Which lenses are you missing?

[dirk]

And in M43 this would be a F2-F3.5... I would say don't look at the numbers or look well at the numbers .

In MFT that would be more an F4.0 or even a F4.5 at the longest end (200mm).

But nevertheless, this is a very good point. The MFT Olympus Zoom 12-200/4.0 was raved in the forums and it has a fixed aperture of F4.0 only in the whole zoom range. Nobody complained about the slow aperture back then (in fullframe around F6.3), although the price tag of 1.300€ was very steep

 

[Jonathan-Mac]

I know that modern high ISO performance and AF performance are far better than they used to be, and call me old-fashioned, but unless it's a really extreme focal length then there's no way I'd accept a zoom that ends in anything smaller than f/5.6. Many old film-era zooms weren't even f/3.5-5.6, they were f/3.5-4.5.

 

[dirk]

I know that modern high ISO performance and AF performance are far better than they used to be, and call me old-fashioned, but unless it's a really extreme focal length then there's no way I'd accept a zoom that ends in anything smaller than f/5.6. Many old film-era zooms weren't even f/3.5-5.6, they were f/3.5-4.5.

Then you have to pay a lot of money for this luxury.

In the analog times they made the lenses with such big apertures, because most photographers used film with ISO 100 only. These zooms have been very small nevertheless, because the film had not the resolution requirements than today's modern sensors with 24MP, 60MP etc.

Today the image quality even of the cheapest lenses has to be that good, that they are all very big for fullframe.

Look at all the new Fuji lenses for the 40MP sensor of the XT5/XH2. They are for an APS-C sensor size huge.

No matter what you go for, it will always be a compromise.

 

[Quentinquirelino]

One on the thing's may have gone under a little bit, at the new S9 rumors, there was also the talk about a new lens. I know there are only zooms on the roadmap. A supertelezoom and a fast zoom, what both doesn't sound small. But maybe Panasonic will release something what's not on the roadmap. Maybe a small pancake. Maybe a 28mm or something like that.

 

[dirk]

Maybe a 28mm or something like that

Don't pour oil in my fire....

 

[PJD]

A lens I might like to own some day is the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 DG DN OS Sports Lens. But it's currently not in my budget.

 

[dirk]

A lens I might like to own some day is the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 DG DN OS Sports Lens. But it's currently not in my budget.

ok, but which lens are you missing, which does not exist yet in the lens line up for L-Mount?

 

[Jonathan-Mac]

I don't think I've mentioned here that I'd also like to see a 50mm macro lens, which would probably be f/2.8, even if it only went to 1:2 magnification. I often use my 35/2.8 macro Limited on my APS-C K-3 and it's a great standard lens and so nice not to ever worry about the minimum focus distance. But this type of lens seems to have fallen out of favour - it used to be that all manufacturers had one but not any more. In most cases for macro you get ~100mm and that's it, no other choices.

 

[dirk]

In most cases for macro you get ~100mm and that's it, no other choices.

Traditionally Sigma had always 3 different Makro lenses: 70mm, 105mm and 150mm. There is the 105mm available now in DG DN version. The 70mm is available for L-Mount, but not a ne DG DN design (=bigger & heavier than needed). I am sure that Sigma will offer sooner or later also the 70mm in DG DN design. That would be at least closer to 50mm than the 105 Makro.

 

[PJD]

ok, but which lens are you missing, which does not exist yet in the lens line up for L-Mount?

Ah, apologies, I misunderstood the question.

Severeal years ago I owned the Canon EF-S 24mm f2.8 STM pancake lens. It was quite sharp for its price ($149 US), and its small size was perfect for travel or anytime packing light was a priority.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1081812-REG/canon_9522b002_ef_s_24mm_f_2_8_is.html

Here's a video I shot in 2015 with it mounted on a Blackmagic Design Production Camera 4K (APS-C size sensor):


... and related info:

Blackmagic Forum • View topic - BMPC vs Ursa Mini

forum.blackmagicdesign.com

So, an "affordable", very small, digital AF pancake 35mm f2.8 lens would be most welcome.

 

[dirk]

Maybe the Sigma 24/3.5 DG DN could of interest for you. You could crop. It is very small and light.

See our L-Mount lens overview in the navigation bar at the top for the specifications.

 

[Quentinquirelino]

Has anyone a compact 18-40 on the list? Looks like Panasonic will announce something like that next week:

EXCLUSIVE: Lumix S9 has IBIS and will be announced along a new 18-40mm zoom lens! - L mount system camera rumors and news

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0M6Kmyqtmvw On May 22 at 3pm London time Panasonic will announce the S9 and the new 18-40mm compact zoom lens! Here are the info I know so far about the camera: Panasonic Lumix S9 specs: compact Full Frame L-mount camera a bit more compact than Fuji X100VI no...

www.l-rumors.com

 

[PJD]

Maybe the Sigma 24/3.5 DG DN could of interest for you. You could crop. It is very small and light.

See our L-Mount lens overview in the navigation bar at the top for the specifications.

Thanks for the suggestions.

The Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens is a possibility. B&H has it on sale right now for $264 (US).

The Sigma 24mm f/3.5 DG DN Contemporary Lens is much more expensive. It's currently $514 at B&H.

I'm not buying soon. But I'll keep an eye on these two.

 

[Travis Butler]

I don't think I've mentioned here that I'd also like to see a 50mm macro lens, which would probably be f/2.8, even if it only went to 1:2 magnification. I often use my 35/2.8 macro Limited on my APS-C K-3 and it's a great standard lens and so nice not to ever worry about the minimum focus distance. But this type of lens seems to have fallen out of favour - it used to be that all manufacturers had one but not any more. In most cases for macro you get ~100mm and that's it, no other choices.

I think it's probably down to working distance.

I've got several of the old film-era 50mm macros - my favorite is the OM Zuiko 50/2:


20220828-SDIM1828 by Travis Butler, on Flickr


20220526-SDIM0874 by Travis Butler, on Flickr

But pics like that require getting right up against the subject, which can be uncomfortable (or painful if you spent your high school years wearing out your legs!). So a 90-100mm macro lets you get similar magnification without having to bend or squat as much. ^^;;

 

[Jonathan-Mac]

The point of the 50/2.8 macro is to combine a macro and a standard prime. Obviously you sacrifice speed and possibly size but it's incredibly useful to be able to do macro with your standard prime.

70mm is too long to be a standard prime and is more intended for APS-C where it has the same field of view as a 105mm on FF.

 

[dirk]

Yes, I understand. Sigma had also in the past a 50/2.8 EX DG Macro for all kind of different mounts. It had an excellent image quality, but AF was slow and loud. Maybe they will introduce it again?

 

[Travis Butler]

The point of the 50/2.8 macro is to combine a macro and a standard prime. Obviously you sacrifice speed and possibly size but it's incredibly useful to be able to do macro with your standard prime.

70mm is too long to be a standard prime and is more intended for APS-C where it has the same field of view as a 105mm on FF.

I guess I don't think of it that way because I have several standard primes with pretty close MFD - not 1:1 level, but good enough for most uses I have. The Minolta MD 50/1.4's MFD is 36 cm (from the front of the lens); the OM Zuiko 50/1.4 is similar. As are the Super-Takumar 50/1.4, Pentax-M 50/1.4, and Hexanon 50/1.4.

On the flip side, with the exception of the OM 50/3.5 and Pentax-M 50/4, the 50mm macros I have are considerably larger, heavier, and slower than the 50mm primes I list above:

• Apple - iPhone 13 mini
• iPhone 13 mini back dual wide camera 5.1mm f/1.6
• 5.1 mm
• ƒ/1.6
• 1/122 sec
• Pattern
• Auto exposure
• ISO 40

So I can understand not wanting to make that trade-off as your daily driver. And the OM 50/3.5 and Pentax-M 50/4 are both small enough to slip into most bags when I might want to use the macro capability.

 

[CH_CH]

I mirror some other forum member - I think a rethinking of the 70-200 is a good idea.
In a classic world, the 70-200 was a do-it-all telephoto.
But it is too short for actual super telephoto
But it is wasted for portrait in the long end.
So a 50-150 F2.0 - F4 would be my request.
Why? Because constant F number is wasting possible lower numbers for shorter focal lengths (until around 50mm).
Why? Because FF F4 at 150mm is already very creamy. Most portraits at 70-90 will have around F2.8.
Why? Because this way the front element is 150/4 = 37mm. You can keep the 67mm filter thread and weight under 1kg.
With that lens, if lighter than the sony 70-200 F2.8 GM2, you will get many event photographers right into Lumix L field.
Add to that the also many times requested 20-50 F2.8 and you have a combo that is much more 2024+ proofed than the classic duo of the trinity.

 

[Snowlexx]

28-200 is the second compact zoom in the system after 20-60. I hope that they will not stop there and in the future they will offer compact zooms like 24(28)-105(120) and 70-200(210) with variable aperture. I hope sigma, with its best practices, will finally turn on and release something other than zooms with f/2.8

 

[HarisO]

Some lenses I'd like to see.

From my M43 past:
- An equivalent to the 12 - 60 PanaLeica (so a 24 - 120). Kinda wondering if it's a technical thing or why we haven't gotten that kind of lens yet. I do have the 24 - 70 S Pro but 70 feels pretty limiting. I guess there is the 24 - 105 but then you have the trade-off with the speed...
- A fast 30 mm prime (equivalent to the 15 mm PanaLeica). That was my favourite lens back when I had my G9, I guess I could always opt for a 28 mm to get close to that particular look, but we don't really seem to have many options in that regard, either.

In general:
- Small and fast manual primes. I see companies like Voigtlander et al releasing these kinds of lenses for M43, X, E and Z mounts but somehow L mount misses out. Is this an L alliance thing? EIther way, especially with the S9 on the horizon, I am hoping we will see some more options.