Newbie to m43 with a lens wishlist needs advice.

The em5 started my interest in m43. I wanted light weight and primes, something I last had in '93 when my Nikon FM2 SLR gear was stolen. Played with an em10 for the first time last week and decided to buy - as soon as I had a personal road map for lenses. EM10 kits in my country of residence are body only, 14-42 EZ, and a twin lens of EZ and 14-140 F4-5.6. I'll also buy at least 1 prime. Getting it right the first time counts because here m43 rentals don't exist, ebay is export only, and the local expat forum classifieds averages about 2 camera listings a year.

Photo subject matter is a little bit of everything, except portraits, macro and sports. I'm retired and travel about 10-12 weeks a year. Details often interest me more than the whole. I've done a little street photography, but that will increase with fast short lenses and quick auto focus. So will shooting kids and dogs, both of which are frequently encountered. Few landscapes unless mother nature has turned up the saturation or drama. These two albums are typical of my work I like best: https://www.flickr.com/photos/98341917@N08/sets/72157634470548031/ , https://www.flickr.com/photos/98341917@N08/sets/72157634492744911/

3 1/2 years ago I ditched the all auto P&S and started fiddling again with exposure and manual focus. Recent cameras were a premium compact, entry level APS DSLR and mirrorless APS, all with zooms. Extracting and plotting the focal lengths used matched my memory. (Focal lengths are 35mm eq). About 20% of shots were at the short end (28mm), another 20% at the long end (88 or 108),there is a a peak around 35mm, with smaller peaks around 45 and 55. For many of the 28mm shots I remember wanting a wider lens, and wanting a longer lens for most of the 88/108 ones.

My first wish list was Oly 12-40, Oly 17 f1.8 and Oly 45. Then I tried the Oly 12-40 with the em10, found it too heavy and unbalanced. I also got to play with a friends Oly 40-150. After much thought, my second wish list is the twin lens box, replacing the EZ with the Pan 14-45 f3.5-5.6 and adding the Oly 12 f2. Experiences at the short end of zooms tell me I'd be happy with the Oly 12, though I've never shot anything shorter than a 28mm 35 eq.

Once I have the Oly 12 and Pan 14-45, I'll be able to see how the same subject looks at 12, 14, 17 and 20, then add prime(s) accordingly, or as the budget allows.

I've ruled out some lenses for now. The Pan 35-100 f2.8 costs too much. The Oly 75 is out because a fixed length tele needs a specific subject type, one I don't have. No interest in anything shorter than 12 until I see if I like 12.

Opinions, advice and slaps up side the head are welcomed.

 

Agree it's a luxury and I don't expect to use it often. But when it, or any other focal length, is needed, it will be nice to have. I'm frugal by upbringing and habit. If there was another 12mm available here, it would take non trivial persuasion for me to buy the more expensive lens.

 

D'oh! I've skimmed right past that while researching, thinking the result of a clip on lens would be poor at best. A few minutes searching produced this thread ( http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3219090#forum-post-41760302 ) with some 100% crop comparisons. I got some reading to do. THANK YOU!

 

Y'all aren't going to believe the prices. I compared Thai prices to US (Adorama). Oly lens average 20% more. Only 2 of the nationwide retailers carry Pan lenses, which may explain* why they cost 60% more. So, a P14 + GWC1 that costs $442 at Adorama costs ~$687 here. Makes the O12 at ~$937 seem like the better value.

* If Oly has a factory in Thailand and Pan doesn't, that would also explain the price difference. Firms that build stuff here get a BIG break on duty.

 

Thanks, but I said in the OP:

 

Can not because used camera stores trade in older Canon / Nikon FF and APS mount lenses, will not because the only warranty or guarantee that a foreigner here can count on is the manufacturer's one for new gear and all such shops require an overnight trip to inspect stock because they're not on the net, and if they're like most other small Thai retailers, they don't answer emails and don't speak English on the phone.

 

LOL. So the 75 is a gateway drug to Leica?

Hua Hin, Thailand

 

I'm back ....

Wishlist v3.0 is P14, either the P20 or O25, and the O40-150. I'll adjust as needed after shooting with this for a few months. I'll be in Japan in Oct. New and used m43 gear should be abundant.

Why the change? As much as I wanted the O12, I have better uses for the money. The light, fast primes are a big part of m43's appeal, so the P14-45 wouldn't get any use unless I really needed it. In that case, my EOS M and kit zoom would substitute until I buy the P14-45.

Only decision left is P20 v O25. Both are good lenses, so focal length may be the tie breaker. My first serious camera, serious as in full manual, learning B&W darkroom and studying elements of composition, was a Rolei 35 with a 40mm Zeiss lens. Getting another 40mm equivalent would be like going home.