I just got the Panasonic 25mm f1.4 for my OMD, and I'm seeing a LOT of banding above about ISO4000. Unfortunately, a lot of my work happens in low light, so this is a real issue for me, and not one I had with my Canon 60D (I made the switch to m34 due to a disability).

I'm wondering if I might just be better off trading the 25 1.4 in for the Olympus 17 1.8, or if this is going to be an issue no matter what I do.

Would be interested in seeing some of the banding. Don't personally have experience with 25 mm banding, but have had some banding on high ISO images with Panasonic 20mm on omd.

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AKA staticantics on: Flickr. My photos by camera: OM-D E-M5 | 7D | S110 | Galaxy Nexus | E-PL3

That's very peculiar. There've been user reports of banding of the 20mm f1.7 with the OM-D(and other cameras using this sensor), myself being a victim, but with the 25 f1.4 that's very strange. It's never happened to me.

Unless there's some other sort of interference going on, either you camera or your lens is likely defective. For comparison, the 25mm f1.4 is my most used lens, and at least 40% of my shots are at night. During New years I shot 80% of my shots at ISO 6400 and ISO 12800, and experienced no banding whatsoever! Some examples of the 25mm f1.4 at 6400. Note that these shots were all pulled up a half stop or so in LR, so if anything, banding should be more noticeable.







If you're able to, see if you can try that lens on another OM-D in a store or something, or try another copy of that lens on your OM-D.

weird
no issues with mine either
tho my p20 bands out earlier than most peoples... so mebbe im balanced out? lol

Can you post some example shots? I've never heard of (or experienced, for that matter) banding from the 25 on the OMD...

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--Mike Aubrey
OM-D E-M5, Oly 9-18mm, Panny 14mm, 20mm, PL25mm, Oly 45mm, CV58mm f/1.4, Oly 75mm, Canon FDn 85mm f/1.2, Oly 50-200mm SWD
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Thanks for the replies. Here's an example of some of the less severe banding I'm getting out of it: http://www.flickr.com/photos/92197724@N04/8393554591

Yeah, I've never seen anything like that with my 25mm Is this limited to the 25mm? Or is this your only lens? If its the lens, I'd say you should exchange it for another copy. This isn't standard fare for the PL25mm. But be sure to confirm that its the lens and not the camera.

__________________
--Mike Aubrey
OM-D E-M5, Oly 9-18mm, Panny 14mm, 20mm, PL25mm, Oly 45mm, CV58mm f/1.4, Oly 75mm, Canon FDn 85mm f/1.2, Oly 50-200mm SWD
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I took the camera back to the shop where I bought it and explained what was going on. They cheerfully exchanged it for another, and so far I haven't seen any banding shooting outside at night, but time will tell. If it reoccurs, I'll try to get B&H to swap out the lens for me.

That's wonderful. I would expect that you'll be fine now. I've never read of any other case of 25mm banding, but there have been a few EM-5 that popped up when it was first released with the issue. Not many, mind you. It wasn't at all common, but it did happen.

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--Mike Aubrey
OM-D E-M5, Oly 9-18mm, Panny 14mm, 20mm, PL25mm, Oly 45mm, CV58mm f/1.4, Oly 75mm, Canon FDn 85mm f/1.2, Oly 50-200mm SWD
A Photography Enthusiast
500px

Glad to see it seems to be sorted out so far! It was defnitely unusual. Let us know what happens.