The title says it all:

Oly 45mm f/1.8 or panasonic 25mm f/1.4?

I have the 12-50mm kit lens and the new E-M5. I'm very satisfied with the camera, but I really feel like I should have gone with a different lens. I don't want to get rid of the 12-50mm because the power zoom and weatherproofing have significant value for what I end up doing.

I am should be able to buy a new lens by August.

I want to be able to take clear portraits indoors with nice bokeh. Which draws me to the 45mm. But I'm afraid that if I go for it, I will still be frustrated with using the kit lens for low light, and indoor shooting situations. (night shots in the city, restaurants, etc...)

I like the looks of the 25mm, it's more expensive, but the lens is faster... Low light performance is good... And it's a high quality all around lens. The only thing I am really worried about is having to get up in people faces to take decent portraits. I volunteer for an organization that does a lot of charity events and Banquets and stuff and I want to be able to take portraits of people giving speeches, being served food, interacting with each other, etc.

I'm willing to spend a bit more If the lens will provide more versatility and quality. but I don't want to lose the ability to take portraits from a moderate distance.

I think the ideal setup would be something like the 25mm along with the upcoming 75mm...

I'm drooling over the upcoming 75mm, but I simply won't be able to afford it when it comes out... furthermore, I'm not positive that it will be versatile enough to be my only other lens.... I certainly won't be buying anything else for a whole if I buy it.

is the 45mm a good middle ground? or will I just be limiting myself either way? I have a feeling that the 25mm is better for all around photography, and the 45mm is more ideal for portraits.

Thanks in advance.

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I have the 12-50, 45 and the 25. So far the 25 has been on the camera 80% of the time.

Two portraits with the 25.


20120617-P6170081-Edit by jmmtampa, on Flickr


20120618-P6180237-Edit by jmmtampa, on Flickr

Jim

I wish I could recommend one over the other, but I like them both equally. And both are "must take" lenses when I leave the house. For me the 25mm doesn't usually work for head and shoulder type portraits unless I'm going for the look of working up close that it gives at those distances; on the other hand it's just about always right for half length or 3/4 length portraits.

I'd take a look at the image threads here for both lenses and see how the examples fit your style of shooting.

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Du noir s'en vient
Le clair qu'il a.

Guillevic

Three thoughts come to mind.

First, the speed difference between the two lenses is 2/3rd of a stop. Its not insignificant, but the 45 is about as fast as you are going to get next to the 25, with the 20mm being just a bit closer @ f/1.7.

Second, you do not need to get in people's faces when using the 25. You can do "environmental" portraits. Its a different look than using the 45, but you can still make some amazing images. Its not like somebody replaced your 45 with a 14.

Finally, you can use the 75 for portraits, but, IMHO, that is somewhat of a compressed "look" that used to be quite popular with fashion photographers. It may be good when you are photographer a speaker as you describe above, but I would not find it a useful focal length for other "grip and grin" shots. When I shoot this type of work with my Nikon, I use my 16-85 w/flash and my 70-200 when I need reach and have decent available light.

Personally, I would try and see if you could eventually own both. They are two great lenses, and they compliment each other quite well.

Good luck,

--Ken

Thanks everyone!

I will likely end up with both... But not immediately, so I want to make sure I get the lens that serves the greater portion of my needs first.

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You have the 12-50mm lens, test it at 25mm and 45mm to see which fits better for what you want to do. If you don't plan on buying one of these lenses till August you have a good amount of time to give both focal lengths a try and it won't cost you a dime . I own the Oly 45mm and love it, I have used it for close up portraits to street shots. It is fast to focus on my E-P3 and is very good in lowlight, but from what I have read on these forums, the Panasonic 25mm is also an extremely quality lens.

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Olympus E-P3, Panasonic 20mm 1.7, Olympus 45mm 1.8, and Canon 50mm 1.8 FD

FearlessMirrorless.com

Deciding which to get first is probably a matter of choosing what situation is most important to you - if it's the head & shoulders portrait, get the 45 first. Otherwise, get the 25 first.

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OM-D E-M5 || O12-50 | P45-175 | P100-300 | PL25 | O45
Adapted: Minolta MD 28/2.8 Celtic, MD 35/1.8, MD 50/1.4, MD 85/2.0, MD 200/2.8, Nikon 100/2.8 E
Wish List: GH3, 12/2.0, 17/1.8, 75/1.8, Oly ZD FT SHG 300/2.8
Pentax K-5, K-01 || 18-135 WR | Sigma 30/1.4

Surely you know which focal lengths you use the most? If not, you can keep track of it with Lightroom. In August, buy the lens that most closely matches your most used focal length.

Really up to your focal length requirements. If you can't get too close then the 25 is a write off. The 45 may also be too short for at a distance portraits.

Why don't you take your 12-50 kit and fix it at 25 and 45 to see what length suits you more for the type of shooting you require?

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E-M5 | M. Zuiko 45mm f/1.8 | Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm f/2.8

Flickr

You said "indoor portraits" right ?

Then IMO it's the PL25. In my experience the O45 is just a little too long for indoor portraits in your regular room such as a packed bar or a party at a home with friends and kids all over..too often with the O45 i found myself backing into walls, furniture and other guests in order to get the shot, otherwise, I would've walked out with every shot being a tight head shot....the shorter focal length of the PL25 means I don't have to do that nearly as often, if ever, an i can achieve both tighter head shots AND with a step or 2 back I can get nice torso shots of 2,3 sometimes even 4 people in the frame.

But if by indoor you are referring to larger rooms with much more space, like an office or bars/restaurants with a little more room and perhaps fewer people, then the O45 is a top bet.

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Joe


...my stuff is on flickr