Jonathanjk’s Weblog


Panasonic/Leica Lens Conclusion (Part 9)
August 11, 2008, 6:39 pm
Filed under: Buying Advice, Equipment highlight, photography | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Have I benefitted from purchasing this lens?  Below I will list the positives and negatives.  But remember for the most part it is how it benefits me even though I might make comments that compare it to other lenses which don’t fit.  I’m judging it primarily for myself and how it works for me but including general statements making reference to other primes for the benefit of you.

NEGATIVES

  • Price
This is a huge chunk of change as I stated in the beginning of the review for a prime lens.  I’m well aware of the fact that for the same price as this lens I could have repurchased Canon’s own 50mm f1.4 prime lens along with an EOS 3 and still have change in my pocket.  Or as one of my friends did note, I could have bought the same Canon 50mm prime and a second hand Canon 5D for £400 more.  Those are weird comparisons to make but as somebody who use to own those gear setups I understand what my friend is trying to say because he is a Canon user and doesn’t look favourably on the Olympus lineup.  
For myself, having owned the 5D with Canon’s equivalent 50mm lens I understand just how good it is to be making the comparison.  I know what I have given up for the time being and I know what I have invested in.
There is of course the two Sigma lenses for the 4/3rds lineup, a 24mm f1.8 and a 30mm f1.4 respectively, they are both cheaper but I never considered them.
  • Focusing (Low light)
This is more of a fault with the Olympus E420 really as it has a reputation for not being a good low light focuser, I did have trouble using it in dim light and I can only wonder how it will perform with a higher end body such as the E3.  As a side note, even the 12-60mm performs best when coupled with an E3 so I can only hope to assume the same thing applies here. For the rest of the time in everyday light I’ve not had any issues with trying to lock focus.
  • Aperture dial
I really wish I could use the aperture ring.  It takes 7 flicks of the thumb to get from f1.4 to f8 or 5 from f2 to f8.  How practical or useful that is for you will of course be down to personal preference.  If there was a firmware update so Olympus users could use the aperture ring I would be a happy chappy.  Somebody recently commented on www.dpreview.com saying that Panasonic shouldn’t have included it on the lens in the finished product and the Aperture should have been controlled via the camera dial since the 4/3rds system is entirely digital and its the way forward.  I disagree, for me it is a step backward for Olympus users and we should at least have the option anyway so that we can decide for ourselves.
  • Weatherproofing
It has none as far as I’m aware, not that I would be brave enough to take this out in hostile weather.  The 12-60mm sure, because its weather resistant.  Neither is the Canon 50mm, but it is cheaper incase it does get damaged.
  • Lens Hood
I mean come on, its bigger than the 12-60mm! (Though not really an issue with the lens).
  • Size
The Leica is a heffer I must say, never mind with the lens hood either, it is a cute fat stubby little thing.  But I want to remind myself and you reading this; because it is only fair to say that the camera it is attached too IS the world’s smallest and it sticks out more because of it.  If I still had the Canon prime I would make a size comparison between the two.  However it is an inch shorter than the 12-60mm which was my walkabout lens.  This Leica replaces it because as stated before I like my primes.  Not a true negative then as such but not a whole positive either.

POSITIVES
  • Image quality
I’ve only had it 3 days but I am happy and exceptionally pleased with what I have shot so far.  I wouldn’t use this camera for low light work unless mounted to a tripod so my solution otherwise is to fall back on my Contax G2 and its 46mm Planar lens using 35mm film.  I’d be happy to wait for an Olympus E430 for example if it was a better camera in low light or upgrade to the E3 with its Image Stabilisation.  It’s not like I have shaky hands either, I can hand hold at 1/30th and sometimes 1/15th of a second with a DSLR.  I will state this though, during my testing, using the Leica lens at ISO 1600, it produced a more attractive noise in the image than with the kit lens and the 12-60mm! :)  
  • Weight (510grams)
It is lighter than the zoom lens it replaces as a walkabout lens which is a plus.  But generally for a prime it is heavier than the Canon 50mm prime (290grams).  But again if we were to compare camera to camera and lens to lens, the Olympus setup would still win when it comes to being able to travel lighter with equal kit and this is what matters most to me.
  • Focusing
It’s performed well for me so far, louder than the 12-60mm of course because its not SWD but it isn’t distracting and I’ve not let it concern me, a non-issue as I see it.  Think of the sound Robocop makes when he walks but slightly muted.
  • Aperture
F1.4 mean anything?  The fact that I can shoot at f1.4 and f2 and use ISO 100 for nearly 90% of what I do means a lot to me. The lens like others is sharper when going up 1 or 2 stops and it is very noticeable but I would still use f1.4 when the situation called for it.  But at least I can shoot higher than f2.8 now which was the limiting factor of the zoom lens and my decision to not buy the 25mm f2.8 Pancake lens because by then you’re at f4 if you want real sharp images. 
*NOTE*  
Applied the firmware update that is now available for Olympus users, the focus lock seems faster.

 


CONCLUSION
So in conclusion, I am glad to be back using a prime again, I’m not exactly rich but I am happy to have spent the money to get this lens.  It was because I was on a budget that forced me to buy the 12-60mm in the first place and I felt I comprised too far thinking the 12-60mm could offer nearly all my needs alongside my G2 with its set of primes.  If I could turn back time I might have not bought the 12-60mm and plumped for the Leica instead. Who knows and who cares?  
If you want one I hoped I helped in some way, the hits I’ve been getting while doing this blog have been amazing for what is only my first week blogging and I’m sure I’ve affected a few marriages and mortgage payments for the time being because of the lens lust.  I have as I said the Olympus E420 which is the cheapest body in the Olympus lineup and I hope the images I’ve produced have been what you were expecting and then some.  Also if you do have a higher spec body such as the E520 or E3 I’m sure your results can only at least equal mine and let me know if I have helped at all.

 

NOTE:
There are also the Sigma 24mm f1.8 and the Sigma 30mm f1.4 on offer for the Olympus 4/3rds mount, they are a lot cheaper so if you’re on a budget maybe they will work for you.  I can’t comment because I’m never used one but felt that it is only right to mention them as the Leica isn’t your only option.
3 Comments

3 Comments so far
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If you have this lens still.. I would love to see some nightshots without tripod. Its doable, kinda hard, but.. try it if you can. :)

If 420 isn’t able to focus in dark.. simply use manual.

I’m impressed by quality of photos coming from E420 and those Leica 25mm lens.. never tought, that Olympus is that good.. maybe its really more about who shot, and which lenses he use.. :)

Btw. really nice review.. thank you very much. Its helpful.

Comment by Daemonius July 23, 2009 @ 5:02 pm
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Hi there, I don’t have this lens anymore, I went back to Canon last year.

I can say that the night shots I did take, contained very high levels of banding, in fact I hardly used my Olympus in anything above ISO 200, even in 400 it was noticeable. The banding was a big problem for me and so in the end I went back to Canon.

I still love the size and weight of the Olympus setup though, at the moment I’m using a 1Dsmk2 with the 24-70mm lens which combined is over 2 kilos in weight. Fun.

In my opinion though, as Olympus improves the 3/4rds format I can still say that lens is a winner on a more sophisticated body. I loved it while I had it.

Comment by jonathanjk July 26, 2009 @ 3:21 pm
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Well, I have Panasonic G1. :) I guess its “more sophisticated” body..

Image is ok up to ISO 800 .. some noticable (but removable) noise at 1600 and unusable 3200. :D GH-1 is better, but more expensive..

I´m pretty interested in this, cause its only fast lens that Panasonic/Olympus have for some reasonable price. Ofc, its possible to use others, but than its manual focus only..

Comment by Daemonius August 19, 2009 @ 10:03 pm
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