I've searched this question in several ways both via the FM search mechanism (Which frankly ain't too good. Fred, how about licensing Google's engine?) and searching both FM and the rest of the net via Google.
My significant other (now there's a lame term) rejected my suggestion of going with a small frame Canon DSLR (even the SL-1) and got the latest Oly Pen EP5. Fits her small hands well. Very nice little cam. I'm impressed. One of her goals is to shoot the birds that she lures to the house with the promise of bread, water, and beer (sugar water in the feeders). Birds aren't dummies, they'll always take a free lunch . There's a regular crowd out there. The Oly came with an OK but unremarkable it 14-42, fairly slow lens. She needs a telephoto. I've found the Oly 75-300 (apparently in an old an new version with the new being slower and I can't see how it is improved over the older version), the Panny 100-300 which at the short end at least gets to f/4.0. There's also a Panny 45-200 out there but again f/4.0 to f/5.6. Apparently there are no fast telephotos for MFT.
I then looked at adapters so she could shoot using one of my teles - probably the 200mm f/2.8L (a great lens). Most of the information suggests that this is a sub-optimal solution because (1) requires manual focus - in this case not a real problem, but (2) offers no control over aperture. The idea of setting the aperture on a Canon then transferring the lens to her camera is a non-starter.
So I'm querying the collective MFT wisdom of the alt forum. I've got to come up with something otherwise there will be domestic discord and I'm sure none of you wish to be responsible for such unhappiness (Of course the fact that she picked the cam isn't considered a valid defense
Help me out here guys and gals,
Thanks
Robert
(I understand that given the size of the MFT sensor a lens fills the frame in a manner similar to a lens with 2x the focal length, but that really doesn't make the camera reach as far. I mean a 300mm may appear as big as a 600mm on the sensor but no way that it has the same range. Can't cheat physics - or at least my every attempt to do so has failed.)
First, a 300mm on m43 would capture the same view as a 600mm on FF so yes it has the extra "reach". There is no cheating the physics here. Of course you would be capturing the view with a smaller sensor so the IQ would not be the same as a FF+600mm combo.
Second, if you go the adapter route you could consider one of the 43rd lenses (not the micro 43rd, but regular 43rd). The olympus 50-200 f2.8-3.5 is an excellent high grade lens and the adapter would allow you full electronic control and even AF though AF performance would be slow. Of course all these lenses (including 200 2.8L) would be big so might defeat the purpose of having a small m43 camera.
I have the Panasonic 100-300mm and also the 45-175mm. Here is a video shot with the latter:
I've also started to consider a 500mm or 600mm mirrored lens if greater reach is required. But so far, the above lenses have been more than satisfactory.
I've also shot with the Canon 300mm f4L with excellent results, here's a sample video using this lens:
My favorite is the 45-175mm, its compact and light and produces excellent images.
If you want to consider manual focus telephotos, I can recommend the following,
Voigtlander SL Color Heliar 75/2.5
Carl Zeiss Planar T* 85/1.4 MM
Rokinon 85/1.4 Aspherical IF AF
Pentax SMC Takumar 85/1.8
Olympus Zuiko 85/2 Auto-T
Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 100/3.5
Nikon Nikkor 105/2.5 AI
S-M-C Takumar 135/2.5
SMC Pentax-M 135/3.5
Leica Apo-Telyt-R 180/3.4 E60
Voigtlander APO-Lanthar 180/4 CF ED
Olympus OM Zuiko 200/4 MC Auto-T
Tamron SP 300/5.6 Tele Macro [54B]
SMC Pentax-M 400/5.6
Carl Zeiss vSonnar T* 80-200mm f/4 MMJ
Carl Zeiss vSonnar T* 100-300/4.5-5.6 MMJ
I've owned all of them. They're relatively compact and all have excellent IQ. I think they're all listed in Lens$db (no coincidence, eh?). I currently use the OM 85/2, CZ 100/3.5, SMCP-M 135/3.5, OM 200/4, and CZ 100-300 on my X-Pro 1, and sometimes even on my EOS bodies.
I acknowledge that putting a big lens on a little camera does seem to defeat the original intent of "I want a camera small enough for my hands," but that's not a discussion I'm going to get into. My guess is that she'll end up with some sort of monopod system when she wants to shoot the birds, otherwise she'll use a small light lens for carrying around.
Joseph, I'll go back and look at the 45-175. It was the most attractive at first pass.
Jim,
Quite a list. Folks are pretty proud of those CZ Sonnars! (Never mind the Leicas On the other hand the Olympus 200/4 is quite reasonable. Looking over your database, it seems that fast glass stays valuable basically regardless of the maker. What would one use for an adapter for old Oly glass. I assume manual focus, would there be any aperture indication/control?
BTW, don't think I ever tipped my hat to you for maintaining the used lens price database. A tidy bit of work there, so if you ever wander down here in the desert (lots of Canadians show up here in the winter time) I'd be glad to buy you a beer.
OntheRez wrote:
Jim,
Quite a list. Folks are pretty proud of those CZ Sonnars! (Never mind the Leicas On the other hand the Olympus 200/4 is quite reasonable. Looking over your database, it seems that fast glass stays valuable basically regardless of the maker. What would one use for an adapter for old Oly glass. I assume manual focus, would there be any aperture indication/control?
Yes, all of the lenses I listed have manual aperture rings, so you use the "stop down" technique. The Oly 200/4 is a peach. It has better IQ than the CZ 100-300 at 200mm, and that's going some, especially for a lens that costs only about a hundred dolllars.
I'm probably not much help when it comes to adapters for an E-P5, as all of the Alt lenses that I use on my X-Pro 1 have EOS mounts or adapters. The ones I like best have Leitax mounts, including CZ Distagon 28/2.8, Sonnar 100/3.5, vSonnar 35-70/3.5, and 100-300/3.5-5.6, and Oly 21/3.5, and 24/2.8. The Oly 85/2 and 200/4 have Fotodiox Pro adapters. I use them with an EOS to X adapter for my X-Pro 1.
OntheRez wrote:
BTW, don't think I ever tipped my hat to you for maintaining the used lens price database. A tidy bit of work there, so if you ever wander down here in the desert (lots of Canadians show up here in the winter time) I'd be glad to buy you a beer.
Thanks. Most summers, I've been spending a lot of time in southern Utah, in and around Torrey. Unfortunately, I won't be down this summer, but maybe in the fall. I'll give you a shout if it looks like I'll have a chance to get into Arizona.
If manual focus is OK, it's very hard to beat the Zuiko Digital 50-200 f2.8-3.5 on a 1st party adapter. It's fast, very sharp and has great reach. It's also reasonably compact (the size of your typical 70-300) and can be had reasonably inexpensively. Note there's no difference optically between the two versions, the second gains an SWD (USM) focusing motor and IIRC rounded aperture blades.
. There's a regular crowd out there. The Oly came with an OK but unremarkable it 14-42, fairly slow lens. She needs a telephoto. I've found the Oly 75-300 (apparently in an old an new version with the new being slower and I can't see how it is improved over the older version), the Panny 100-300 which at the short end at least gets to f/4.0. There's also a Panny 45-200 out there but again f/4.0 to f/5.6. Apparently there are no fast telephotos for MFT.
