The OEM hood for the 45mm 1.8 not only cost 5x as much but its also pretty darn big. I like hoods that are as compact as possible so that I can keep them on while the lens is in a bag/pocket.
Probably not ideal you are right to put a filter on the front of the hood, but typically I'm not going to use a filter on a fast 90mm equiv anyways. Given I do already have a full assortment of 46mm filters though, its nice to have a quick and easy means to use one should I want to.
Buying a bunch of 37mm filters would make the most sense I suppose, but as m4/3 is simply an alternative casual system for me, doesn't make sense to put a lot of extra expense into even more filters, especially for a seldom used focal length.
As such, a $8 hood fits the bill for my needs with the 45mm f1.8. Small and compact yet still works, gives me the option to use filters and at $8, even if I should lose it it would hardly be a big deal.
Maybe if you find yourself using a 10 stop ND, polarizer etc on a 90mm equiv often it would make sense to invest in some 37mm filters but cost would add up quickly, especially if you've also got a bunch of the more common 46mm lenses.
As for the 40-150mm, at the time of order there was no rebate option on it. Instead the promotion I got was for a free fl300 flash, a $169 value, or some various 4/3rd adapters which I'd have no use for.
FL300 seems a nice little flash. I haven't played with it but took it from the box, its pretty small and light. I believe that you can use it as a remote flash triggered by the OM-D clip on flash so thats pretty cool, and again, its free so can't be that.
Given you have to remove this little port cover to use the clip on flash, and I will no doubt lose it, plus that carrying the clip on flash isn't really any less of a PITA than the FL300 I'll probably suggest the FL to be the unit people use more, its got more power plus can tilt.
bobbytan wrote:
The generic hood looks nice but I think it's more suited to a plastic lens like the 45/1.8 ... rather than say the all-metal 75/1.8 lens. Also, I don't know about screwing a filter to the hood i.e. being so far away from the lens. Wouldn't that introduce more distortion or CA? I would rather have the filter between the lens and the hood and I would get a filter with a threaded front, so you can attach the hood to the filter.
I have smallish hands but I will certainly get the grip too. I may not use the battery/vertical grip but I will certainly use the horizontal grip which will make holding and operating the camera a lot more comfortable.
Any reason why you didn't order the 40-150mm lens, as Olympus is giving a $100 rebate on this lens right?
Just got my 45 f/1.8 delivered yesterday and I'm already impressed by the lens. Wow it's sharp as a tack wide open, which is great news as I'll be doing a lot of shooting then at f/1.8. Can't wait to try it out in the city on the weekend and compare it to the 5D II + Sigma 85 f/1.4.
You make a valid point, and I too dislike big hoods - and I had no idea the OEM hood is bigger.
And yes, Olympus is currently giving a $100 mail-in rebate on the 40-150mm lens so you can get it for $200. But really, how good is this lens? I don't expect much from a $200 or even $300 wide-range zoom lens ... so it's not really appealing to me. I would much rather start with the 12/2.0 and 45/1.8 lenses ... and I already have an old Zuiko 50/1.2 lens that I could use with the free MF-2 adaptor.
But I am still sitting on the fence ....
millsart wrote:
The OEM hood for the 45mm 1.8 not only cost 5x as much but its also pretty darn big. I like hoods that are as compact as possible so that I can keep them on while the lens is in a bag/pocket.
Probably not ideal you are right to put a filter on the front of the hood, but typically I'm not going to use a filter on a fast 90mm equiv anyways. Given I do already have a full assortment of 46mm filters though, its nice to have a quick and easy means to use one should I want to.
Buying a bunch of 37mm filters would make the most sense I suppose, but as m4/3 is simply an alternative casual system for me, doesn't make sense to put a lot of extra expense into even more filters, especially for a seldom used focal length.
As such, a $8 hood fits the bill for my needs with the 45mm f1.8. Small and compact yet still works, gives me the option to use filters and at $8, even if I should lose it it would hardly be a big deal.
Maybe if you find yourself using a 10 stop ND, polarizer etc on a 90mm equiv often it would make sense to invest in some 37mm filters but cost would add up quickly, especially if you've also got a bunch of the more common 46mm lenses.
As for the 40-150mm, at the time of order there was no rebate option on it. Instead the promotion I got was for a free fl300 flash, a $169 value, or some various 4/3rd adapters which I'd have no use for.
FL300 seems a nice little flash. I haven't played with it but took it from the box, its pretty small and light. I believe that you can use it as a remote flash triggered by the OM-D clip on flash so thats pretty cool, and again, its free so can't be that.
Given you have to remove this little port cover to use the clip on flash, and I will no doubt lose it, plus that carrying the clip on flash isn't really any less of a PITA than the FL300 I'll probably suggest the FL to be the unit people use more, its got more power plus can tilt.
bobbytan wrote:
You make a valid point, and I too dislike big hoods - and I had no idea the OEM hood is bigger.
And yes, Olympus is currently giving a $100 mail-in rebate on the 40-150mm lens so you can get it for $200. But really, how good is this lens? I don't expect much from a $200 or even $300 wide-range zoom lens ... so it's not really appealing to me. I would much rather start with the 12/2.0 and 45/1.8 lenses ... and I already have an old Zuiko 50/1.2 lens that I could use with the free MF-2 adaptor.
Guess it depends if a 90-300mm equiv slow AF zoom is worth $200 to you. Probably 90% of my shooting would be with lenses like the 12 and 45mm, as I don't do that much telephoto work, but there are times where a telephoto can be pretty useful such as for a trip to the zoo, or some real compressed landscape photography, such as some silhouettes of cactus against the sunset etc.
I used to have the Panasonic 100-300 and ended up selling it as I just didn't use it enough to warrant a $500 lens, nor did I want to carry it.
Just got a sticker shock on the 12/2.0 lens. Why does it cost so much more than the 45/1.8? To put in another way, why is the 45/1.8 so much cheaper than the 12/2.0 and 75/1.8? Aren't all 3 lenses equally fast lenses with comparable IQ?
I thought it will be cool to get the OM-D + grip + 12/2.0 + 45/1.8 + 75/1.8 but that will set me back $3,400 and I would still have to get extra batteries, lens hoods, etc. Maybe I should start with the "cheapo" 45/1.8 lens just to get my feet wet and see where it takes me.
I love the 14mm prime, which is inexpensive. Lensrentals.com tested it to be as sharp as the Oly 12mm. I prefer the 14mm focal length, especially when used on the GH2's multi-format sensor. The reason I love the 14mm is because it is so tiny, and for its price too.
bobbytan wrote:
Just got a sticker shock on the 12/2.0 lens. Why does it cost so much more than the 45/1.8? To put in another way, why is the 45/1.8 so much cheaper than the 12/2.0 and 75/1.8? Aren't all 3 lenses equally fast lenses with comparable IQ?
I thought it will be cool to get the OM-D + grip + 12/2.0 + 45/1.8 + 75/1.8 but that will set me back $3,400 and I would still have to get extra batteries, lens hoods, etc. Maybe I should start with the "cheapo" 45/1.8 lens just to get my feet wet and see where it takes me....Show more →
A fast wide is tougher to produce than a fast short tele for one thing. Additionally the 12mm has metal construction vs plastic for the 45mm. Plus it has a direct manual focus mechanism that the 45mm lacks. Made in Japan equates to additional cost as well.
m4/3 is a pretty extensive system these days with a wide range of cost. Plenty of decent and cheap kit zooms, lower cost primes like the 20mm 1.7, 14mm f2.5 etc, but also some high end prices like the 12mm, the 25mm and 75mm and the Panny 12-35 and 35-100 which run well over $1000.
This is no different than the likes of any other system. Why does Sony have a $200 16mm f2.8 and yet then their 24mm Zeiss lens cost $1100 ??
Canon and Nikon certainly have lower end offerings, many quite good, and other lens like the 24mm f1.4 or 35mm f1.4 cost over $1000
If your looking at the latest and greatest flagship m4/3 camera, and the best lenses, sadly yes, it is expensive.
A G3 and 14-42mm kit zoom on the other hand could be picked up for $500 and have pretty good IQ overall.
Quick question about using non-M. Zuiko lenses on the OM-D. Would it be completely manual-focus and stop-down aperture adjustment or metering? Isn't that extremely difficult with a small EVF? MF lenses are a PITA for me on FF DSLR!
went into Adorama today and lo and behold, they had the Black one with the 12-60 lens in stock. I am now the proud owner and I have to say..so far I LOVE this camera!!!
I hope for some peoples sake they have a decent copy of that 14mm f2.5. I had one and it was pretty miserable in the corners even stopped down. The 12mm f2.0 surely MUST be better...especially for the price.
bobbytan wrote:
Quick question about using non-M. Zuiko lenses on the OM-D. Would it be completely manual-focus and stop-down aperture adjustment or metering? Isn't that extremely difficult with a small EVF? MF lenses are a PITA for me on FF DSLR!
Advantages of the OM-D EVF:
1) It's large (not FF large, but large) and very bright
2) You can magnify
3) OM-D has unbelievable VF stabilisation, so you can use 500-600mm equivalent lenses, manual focus, and have a stable viewfinder to focus in
4) You don't need to focus wide open because it's an EVF - it can compensate and adjust image brightness.
5) Resolution is enough to see sharp details and DoF changes.
That said, I still prefer manual focusing in my 5D because of the 'instant' optical experience. If you have trouble using MF on FF, then using an EVF may well be a better experience for you.
The camera has so many customization options and no real manual so this is actually a nice starting point and even though I've owned the EP3 and grew used to the Olympus menu structure, I still am learning a bit, such as the option to have the IBIS work on a half press of the shutter.
Likewise I learned on my own last night, that you can assign the AF to other buttons as well, which is how I prefer to setup my DSLR's so that I can quickly zone focus with an AF button and then simply snap the shot without having to deal with having to focus.
1. Setting up the focal length in the IS field is important. I thought I could leave it at 135 all the time since it was my longest lens. NOPE. I had to reset it for shorter lenses to get it to work without jumping around. Didn't seem to make a difference between like a 28 and a 35, but it does make a difference with longer lens specifications. I kept wondering if IS was broken using magnify on a 28mm lens because it was jumping around with my finger pressed halfway down, when my longer lens was steady. Changing the focal length back to 28mm fixed the jumping around and made it steady again.
2. I was a little frustrated making videos by the lack of exposure comp. What I discovered is if I press the AE lock as a toggle, it will lock and hold my exposure comp during video recording. Real important for backlit subjects.
joxang wrote:
Advantages of the OM-D EVF:
1) It's large (not FF large, but large) and very bright
2) You can magnify
3) OM-D has unbelievable VF stabilisation, so you can use 500-600mm equivalent lenses, manual focus, and have a stable viewfinder to focus in
4) You don't need to focus wide open because it's an EVF - it can compensate and adjust image brightness.
5) Resolution is enough to see sharp details and DoF changes.
That said, I still prefer manual focusing in my 5D because of the 'instant' optical experience. If you have trouble using MF on FF, then using an EVF may well be a better experience for you. ...Show more →
The menu help seems to say that all of the arrow buttons can be mapped to different functions, but I only seem to have the option to map two of them ... am I missing something silly ?
totalmotard wrote:
Couple of tips I've found out:
1. Setting up the focal length in the IS field is important
Very true. I've made the same mistake and wondered why IBIS all of a sudden seemed so bad.
Got the add-on grip just delivered (thank for quick shipping Adorama!)
I still think its expensive at $300 but after handling in person, I feel a bit better about the price as its a pretty high quality item. Overpriced still yes, but far more solid than I expected. Zero flex or squeaking/creaking from it, unlike many DSLR grips I've owned.
The landscape grip part really does make the camera handle much better, giving you nice leverage and a place to wrap your fingers around. Makes it a little tougher to reach the Fn2 and record buttons though, and I thought they were already hard, but does make it a lot easier to work the rear dial and buttons as you don't need your thumb to keep a constant pressure on the back to support the camera now.
It does make the camera feel a bit bigger/heavier. Its a metal construction and very solid.
Looks better than I expected on a silver EM-5 as well, and gives the same look as my motor drive accessory on my old OM
PITA is that you have to take it on/off to get to the battery. Thats going to get old fast!
Another surprise is that I rather like the vertical grip. I thought I'd have no interest in this but it really does have a nice comfortable grip, and the fn1 and 2 buttons are in a great location.
I honestly find the camera more comfortable to hold vertically believe it or not!
Its also nice you can put a battery down there so you dont' need to take the grip on/off all the time.
It does make the camera much larger, coming close to that of a smaller DSLR with grip in fact. Still smaller lighter than something like a D3 FF dslr though of course.
Really makes the camera balance and handle nicely with a longer lens too, such as the 12-50mm kit lens I got with the camera.
I could actually see myself using the EM-5 with the vertical grip in place of a DSLR for some assignments.
For example, I'm the city photographer for the 4th of July festivities and parade and usually carry 2-3 DSLR bodies while walking the parade route. Swapping a DSLR with a seldom used wide angle for the EM-5 and 9-18 could work great and save my back.
Likewise, we do a huge 4 day Irish festival in August where Im usually on site 10-12 hours a day shooting. Given the sweltering temps I'm thinking of maybe just carrying 1 DSLR and the EM-5 around with me during the daytime. 70-200 2.8 on the DSLR for candids of people enjoying themsevles, stage performances, cleaner backgrounds etc, and then the 12-50 on the EM-5 for wider angle shots of crowds, vendor booths etc, at least during the daytime hours.
So, now with the grip are you a full fledged E-M5 convert? I am still at Muirfield, getting ready to come home after shooting the Memorial Pro-Am, and the E-M5 was awesome. Battery lasted all day (872 frames and a lot of chimping). Dynamic range jay continues to majorly impress had to shoot a lot in full backlit situations in mid day sun, and even the JPEG previews are holding all highlight and shadow detail. I'm thoroughly impressed. I'm going to write up my thoughts with my pictures later tonight.
Just spoke with the dealer I ordered a week ago from. My M5/12-50, M. Zuiko 75-300 and FL-600R will be at home when I get there after work. The 45mm f1.8, grip, extra battery and a few accessories will have to wait another week. Can't wait to break open that box and fire up the charger. My mouth has been watering for the entire last week waiting to jump into the fray you've all been enjoying already. I'll be sure to post a few shots as soon as it's all set up.
