Buy the 12-100 f/4 and sell the rest?

[davidzvi]

Is it really crazy to think about selling everything I have and getting an E-M5 mkII or E-M1 mkI + the 12-100 f/4? Well I'd probably keep the 9mm BCL.

If you only really use above 200mm for baseball games and the occasional nature walk / birds at the feeder, etc would the combo be good enough to use the built in TC? I could us the 9mm for the wide perspective stuff and Pano function for the rest.

I know this is counter the small and light m4/3 theme. And yes I could do the same thing with something like the FZ1000 / FZ2500, but I HATE, HATE, HATE power zooms. Also I have a Fuji X70, so I do have a small f/2.8 option. And I've been playing with it's TC and it's not bad. Which is one of the reason's the thought crossed my mind

The attached photo is from the X70 1/30, f/2.8, ISO 3200, Native 28mm TC to 35mm:

 

[MNm43]

Everything? I'd hold on to at least one of those kidneys!
Seriously, what do you have? Do you print or just post?
I have never found the DTC any better than cropping in post.

 

[ijm5012]

It would help if you listed what you currently have, so we know what gear would be supplanted by the 12-100.

 

[Jonathan F/2]

I was going to go that route, but I love the 8mm 1.8 Pro too much and I was able to buy a 12-40mm and 40-150mm 2.8 lenses for just a little more over the 12-100mm. If not, I would of gone with the 8mm + 12-100mm f/4 route. What's the point of an ILC if you don't have options!

 

[nstelemark]

Yes I think you could have the 12-100f4 and some sort of a fish-eye and nothing else. It is that good.

The only thing you give up is the ability to generate thinner DOF. From an IQ perspective you don't give up anything.

 

[nstelemark]

I love the 8mm 1.8 Pro too much

This is a lens I would not give up either. U/W or on land it is special.

 

[Jonathan F/2]

This is a lens I would not give up either. U/W or on land it is special.

I've tried both wide angle APS-C and FF options, but nothing really has the fast aperture or micro contrast of the 8mm Pro. It's that good!

 

[RichDesmond]

I'd have to keep a couple of small, fast primes also. In my case the P20 and the O45.

 

[Turbofrog]

I have strongly considered buying the 12-100/f4 to replace my 11-22/f2.8 and my 14-140 (v1). The trouble is, I might be able to get $550 CDN from those lenses, tops, and the 12-100/f4 is $1700 (!) CDN after taxes. So it's really a pretty obscene price at this point, just totally out of the realm of feasible for the marginal benefits it would provide me.

When I do my next body upgrade, I will, however, definitely consider trading my old 14-140 for the Olympus 14-150 v2, since it's available used for around $450 CDN near me, and it would give me weather sealing and a lighter package all in one.

I've even considered the PL12-60, since it is the kit lens on the GH5 I expect we will see its price dip down well below the $999 MSRP before too long. But 60mm is just simply too short for me. Even 100mm would be a bothersome downgrade for an all-in-one lens.

 

[Deleted member 20897]

Only you would know what makes you happy and what will work for you.

I've not had a chance to use the 12-100/4 yet, but from what all say, it could very well be THE best wide to long tele zoom, like....EVER.

I'd think given the size an OMD with some kind of grip would probably be just about perfect for it.
My recommendation is to rent the kit you think you might want for a week and see if it limits you in any way that you cannot live with. That would be a great test, no speculation from others...just cold hard facts/use.

 

[davidzvi]

GX85
P12-32
P14-140
P7-14
P42.5 f/1.7
O17 f/1.8
O25 f/1.8

I'd need to sell pretty much everything to raise the $1800 - $2000 since the lens is pretty much only available new. But I'd go used on the E-M5 mkII or E-M1 mkI.

 

[skellington]

Given the size, the fact it is only f4, and it doesn't cover 7-11mm (or 101-140) that your current set does....

Unless you NEVER use your primes, and/or are mostly happy with the P14-140 (V1 or V2?), and just wish it was a little higher sharper (or wider), I don't see it being even vaguely comparable.

And if you wait 8 or 12 months, you can probably get the 12-100 on the Olympus refurb website for 30-40% off new retail.

 

[Luke]

After looking at some shots from that 12-100, I have been thinking the same thing. I would consider keeping on fast prime for the narrow DOF exploitive shots, but I think everythin gelse could be covered by that big beastie.

 

[ijm5012]

GX85
P12-32
P14-140
P7-14
P42.5 f/1.7
O17 f/1.8
O25 f/1.8

I'd need to sell pretty much everything to raise the $1800 - $2000 since the lens is pretty much only available new. But I'd go used on the E-M5 mkII or E-M1 mkI.

If you'd have to sell everything, then I wouldn't do it.

Keeping either the O17 or O25 would be invaluable for the times where f/4 just isn't enough (i.e. shooting at ISO 1600 on the primes, where the f/4 zoom would be at 6400). The 7-14 is also a great lens, and you don't get anywhere close to the type of shots you get from that lens with the 12-100 (assuming you use the 7-14 frequently enough to warrant keeping it).

As for the rest of it (12-32, 14-140, 42.5, and O17/O25), I think you could manage. I'd say keep the UWA if you use it enough, but if not then sell it. However, I definitely wouldn't sell both the O17 & O25, I would keep which ever one you are most comfortable using because f/4 on m43 just isn't good enough for every application.

 

[davidzvi]

Everything? I'd hold on to at least one of those kidneys!
Seriously, what do you have? Do you print or just post?
I have never found the DTC any better than cropping in post.

I haven't printed anything, other than from my event work, in years. I enjoy looking at my images, but I don't really feel the need to print. As for cropping vs TC, if I call from when I had the E-M5 mkII, when you shot RAW + JPeg with Olympus you get a RAW file with the crop allied (as in you can change it in post) and a cropped JPeg? Am I correct about that?

I'd have to keep a couple of small, fast primes also. In my case the P20 and the O45.

That's why I mentioned that I have the Fuji. Even if I don't go this why I'm probably going to sell off my 17 & 25. But if I don't I probably will pick up a 20.

Only you would know what makes you happy and what will work for you.

I've not had a chance to use the 12-100/4 yet, but from what all say, it could very well be THE best wide to long tele zoom, like....EVER.

I'd think given the size an OMD with some kind of grip would probably be just about perfect for it.
My recommendation is to rent the kit you think you might want for a week and see if it limits you in any way that you cannot live with. That would be a great test, no speculation from others...just cold hard facts/use.

I had a chance to play with one last week. I would need a grip for the E-M5, I wish Olympus would have come out with a "good" grip for the E-M5 like the one they have for the E-M10. I know they had one, but it get some bad reviews and seems to be discontinued.

 

[davidzvi]

Given the size, the fact it is only f4, and it doesn't cover 7-11mm (or 101-140) that your current set does....

Unless you NEVER use your primes, and/or are mostly happy with the P14-140 (V1 or V2?), and just wish it was a little higher sharper (or wider), I don't see it being even vaguely comparable.

And if you wait 8 or 12 months, you can probably get the 12-100 on the Olympus refurb website for 30-40% off new retail.

vII on the 14-140. But that's were the TC would be needed for the extra reach. Part of this is that I'm already looking to get something longer than 140mm (280mm AOV). The 12-100 _ TC would be 400mm AOV. Sure I could use the TC on what I have already. But from all reports the 12-100 is a LOT sharper than anything I have, so I'm wondering how much of a difference that would make.

 

[skellington]

The MC14 only works with the Olympus 40-150 F2.8 and the Olympus 300mm. There is no 2x TC for m43 (only 4/3.)

Unless you're talking digital zoom?

 

[davidzvi]

The MC14 only works with the Olympus 40-150 F2.8 and the Olympus 300mm. There is no 2x TC for m43 (only 4/3.)

Unless you're talking digital zoom?

Digital TC - And the Olympus option for RAW + JPeg I mentioned in post 15.

 

[Wisertime]

I'd keep the 17 and get the 12-100. If you're shooting events, you can use a flash anyway. I wouldn't trade the 17 for the 20 personally. Both are good, but just a preference, esp if you want it for low light. Sell the rest. Maybe get a 45mm if you have extra $200.

 

[dornblaser]

I would much rather have what you have now than the 12-100.