IMHO - this is not just about lens, but also about camera. I believe that Zeiss lenses have a certain signature character that, if nothing else, is different than the MFT Oly and Panny primes. I've already stated my believe that the 75/1.8 has sharpness that reminds me of the Zeiss 50 and 100 Makro-Planars and it may be as sharp. I think other zeiss lenses such as the 21 and 35 Distagons have a character that is very different from the MFTs and it's one that I would conclude is more pleasing overall. Yes, I would give an edge to Zeiss over the best MFT lenses but it's in the subtleties. I feel the same way about Zeiss over Canon lenses.
However, it's also about the camera and maybe, more specifically the sensor. I would expect a 21MP full frame sensor to out perform the OMD sensor which is half the size. Don't get me wrong, What Olympus has in this sensor's capabilities is quite remarkable and lately, if find myself almost exclusively shooting the OMD. For example, I see low ISO noise in the OMD that I don't see in the Canon which has an overall smoothness of the resulting images. I would say the OMD is closer to the Canon 7D in how it resolves.
I'm not much of a pixel peeper, nor am I one to reach charts and stuff. I prefer practical observations in real life settings. All said, I love my zeiss lenses on my Canon 5DIII and my 'fine art' camera but I'm having a blast with the OMD.
'I'm not much of a pixel peeper, nor am I one to reach charts and stuff. I prefer practical observations in real life settings. All said, I love my zeiss lenses on my Canon 5DIII and my 'fine art' camera but I'm having a blast with the OMD.'
Tried a very simple, quick handheld panorama stitched in Photoshop. I think I'll look to do this more often. This shot is far from perfect but for web viewing turned out OK.
I can certainly work with what the OMD brings to the table. I've had more than my share of Canon and Nikon pro and semi DSLR bodies and top lenses, but after traveling with them it got real old. Carrying this svelte powerhouse along with it's kit 12-50 lens gets the job done nicely without the hassle factor of size and weight. Here's a few samples of my jaunt yesterday.
