It’s a pancake lens which is great for not being intrusive and still getting great shots. Don’t be afraid of budget lenses. And super fast auto focus means you’re unlikely to miss a shot when you do. I use this lens all the time and have gotten excellent results with which I create beautiful frame-worthy prints to sell online. One of the few "Made in Japan" Micro Four Thirds lenses from Olympus, the 75mm f/1.8 is a jewel; sturdy, all-metal barrel construction with glass elements that are essentially "poured" inside. Re: GH5: Best lenses for travel videos? One thing to bear in mind, is that you can carry more lenses in your suitcase, and then only pick a couple of lenses for one outing. This is especially if I go out to check out nightlife or live music. Panasonic Lumix G Vario 45-150mm f/4-5.6, Why the Panasonic GX-85 is my rec for best travel camera in 2019, 8. This low-light lens is great for those evenings where you head out for the night and hope you end up at an epic beach bonfire or an impromptu fiddle performance in the smoker’s huddle outside the bar. And I’d definitely recommend it if you don’t have in-body IS. It’s the priciest lens … For those in need of a wider maximum aperture than this can provide, Olympus’s 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO is the lens to look at. The budget competitor is this Tamron superzoom, which as I said, does not have image stabilization built in. Ultra-wide is hard to come by on micro four thirds, but seriously, the point-of-view you get? Similarly, the lens displays good across-frame sharpness, even wide open, performing best beyond f/2. A combination of both, a good zoom and a high quality prime for low light, is also fantastic. Last Updated on December 30, 2020 by Nick For portrait photography, you need a sharp lens with great colors and... BestPhotographyGear is a participant in the B&H Photo and Amazon Services LLC Associates Programs, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and B&H.com. Their larger size relative to native M.Zuiko lenses means that they naturally pair well with tripod use. What’s more, Olympus’s ZERO Coating means that the lens performs well even under challenging conditions, such as when pointing directly towards a strong light source. The Best Zoom Lenses for Micro Four Thirds. Its wide field of view, sharp optics and constant fast aperture of f/2.8 throughout all zoom settings makes this an ideal lens for travel, interiors, night sky photography, landscape and street shooting. Here are the 6 most important factors that make a good travel lens. Olympus - M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 75mm f/1.8. For a lens you will keep on your camera all the time, it’s worth it to spend a bit more. Weatherproofed lenses can give a sense of security when shooting in wetter conditions. But you do have to look at the weight of the combinations. While the plastic build doesn’t inspire the same confidence as Panasonic’s higher range MFT offerings, the 25mm f/1.7 is nonetheless well made. If you’re into waiting for the blue hour to get that rich color, you might find that this lens suits your shooting style more than the kit. All this to say, yes, superzooms can be a little softer than their prime or regular zoom counterparts, but they are great for shooting travel and never missing a shot because you had the wrong lens on. The walkarounds above are the best micro four thirds zoom lenses for landscape photography as well as portrait views. Silent autofocus makes the 17mm well suited to video too. If you’ve used any of the other lenses in Olympus’s PRO series, you’ll know that the optics are generally top notch. The opinions presented are my own. Admittedly the 12-100mm is not cheap. With a constant aperture of f/2.8 at all zoom settings, this a fantastic solution for photographers who frequently need to shoot in low light but who don’t wish to compromise on either portability or image quality. Present, too, is the ever popular AF-MF clutch ring, allowing you to quickly switch between focus modes while shooting. Those looking for better spec within a similar focal range (but willing to spend a little more) should investigate the 15mm f/1.7 Leica Summilux as an alternative. Image sharpness at the corners is excellent, while at the center it’s outstanding. If you have an Olympus body, then every Panasonic lens will be stabilized, since they put the IS into their camera bodies. More from Click and Learn: Best cameras for astrophotography. ... As such, this is a fine option for travel photography, or just generally as … This prime lens needs little to no … It’s even fairly compact at 265g which is a marvel. It will capture low light images with loads of bokeh with that extremely wide f/1.7 aperture. In reply to ironicles • Jul 18, 2017 My main video lens for a 8-day overseas trip last month was the Panaleica 12-60mm F2.8-4. Many photographers also use prime lenses, but rarely above 50mm. Note that some Panasonic cameras also have in-body stabilization, such as my travel pick the Panasonic GX-85. Aperture – The bigger the aperture, the bigger the lens, especially if it’s a zoom. When traveling, you don’t always have the time to do it manually or take a few different shots. And lets be honest, noone wants to be caught dead in those. The super-slim Panasonic Lumix G II 20mm f/1.7 is a fast pancake lens for the Micro Four Thirds format. However, just because a lens isn’t resistant, it doesn’t mean a little water or dust will damage it. This makes it an excellent choice for when maximum depth-of-field is a priority, such as with landscape, architectural or interiors photography. It’s bigger than the rest on our list (yet still relatively compact), so keep that in mind. The lens is pin sharp at the center, with only slight softness detectable towards the corners. Olympus 7-14mm f/2.8 PRO. Pulling the focus ring backwards instantly switches the lens to manual focus mode and simultaneously reveals a clear distance scale. The barrel is of sturdy metal construction and is hermetically sealed against the elements. Now that you've bought a micro four thirds camera, you're probably looking to get the best micro four thirds lenses for travel photography. So you can decently cover the paddy fields of Vietnam or shoot a local market. To be honest, many photogs don’t love these because they tend to be a bit softer and slower. Similarly, autofocus is excellent. Only question now is which ones do you get? My small GX-85 gets quite big when I throw on a large lens like this. Make sure to look at how big and heavy a lens is, especially if you always travel with lots of other stuff as well. Not everybody wants to go light, but I’m traveling long-term these day, so less is more, all day everyday. but check whether your camera is weather-proof too. I often get guys asking me if a camera is pocketable. Instead, with such a wide field of view, the 12mm f/2 is better suited to fast shooting in crowds, or capturing sweeping vistas of either the night sky or more terrestrial landscapes. It’s 7.5mm which is 15mm effectively and one of the widest lenses you can get on m43 that isn’t fisheye. Weight & Size – Photographing is fun, carrying a ton of heavy gear is not. Small size. In addition to being extremely sharp and displaying no color fringing, the lens is fast, compact, lightweight and well-built. Good zoom lenses that have a wide max aperture are typically a good deal pricier than their slower counterparts. Another win is that it’s quite compact at 200g. Frankly, I think the obsession photographers have with sharpness is unnecessary and stifles creativity. I will carry 3 lenses or so on a trip, but I often stick to just one lens on camera for a particular day or location. Here’s the list of the best micro four thirds lenses for travel photography : This walkaround lens, allows you to get a variety of shots from landscape to details is a massive upgrade to your kit lens at a hefty price around $1000. It’s still likely less expensive than a set of primes to cover an equivalent range of focal lengths. I hope that … With image stabilization built into the lens, you can pop this onto any camera and head out, skipping the tripod in most cases. Sharpness is generally excellent, although there is some detectable fall off at corners – particularly when used wide open at around the 50mm zoom setting. Auto Focus – Good, reliable and accurate auto focus is a must. Weather Resistant – Having a weather resistant lens helps when traveling, since you’re usually in unpredictable situations. I find fisheyes to be a little too gimmicky. … Aside from the metal mount, the lens is largely made of plastic, so it’s not as rugged as some of Panasonic’s other lenses for the MFT format. © 2016 - 2018 - Best Photography Gear All Rights Reserved. It’s…, A Travel Photography Guide for Aspiring Photographers, SIDECAR PHOTO | COPYRIGHT SHIMONA CARVALHO, on The Best Micro Four Thirds Lenses for Travel. But as a woman, I carry a purse, and it actually does fit in my purse. These mirrorless systems are lightweight and portable, yet offer … Paired with the IS, you might be able to get away without a tripod too. As with other lenses in this series, the barrel features a super-smooth grip-ring for focus-by-wire “manual” focusing. The lens does not suffer from any noticeable color aberrations and only at the widest of apertures does some slight blurring become detectable in the corners. To make matters worse, the focus mechanism is also quite noisy, meaning that for video use you’ll need to focus manually. If we'd recommend something bad you could simply return it, and this is far from what our goal is.If you are interested you can read more on, Olympus M. Zuiko ED 12-100mm f/4.0 IS PRO, Olympus M. Zuiko Digital ED 40-15mm f/2.8 PRO, Best Micro Four Thirds Lenses for Portraits in 2021, Lenses for Nikon D7500 | Best Photography Gear, Best Sony Lenses for Sports and Action in 2021, Best Nikon Lenses for Sports and Action in 2021, Best Nikon Lenses for Wildlife and Birds in 2021, Best Fujifilm Lenses for Sports and Action in 2021, The Best Canon DSLR Cameras for Beginners in 2021, Sony Camera Lenses For Portraits | Best Photography Gear. To avoid falling into this trap, think carefully about what you like to shoot and pick a solution that works for you. If you know you are more inclined to landscapes, make sure you have the wide end of the focal range well covered. So think about both those aspects when you pick your lenses. In this guide, you’re going to see the 9 best travel lenses for your Micro Four Thirds camera. It's not cheap, but optical performance is impressive. Sigma 56mm f1.4 review The Sigma 56mm f1.4 DC DN C is a short-telephoto lens corrected for APSC sensors and available in Sony E and Micro Four Thirds mounts, on which it delivers 84mm or 112mm equivalent coverage, Perfect for portraits and events, not to mention tighter views of urban or natural landscapes, this compact lens … Olympus M. Zuiko 12mm f/2Olympus M. Zuiko 17mm f/1.8Panasonic Lumix G 20mm f/1.7Panasonic Lumix G 25mm f/1.7, Olympus M. Zuiko 7-14mm f/2.8 ED PROPanasonic Lumix G 12-35mm f/2.8 II OISPanasonic Leica DG 12-60mm f/2.8-4Olympus M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4 PROOlympus M. Zuiko 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO. This walkaround lens, allows you to get a variety of shots from landscape to details is a massive upgrade to your kit lens at a hefty price around $1000. It also features Olympus’s signature manual focus snap selection ring and comes with a well-designed and securely-fastening lens hood that will not fall off as you pull the lens out of your bag. It's a reasonable … The advantage of one lens is that you don’t have to change lenses on the go, but one lens can’t be all things so you will sacrifice something, speed or sharpness or range. The same photographers who pore over reviews of lenses and edge-to-edge sharpness also love the work of old school film photographers who didn’t have access to such technology. Whether you have a Panasonic, Olympus or some other brand’s system, the beauty of these lenses is that they fit on all different cameras. All in all then, this is a handy little all purpose piece of glass you can rely on to pull something out of pretty much any imaginable shooting situation. Sometimes you want telephoto shots of wildlife and birds. This is faster and more versatile than the 12mm, and also costs sightly less. However, unsurprisingly at this price point, there is no weather sealing. Check out this photo taken with my new micro four thirds Olympus camera. You can buy it at Amazon or see more reviews here. So there you have it, these are some of the best micro four thirds lenses for travel on a hobbyist budget. If you’re looking for your first lens, or just want something better than your current kit zoom, this is it. Maybe invest in an ultra wide angle lens as well. This one is a superzoom or all-in-one zoom. Dustproof and water resistant. I’m also a hobbyist, not a pro, so I aim for budget to mid-range choices. It’s also quite cheaply priced. With a constant aperture of f/2.8 across all zoom settings, this is a lens that is fast enough to satisfy everyone except the most demanding of low light shooters, while also being versatile enough to deal with nearly any photographic style or situation. A 25mm lens is ideal for daily photography, portraits, weddings, indoor shooting, traveling etc. It’s a rectilinear lens which means your lines should be straight just like a regular shot. Panasonic Lumix G Vario HD 14-140mm f/4-5.8 MEGA O.I.S. " Boat at sunrise, Lindos, Rhodes. The best lenses … A zoom lens with plenty of reach is an excellent way to go if you want to keep it simple, and be re ready to photograph anything from landscape, nature, to portraits and interiors. If you want a small, light kit, think carefully about what each lens adds to your arsenal, how much each lens weighs and how many you are willing to carry. I really don’t want to change lenses during a day trip. It really enables compositions that are very dynamic and get the viewer to almost step into your shoes. It’s quite sharp, has image stabilization, and the cost makes it really excellent bang for your buck. Except as pajamas, I concede they make great pajamas. Best Micro Four Thirds lenses: 22 optics for your MFT mirrorless camera. Can’t be beat or faked. Furthermore, if camera shake is a concern, you’ll have to use this on a body with on-board image stabilization, as the lens itself does not offer any of its own. For this reason, we didn’t include Panasonic 40-150mm f/2.8 because it is most likely too heavy/big for you to consider it a travel choice. Olympus M. Zuiko 7-14mm f/4 ED PROPanasonic Lumix G 12-35mm f/2.8 II OISPanasonic Lumix G 12-60mm f/2.8-4Olympus M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4 PROOlympus M. Zuiko 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO. While it’s not like any lens is ‘designed’ for travel photography, (and if they are I’d like to hear about it, haha!) This allows you to rapidly snap the lens into manual mode, estimate distance, and then quickly set focus and fire off a shot before the subject is even aware. these shots of endangered Humboldt penguins at Ballestas Islands, Peru would not have been possible without a range of 300mm. For outdoor photography, smaller apertures are normal and you’ll be perfectly fine with zoom lenses that are at f/4 or even f/5.6. Recall that I mentioned that I prefer primes over zooms any day, but that preference changes from person to person. Now that you’ve bought a micro four thirds camera, you’re probably looking to get the best micro four thirds lenses for travel photography. If your budget is higher, I mention some upgrade picks but try to steer away from the higher priced specialty lenses. I.e. Facebook Pinterest Email Twitter PocketErdene Zuu monastery is a rarity in Mongolia, and that’s because it is an active monastery.…, Facebook Pinterest Email Twitter PocketWondering whether to go to Khustai or Terelj? Next, I’ll go over the best lenses you might want in your kit, and then you probably should pick a one or two lens solution for your style of photography. So it rarely gets to the point where rain gets into the camera. Our goal is to find the best photography gear, specializing in Camera Lenses, SD Memory Cards, and DSLR's and Mirrorless Cameras. The Olympus version of the previous telephoto zoom is almost exactly the same as the Panasonic, but without IS built into the lens. As does the fact that the lens is dust-, splash- and freeze-proof right down to -10c. If you decide to buy anything after clicking on our Amazon links, you automatically support us. First let me summarize all of them with their weights and then go into how to put together a solution based on your shooting style. It has a massive range equivalent to 28mm to 300mm which means you can shoot landscapes and wildlife with this one. However, thanks to its great manual focus features, rugged weather-sealing, and a durable all-metal build, it clearly also begs to be used for candid street shots. Olympus’s advanced still and movie compatible autofocus system guarantees you won’t miss a moment, while excellent image stabilization rules out camera shake. This walkaround lens has just a few mm greater range than the kit lens on Panasonic, but again the f/2.8 will provide much better low light performance. On the negative side, the 12-60mm’s widest aperture of f/2.8 is only available when zoomed out to the 12mm setting. On the wide end, it means it’s quite hard to get less than 24mm on the wide end. Take a walkaround lens and add on a second lens that is especially suited to the kind of shooting you prefer. So in a way weatherproofing is something that comes up with travel lenses but you should think about how important it is to you. If you’re going to go with one lens, then either an upgraded kit, or an all-in-one zoom is the way to go. I actually purchased the Tamron mentioned after this because at the time, the Panasonic was a lot more expensive. If you’re not traveling light, then there’s no difference between lenses for travel photography and your general kit. This ultra-wide angle zoom lens provides an angle of view equivalent to … First off, there is no doubt that Olympus has … I hope you got some good insight on how to put together a setup that is minimal but works for you. The Olympus M.Zuiko 12mm f/2 is a premium quality wideangle lens for the Micro Four Thirds system offering excellent image definition coupled with sturdy construction. Panasonic’s Nano Surface Coating means that there’s almost no flare whatsoever, at least when shooting stills, and only the subtlest of chromatic aberrations are visible. Then we help you choose the right products for your needs. Unlike many Panasonic Micro Four Thirds lenses – which often can only manage a minimum aperture of f/16 – the 25mm f/1.7 shuts right down to f/22. bhphotovideo.com I spent a month traveling in Europe with the Olympus 17mm f/1.8 attached firmly to an Olympus OM-D EM 5 Mark II (reviewed here), and really enjoyed using it.. As part of the renowned M.Zuiko pro-range of Olympus MFT lenses… This lens is a few years old now, but it's still widely available and has garnered a reputation as being one of the best lenses around for Micro Four Thirds. Best Micro Four Thirds lenses: 22 optics for your MFT mirrorless camera. Cost: Around £699. It was around $700. Plus it’s safe, as long as I use my favorite trick – the camera bag insert. However, at 12mm this will never be your first choice of lens for portraiture. They buy new lenses for all sorts of exciting specialty needs but soon realize they don’t take them out very often. The Olympus M. Zuiko ED 7-14mm f/2.8 PRO lens is an excellent ultra wideangle zoom lens for the Micro Four Thirds format. For e.g. Just remember, as long as you get out there and get the shots you enjoy, that’s more important than any spec. I like to carry a separate prime lens for when I want some low light, narrow depth of field shots. This and the next lens are good budget telephoto zoom lenses so they have a reach greater than 100mm. On the zoom side this is nice as you get a lot of reach. For this reason it will be of most interest to photographers producing landscapes, architecture, interiors, and even portraits – provided ultra-shallow depth-of-field is not required. These are just some examples of how to create a kit that works for you. Nonetheless, the Leica 12-60mm is faster than Panasonic’s otherwise comparable f/3.5-5.6 Lumix 12-60mm. There is a little softness detectable at the image corners, and some flare is still occasionally present when shooting into the light, but there’s no noticeable ghosting or color aberrations and overall this is an extremely crisp, high resolution lens. This is because Olympus cameras have built IS into the body, whereas Panasonic mostly puts IS into the lens. My Micro Four Thirds Travel Kit – Travelling Light In Style. First I’ll go over what to think about when picking a lens for travel photography. And with good reason! The Leica is also optically superior to the Lumix, however for those concerned about either price, weight, or size, the Lumix offers some advantage in all three areas. Sometime you want landscape shots of stunning limestone cliffs rising above the land, and portrait shots of local culture. If you’re looking for the all-around super zoom, the Panasonic Leica DG 12-60mm f/2.8-4 is a solid workhorse for serious photography at a huge range of focal lengths. 2 lenses gives you more opportunity to augment your equipment to suit your style. We go through each lens specifically and talk about its strengths, and before that we quickly summarize what the most important factors are when it comes to travel photography. The kit lens on most Olympus cameras is the Olympus M.Zuiko 14-42mm F3.5-5.6. The best lens … Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 II ($898) Category: Travel/portrait. field of vision is moderately wide, but not so wide that you must be standing on your subject’s toes in order to frame their face large in the shot. For those with a bigger budget and hungry for an extra half stop of light, the Leica-branded Panasonic 25mm f/1.4 is a faster, sharper alternative. The shots I’ve seen from this lens are just beautiful and I’m definitely buying it the moment I get back to the States. 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