The Love/Hate Relationship with the Panasonic 45-175 X & The E-PM1

Jonathan F/2 · #1 November 22nd, 2011, 06:17 PM

Here are my initial impressions of the Panasonic 45-175 X lens on an Olympus E-PM1:

First the bad. On a third gen Olympus Pen like the E-PM1, the IBIS and the 45-175 X do not seem to get along. I found myself having to revert to fast shutter speeds and turning IBIS off to get sharp photos. Once this was done, the 45-175 X worked great. Apparently the E-PM1 IBIS doesn't want to play nice with long focal lengths. I need to test the lens with other Olympus bodies, but on the E-PM1 I wouldn't use IBIS with this lens.

Now the good. The lens is incredibly small and has a nice rubber zoom ring. The fact it doesn't telescope out is great and it uses 46mm filters. The bokeh quality is smooth, the colors look great and when you properly lock focus, the image quality is fairly sharp. This lens is strictly a daytime lens in my opinion.

I'm a little torn whether to keep it or not. On one hand the size is perfect for a camera like the E-PM1. On the other hand, the E-PM1 IBIS is real junk and you might be better off getting a Pany 100-300 with the OIS switch which allows the lens stabilizer to work. Olympus needs to get on the ball and release a firmware that allows you to use lens OIS with the X lenses.

Anyways, here are some picture samples I took with the E-PM1 & 45-175 X:

turbodieselvw · #2 November 22nd, 2011, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonathan F/2

I'm a little torn whether to keep it or not. On one hand the size is perfect for a camera like the E-PM1. On the other hand, the E-PM1 IBIS is real junk and you might be better off getting a Pany 100-300 with the OIS switch which allows the lens stabilizer to work. Olympus needs to get on the ball and release a firmware that allows you to use lens OIS with the X lenses. [/IMG]

You're out of luck here. It just doesn't make good business sense for Olympus to spend their time and effort on a firmware to allow or make the use of a competitors product better on their cameras (in an ideal world we would wish that they would but we do not live in an ideal world) as that could directly result in lower sales of their lenses and lower profits. What is more likely is that Olympus may try to compete by having a smaller X-type lens in their product line.

I am not saying this in defence of Olympus (I have never nor do I currently own any Olympus products) but just out of common sense.

Jonathan F/2 · #3 November 22nd, 2011, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbodieselvw

You're out of luck here. It just doesn't make good business sense for Olympus to spend their time and effort on a firmware to allow or make the use of a competitors product better on their cameras (in an ideal world we would wish that they would but we do not live in an ideal world) as that could directly result in lower sales of their lenses and lower profits. What is more likely is that Olympus may try to compete by having a smaller X-type lens in their product line.

I am not saying this in defence of Olympus (I have never nor do I currently own any Olympus products) but just out of common sense.

Olympus at least needs to fix the IBIS on the E-PM1. It works fine for slow shutter speed applications, but when you need fast shutter speeds at longer focal lengths, that's where I'm seeing the most problems. It would cause image blur, despite using a proper shutter speed in relation to the focal length.

Honestly the strength of M43 is being able to use all lenses with 100% compatibility. If OIS won't work on an Olympus body, then to me that defeats the whole purpose of the system.

RnR · #4 November 22nd, 2011, 08:29 PM

All Olympus would need to do is to auto switch off IBIS if shutter speed is faster than 1/fl. But its not too hard to remember to do it yourself.

How does Panasonics get around this 'issue' with their OIS? No blur from their image stabilisation with fast shutter speeds?

Jonathan F/2 · #5 November 22nd, 2011, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RnR

All Olympus would need to do is to auto switch off IBIS if shutter speed is faster than 1/fl. But its not too hard to remember to do it yourself.

How does Panasonics get around this 'issue' with their OIS? No blur from their image stabilisation with fast shutter speeds?

I've had no problems with IBIS until the E-PM1. It's just not as reliable. I've tried IBIS on an E-P2 and E-PL2 which both worked great. The E-PM1 IBIS is really screwy.

hkpzee · #6 November 22nd, 2011, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonathan F/2

I've had no problems with IBIS until the E-PM1. It's just not as reliable. I've tried IBIS on an E-P2 and E-PL2 which both worked great. The E-PM1 IBIS is really screwy.

I wonder if it is just IBIS with the E-PM1 or if the E-PL3 has the same issue?

RnR · #7 November 22nd, 2011, 09:12 PM

I treat IBIS like flash, off by default. Only to be used on special occasions. Sounds like you guys are saying that on the earlier models, it can just be left on permanently with no penalty. Or am I missing something?

Art · #8 November 22nd, 2011, 09:25 PM

Nice photos, great color. I leave IBIS off on my E-PM1 at all times (it's total junk). If I need to use Oly 45 in low light, I use it with my E-PL2 which has fantastic IBIS, tack sharp at 1/20s.
Panny 14 doesn't really need IS so it's a perfect fit for E-PM1.

Jonathan F/2 · #9 November 22nd, 2011, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Art

Nice photos, great color. I leave IBIS off on my E-PM1 at all times (it's total junk). If I need to use Oly 45 in low light, I use it with my E-PL2 which has fantastic IBIS, tack sharp at 1/20s.
Panny 14 doesn't really need IS so it's a perfect fit for E-PM1.

I sold my E-PL2 thinking I could make due with one body (I also have a Nikon kit

), but I'm really thinking about getting another E-PL2 for long lens shooting and solid IBIS. I love the E-PM1 shooting speed and AWB, I just wish Olympus would stop giving and then taking away features!

manju69 · #10 November 23rd, 2011, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonathan F/2

Here are my initial impressions of the Panasonic 45-175 X lens on an Olympus E-PM1:

First the bad. On a third gen Olympus Pen like the E-PM1, the IBIS and the 45-175 X do not seem to get along. I found myself having to revert to fast shutter speeds and turning IBIS off to get sharp photos. Once this was done, the 45-175 X worked great. Apparently the E-PM1 IBIS doesn't want to play nice with long focal lengths. I need to test the lens with other Olympus bodies, but on the E-PM1 I wouldn't use IBIS with this lens.

Now the good. The lens is incredibly small and has a nice rubber zoom ring. The fact it doesn't telescope out is great and it uses 46mm filters. The bokeh quality is smooth, the colors look great and when you properly lock focus, the image quality is fairly sharp. This lens is strictly a daytime lens in my opinion.

I'm a little torn whether to keep it or not. On one hand the size is perfect for a camera like the E-PM1. On the other hand, the E-PM1 IBIS is real junk and you might be better off getting a Pany 100-300 with the OIS switch which allows the lens stabilizer to work. Olympus needs to get on the ball and release a firmware that allows you to use lens OIS with the X lenses.

Anyways, here are some picture samples I took with the E-PM1 & 45-175 X:

Nice shots. How do you turn of the OIS in the lens? Or does that turn off by default with an Oly body? I have an E-PL3 and was wondering about this lens? But have heard mixed reports of its OIS on both Oly and Panny bodies.