What's in your prime lens kit ???

Macroramphosis

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If someone passed a law that you could only own one MFT lens, it'd be the 15/1.7 .
I'm glad you said that, I have a 15mm in the offing if all goes well. It will join my P30, P42.5, and S60 in my prime line-up...

However, I'm thinking of selling the 42.5 and the 60 and buying a S56 to make a 3-prime kit.

But then again, I might not. I like all my mu4/3 gear. "It's complicated," as the saying goes :D
 

stevedo

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Olympus 75mm f1.8 and ..........
Just checked my bag again, I only have the 75mm.
 

Ghostbuggy

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As you can see in my signature, I own most of Olympus' primes:
12mm f2.0
17mm f1.2 Pro
17mm f1.8
25mm f1.8
45mm f1.8
60mm f2.8 Macro
75mm f.18

My personaly "holy trinity" would be the 17mm (either the small f1.8 or the Pro), 75mm and the 45mm. If I'd have to go with just two primes, it'd most likely be one of the 17mm and the 75mm. I like the latter so much, I'd almost rate it as my most favourite lens. While I never use it for any of the typical purposes like portrait and events, I like the compressed perspective for my style of photography.
The 12mm only gets some limited use, every once in a while I'd have in my bag and indeed use it, but not as much as I'd thought. The 25mm is the lost one: I can't remember the last time I actually took it with me, for whatever reason the 50mm equiv. FL just doesn't work for me as a prime lens, when I do use it, I usually wish for something a bit wider or something longer. However oddly enough when I take my 12-40 Pro out, I rather often find myself shooting the zoom around the 25mm mark.:hmmm:

As for the two 17's: I love both of them, in fact I like the Pro much more than I actually imagined, since it is technically much more superior than I than I thought. However it is bulky and a rather on the heavy side. The smaller f1.8 is compact and light, fits in my smallest camera bag and is more enjoyable to use with the Pen-F, also it is way less suspicious. If I would ever have to give up one of them, it would be the Pro, not due to resale value, but I bought into Micro Four Thirds for a compact, light, good quality kit - the f1.8 stays true to that spirit and the convenience outweighs the superiority of the bigger sibling.
 

algold

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My primes are in my sig, but just in case you guys and gals use a mobile version (all Oly, apart from the Sigma 56/1.4) :
17, 25, 45 F/1.8
17, 25, 45 F/1.2
S56/1.4
60/2.8 macro
75/1.8
 
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roboroto

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I'm still trying to figure out what's best to keep things simple enough, pocketable, and fun.

Primes:
Laowa 10mm f/2
Panasonic 20mm f/1.7
Panasonic 42.5mm f/1.7

No interest in the bigger primes for me. But it'd definitely help my GAS if you don't mention the 15mm in my presence. :thumbsup:
 

The Grumpy Snapper

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My kit has changed since this thread was started. My current m4/3 kit of three manual focus primes is:

Samyang 12mm f/2
Kamlan 28mm f/1.4
7artisans 55mm f/1.4

In a small Domke F-10. I can swap the m4/3 body for a Sony APS-C body and adapt the lenses if I want a smaller, lighter APS-C kit than I normally carry.
 

saladin

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However, I'm thinking of selling the 42.5 and the 60 and buying a S56 to make a 3-prime kit.


A very strong case could be mounted for anyone starting from scratch to simply buy the three Sigma f/1.4's as their entire prime kit. They strike a very good balance of size, weather sealing (at least, the 16 and 56 are) , aperture , price and outright IQ. Especially for someone eyeing the Em1 / GH bodies, where you're not prioritizing absolute compactness.
 
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A very strong case could be mounted for anyone starting from scratch to simply buy the three Sigma f/1.4's as their entire prime kit. They strike a very good balance of size, weather sealing (at least, the 16 and 56 are) , aperture , price and outright IQ. Especially for someone eyeing the Em1 / GH bodies, where you're not prioritizing absolute compactness.
Agreed! I used the 30mm f1.4 for a while, it was very satisfying.

Come to think of it, the three Sigmas are virtually the same focal length as the first three small DA Limited primes Pentax put out for APS-C: 21mm f3.2, 40mm f2.8 and 70mm f2.4, effectively 32mm, 60mm and 105mm. Of course, those had to have smaller apertures to stay small - but, to be fair, they're a fair sight smaller than the Siggies for M4/3!
 

dwkdnvr

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A very strong case could be mounted for anyone starting from scratch to simply buy the three Sigma f/1.4's as their entire prime kit. They strike a very good balance of size, weather sealing (at least, the 16 and 56 are) , aperture , price and outright IQ. Especially for someone eyeing the Em1 / GH bodies, where you're not prioritizing absolute compactness.
My 'main' primes are the PL15, S30/1.4 and S56/1.4. While I agree that just going with the 'Sigma Trio' is a viable idea, IMHO swapping in the PL15 for the S16 is a complete no-brainer - small, light and wonderful rendering. Very much in keeping with the M43 ethos. For the other 2 though, I agree - unless you need the weather sealing of the Pro lenses, they're fantastic choices.
The PL15 + a small body (GX85 in my case) seems to be a reasonable M43 answer to the GRIII or X100 type of fixed-lens carry everywhere camera.
 

jimr.pdx

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Still a work in progress -
Today = BCL 9mm, Lumix 20/1.7, TTArtisans 35/1.4, Takumar 55/1.8, Opteka 85/1.8, Pentax-m 135/3.5
end of week = 9/20/35/ Zonlai 50/1.4, 85/135
June = BCL, TTartisans 17+35, Z50, ?100?, 135
later = fast 10-12mm, 17/35/50/??/135
 
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Main:
Laowa 7.5mm f/2
Panny 15mm f/1.7
Sigma 30mm f/1.4
Sigma 56mm f/1.4

Do I wish the last was 60mm? Yes, sometimes there is a slight hesitation about whether I should choose it or the 30mm.
Do I wish the first as an autofocus f/1.8? Yes.

Small and Entertaining:

Laowa 4mm 210 degree circular fisheye
Oly 9mm bodycap
Oly 17mm f/2.8 (maybe not entertaining?)
7Artisans 35mm f/1.2
Adapted Schneider Robot 75mm f/3.8
Adapted Spectra Duo-Focus 140mm f/4.5
Tokina 300mm mirror lens

Basically I like my primes to be separated by multiples of 2x. Less and I get confused about which to use. More and I feel I am missing coverage between.
 

Aviator

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I made some changes to my prime lenses since my last post on this topic.

Now my Micro 4/3 prime lens collection is as follows:

-Olympus 12/2
-Olympus 17/1.8
-Panasonic Leica 25/1.4 (Version I)
-Olympus 45/1.8
-Olympus 75/1.8

I don't think I need anything else.
 
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