If the street price was the same $799 as the 12mm ($699 would be better) I would have already pre-ordered it. I love the 12mm and it's one of my favorite m4/3 lenses, but $899 is just a little too expensive considering that the 45mm 1.8 is sometimes too long for my portrait needs and the 75mm would likely see even less use.

I'm reasonably certain the 75mm will be an AMAZING lens but I can't justify spending that much on a lens I will rarely use.

On the other hand, I recently spent $400 total on two lenses I will use FREQUENTLY for another camera and I probably would have spent $800-$1,200 on those two lenses simply because I know I will use those focal lengths all the time.

As a former professional photog ... it's from professional experience that metal lenses last longer than plastic. If it is applicable in a professional environment then one can assume that it is also applicable in a non-professional environment. Without non-professional historical data we just don't know how significant a metal lens' lifespan will be when compared to the lifespan of a plastic lens. As to weather sealing and hoods, yeah, more cluck for the buck.

G

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"Everywhere you look there are photographs, it is up to us photogs to see them."- Gary Ayala
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Critiquing my images are welcomed and appreciated.

I think what I was trying to get at is that in Professional use a lens may get 10x or more use and under possibly more adverse conditions. So if you take that data on "professional use plastic lenses" and multiply their lifespan by 10 (even 5) I think you will still have a long life with plastic. That is not even taking into account how much better plastics are compared to even 10 years ago.

At least weather sealing has a tangible benefit to picture taking, you will be able to use the lens regardless of the conditions (within reason), but the metal build gets you nothing. I would be more tempted at the same price point if it was plastic but fully weather sealed ( and came with a hood!!!).

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I don't think the weight difference will be noticeable since it will not have a focusing helicoid, but I think a metal lens is more rigid.

CDAF isn't just a software thing.

Lenses have to be specifically designed to be fast in CDAF in terms of the elements themselves.

I prefer my lenses be metal even though in many ways it becomes more fragile that way. I can't imagine paying $6000 for a plastic Leica can you?

I'd probably buy one, but only if they made it in black!!

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E-M5; 7-14mm; 12-50mm; 20mm F1.7; 45mm F1.8 & various bits n' bobs....

I will be getting this M. Zuiko 75mm lens - BUT it aggravates me that with Leica/Panasonic premium lenses, I get a hood & carrying case whereas with Olympus premium lenses - I get absolutely nothing!

^^^^ My thoughts as well.

This is a limited use lens for sure, as is the 45/1.8, for me. But when I want to create portraits with the m4/3 format, I would find this lens quite preferable to the 45/1.8 I now have. I can easily see letting the 45/1.8 go in favor of having the 75/1.8. I'd pay $900 for this lens.

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Don

We are talking sub $1000 lenses not Leica's which would bring up a whole other debate on cost:performance. People expect real wood trim and hand stitched leather if they are buying a Bentley doesn't mean I would want to pay for it in my family car.

In terms of designing for CDAF, what would inherently cost more? It may need a stronger focus motor but that is all I can think of.

Listen there will be a segment that will buy this lens, no doubt, I just think that if Olympus catered a little more to their main market it will sell many times more. The 45mm is one of the most popular lenses due to its price vs performance ratio, something I think the 75mm misses out on. More than double the price gets you 30mm and a IQ difference that will likely be small when comparing print sizes.

Hey I'm still on the fence, I may end up with the 75mm but only because there is no other options natively. It just kills me to pay for (IMHO) useless features like metal body, and no Hood/Case.

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Sounds like its going to be a great lens and for some it's going to be a must have. As much as I would like to have every lens out there to absolutely cover every conceivable shooting situation and need, I also need to be more practical and consider what my requirements are. For me, I think I'd rather spend the extra $400 and have the versatility of covering the 75mm focal length with the upcoming 35-100mm f2.8 weather sealed Pany. A significantly more flexible and versatile option for me and what I'll be shooting....something for which I will more likely gladly pay the extra $400 or $500 dollars for if I do in fact decide to go down that road. As great as the 75/1.8 may be....for myself it'll simply be an expensive luxury lens that would get too little use for me to justify the cost.

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Joe


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