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Archive 2017 · Which lens to get for travel while my Oly 12-40mm PRO gets repaired?

  
 
sidetracked
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Which lens to get for travel while my Oly 12-40mm PRO gets repaired?


Hey everyone, having some trouble deciding here and thought you fine folks could help me choose.

I procrastinated sending in my 12-40mm zoom for repairs and now it won't be back in time for my trip to Scandinavia in a few weeks, leaving me with only my 75mm/1.8 prime.

I was thinking this could be my chance to try shooting with a prime, but I'm a bit terrified to lose the flexibility of a zoom.

Also there are SO MANY options I'm a bit overwhelmed. I'll be doing mostly landscape and city photography, and love shooting at night so fast lens is important. Will I be happy with just the 17mm/1.8, or the 12mm/2?

Should I alternatively/also go for something that has less overlap with my current zoom, like one of the UWA zooms from Oly or Pana? Again, lots of options there.

Edited on Jun 29, 2017 at 10:21 AM · View previous versions



Jun 28, 2017 at 08:44 PM
bobbytan
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Which lens to get for travel while my Oly 12-40mm PRO gets repaired?


Try the Oly 12-100 PRO.


Jun 28, 2017 at 09:02 PM
millsart
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Which lens to get for travel while my Oly 12-40mm PRO gets repaired?


Lots of stitched pano's with the 75 1.8


Jun 28, 2017 at 09:33 PM
sidetracked
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Which lens to get for travel while my Oly 12-40mm PRO gets repaired?


bobbytan wrote:
Try the Oly 12-100 PRO.


Wouldn't that be redundant with the 12-40 I have already? It certainly looks like a nice lens but not sure I could live with F4 forever unless the IS is really that good. I don't usually shoot action anyways.

Would you suggest using that with a fast prime for night shots or anything requiring more shallow DoF like portraits in low light?



Jun 28, 2017 at 10:40 PM
bobbytan
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Which lens to get for travel while my Oly 12-40mm PRO gets repaired?


I thought you were looking for a lens that will do the job of the 12-40. The 12-100 PRO is great for travel. If you are looking for a prime lens to complement your 75/1.8 consider a 12, 15, 25 or 42mm.

sidetracked wrote:
Wouldn't that be redundant with the 12-40 I have already? It certainly looks like a nice lens but not sure I could live with F4 forever unless the IS is really that good. I don't usually shoot action anyways.

Would you suggest using that with a fast prime for night shots or anything requiring more shallow DoF like portraits in low light?




Jun 29, 2017 at 12:09 AM
sidetracked
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Which lens to get for travel while my Oly 12-40mm PRO gets repaired?


bobbytan wrote:
I thought you were looking for a lens that will do the job of the 12-40. The 12-100 PRO is great for travel. If you are looking for a prime lens to complement your 75/1.8 consider a 12, 15, 25 or 42mm.


Sorry if I was unclear! I love my 12-40 but it's out for repair and thought I'd take the opportunity to get either one of the UWA zooms and/or a prime or two (or try out the 12-100 as a replacement) and use those for my upcoming vacation.

Finding very mixed things about what to get, however. Sounds like 12mm on it's own is sharp, but maybe awkwardly wide for using all the time. The debate between the Panny 15mm (weird focal length?) vs Oly 17mm (MF ring and Oly compatability) vs Pan 20mm (cheap and sharper than the 17mm but slow focus) rages on and I'm more confused than when I started. Then there's the 25mm.

Option 1: Splurge for the 12-100, get one of the wide primes (Oly 12 or Rokinon) for astrophotography. Sell my 12-40 when it gets back from repairs and hope the IS makes up for the slower speed (hrmph).
*Option 2: Get one of the UWA zooms (Oly 9-18, Panny 8-18, Oly 7-14/2.8 or Panny 7-14/4.0). Leaning towards the 8-18 since it's fast, small, weather sealed, and can still take filters. Zoom range is wide enough for street photography. I can use the 75mm for macro and portraits. Possibly get a 25mm to cover the mid-range?* <- leaning towards this
Option 3: PRIME TIME ONLY: Give it a shot and go full prime. Pick up 1 or 2 primes for the trip (12/14/15/17 and/or 25mm?), take those plus my 75mm then keep whichever I like best as my backup/street/nighttime lens alongside the 12-40/2.8.

Any advice on how to decide? From my past photos it looks like I shot a lot as wide as I could go on the 12-14mm (landscapes and night) and would love to experiment with going wider, especially once I get up in those Fjords. For this the UWA zoom is appealing or an even wider prime. I also have a good number of shots at 25mm, mostly macro stuff, flowers, and portraits.

I'm leaning towards option 2 since it allows me to get something that will compliment what I have already, and will also go ultra-wide while still being useful as a walkaround.



Jun 29, 2017 at 11:36 PM
lucdeschepper
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Which lens to get for travel while my Oly 12-40mm PRO gets repaired?


I too would go for the Panny 8-18mm for the reasons you stated above. I also have the 12-40mm and could never part with that lens but the 8-18mm seems like the must-have lens for landscape and other wide angle subjects. Have fun in Scandinavia!


Jun 30, 2017 at 03:41 AM
sidetracked
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Which lens to get for travel while my Oly 12-40mm PRO gets repaired?


lucdeschepper wrote:
I too would go for the Panny 8-18mm for the reasons you stated above. I also have the 12-40mm and could never part with that lens but the 8-18mm seems like the must-have lens for landscape and other wide angle subjects. Have fun in Scandinavia!


Thank you for the advice! Makes sense. After a weekend of shooting with my 75mm I'm wondering if it's worth throwing a prime in the mix after all, I really love the low light performance and bokeh from this lens. Would a 25mm be a good next lens?

So for the trip I'd have: 8-18mm zoom, 25mm/1.8, 1.7, 1.4, or 1.2 (Which one? 1.7 is the cheapest!!), and 75mm/1.8

So that's not too much overlap with the 8-18, and gives me something I can use as a walkaround even when my main zoom is back?



Jul 05, 2017 at 05:50 AM
drofnad
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Which lens to get for travel while my Oly 12-40mm PRO gets repaired?


sidetracked wrote:
I procrastinated sending in my 12-40mm zoom for repairs and ...


I'm doing the same (my lens is yet usable, w/just 2 mounts apparently broken & lens tied on!). Did you get any estimate of repair cost? Are you under warranty?
I am not, and have seen two different costs presented in my on-line looking. The higher one ($330 or so) might make me wonder about living with an injured-but-usable 12-40 and putting $$ into a 2nd lens.

-d.



Jul 05, 2017 at 04:14 PM
harvey steeves
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Which lens to get for travel while my Oly 12-40mm PRO gets repaired?


which camera body? Because once you put the 12-100 on an em1.2, it won't be coming off. The IBIS is spectacular. The versatility compared to the 12-40 blows it away. In fact, its my 12-40 which is going down the road. And I pair it with the Panny 8-18. Why? Filters.


Jul 05, 2017 at 08:46 PM
InlawBiker
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Which lens to get for travel while my Oly 12-40mm PRO gets repaired?


I was going to say an Olympus 9-18 plus a cheap 20 or 25mm. They will go nicely with the 12-40 when it comes home. The Panasonic version is the least expensive.

Greg.




Jul 06, 2017 at 04:28 PM
sidetracked
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Which lens to get for travel while my Oly 12-40mm PRO gets repaired?


All great ideas, thanks everyone! Will have to try one out! Just ordered the Panny 8-18 and bidding on a few Ebay Oly 25mm's.

Not quite ready to drop another $1k+ for the F4 zoom but boy is it tempting. Will consider swapping once my 12-40 comes home though. So nice to have all these options, starting to feel the m43 vibes.

I'll be mounting it on my trusty EM-1.

harvey steeves wrote:
which camera body? Because once you put the 12-100 on an em1.2, it won't be coming off. The IBIS is spectacular. The versatility compared to the 12-40 blows it away. In fact, its my 12-40 which is going down the road. And I pair it with the Panny 8-18. Why? Filters.




Jul 07, 2017 at 03:22 AM
camerapapi
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Which lens to get for travel while my Oly 12-40mm PRO gets repaired?


Since your go lens has been the 12-40 f2.8 Pro why not renting one for your trip? The 75mm f1.8 along another prime like the 25mm f1.8 is all you need to take in my humble opinion.
If you need more wide angle than the 12mm. you have plenty of choices and you can rent them also.

William Rodriguez
Miami, Florida.



Jul 09, 2017 at 06:18 AM
sidetracked
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Which lens to get for travel while my Oly 12-40mm PRO gets repaired?




camerapapi wrote:
Since your go lens has been the 12-40 f2.8 Pro why not renting one for your trip? The 75mm f1.8 along another prime like the 25mm f1.8 is all you need to take in my humble opinion.
If you need more wide angle than the 12mm. you have plenty of choices and you can rent them also.

William Rodriguez
Miami, Florida.


Seemed like for the length of the trip I'd have to spend at least a few hundred to rent which is just money I'd be throwing away -- might as well invest in some wide angle gear instead? Never rented a lens before though so maybe I overdid it.

Ordered the panny 8-18 and an Oly 25mm/1.8 just in case.



Jul 09, 2017 at 10:59 PM
camerapapi
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Which lens to get for travel while my Oly 12-40mm PRO gets repaired?


With your new 8-18 and 25mm f1.8 in addition to your 75mm f1.8 you are all set up. I bet your trip to Scandinavia will be properly covered with these lenses.
I am in agreement with you the flexibility and convenience of a zoom lens is hard to beat.
Have a good trip!

William Rodriguez
Miami, Florida.



Jul 10, 2017 at 09:51 AM
sidetracked
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Which lens to get for travel while my Oly 12-40mm PRO gets repaired?


camerapapi wrote:
With your new 8-18 and 25mm f1.8 in addition to your 75mm f1.8 you are all set up. I bet your trip to Scandinavia will be properly covered with these lenses.
I am in agreement with you the flexibility and convenience of a zoom lens is hard to beat.
Have a good trip!

William Rodriguez
Miami, Florida.


Thanks everyone for your help! I'll be back with some shots to share the results. Impulse-bought the $99 cheapo tele-zoom just in case too
Gear acquisition syndrome incoming....



Jul 10, 2017 at 02:53 PM
camerapapi
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Which lens to get for travel while my Oly 12-40mm PRO gets repaired?


"Impulse-bought the $99 cheapo-tele zoom." I assume you are referring to the 40-150 f4-5.6 zoom with a plastic lens mount. Be prepared for a surprise because the lens is very capable of rendering awesome images.

William.



Jul 11, 2017 at 08:02 AM
ElliotV
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Which lens to get for travel while my Oly 12-40mm PRO gets repaired?


Interested in hearing and seeing the results from your trip.


Aug 09, 2017 at 07:03 PM
srvfm
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Which lens to get for travel while my Oly 12-40mm PRO gets repaired?


I know you already bought a lens but I'll chime in for the 12-100f4 for travel. You can't always zoom with your feet while traveling and to me this weatherproof lens covers travel situations extremely well. I recently went to Iceland with my EM1Mk2 and EM1. By far my most used lens was the 12-100f4 on my Em1Mk2. My 7-14f2.8 was the second most used, followed by the PL 100-400f4-6.3. I only used the 12-40f2.8 for some street photography (granted it never really got dark), and I don't think I took a single one with my 40-150f2.8. Of course the great thing is that you can carry a large selection of MFT lenses in your backpack.


Aug 09, 2017 at 07:50 PM





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