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Archive 2016 · Replacing My 20/1.7 Pany - PL 15 Experiences?

  
 
jhinkey
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Replacing My 20/1.7 Pany - PL 15 Experiences?


Finally have become frustrated enough with the focusing speed of the 20/1.7 and am looking to swap it out for something somewhat close in focal length, yet still compact.

The Pan-Leica 15/1.7 seems to be a candidate (as is the Oly 17/1.8, but I'm not impressed with the optical performance).

Anyone out there done this swap and if so, what is your impression of the PL?

BTW - I'll be using it on an EM1 and GX7.

Thanks -

John



Feb 07, 2016 at 02:26 PM
Jman13
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Replacing My 20/1.7 Pany - PL 15 Experiences?


I don't own the PL 15, but I reviewed it, and found it to be very good. It's a great little lens. Super small and built exquisitely. Quite sharp, save for a bit of softness at the corners and edges and a great rendering.


Feb 07, 2016 at 03:26 PM
Kit Laughlin
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Replacing My 20/1.7 Pany - PL 15 Experiences?


Is there any difference in focussing speed (talking about 20/1.7) between versions one and two?

I would like faster focussing, but 40mm EFOV is much preferred for my work and optically the 20 is excellent.

Now that I have settled on an E-M5 Mk II as my carry–where body, I need the pancake style of the 20. My wish is for a pancake 45–50. IF PL came out with one of these, I'd be first in line.



Feb 07, 2016 at 04:48 PM
serhan_
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Replacing My 20/1.7 Pany - PL 15 Experiences?


I like PL15 better then 17mm 1.8. If you are coming from 20mm, the field of view is much wider eg closer to 28mm... One shot w/ 15mm+gm1:
http://www.pbase.com/sc_20170/image/158679557/original.jpg


Here is test results on gm5:
http://www.dxomark.com/var/ezwebin_site/storage/images/media/images/wides_gm5/136966-1-eng-US/Wides_GM5.jpg


Kit, I read in m43 forum that 20mm ver I & II has similar af speed. I went for the Oly 25mm for 50mm and that is not pancake but it has similar size to Oly 45mm 1.8/Pana 42.5 1.7.



Feb 07, 2016 at 05:28 PM
Big Cheese
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Replacing My 20/1.7 Pany - PL 15 Experiences?


I couldn't tell the difference between the optical performance of the Oly 17 f1.8 versus the Panny 20 f1.7. I like the focus speed and accuracy of the Oly more but the focal length of the Panny more. I really must get around to selling one but can't decide which.


Feb 08, 2016 at 12:19 AM
jhinkey
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Replacing My 20/1.7 Pany - PL 15 Experiences?


I have the 20/1.7 - II - I'm fine with the IQ, but lately the AF is just too slow.


Feb 08, 2016 at 02:01 AM
darrellc
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Replacing My 20/1.7 Pany - PL 15 Experiences?


I had all of the lens mentioned above. I disliked the Oly 17/1.8 - sterile. I liked the rendering of the PL 15 much more. It is consistent with the PL 25/1.4 and PL 42.5 (with the later the best of those three of course). AF much faster than the 20/1.7 v1 or v2 (I didn't notice any change in performance though I didn't have them at the same time). Aperture ring is great on Pany bodies and the focus ring feels a lot better than the 20/1.7's. I liked the 20/1.7 combo of sharpness and fairly pleasing rendering but the PL15 is more organic, richer. I ended up selling the 20/1.7 v1 after getting the PL 25 as I never wanted to use it after getting that lens, despite liking the 40mm equivalent focal length much more than 50. I switched to using the PL 15 as my primary lens once it came out even after picking up a 20/1.7 v2 just because I missed the focal length. Nice lens but just liked PL15 images more and focus speed was noticeably better.

Also AF-C is getting usable in the latest bodies and the 20/1.7 won't do AF-C. At least Panasonic doesn't allow you to select AF-C with the lens mounted. That may or may not be important to you.



Feb 08, 2016 at 02:19 AM
jhinkey
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Replacing My 20/1.7 Pany - PL 15 Experiences?


Focusing for stills is just OK, but anything that's moving in the least and this lens falls apart on my GX7 or EM1.

I was hoping that Pany would put out a PL 20/1.2 sometime soon! (Or Olympus if it's in the same IQ league as the 75/1.8).



Feb 08, 2016 at 10:03 AM
httivals
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Replacing My 20/1.7 Pany - PL 15 Experiences?


John:

I have owned the 20 f1.7 (original version and second version), the 17mm f1.8, and the 15mm f1.7.

The 15mm f1.7 is a great lens. I like its rendering the most of the three. It focuses very quickly on the Oly EM1 and Panasonic bodies. Mine is sharp wide open into the corners. I typically use it at f1.7 or f2 for low light or environmental portraits and at f4 or above for landscapes/street.

As you know, it is a much different focal length than the 20mm. I also use the 20mm f1.7 second version when I want that focal length and because it is more compact thqan the 15mm (especially with lens hood).

The only negative of the 15mm f1.7 is that there is quite a bit of purple chromatic aberration in light/dark transitions. It's easily corrected in lightroom but I'd prefer not to have to go through that extra step.



Feb 08, 2016 at 11:42 AM
Vern Dewit
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Replacing My 20/1.7 Pany - PL 15 Experiences?


Nothing to do with focussing but don't forget the manual aperture setting on the 15mm which I love. Also loved it compared to the Oly 17, which is also a good lens but not as much fun to use as the 15 and I prefer the wide angle.


Feb 08, 2016 at 12:08 PM
riotshield
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Replacing My 20/1.7 Pany - PL 15 Experiences?


I've owned the 15/1.7 and currently have the 17/1.8 (and Olympus 12/2). If I had to buy only one wide for m4/3 it would probably be the 15/1.7. Optically it's probably the best of the three although not perfect - for landscape use I think the Ricoh GR/Coolpix A around the same price or lower is significantly better than any wide for Micro 4/3. But for low-light or close shooting the 15/1.7 is excellent.


Feb 08, 2016 at 12:58 PM
kwalsh
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Replacing My 20/1.7 Pany - PL 15 Experiences?


I own and have shot with the 15/1.7, 17/1.8, 20/1.7 and 25/1.4.

I really never use the 20/1.7. My primes are for shooting our daughter and the AF with the 20/1.7 just stinks in lower light on something moving. I also don't find it small on my GM1 - it is too large in diameter even if it isn't very tall.

The 17/1.8 was a great little lens that stayed on my GM1 for a long time. I like the wider FoV than the 20 for environmental portraits when out places with my daughter (museums, zoo, etc.). The rendering was nothing special but I really don't get the IQ complaints unless people have defective lenses. In fact my first 17/1.8 was decentered the second was quite nice. I find the clutch MF that Olympus puts on the 17/1.8 and other lenses to frankly be useless. I have no interest in a distance scale that isn't accurate enough to be useful especially when we have cameras with wicked fast S-AF and focus lock.

When the 15/1.7 came out I got it and have since sold the 17/1.8. I just really, really like the rendering of the 15/1.7. Yes, sometimes the 15 is too wide but I can crop a bit. Many times the 17 wasn't wide enough and there is nothing to be done in that situation. I do an annual book of photos of our daughter and I'd say nearly 50% of the images these days come from the 15/1.7 on the GM1. I find the aperture dial really nice on the GM1 which is a camera short on controls.

The 15/1.7 rendering is very much like the 25/1.4 and 42.5/1.2 which I both love. In the end though I find that what I usually bring with my GM1 is the 15/1.7 and the 45/1.8 and I don't miss the 25 focal length when out with the GM1. Either I'm trying to get the environment in the shot (15/1.7) or completely exclude the clutter (45/1.8). Indoors at home I find the 25/1.4 a good FoV, just not so much out and about. I've got the 42.5/1.7 and so far happy with it but not enough time shooting to say much compared to the 45/1.8 other than it is at least as nice and has OIS while being just a smidgen bigger.

Anyway, if you are aware of the wider FoV then I'd give my wholehearted recommendation on the 15/1.7. Awesome lens that I just use, and use, and use some more while being very happy with the results.



Feb 08, 2016 at 04:53 PM





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