having background not blurred to oblivion, helps with the total context of the street image -- the classical street photograph. I find it extremely hard to choose a single lens to use all year - every year, as some claim is the way to go. There is just so much benefit to every focal length. Matti appears to be a 14mm shooter, whereas Peter and Robin are more into the 25mm. I may end up deciding not to decide. 🤔 On my FF camera, I have a 35mm and 50mm prime, and like'em both. Now that Canon has an RF 28mm out, as a pancake lens, maybe it is time go wide in full frame. More to crop, just in the case of something going on across the street. What ya think? - Loren, in sunbaked California!
I picked up the Olly 17mm/1.7. And while I've seen reviews that call it sharp, and others that say not, mine is "sharp enough to use", but not brilliant. It's AF and build are good, making it the best AF 17mm. A generally important focal length.
The 25mm f/1.4 and the 42.5mm f/1.7 were my favorite! The 15mm f/1.7 and 20mm f/1.7 were pretty good too, but the 25mm and 42.5mm never disappoints. Renders images beautifully.
Difficult for not to use my Panasonic 14-140, covers almost all situations and is similar in size to the Panasonic 12-60. The quality is very good as well.
I absolutely love my 14-140. If I had to sell all my other lenses I would keep this. Its small, light, has a large zoom range and combined with my GX80 it's an ideal travel lens. And I am always amazed by the image quality for such a cheap an simple lens
Glad you mentioned this lens. It's sharp and cheap (under $100). True, there is no manual control, but 42.5mm is 85mm full frame - making it the perfect portrait lens. The macro switch also allows decent close up work. The 85mm focal length is also a good general lens - dozens of youtube videos attest to the utility of a fast 85mm lens. Just keep a 14mm F2.5 in your jeans pocket for wide angle and you are good for any situation.
sorry for didn't have any m4/3 yet. so i would prise for my Pentax pancake i have here. the camera is Pentax K-3 (2013) APS-C sensor 3 lenses i love 1. Pentax-DA 21 mm f/3.5 2. Pentax-FA 28 mm f/2.8 3. Pentax-A 50 mm f/1.7 I do love Pentax-DA 21 mm f/3.5 a lot. so cute tiny and so light. Actualy, I use it as a body cap fro time to time. Lol Not so sharp nor great in optical term, but i do love it. another lens is Pentax-FA 28 mm f/2.8 from old film day. the focal length is just almost perfect for me. Sharpness is good enoug for me and it's color just hook me. don't know why but i love the picture took with this lens so much. And the last is Pentax-A 50 mm f/1.7. the sharpest of all lenses i have owned. so tiny so light so cute, yet, effective every time i attach to my camera. this lens is MAGIC ! eventhough it a manual focus lens. but now i'm looking for replace this 1.7 for 1.4 with autofocus. my work can't wait for me trying to perfect my focusing ring. sad.
Thanks. Over the years I have been on and off with the protective filters. Currently I don't use any filters on my lenses. So, use a filter if you feel it gives some extra security and protection.
Olympus 12mm F2.0? Relatively tiny in size but huge on performance, I feel it's better than my copy of 17mm F1.8 in AF performance and overall image quality.
You missed two small MFT primes: Panasonic 15 f1.7 the one with the metal hood. Excellent and small and with an aperture ring! And the rather new Pan 9mm f1.7. the latter one I do not have but have heard good things from others. You did, however, bring up the P Lumix 42.5 f1.7 and that it is close to a macro lens. I have a close-up filter that I can screw onto the lens and then it really becomes a macro. So a GX9 with the 12-32 pancake, the 15mm and the 42.5mm with the close up filter and that covers a lot and takes little space if only photography, no video, is what is happening on any given day.
Thanks everyone for leaving a comment and sharing your favorite tiny lenses. I've been on the road and not able to reply, but I have read every comment.
Great work 💯
In my 40 years as a professional photographer, I dragged myself to the point of exhaustion with heavy equipment. A 600mm f:4 with two tripods was included while sneaking through the woods to portray ravens. And now Olympus without a tripod and those wonderful little lenses. Finally a pleasure to be a photographer again.
Totally agree, I was Canon, FF and APS-C ,and with battery packs, tripods, heavy L lenses, for each trip I was carrying +-10kg and once, I tried a friend's OMD5, with the 12-60mm panaleica and 50-200mm, what a difference, same focal coverage in 3kg as my 10kg Canon.
And the good point, EF lenses can be adapted to MFT with AF, IS everything, with a 100€ adapter.
What model?
@@leoslashOm-D e-m1ii, Om-D e-m5, and also Om-D e-m10ii. Therse are all great cameras.
@@mmadmic could you please share the name of the adapter or a link?
@@mmadmic EF lenses would still be heavy as compared to MFT lenses no?
Great choices! Been using the 35-100 this last fortnight in the Faroe Islands. Absolutely incredible!
Thanks! This video was inspired by another video on RUclips😀
Yes! More M43 supporters talking about tiny options! I hope omds and Panasonic are listening
The LUMIX 15mm 1.7 on an Oly Pen F was my initial EDC MFT kit. It was small, fast and sharp, and helped me define the monochrome style I’ve stuck with. Plus it had personality! But any mft PanLeica lens might have tagged along depending on the need.
Oh yes. I have this great combo: PEN-F and 15mm f1.7.
One of my favorite lenses is the Lumix G 30mm f2.8 macro. This lens is super sharp with a super fast focus and is a macro to boot. I can use it as a normal lens, above the waistband portrait lens as well as a macro. I find it to be very versatile.
Don't forget it has O.I.S. in the lens.
The Olympus 17mm 1.8 has been surprising me so much lately. It feels perfect on the Pen F and the manual clutch is something I’ve wanted desperately for some time now, even if the distance scale isn’t very intuitive.
I really enjoy my lumix 42.5 f1.7 both for its close focus and as i learn to take street photography (from a discreet distance).
Having tried dozens of M43 lenses, my favourite tiny zoom lens is the Panasonic Lumix G Vario 35-100mm f/4-5.6. It's excellent optically, weighs 135g and gives you an FF equivalent range of 70-200mm. Sure, it's slow but if you use it with a stabilised body, it gives you fantastic results in many situations
Is it better optically than the 45-150?
@@noah22261 that is a lens I haven't owned
@@noah22261 I would give the nudge towards the 35-100 kit when comparing those two. The 35-100 also has OIS, to the tune of 3-3,5 stops.
The Panaleica 15 mil is a crisp, sharp, lightweight and fast lens, with which I have had some great results... Thank you for the run through Matti..
The Panaleica 15mm is really a gem. everything looks nice with it.
I love my Leica 15mm 1.7 and now the 25mm and 50mm 2.0 TT Artisans. They are amazing! Great quality and exceptional images! They look great on my Pen F and on my OM5.
The Lumix 14-42mm powerzoom is seriously underrated. It was discounted shortly after release nearly ten years ago due to issues with shutter shock in the earlier Lumix cameras, which have been fixed in recent bodies. I find it produces especially pleasing color, and its ratio of size to focal length is unmatched even in m43.
I've this lens, got in a GF3 "Xmas special kit", camera + 14mm 2.5 + 14-42mm, for me the only drawback of this lens is the "camcorder like" zoom but it's a very good lens, I own for nearly 12 years and never encounter any problem with it.
@@mmadmic You're lucky! I have this lens as well, also bundled with GF3. However, my copy of the lens does indeed suffer from blurriness when the in-lens O.I.S. is enabled. The pictures aren't just "soft", they look smeared and are unusable. With O.I.S. off, the pictures are nice and sharp.
The camcorder-like power zoom was too annoying to use, so I switched to Lumix 12-32mm. It looks and feels cheaper but the image quality is good and it's more fun to use.
The Olympus 45mm 1.8 is really an excellent lens, I love it. Haven't used the Lumix one you mention so thanks for sharing that it could be superior! You're right ppl always recommend the Olympus one ..
From what I have seen, 45mm has a better bokeh and no cat-eyeing!
Thanks for that summary. Some addition Oly 14-42EZ pancake has an automatic lens cap I admire :), Oly 45 1.8 is also a tiny mft gem&
Great review, thank you! Not tiny, but one of my favorite M43 lenses is the Lumix G Vario 14-140mm f/3.5-5.6 II ASPH. I like the wide to telephoto focal lengths this lens offers, yet in a very compact package.
For what it does it’s tiny and so practical!! My most used lens too.
I was going to suggest the 14-140mm too! An amazing lens to bring on a trip when packing must be limited. I used it on a ten week solo hike last summer as my only lens, and I'm really happy with it. And yes, it is tiny for what it does!
mine is still functioning after cleaning the contacts, i thought it bit the dust. i kinda want to see a 14-140mm F2.8 -4.0 though.
Nice summary. I think you should have included the Olympus 9-18mm f/4.0-5.6, which for an ultra-wide is amazingly small (I think there's some magic going on there). Also, in that same area is the relatively new PL 9mm f/1.7, which is even smaller and lighter (but prime, not zoom, of course).
My current favourite lens is small for what it is (although not exactly tiny) - The Sigma 60mm 2.8 - 120mm equipment sounds not very practical but it's brilliant for portraits and also excellent as a second lens when travelling for a cool change in perspective. It's optically incredible and small enough to take everywhere.
I think of mine as my “magic” lens: yes, great for portraits…
I love the Lumix 30mm macro lens. It’s my ‘walk about’ lens for street photography.
Great idea to include weight and filter size!! Thanks!
My favorite tiny lens is the Panasonic 9mm 1,7. With their almost macro capability is a must in m43 world.
The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 9-18mm f/4-5.6 is a small and very good wide angel zoom and the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 45mm f/1.8 is unbelievable sharp lens for portrait.
The Lumix 12-32 was my first M43 lens, and it's a little gem. And what a bargain. Use it all the time.
I have the first-generation Laowa 7.5 and it's simply incredible. And it's f/2 !!! Center sharp wide open, corners good by 2.8
Nice! Love all those lenses and I have many. I will NEVER let go of my 14mm f/2.5... it is THE M43 lens.
My most-used lens also.
Dziękujemy.
Thank You!
perfect video. proud user of MFT since 2009! Never looked back
maybe Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 15mm F1.7
I adore the Olympus 75 mm f1.8 and the 12 mm f2. Every picture I take with them are just gorgeous. Not small but superb is also the Panasonic Leica 42.5 mm f1.2.
That's my ace in the hole. Leica 42.5 @f1.2. Its the best of the best
I decided to grab a gx850 recently for the body size. I finally got my hands on a 14-42mm g x vario and I love it! It has pleasing colors and quality and the motorized lens is pretty exciting to see. Thanks for sharing this under appreciated lens
Thanks and happy to hear you enjoy the GX850 and the power zoom.
Hi Matti!!
Hummm of all the lenses you brought I only have the kit Lumix 12-32mm, and though I find it very good, I stilo prefer the EZ 14-42mm kit lens from Olympus, even being less wideangle than the Lumix kit. It is my favourite Olympus lens by far and probably 90% of my day to day photography was made with the mzuiko 14-42mm EZ kit lens.
But I would also like to highlight the Olympus 30 and 60mm macro lenses that are marvelous for macro and are tack sharp and minimal when compared with apsc or FF macro lenses.
I bought in to m43 as a day to day and travel camera, for the portability for the quality and size it has and I astonished by the quality.
I had the olypmus 17mm and 45mm f1.8 lenses on me EP3 and I loved both of them regardless of any situation. I really like the 20mm panasonic because it’s so small but the 17mm Olympus killed it on performance every time. The 20mm Panasonic is really noisy when trying to focus so I found it hopeless for video when using the camera’s built in microphone. I also like lots of the old Leica mount classic lenses by Industar. Theres a great pancake lens that even with an adapter is no bigger than the 14mm f2.5 Olympus. I’m really enjoying your channel. It’s refreshing that so many photographers are shouting out for Micro 4/3. The compact nature of these beauties gives them a truly special niche when cameras are starting to get too big again.
Good food for thought. Thanks Matti! One lens I like a lot is the Olympus 12mm 2.0.... I used to have it but now considering buying it again
My 2 favorite small lenses are missing! I love Pana 15/1.7 and Oly 45/1.8 These were the only primes I had for some time and I didn't feel I need another. I love Oly 75/1.8 too, but wouldn't call it 'tiny'.
Great info Matti, & a pleasure to listen to you and see your videos again. Regards from Barcelona.
I found a gf2 with the 14mm lumix lens for 40 euros. I use it without watching the screen, holding it in my palm like a flashlight and shooting with the thumb. Great fun and amazing pictures. My 4 years old grandson is now getting good at framing a picture with this combo (with a wrist leash). He is addict to photography
What an excellent video. Sometimes the youtube algorithm knocks it out of the park. Subscribed.
Wow, thanks!
@@mattisulanto No thank YOU!
Lawoa 50 mm 2x macro lens is fantastically small. Little long, but thin! So it’s definitely small in this area. And man, it’s is So sharp, no chromatic aberrations, and fantastic as a portrait lens!
Thanks!
Thank You!
@@mattisulanto Thank YOU! I’m new to the Micro Four Thirds format and this video (as with all your videos!) was very helpful.
For a different point of view I love the look of the Laowa 4mm with the sensor set at 2x crop so that the image fills the frame. Set the focus at 1 meter and aperture to f8 and almost everything should be in focus.
My Pan/Leica 15mm f1.7 and the 12-32mm you talked about are my favorite small lenses. Thanks for your wonderful content.
Thank you.
Very good and comprehensive overview, thanks! I‘d like to add the Laowa 10mm/f2-tiny and optically great-, of course the Leica 15mm (that I prefer over the Oly 17mm) and the versatile Oly 9-18mm.
I love 14-140, my first lens, which is light and great for landscape photography in travel.
Landscape and almost everything else with that range.
Great video Matti! I have the Olympus Pen F & Olympus 17mm f1.8 and recently bought the 12-32 & 35-100 you mentioned for a big trip. Great combo and tiny! Love it.
That Leica 25mm is my favorite lens on the 4:3 and platform. Great video
Thanks so much!
A vote for the Olympus 75mm f/1.8 - extremely compact for its reach, metal construction, affordable and sharp-as. I believe it should be sold with a sharpness warning and a packet of bandaids. Incredible performance and value for money IMHO.
I second that 🙂
I own the Lumix G 14-42 3.5--5.6 pancake lens and the Lumix 25mm 1.4 prime. These are so very lightweight and useful. When I don't have anything in particular I want to shoot and just want to do some walking around, these lenses are easy carries. For my zoom, I bring along a very lightweight friend, my old Olympus 40-150 4--5.6. It isn't the best performer and clearly not in the Pro line, but it takes some fine shots--just don't try for birds in flight and other such action. Paired with my trusty first gen OM-D EM-1, this combo gives me all the optical range I need, from wide angle to telephoto, with basically no penalty weight. Are they as good as my Zuiko pro lenses? Of course not. But for a casual day out, you don't even have to think about bringing them along, the burden is so negligible. Thanks for the reviews!
My favourite is the Panasonic 14-140. No bigger than a kit APS-C 18-55 and lighter than most. Yes, it was a kit lens on several cameras as an option, including the G6 and G7. As a result of some amazing Amazon Christmas promotions on those two cameras, I’ve got two of this lens and although I do not know which is which, both are in regular use on my grab-and-go cameras. One is currently on an Olympus E-M1 MkII and the other is on a G7, although until this year it was almost exclusively on a G6.
I have 12-32mm and 14-45mm Lumix kit zooms, I think the 14-45mm is the better optical performer and what you lose at the wide end you gain in the extra zoom length.
I have recently "rediscovered " my 14mm F2.5, a lense I bought primarily because it was cheap many years ago. It is sufficiently small allowing me to carry a second camera body with a "big" lense in the same compact case. Has been a pleasure to use, very sharp for my landscapes but practically invisible in a crowd or street scene. The only tiny lense I have, in practice the slowness has not been a problem.
my small MFT bags that fit almost all situations :
1/ prime lenses and great picture quality : Lumix GF-6 + 14mm 2.5 , 17mm 2.8, 25mm 1.8, 45mm 1.8 and/or the 60mm 2.8 + 2 spare batteries, it fits in a tiny bag.
2/ Smallest option, single lens : Lumix GF-6 + 14-150mm + 2 batteries
3/ Balanced size/quality : Lumix GF-6 + 14-42 pancake + 40-150 (kit one) + 2 batteries
Or replacing the Lumix with an OMD-5mkIII when I really want more pixels.
I also use the trio Sigma art 19-30-60mm 2.8 and the Meike 6.5mm 2.0, very good lens (but some, including mine needs to be adjusted as focus ring distances were incorrect)
At least on olympus, the compact kit kens opens at the lower zoom and not where i left it, you are guaranteed to lose the decisive moment by the time the lens opens and you adjust the zoom. I sold it for pennies then i made the mistake of buying the lumix 20mm which has a focus slower than anything you can imagine, and you are guaranteed to lose the decisive moment. My favourite is the leica 12-60
Well, I'd like to ad the 12-45 Olympus pro. The tiniest pro zoom from Oly. That can be a complement of the Pana 35-100.
I’d like to see a weather resistant version of the 20mmm
@@RJ-dv5mg they did it for the x100v with putting on a filter. No reason they couldn’t do something like that kind of design.
I'd love to see them seal the 14mm at the same time, being already full internal focus should make it easier??
The DJI 15mm f1.7 is my favorite small MFT lens. People are too quick to replace the 12-32mm. It is fantastic for it' size. I find the 14mm makes flat and lifeless images. The 20mm is just too slow and misses focus but I love that focal length.
Thanks for sharing.
Love the Olympus 45. Lovely colors and bokeh. What about the Olympus 12mm?
I have the Lumix 12-32 kit lens, and the Panny-Leica 25mm f1.4, and they are both great! I like the 12-32 as a "standard zoom", just wish it was weather sealed. I also have the lumix 45-150, which I don't think is that well regarded, but is a nice size. The 12-32 and the 45-150 make a great pair for travel, super light.
The 45-150 isn't well regarded, but when you need the zoom, it delivers that :D
@@willb1242 the shorter end is a reasonable portrait lens. I've found it to be sharp enough for my tastes. It's not that fast, but gives good enough bokeh. Basically. I think you need to be really into lens specs and pixel peeping to really care.
I have always thought it strange that the 14-42mm PZ gets forgotten. Paired with the super sharp 45-175mm PZ it is a dream and very practical video walk-around kit. Especially if adding the Laowa 7.5mm f2
The Olympus 17mm f1.8 is another favorite of mine. Anyone complaining about sharpness has never used it. It is a delight to use.
Another forgotten about lens is that 42.5mm f1.7. It is definitely a better lens than the Olympus, yet the Oly 45 1.8 gets all the love. I don't understand that.
Matti, The Oly kit zoom 14-42mm EZ also a tiny motorized zoom. and dont forget the Oly 9mm f/8 fisheye body cap lens, thats my favorite tiny lens!
Thanks for your input, both great lenses.
Of those you featured, I have the Lumix 12-32mm, Lumix 12-60mm and the Lumix 14mm. Other 'tiny' lenses I have are the Olympus 9-18mm, a Samyang 7.5mm and a Lumix 25mm f1.7. The 25mm does not seem to play well with my Olympus bodies, the focus is in front of where the focus point is but this does not happen on my GX80. I'm thinking of trading the 25mm in but I am more than happy with the rest,
Another informative video!👍 I have used several of these lenses and I heartily agree with you! Now, we need new tiny m4/3 cameras!
Exactly! The lenses are all just as useful as they day they were released, but virtually all of the small bodies have been discontinued. 2nd hand prices indicate there's still some demand, so I hope they make a comeback.
Excellent video. I have been using MFT for some time now with the GX9, and most of my lenses are Olympus with the exception of a few. I love the 25mm f1.4, that tends to be my go to street photography lens, but I have to say that the 14mm f2.5 is sharper than what a lot of people have said. Definitely a great system to use.
Some nice ideas. Thank you! Perhaps something similar for APSC, perhaps not quite as small but there are some smallish ones?
lumix 14-140 f3.5-5.6
20mm f1.7 lumix
12-45mm f4 Olympus. My most used zoom by far. Replaced the 12-60mm lumix which had been previous outdoor zoom of choice
12-45mm F4 is an amazing lens that isn't praised enough. Lovely rendering
For me it's hands down 14mm F2.5 so far, always sits on my EPM2 and in my pocket/backpack for the street snapshots or landscape shots as companion to my E-M1 mk II on hikes. Sometimes I'm buying cheap small sets (and usually resell them), so if I finally manage to get something with the 12-32mm pancake, I'm keen to ry how it would work as 14mm replacement. I was often missing the extra focal lengths for architecture shots...
I would give a very big shout to the PZ14-42 you covered. I have had the 12-32 on the GM1 (gone) and the Ollie 14-42EZ on an E-PL1 (gone). Both lenses I quickly replaced with the PZ14-42. I have given the PZ14-42 a lot of use, about 10 years, durable and reliable. Mechanically the power zoom is a lot better than the 14-42EZ (known to fail) and the glass better than the 12-32 (which does have a smaller than normal mft lens projected image circle to fit the GM1). It does have Power-OIS and works great on Olympus backs too. Practically glued to my E-PL7.
The pancake Lumix 20mm f/1.7 used to be a favourite but cannot AFC, which makes the Leica 25mm f/1.4 more useful (besides being awesome) although that is quite heavy (and that ridiculous lens hood).
The eggcup size Ollie 45mm f/1.8 also needs a mention. A must-have lens. It wants its lens hood, why do Olympus charge extra.
Thanks. Too few people understand the PZ 14-42mm😀
Interesting to see the 12-60mm there, not obviously classifiable as tiny but as you say very compact for its focal range. This was the first m43 lens I owned, and it confirmed that this was the system for me. It's recently been usurped as my 'default' lens by an Olympus 14-150mm which is almost exactly the same size, and which seems very sharp.
I also have the Olympus 45mm, which for me negates the argument that m43 has significantly worse shallow depth of field than 35mm 'full frame'. I mainly photograph nature: landscapes, when I'm often wanting have to have everything in focus, and macro details where obtaining blurred backgrounds is rarely difficult. If I *do* want shallow depth of field it's for portraits. An 1.7 or 1.8 short telephoto may not have the same shallow DoF as dedicated 85mm 'full frame' lens, but it's very comparable to a 50mm f1.4, with a more sympathetic focal length for portraits. How many 'full frame' users carry a dedicated short telephoto with them everywhere there go, just in case the want to photograph portraits? If they are carrying a prime, it's likely to be a nifty 50, so opportunist portraits in 'full frame' will mostly be taken mainly on 50mm lenses. There's very little reason not to carry a m43 40something prime if there's even the slightest chance it will be used. I regularly stick mine in a pocket when going for a hike, because why not? How many 35mm users can say the same?
The Lumix 42.5mm is outstanding. So is the cheap Panasonic 25mm 1.7. My 14mm 2.5 is well used and in rough shape but still working great.
Great recommendations! I have the panasonic 12-32, the panasonic 20mm, and the olympus 17 mm. Weight is next to nothing- carrying these small super- performers!
Why do you carry 3 lenses with aprox the same focal length?
M.Zuiko 14-42mm 1:3.5-5.6 II R. It's collapsible but on my photowalks I keep it open and ready, and won't miss any shot. I prefer it's manual zooming ring over electric zoom in some other lenses.
The 42.5 Panasonic is a lovely lens I'm going to have to buy it again
Hi Matti - I was just using the 14mm on my E-PL6 my sis gave me, at night. Don't forget the Samyang / Rokinon 7.5mm fisheye manual focus and I put a bit of tape to reduce the risk my moving the focus ring accidentally. You just made me aware of the Leica 25mm f/1.4 - one day I might use that instead of my 20mm but $$$$
The Pana-Leica 15mm is certainly bigger than the 14mm - and I was happy with the 14mm until I started using it for Infrared. If sharpness matters at all in IR (and may be it doesn't!) the 14mm lacks IR sharpness towards the corners. Possibly I was just looking for an excuse to move to the Pana-Leica 15mm, but I'm happy with the 15mm for all situations! I miss the diminutive size of the 14mm though....
I often combine the GM 1 with the 12-32 and the 35-100. A really pocketable combo. No need for a camera bag.
I love my 20mm 1.7 pancake and the Olympus macro 60mm 2.8. Both are tiny and powerful
There's lots of great tiny prime lenses from both Panasonic and Olympus. I own the Olympus 1.8 lenses (17, 25, 45) but I've also owned both the 14 and 20 Panasonic, and I now own the 9mm, which arguably could be classified as "tiny." I'm sorry I sold my panasonic 14mm, because this is one focal length Olympus has ignored. I may buy it again. We are spoiled by choice.
Thanks for the nice look back at tiny lenses for MFT, Matti. Your channel is one of the ones I counted on when I was starting out. The Panasonic 15mm f/1.7, one of my favorites, is the one I would have to include. It works wonderfully well with my GX9.
My most unusual choice for a tiny "MFT lens" is the Leica 35mm Summicron-M f/2 (v.4) using an M to MFT adapter. They're hard to come by now; mine is from 1982. Zone focusing at f/8 or F/11 works well for street photography (faster than any manufacturer's autofocus) and opening it up to f/2 makes it a compact portrait lens (as if it was 70mm).
The LUMIX 14mm 2.5 is my favorite walk around lens
I'm fortunate enough to have almost all of these lenses, just missing the Oly 17, Lumix 25 f/1.7, and Lumix 42.5 f/1.7. I don't see a reason to have the Oly 17 because I have so many lenses with similar focal length but I know it's loved by many people. Instead I have a Mitakon 25 f/0.95, Sigma 30 f/1.4, and Sigma 56 f/1.4.
I have the first version of the 14 f/2.5 and my copy is excellent. My 20 f/1.7 II is also optically excellent. Of the 2, I generally use the 20 f/1.7 more often. It basically stays attached to my GX85 most of the time. I like to use the 12-32 and its 35-100 cousin with my GX1 when I'm feeling nostalgic or when I need a small kit for my GX85 (usually also paired with the 14 or 20 mm pancake lens). I also have an early copy of the 14-42 PZ and it was horrible. I bought it used off KEH back around 2013 and it had ghosting and other focus issues that made the output even worse than many review samples. I was only last straw with it so I took a chance disassenbling it (I was an AME with microelectronics training) and found some of the focus and OIS elements binding. I cleaned, lubed, and reassembled and the output is much better. Though now used to the 12-32, the 14-42 basically collects dust like my old Sony a6000 with its kit zooms.
The M4/3 systems is so flexible that I continue to be very happy with it. Between my GX1, GX85, G95, and G9, I have just about everything I need to do anything from casual outings to weddings, portraits, and events (with larger faster zooms of course).
Thanks for your insights.
One lens I recently acquired is the Sigma 30mm f/1.4, and I like it very much.
That's a nice one, thanks for sharing.
In the analogue/vintage world, my favourite lens at the moment is the 38mm f/1.8 Pen F kit lens (about 55mm equiv). It has a tiny focus throw, is pretty fast, and has close focus at about 25cm. I'm really not sure why I like it so much, I'm not /that/ much of a fan of 50s, but the ergonomics and close focus have just made it super versatile.
How did you come up with 55mm equivalennt? Seems it should be 2x38=76 ?
@@timothykieper It's the standard lens for the (film) pen f half frame system, so it's x 1.5 (or 1.44 really I guess). (2x would be if you adapt it to MFT). (I should have been clearer which Pen F I meant).
What I'd love to have is a small prime with weather resistance, preferably in the 15-20mm range. I'm not aware of anything like that. The 25/1.4 mk II is weather sealed, but I'd like to have something a little smaller and wider, even if it wasn't f/1.4
We all would love that😀
Olympus 14-42mm, with an automatic lens cap. You’ve done a review it on to about 3 years ago
I do have 14-42 PZ and 12-60 among others, and honestly - 12-60 is useless. It is barely smaller than 14-140 and I was regretting not having some extra length almost every time. The 2mm on wide end are rarely needed and are better covered by zuiko 9-18.
For having "everything on the go" I am aiming to carry 14-140, 9-18 and 25 for dark situations. Just 3 lenses with 18-280 FF equivalent and 1.7 aperture option.
Excellent video 😮!
Thank you very much!
I‘ve been using the Olympus 45mm f1.8 lately and am pleasantly surprised. Quite sharp and of course, small and light. Perfect for my art style photography. Interesting video, Matti. Am about to go out with my smaller Oly EM10 mk4, to try the M.Zuiko Dig 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 II R MSC, plastic, bought used. So far it‘s proved it‘s worth too, although not the sharpest.
I discounted the 12-32 lens as a cheap kit lens, but this tiny lens has a really useful focal distance that is perfect for walking around. Let me also chime in that you really should have included the 15mm Leica/Lumix. Its my favorite and most used lens. The Laowa is probably the biggest surprise in my kit. I get way more use for this focal distance than I thought I would, and the build quality is absolutely amazing. Finally, I absolutely love that 42.5mm lens. I need to get more use from it. Thanks for your review.
The 15mm is expensive. People do seem to love it though
the 15 is not pancake
Indeed. So what. This review is not limited to pancake lenses.
I find the 45mm Olympus to be very sharp, and when on sale for $299USD a very good bargain -- same goes to the 25mm Olympus. I do like the Lumix 30mm macro which is sharp edge to edge and quick to focus. I was considering the Leica 15mm, but I already have the 14mm which is so compact and seems great for street. Alas, I seem to gravitate on back to the 25mm lenses due to the length being something great for pretty close, to across the street shooting -- same with the 30mm. A bit of a tilt, or being near someone while using the edge of frame on a 25mm will have no distortions --- it kinda spoils a photographer, as it is so well controlled. The geometry just seems perfect and easy with the 25mm MFT lens. On the other hand, after using a wider lens on several cameras, you can see some of what is often spoken of regarding being closer and more within the scene, and because of the width, very easy to point the general area and still grab a shot. Including a bit more in the frame might bring in, or find by accident, more things going on around that shot -- this is true. This is not to say the 25mm is not telling a story, as it indeed, most of the time, includes what you see going on, with some room from side to side, and enough background for sure -- MFT includes background with decent sharpness with ease. Most of the time, in my opinion, having background not blurred to oblivion, helps with the total context of the street image -- the classical street photograph. I find it extremely hard to choose a single lens to use all year - every year, as some claim is the way to go. There is just so much benefit to every focal length. Matti appears to be a 14mm shooter, whereas Peter and Robin are more into the 25mm. I may end up deciding not to decide. 🤔 On my FF camera, I have a 35mm and 50mm prime, and like'em both. Now that Canon has an RF 28mm out, as a pancake lens, maybe it is time go wide in full frame. More to crop, just in the case of something going on across the street. What ya think? - Loren, in sunbaked California!
I picked up the Olly 17mm/1.7. And while I've seen reviews that call it sharp, and others that say not, mine is "sharp enough to use", but not brilliant. It's AF and build are good, making it the best AF 17mm. A generally important focal length.
Artisans 35mm 1.2 II - cheap super open light full of character ;-)
Fantastic. Make me want to use my G9 again. Thanks so much!
Yeah, pull out the G9 and enjoy!
The 25mm f/1.4 and the 42.5mm f/1.7 were my favorite! The 15mm f/1.7 and 20mm f/1.7 were pretty good too, but the 25mm and 42.5mm never disappoints. Renders images beautifully.
Difficult for not to use my Panasonic 14-140, covers almost all situations and is similar in size to the Panasonic 12-60. The quality is very good as well.
I absolutely love my 14-140. If I had to sell all my other lenses I would keep this. Its small, light, has a large zoom range and combined with my GX80 it's an ideal travel lens. And I am always amazed by the image quality for such a cheap an simple lens
Exactly!
I have a Xiaomi Yi 42.5mm f1.8 no manual functions but ohh boy that thing rock's! Normally I use a Speedbuster with my MFT cameras😊
Glad you mentioned this lens. It's sharp and cheap (under $100). True, there is no manual control, but 42.5mm is 85mm full frame - making it the perfect portrait lens. The macro switch also allows decent close up work. The 85mm focal length is also a good general lens - dozens of youtube videos attest to the utility of a fast 85mm lens. Just keep a 14mm F2.5 in your jeans pocket for wide angle and you are good for any situation.
sorry for didn't have any m4/3 yet.
so i would prise for my Pentax pancake i have here. the camera is Pentax K-3 (2013) APS-C sensor
3 lenses i love
1. Pentax-DA 21 mm f/3.5
2. Pentax-FA 28 mm f/2.8
3. Pentax-A 50 mm f/1.7
I do love Pentax-DA 21 mm f/3.5 a lot. so cute tiny and so light. Actualy, I use it as a body cap fro time to time. Lol
Not so sharp nor great in optical term, but i do love it.
another lens is Pentax-FA 28 mm f/2.8 from old film day. the focal length is just almost perfect for me.
Sharpness is good enoug for me and it's color just hook me. don't know why but i love the picture took with this lens so much.
And the last is Pentax-A 50 mm f/1.7. the sharpest of all lenses i have owned. so tiny so light so cute, yet, effective every time i attach to my camera. this lens is MAGIC ! eventhough it a manual focus lens. but now i'm looking for replace this 1.7 for 1.4 with autofocus.
my work can't wait for me trying to perfect my focusing ring. sad.
Thank you Matti. For this good tutorial of MFT tiny lenses. But do you recommend UV filters on these lenses ?
Thanks. Over the years I have been on and off with the protective filters. Currently I don't use any filters on my lenses. So, use a filter if you feel it gives some extra security and protection.
Olympus 12mm F2.0? Relatively tiny in size but huge on performance, I feel it's better than my copy of 17mm F1.8 in AF performance and overall image quality.
You missed two small MFT primes: Panasonic 15 f1.7 the one with the metal hood. Excellent and small and with an aperture ring!
And the rather new Pan 9mm f1.7. the latter one I do not have but have heard good things from others.
You did, however, bring up the P Lumix 42.5 f1.7 and that it is close to a macro lens. I have a close-up filter that I can screw onto the lens and then it really becomes a macro. So a GX9 with the 12-32 pancake, the 15mm and the 42.5mm with the close up filter and that covers a lot and takes little space if only photography, no video, is what is happening on any given day.
I miss the focus distance scale and aperture ring on most of these. Certainly very compact though.
I like the Panasonic Leica 15mm f1.7, and the Olympus 45mm f1.8
What about the Lumix Leica 15mm f/1.7, the Laowa 10mm f/2.0 and the 7artisans 25mm f/1.8 ? All excellent lenses which I own.