Micro 4/3 The Olympus 12mm f/2 lens - looking impressive!

I'd like the 12mm, the 45mm, the 25mm and the E-P3. I would also like the E-PL3 to complement the E-P3. For the same amount of money I could buy a Nikon D700, a 24mm, a 85mm and a 50mm, but that's much too heavy. I should buy only those pieces of above gear I really need, that is: nothing. I should just go on and take photographs. Sometimes we know what we should do and nevertheless want to do what we shouldn't do whilst we should want to do what we should do in order to do what we want to do without regret.

:confused:
 
Sometimes we know what we should do and nevertheless want to do what we shouldn't do whilst we should want to do what we should do in order to do what we want to do without regret.
Very true, Christian...however, depending upon the individual sometimes the old truism "Life is too short!" comes into play - as well as how much is in one's bank account.;)
 
I had read that David had a 12/2 on order, and was looking forward to his review of it. The way Oly have addressed the manual focus infinity/hypoerfocal issue is remarkable. That was my only real complaint with m43, Bravo Olympus, bravo.

EDIT: If Oly bring primes worthy of the HG name (as it seems this 12/2 is) and they put focussing collars on them - they will leave panasonic waay behind. I am resolved to try this new lens out for myself now.
 
To be honest, the 12mm is a great lens. I am very sure about that. But do I really need it? Or better: Will I really use it often enough to buy such an expensive lens? I already own the 9-18mm and I use it most times either at 9mm or at 18mm and the 18mm are most times too short for me. I know that I would use a 25mm much more than a 12mm and maybe a 45mm even more than a 25mm.
 
I'd like the 12mm, the 45mm, the 25mm and the E-P3. I would also like the E-PL3 to complement the E-P3. For the same amount of money I could buy a Nikon D700, a 24mm, a 85mm and a 50mm, but that's much too heavy. I should buy only those pieces of above gear I really need, that is: nothing. I should just go on and take photographs. Sometimes we know what we should do and nevertheless want to do what we shouldn't do whilst we should want to do what we should do in order to do what we want to do without regret.

:confused:

Well made points / questions.
 
I had the 12mm for a week. I had other priorities, and couldn't justify keeping it. I went to the Panny 14 instead. But the 12 is a superb lens. Sharp corner to corner. Minimum vignetting. Super fast focus, and nice manual tricks. For someone who shoots wide frequently, or has the bucks, it's well worth it. For me, I'd need it closer to US$500 to justify it. I'm more of a 35/50mm shooter methinks (though I'm enjoying the 28mm of the Panny at present)
 
Went to an Olympus presentation at a local camera shop - here is a pic taken using the 12mm f/2 mounted on my battered old E-P1. It is a fabulous lens.

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Olympus 12mm f2 on E-P1_1 by peterb666, on Flickr

The guy on the right is the Olympus Australia guy that looks after the Pen product line. The 12mm lens won't start shipping in Australia until late in August. I have ordered mine. This shot taken with the 12mm lens on the E-P1 used the old E-P1's AF. It seemed mighty responsive compared to the Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 I had fitted to the E-P1.

MF is impressive on the E-P3 and certainly quite usable on the E-P1.

The 12mm f/2 feels luxurious and has one of the sweetest MF rings on any lens.

BTW, I bought an E-P3 with the kit zoom tonight. That lens is a joy compared to the original 14-42mm zoom and the AF is impressive. Cannot wait for my 12mm.
 
I have been using the EP3 and 12mm lens and I really am enjoying the pair. My most often focal length has been 28mm, but I've longed for just a bit wider at times (though not too wide). 24mm is perfect in such circumstances.

But I'm wondering why Olympus chose 24mm as their first "serious" m43 lens? It is not a common focal length and a 35 or 50mm would have a bit more cachet. In fact, a solid 50mm lens is becoming a more and more obvious gap in the Olympus lens lineup (Panasonic has one coming out).

So why 24mm? Anyone care to make conjecture?
 
@Andrewtee -- well, they already have a "35" in the 17mm pancake ...

I happened by a camera shop today (I was hoping to have a sniff at the M8.2 I thought they had ... just for interest's sake, you understand ... but it had been sold) so instead I picked up the 12mm and put it on the E-P2 ... very nice indeed, very quick focus, very bright ... slightly "plasticky" feel though (the mount itself seems to be plastic?) ... if I had £629 to splash on something I'd only use occasionally, I'd have bought it ... I liked it a lot (especially when I got home and looked at the 4 shots I'd taken out of the shop door)
 
But I'm wondering why Olympus chose 24mm as their first "serious" m43 lens? It is not a common focal length and a 35 or 50mm would have a bit more cachet. In fact, a solid 50mm lens is becoming a more and more obvious gap in the Olympus lens lineup (Panasonic has one coming out).

So why 24mm? Anyone care to make conjecture?

Hi there
Well, it's a missing focal length, and very popular with landscape shooters - a 25 would simply compete with the Panaleica lens, there is already a decent 35 whereas this really is something different. It may not be up everybody's street, but it's definitely the lens which has brought me back to m4/3 - as far as I can see it's the only wide angle which really is sharp right to the corners at the sweet spot.

with this lens there are decent quality primes at
24, 28, 35, 40, 50, 90mm for m4/3 (even if they aren't all Olympus)
 
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