It is no secret that the new Olympus M.Zuiko 25mm F1.8 (BLACK!!) has become my favourite lens, and will be the one I use most. I love it so much that for today's shutter therapy session I have left every other lenses behind, and only had one lens on the OM-D E-M5. Did I wish I have the other lenses with me when I was shooting on the streets? Nope, the 25mm perspective was good enough to cover everything that I needed to shoot. Of course I acknowledge the fact that if I wanted to do a lot of street portraits close up shots that 45mm F1.8 would have been a better lens. However, the 25mm is just so much more flexible, and covers a lot more ground which the 45mm is just too tight to do.
Today's hunting ground was Chow Kit. The markets in Chow Kit are some of my best shooting places, I always, always come home with a lot of personal favourite shots. There is one drawback shooting in the markets, some parts are rather low in light and require use of very high ISO settings (6,400 and above) which may not be something that Micro Four Thirds shooters can do comfortably. Nevertheless, the E-M5 did not let me down. Having F1.8 wide aperture on the 25mm did help a lot, and staying at ISO 6,400, I can afford to slow down the shutter speed a little because we have the 5-Axis Image Stabilization (as long as the subject is not moving). Today's photowalk reminded me of why I fell in love with Olympus in the first place, and why my faith has not been misplaced. The camera just works!
All images were taken with Olympus OM-D E-M5 and M.Zuiko 25mm F1.8 lens
The Cat Knows
Unloading
The Cat Knows 2
Weight
Death Imminent
Teksi
Storage
Gunny Sacks
Long Conversation
Alone
Bokeh
Onion Peeler.
ISO6,400
Onion Peeler 2.
ISO6,400
Bananas 1.
Accidentally taken at ISO6,400, immediately after the Onion Peeler shots.
Bananas 2
Box
Girl in Pink
Big Eyes
ISO5,000, pushed up by one stop exposure (accidentally underexposed, my own fault)
Street Friends
Hardwork
Manual Transport
Portrait of a Stranger
Smelly Beans
Wet Area
ISO6,400
If you can only have one lens, which lens would you choose? I know zoom lens would be a popular choice, but what if you were to just stick with a prime lens? I know my answer. It is in the title of this blog entry.
Onion peeler iso 6400 so amazing
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteOnion peeler iso 6400 so amazing
ReplyDeleteI like the taxi shot =)
ReplyDeleteMe too.
Delete..."If you can only have one lens, which lens would you choose? I know zoom lens would be a popular choice, but what if you were to just stick with a prime lens?"
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm using Ricoh GR. So I'm pretty much stuck with one prime lens :D...
So that question does not apply to you. Heh.
DeleteOnce again Robin, I am shaking my head in amazement at your work. I remember as a young man (not that I admit to being an "old" man haha) only having my dad's rangefinder film camera, a Kodak Retina IIIC, with its 50mm F2 or F2.8 lens. Not knowing there was anything else, I happily took shots while traveling with this single focal length. Back then we all just created a style that maximized this focal length.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kind words, Peter! Indeed since the older days, 50mm perspective has always been popular and recommended!
DeleteLei è bravissimo e l'obiettivo 25/1,8 è formidabile, l'ho comprato subito dopo la Sua altra recensione.
ReplyDeleteGood photos as always Robin - I especially like the taxi (teksi) photo. Oh, and for me, the PanaLeica 25mm/1.4 lives on my camera, while my wife prefers to 45mm/1.8 to her 20mm. I find 25mm to geive me the most 'natural' kind of view, without too much compression of longer ones, or distortion from shorter ones. And 25mm can indeed be used wide-anglish as well as like a tele. So only when I *know* that I'll be taking head- and shoulders portraits, I always have the 25mm mounted - and for those portraits, the 45mm (and very rarely the 14mm for an 'environmental' kind of view).
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kind words Wolfgang. I am surprised to find that your wife prefers the 45mm, it is such a long focal length and it does take a bit of work to frame some subjects.
DeleteIf I would have to pick one lens that I own it's at the moment the Olympus 17mm 1.8. Most of the time I've also the 45mm in my pocket, but the 17mm is the one I keep on the camera when I walk around. There have been many discussions about the lens because its the only 1.8 Olympus mFT prime which isn't as sharp as the 25,45 and 75mm, but in my opinion it's still excellent compared to some others and it has nice characteristics.
ReplyDeleteSurely the 17mm is an excellent lens, and a recommended focal length by both classic and modern street photographers.
DeleteSame here, the 17 f/1.8 is practically glued to my E-P3. It might be 0.025% less sharp than the other 3, but hey, ithey're not as wide!
DeleteI got the oly 25mm too and love it very much. I started to like the equivalent 50mm focal length.
ReplyDeleteYou bought oledy???
Deletevery cool !!!!
ReplyDeleteI have the panasonic 20mm/f1.7 on my E-M10 most of the time. I do love the shots produced with the 25mm Oly, but can't possibly justify the expense of getting a lens that is so very similar (in use at least).
ReplyDeleteOh but that Olympus lens focuses so much faster!
DeleteYeah, i know the pana is sluggishly slow in comparison. Still, it's a lot of money (especially considering i only just got the E-M10). Don't worry, it will keep nagging at the back of my mind, so it's only a matter of time until I make the switch :)
DeleteMax sell the 20mm to fund the 25mm thats what I did!
DeleteHere we go, that didn't take long, did it? Just ordered the 25mm 1.8 and will sell the 20mm pana once i get it =)
Deletedoes 25mm means 50mm for full frame dslr? ;p I like the photo of the bearded uncle stranger. He look so kind!
ReplyDeleteYeap it is 50mm in 35mm equivalent format. The uncle is kind indeed.
DeleteI would tend to go with the 20mm pancake, as it's a bit wider, and really makes my camera feel that much more portable and easy to keep with me. That said, I haven't used the 17.5mm or 25mm yet and could be persuaded. The 45mm is nice, but I don't use it all that often, and the 12mm usually comes out for architectural pictures only.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, beautiful pictures as always! I really like "Long conversation".
Hi Chris,
DeleteIndeed, if you do need wider coverage, the 20mm, or even the 17mm would be a better choice. I love long conversation too!
i tried once with this lens when i was in Jogja.. haven't got time to share it out yet.. actually not yet retrieve from the memory card la.. hahaha..
ReplyDeleteAh Lost! Quick quick download the photos and share! Good photos must not stay hidden.
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ReplyDeleteWhat if one day Olympus produces a semi-prime lens which has 3 discrete focal lengths: 12mm, 25mm ,45mm at f2 or thereabout in one package. I don't think it's technologically unfeasible but Haha sorry I digress here.
ReplyDeleteThe ISO6400 shot is just incredibly sharp. But my favorite is "Long conversation": the contrast between moving versus static object is darn good: leading the viewer attention as well as making the photo more dynamic. Also the viewpoint is different. Well-done, Robi
Hey Bao-CL, thanks! I have always loved playing with slow shutter speed. and I do love the idea of having 3 primes in one. Why not, indeed? with the technological advancement that idea might just happen.
DeleteThanks Duncan!
ReplyDeleteHad one of it. Love it to max, its not just any lens... it is an amazing lens!
ReplyDeleteAmazing lens it is!
DeleteGot my 25mm lens over the weekend. Very good close focusing ability even without the micro converter lens. Focuses blazingly fast - pictures appear to look even sharper than the 45mm.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you have the 25mm. Sharpness of both 45mm and 25mm are is very similar. And yes, that close focusing capability really is something!
DeleteFor me it's definately 25mm, I have it for 2 months now and it's almost always on my E-M5. Before it was Pana 20mm 1.7 but it was too slow focusing so when 25mm came out I had to have it.
ReplyDeleteThe focusing of the 25mm F1.8 is so much better than the old Panasonic 20mm F1,7!
DeleteI've just ordered my 25mm f/1.8. It propably come tommorow, so I'll have opportunity to compare it with my Panasonic 20/1.7 on my new shiny E-M10. As I prefer compact size od Panny 20 mm and it's angle(straight between 35mm and 50mm in 35mm equivalent), the AF speed and wide-open IQ should be better with Oly 25mm.
ReplyDeleteI started photography with a film camera and a 50mm lens, so that F0V is the more natural to me. Took shots for an year with a G3 and adapted Prakticar 28mm (that's 56mm equiv), now I have the Oly 25mm and I'm very happy with it...
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ReplyDeleteWonderful photos Robin. So, would the only thing that maybe stops this being a perfect lens is that it isn't weather sealed? I guess it's the one thing that is stopping me from considering this, as I have the OMD EM1 and want something I can use in the rain. I have the 12-50mm kit lens which is nice and I know the Panasonic 12-35mm is weather=sealed but it isn't f1.8!
ReplyDeleteCould you expand on why 6400 ISO is not "something that Micro Four Thirds shooters can do comfortably"?
ReplyDeleteHi Robin! If I own the 25mm lens do I still need the 17mm? How u compare these 2 lens?
ReplyDeletei love your site Robin, thanks to You i invested in my Olympus omd. i am planning to go for a 3 week trip to USA and i cant decide which lens to buy. i own a kit lens which focus really slow. i was thinking about the 25mm 1.8 lens. Which lenses would You recommend? i would appreciate Your help. Lucy.
ReplyDelete