I want to love the 12-60 so bad, But I can't

tacotim

tacotim

Well-known member
So I rented 2 lenses for the weekend to test them out.
Olympus 12-60 2.8-4
Olympus 14-54 2.8-3.5

I want to love that 12-60 so badly, because it got many things right. The range is PERFECT for my needs. those extra mm on the wide end make a big difference. And I love being able to see the distance i'm focussed at in the viewfinder. The action on the focus ring is very smooth, the zoom ring is a bit on the tight side for my tastes, but not terribly.

BUT... The electronically controlled aperture is a complete deal breaker for me. As you zoom in, or out, the camera adjusts the aperture in steps to maintain exposure value. Those steps result in audible clicks AND visual clicks in the exposure value of the image. It's not very noticeable when you crash zoom from 12-60 or vice versa, but if you zoom a short amount or at any speed slower than full speed, it's painfully obvious. Ugh, this takes it out of contention for me.

I had pretty much the same conclusions with the 14-54II with the added complaint that the focus ring is electronic instead of mechanical, so there are faint clicks as you focus manually.

I'd love to test the panasonic 14-50 2.8-3.5 but the rental house didn't have one. Does it have the same clicking aperture as you zoom? I'm aware of the breathing issue on that lens, but that's less of a deal breaker for me than the non smooth aperture while zooming.

For now i'll go back to my sigma 18-50 2.8. Everything about that lens is awesome except for the lack of wideness. I've been looking at the pentax 16-50 2.8 that would give me a bit more on the wide end.

sigh, perhaps sigma will see the opportunity to capitalize on this situation and give us a 12-50 lens that works similarly to the 18-50 2.8.
 
My friend, I've been championing the Nikon 17-55mm f2.8(constant) on this board. I agree: I wish there were zooms that were wider on the short end, but, this is as close to a "do it all" lens that I can find. Yes, a 3x zoom isn't much if you've come from the world of 20x servo zooms. And, oh, how I wish there was something available that was comparable to my Canon XLH1's 6x WA zoom... that thing is like a 24.5mm-147mm in 35mm terms.

There will be more to come from the lens makers. Stay tuned.
 
tacotim said:
I'd love to test the panasonic 14-50 2.8-3.5 but the rental house didn't have one. Does it have the same clicking aperture as you zoom?
Click to expand...
I owned both the Panasonic 14-50mm f2.8-3.5 and the Olympus 14-54mm f2.8-3.5 Mark II and conducted zooming tests of them months ago:

Olympus 14-54mm f2.8-3.5 Mark II - f3.5 zoom test

Panasonic 14-50mm f2.8-3.5 - f3.5 zoom test

If you listen closely, you can hear the Panasonic click once near the telephoto end of its zoom range. This is at f3.5 - it will produce several clicks across its zoom range at f2.8. At f4 and above, the Panasonic will neither click nor show exposure variations while zooming. Optically, the video images produced by both lenses are virtually flawless. After comparing the behavior of the two lenses, I auctioned off the Olympus on eBay.
 
tacotim said:
I had pretty much the same conclusions with the 14-54II with the added complaint that the focus ring is electronic instead of mechanical, so there are faint clicks as you focus manually.
Click to expand...

I agree, though I haven't heard any focusing clicks with the 14-54. I'm learning to accept this lens out of necessity. When Birger arrives, hopefully I'll be able to put my Tokina 11-16 and 16-50 to good use. I've used both locked at 2.8 or 4.0 using variable iso (200-320-400) to set exposure along with ND filters and am quite pleased with both the range and the sharpness of the image.

Edit: My problem is my Tokina lenses are EF mount and I need a Birger or RedRock adaptor.

You're right though, I'd like to see a 4x zoom 12-50 f/2.8 available on the market from anyone!

Regards,
Scott
 
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lpowell said:
If you listen closely, you can hear the Panasonic click once near the telephoto end of its zoom range. This is at f3.5 - it will produce several clicks across its zoom range at f2.8. At f4 and above, the Panasonic will neither click nor show exposure variations while zooming. Optically, the video images produced by both lenses are virtually flawless. After comparing the behavior of the two lenses, I auctioned off the Olympus on eBay.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that lpowell. How is the focus ring on the 14-50 and does the OIS work with the af100? Does it display the focus distance acurately in the viewfinder?

It will either be that lens or a combination of k mount pentax 16-50 2.8 and k mount sigma 10-20 3.5

The kmounts have constant apertures and smooth operating apertures going for them vs the OIS, focus distance readout in viewfinder of the panasonic.

decisions decisions
 
tacotim said:
How is the focus ring on the 14-50 and does the OIS work with the af100? Does it display the focus distance acurately in the viewfinder?
Click to expand...
The focus ring on the Panasonic 14-50mm works electronically and has little tactile feel. The lens' OIS works beautifully on Panasonic G-series cameras, but I don't have an AF100 yet to test it. According to Panasonic's AF100 lens compatibility page, the AF100 does not support OIS on any of the listed legacy Four Thirds lens. The compatibility page hasn't been updated since 2010, however, and I don't know to what degree the information on that page has been confirmed.

http://pro-av.panasonic.net/en/af100/lens_compatibility.html
 
tacotim said:
I want to love that 12-60 so badly, because it got many things right. The range is PERFECT for my needs. those extra mm on the wide end make a big difference. And I love being able to see the distance i'm focussed at in the viewfinder. The action on the focus ring is very smooth, the zoom ring is a bit on the tight side for my tastes, but not terribly.

BUT... The electronically controlled aperture is a complete deal breaker for me. As you zoom in, or out, the camera adjusts the aperture in steps to maintain exposure value. Those steps result in audible clicks AND visual clicks in the exposure value of the image. It's not very noticeable when you crash zoom from 12-60 or vice versa, but if you zoom a short amount or at any speed slower than full speed, it's painfully obvious. Ugh, this takes it out of contention for me.
Click to expand...

How well did the 12-60 autofocus work?
 
shrigg said:
How well did the 12-60 autofocus work?
Click to expand...

I'm afraid i didn't even test it. Auto focus is not something i ever use, so i didn't even think of testing it. I should have for the benefit of others.
Sorry about That!

I seem to recall someone saying that push button auto worked, but not quickly. I could be imagining that though.
 
Yeah, I have that on my Olympus. I cannot use it as a zoom. I don't do much zooming but still, that clicking is just dopey. I feel your pain. Otherwise I love the lens. It's really crisp and t is nice to have something really wide for the AF100 sensor. If it's down to 14mm I would take that. In a couple of months I may sell the Oly and get that Tokina 11-16. I have to replace my Nikon adaptor anyway so I might get one with the aperture wheel.
 
I got the 12-60 in a AF100 purchase a couple of weeks ago. In the few times I've been able to use it, yes, it takes some getting used to. As far as the push auto focus .... no deal, I just checked. MF comes up on the lcd.
 
Question: If you kept the lens at F4 wouldn't it stay quiet as you zoomed? Just a question as I would really love this lens due its wide angle.
Also we know its not great as real zoom lens but what if we treat it as a variable prime? Just a question...
 
Boncrek said:
Question: If you kept the lens at F4 wouldn't it stay quiet as you zoomed? Just a question as I would really love this lens due its wide angle.
Also we know its not great as real zoom lens but what if we treat it as a variable prime? Just a question...
Click to expand...

no, it still clicks as you zoom, no matter where you lock the aperture
 
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