I am using a mix of both, all primes.

It is interesting to me that there is still not a lot of direct overlap in the lens ecosystem.

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Kyle / E-M5 and E-PM2
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I look at it this way: If I could choose only lenses from Olympus or from Panasonic which would I go with? Olympus without any hesitation.

No idea if that makes them a better lens maker, but they would be my clear choice.

No.

Both have proved (through 43 and m43) that they are quite capable of making outstanding lenses when they put their mind to it. Both have also shown that they can make some pretty average ones....

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GH2 + Lumix 7-14/f4 + m.ZD 12/f2 + Nokton 25/f0.95 + m.ZD 45/f1.8 + SMC-M 50/f1.4 + m.ZD 75/f1.8
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A partnership with Leica along with learning from Olympus certainly doesn't hurt them.

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Olympus E-PL5
M. Zuiko 17mm ƒ1.8 | M. Zuiko 17mm ƒ2.8 | M. Zuiko 14-42 II | M. Zuiko 14-150 ED | M. Zuiko 45mm ƒ1.8 ED | M. Zuiko 75mm ƒ1.8 ED | M. Zuiko 75-300 ED II | Leica DG Summilux 25mm ƒ1.4 ASPH | Lumix G Vario 45-200 |

I don't see that as being the case really... both companies have some fantastic lenses. When it comes to primes I own 2 from each manufacturer. All my zooms (except the 14-42mm m.Zuiko) are Panasonic mainly because shooting a G3 and GX1, the OIS is worthwhile. Otherwise I would have been more than happy to look at some of the Olympus zooms in similar focal ranges.

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500px | flickr

“The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera.” -- Dorothea Lange

I agree with most others here - neither company has shown itself to be a superior lensmaker to the other.

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Amin
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Same here. You've got some great lenses coming from both camps, with folks loving the Panny 20, 25, and 7-14 as much as the Oly 12, 45 and soon the 75 mm lenses. It's great to have competition ; )

Here's my short comparison on these lens makers:

Sharpness, Color and Contrast
I am generally finding the Oly lenses sharper than Panny. But, I find them a bit less contrasty, and therefore a little more washed out.

I think of it this way -- Oly lenses seem more clinical to me. More technically sharp wide open, but I find the Panny lenses have more character. Better contrast and color generally, a little less sharp overall, but just richer feeling (sorry, not very scientific).

Size and Weight
The Oly lenses are generally more compact and lightweight, which has it's benefits.

Filter Sizes
The Panny lenses have had some great easily matched filter sizes (46mm for 14, PL25 and PL45 and I think also the 45-200??), which I appreciate. I guess maybe Oly has that too with the 17, 14-42 and 45, but the first two lenses, to me, which are just "meh" so I don't really care about them sharing with the 45 (is the 12mm lens also 37mm filter?). The 9-18 is 52mm which I think is shared with the 40-150 and 14-150?? But not the primes like the 45.

Build Quality
Lastly, I find the built quality of the Panny lenses "better" in that the Olys feel lighter and more plasticky, BUT -- 1) the Oly construction choices makes the lenses lighter and smaller, which as mentioned above, has it's benefits, and 2) while the Panasonic build quality might feel better, they are all still plastic, so it's only a relative comparison, and they are nowhere near the build feel of my previous Canon lenses, and certainly not my legacy glass.

Oddly enough, I prefer the Oly bodies, which I find have more consistent metering and better colors, at least OOC. IBIS is also of course very nice. My goal is to have sharpness, yes, but maximize OOC contrast color and "character" (an elusive term, of course), and I find Oly bodies + Panny lenses does that best.

So, I'm mostly Panny lenses and Oly bodies.

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EM5; 9-18, PL25, 100-300 and some others.
(also, 6D + RX100)

I think optically Panasonic and Olympus lesnes seem very similar quality in terms of making some nice lenses. I'm not so impressed with the build quality of Olympus' affordable lenses. None of the ones I've had has felt like they were as well put together as my various Panasonic lenses. My 45/1.8 reminds me a lot fo my of Canon 50/1.8 II. It was wonderfully sharp but felt a bit like a toy in hand. The 45 strikes me much the same way...of course that Canon 50 was all of $85 new.

I am sure lenses like the Olympus 12/2 are terrific build wise but then again at at $700 I would expect that they would be.

I don't really agree. I'd say neither is really doing an outstanding job. Both have a few great lenses, a few good lenses, and a lot of okay lenses.

By comparison Olympus's 4/3 lineup consisted of great and good lenses, with only 2 or 3 exceptions. But that's not true of m4/3, or of any other mainstream manufacturer at this point.

DH

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E-M5 | E-PM2 | mZD 12-50 | ZD 12-60 | P 14-42 X | mZD 40-150 R | PL 25 | mZD 45