I just mistakenly ordered and received the E-PL1 without the kit lens -- no wonder why it was less expensive. I'm interested in people who just use the Oly 17mm, Panasonic 20mm, and other lenses and do not use the 14-42mm.

Is it OK that I have an EP1 (not EPL1) and don't use the kit??

I've replaced the kit with the 14-150 -- much more versatile lens for outdoors travel. I use the 20/1.7 indoors, and I have a 50mm 2.0 OM macro for macro and manual focus portrait. My last lens is a 30mm 1.7 CCTV lens (also MF), which gives some very trippy results, so it's a "fun" lens.

I'd sell you my kit lens, except I'm saving it. When the EP3 comes out (if it ever comes out), I plan on giving my EP1 + Kit to my daughter.

Do you have a sense for how you shoot? If you do, then get the lens range that matters to you. If you don't then you might want to start with the kit, as it's pretty affordable.

__________________
EPM1 (gone but not forgotten: EP1)
Lenses: P14/PL25/PL45, 40-150; FD50, OM100, Fujian 35/1.7

No rules, E-P1 is okay, too!

In the digital age, I have been mostly a digicam person, and have tracked lens usage during the last several years. 40mm seems to make up a healthy proportion of shots, so either the 20/1.7 or 17/2.8 might work really well. I seem to like the 90-110 range for which I have the 40-150. I also have a 50/1.4 Zuiko lenses from an OM-1 and the adapter for it.

Sounds to me like you are good to go!

The ONE thing you might consider the kit for -- it's a cheap wide angle lens. That's what I kept it for until I got the 14-150.

__________________
EPM1 (gone but not forgotten: EP1)
Lenses: P14/PL25/PL45, 40-150; FD50, OM100, Fujian 35/1.7

This makes me think that maybe I should forego the 14-42 and not worry about the return (and additional $80), return the 40-150 instead and then purchase the 14-150. For the time being, I would have the 14-150 and the Zuiko 50/1.4 and then consider the 20/1.7 in the future or when a good used copy becomes available.

I mainly use the 20/1.7 on the E-PL1, but that is because it's newest, and I like the focal length and shallow DOF:



BUT... I really like the 14-42 kit zoom (much more than I thought I would), and wouldn't want to give it up:





In your shoes, I might be tempted to get the 14-150mm and be done with it. I think you will miss the wider end eventually (but everyone is different, so who knows for sure).

__________________
• Wedding Photographer - Sydney and Wollongong
• Borrowed Moment (blog)

Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first.

Like Rudi, I didn't plan to like the kit lens as much as I did and if i didn't already have several excellent adapted legacy lenses then I would not be upset about using it fulltime.

I found someone who had a kit lens they were not using, and so I bought it. I should have it early next week and so will serve my wider angle needs until I decide if I wish to get the 14-150.

Thanks for feedback from people, it's good to hear that the 14-150 is something people really like.....and that people like the 14-42, too.

People are quite enamored with the 20/1.7 and for good reason but I think the 17/2.8 is sometimes pushed aside because of that. It is a very good lens indeed, and the smallest setup I know for the E-pl1.

Problem solved.

__________________
• Wedding Photographer - Sydney and Wollongong
• Borrowed Moment (blog)

Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first.