My gosh the 45/1.8 is an odd duck - Page 2

hkpzee · #11 July 20th, 2012, 12:29 AM

I opt for a silver E-M5 instead of a black one because of all these silver lenses that Olympus came out with! I think it looks fine on a silver E-M5 or E-P3, but I'd never put this lens on a black GH2 or GX1...

Mine already had a few bumps and scratches from all those jostling around the camera bag, but fortunately, the silver color doesn't seem to come off. It looks like the plastic is silver in color, rather than just some coating...

As far as AF is concerned, I guess this lens really need the smaller focus box to nail focus...

dixeyk · #12 July 20th, 2012, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krugorg

I wonder if you have a bad copy?

I have noticed a few misses, more so on my E-M5 now that I have started using it more for non-portraits. That said, each time I have seen a miss, it has been when the focus box was at default. As soon as I bring the box down to the minimum size, it is very accurate.

No hunting at all on mine (nothing like the 20/1.7 does for me).

I can't argue with the build quality... the trim ring is cheesy and it is plastic. Of course, that also means it is very light.

I know what you are saying about clinical, but if you want softness or pixie dust, that is what PP and/or filters are for!

I doubt it's a bad copy...I've had two and they've both done it. The smallest focus box helps a lot. Mind you I don't hate the lens. I find it frustrating but you can't argue with the IQ. The sharpness is great even wide open, bokeh is very nice and when it works it's a nice lens.

The build quality...well it's light and it's to be expected. I have always found the build quality on the Olympus gear to be a bit less than I'd like but I understand why. They are tying to hit a price point and something has got to give. It's remarkable that they managed to squeeze such nice optics into such a low-fi package.

Ryan · #13 July 20th, 2012, 12:37 AM

My silver coating came off on my scratched from my rangefinder rubbing against it in my bag :( its black plastic underneath. My lens works beautiful and thats on a epl1, i think your lens may have a AF issue

dtchan · #14 July 20th, 2012, 12:38 AM

I had a bad copy but no one really believed me. Olympus blames Panasonic needs firmware update. Panasonic blames Olympus needs firmware update.

Some odd behaviour of my copy:

1. Focus on a regular object A, it is able to focus.
2. Then you try to focus on something difficult, and it can't focus (which is ok). Do this a few times and leads to 3. It can no longer focus on object A again.

Only fix is to turn off and on camera or press the lens release button. I got so fed up with it cause it sometimes occur at the perfect moment where you need to take the shot and it fails. I re-purchase a new copy and that one was fine.

dixeyk · #15 July 20th, 2012, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtchan

I had a bad copy but no one really believed me. Olympus blames Panasonic needs firmware update. Panasonic blames Olympus needs firmware update.

Some odd behaviour of my copy:

1. Focus on a regular object A, it is able to focus.
2. Then you try to focus on something difficult, and it can't focus (which is ok). Do this a few times and leads to 3. It can no longer focus on object A again.

Only fix is to turn off and on camera or press the lens release button. I got so fed up with it cause it sometimes occur at the perfect moment where you need to take the shot and it fails. I re-purchase a new copy and that one was fine.

I've had 1 and 2 happen but not 3.

DHart · #16 July 20th, 2012, 12:57 AM

I haven't used mine enough to notice any problems!

Perhaps some of you guys just use the lens too much.

Actually, so far, I like the look it can achieve and the IQ. But truly, it's not a focal length I use much, unless I'm specifically shooting portraits... and I haven't been doing that much at all. I like the lens, but don't seem to need it much.

David A · #17 July 20th, 2012, 01:00 AM

Just a crazy suggestion if you're shooting RAW: set your picture mode to the most vivid option you have ("Vivid" on Olympus bodies) and your contrast setting to the maximum it will go to. Since M43 uses contrast focussing and both of these options increase the contrast of the display, you may get slightly better auto focus operation. I don't guarantee it but I do think it's worth a try, but only if you're shooting RAW. If you're shooting JPEG I think you're better off leaving your settings at whatever gives you the output you want.

danska · #18 July 20th, 2012, 01:40 AM

I actually notice a lot of focusing issues with my Oly 45 as well. Many missed focused shots. Sometimes I've used it and the focus is lightning quick but in random moments it never works that way. This is on the GX1 fwiw. Can't complain about IQ it is quite stellar. Build quality is pretty lousy, I already have a few marks in the focus ring, which I can't figure out how they got there. I don't feel like the thing will break down or anything however.

DaveL · #19 July 20th, 2012, 01:47 AM

[QUOTE=dixeyk; The lens is wonderfully compact and light and I cringe whenever I attach it to my camera because the build quality very reminiscent of my old Fiat 128.
QUOTE]

Ha HA . My college room-mate had a Fiat Panda. One cold winter morning he lifted the door handle and the it came off and flew over his head into the neighbors yard. True story.

More seriously here- the 45 does hunt in some situations but it hasn't bothered me that much. What IS really a pain with the 45 and some micro 4/3lenses is that they don't have an infinity stop, so when you try to focus manually wide open it's just a big blurry pain you know where.

Bhupinder2002 · #20 July 20th, 2012, 02:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dixeyk

It has excellent sharpness and terrific bokeh. The images look good (albeit a bit clinical for my tastes). The AF is flakey bordering on terrible because at one moment it's lightning fast and then it can't focus at all on something easy. The FL is nice for portraits but the working distance feels like it's about fifty feet. The lens is wonderfully compact and light and I cringe whenever I attach it to my camera because the build quality very reminiscent of my old Fiat 128.

I know it is much loved and for the level of optical goodness it is quite a bargain but honestly...is this really the best Olympus could do? I look at my P14 and it is lovely to use and despite being barely larger than a lens cap it feels very well made (and wonder of wonders hit focus almost every time). I'm making a point to use it and I like what it can do but the experience leaves much to be desired.

Hahahhha Oh Kevin here you go again

But this time I am with you actually , Oly 45 mm 1.8 is an excellent lens and I don't have any problems with this focal length as we here in Australia have enough space and intact it suits us . I agree with Kevin that this lens has a personality disorder and I would say IT HAS A BORDELINE PERSONALITY lol..It does have FOCUSING ISSUE but occasionally . I move focus and the refocus on what I wanna focus and it just works . Having said that If I have to live with only one lens along with Kit lens , I would happily chose Oly 45 mm 1.8 . This all doesn't stop Oly 45 mm 1.8 from being a magnificent jewel in MFT Crown lol lol hahahhhaah
Cheers