M43 Primes Or Nikon Fit Zeiss

X

XSVpro

Well-known member
Hi guys,

I have been thinking over what direction to upgrade my lens set and wanted your opinions. I currently have Nikon Fit (via novoflex adapter) Tamron 17-50 2.8 and 70-200 2.8, there sharp, cover a range from 35-400 and are constant f2.8 and fairly para focal, I will probably keep these as I use these mainly for broadcast/corporate/sports work. I also own a GH2 and have a 20mm f1.7 and the 7-14mm F4 and did own the 14-140, I love how sharp they are on the AF but I don't get a lot of call for 14-28mm outside of sports and the 20mm though sharp and fast looks ridiculous. I have a fairly comprehensive set of Olympus OM primes and zooms but mainly because I like collecting them and love the build and focus travel, though have used the 50mm 1.4 and 300 F4 on a couple of jobs.

The few times I have had the pleasure of using PL glass it has been CP2s via rental, twice by a corporate client and once for a short film.

I had the PL bug and started looking at buying at least a couple, I looked at the RED 17-50 T2.9 to get me started but I can't ignore the cost or the fact the glass is the same as my Tamron 17-50.

Then this weekend I had the chance to use a friends 75mm 1.8 from Olympus for m43, my god it is a really well made lens, fast and amazingly sharp and recently have sat up and noticed the 12-35 and 35-100 2.8 X lenses (damn you Erik!) and have read incredibly positive reviews of the 12/17/45 F2/F1.8 Olympus m43 offerings.

Seeing this quality level has had me adjust my budget and now im stuck. Should I go for Nikon fit Zeiss Planar and build a set of primes and get close to the CP2s on a budget or go for the m43 primes and zooms? I would save a little across the board and get the full image circal look, OIS and push auto focus with the m43 but would get Zeiss quality and flexibility via the Nikon fit Zeiss option. I'm committed to m43 as my owned camera and sometimes use other cameras via rental. I think both sets of lenses have a high resale value so really see this coming down to the pros and cons of fly by wire focus, manual aperture rings, auto focus, OIS, flexibility, speed and sharpness.

sorry for the rambling.
 
Zeiss are great lenses, really sharp and future proof if you buy the ZF (Nikon) versions. I own 2 and they're superb, but the lens I use more than anything including zooms is the Voigtlander Nokton 25mm 0.95. If you only own one lens for M43 this is it. Amazingly sharp, super fast and loaded with mojo.
 
I'm in the same boat with Tom. I have Zeiss 50 and 85 with the novoflex. These lenses are perfect longs for me. I also have the 25mm Voigtlander which is my go to lens. The wides are all m4/3 including an olympus 11 -22 (actually 4/3 with adapter) and the SLR magic 12. I mostly use the Oly. The next m4/3 lens I get will be the 12 - 35. Eric has me sold on that too from the shots that he posted. So if you're spending dough I'd go for that 12-35 or the Voigtlander which is just ridiculously great. I have it on there all the time.
 
I am tempted by the voightlanders as a set (17.5/25/50) but that's probably my budget gone (a set of F0.95 can't be argued with though). I'm really after building a concise set of fast and sharp lenses, the Zeiss are great but I also like using the GH2 on a small Stedicam and bulky lenses won't work here. I get pretty shallow DOF with my OM 50 1.4 but its not tack sharp like a new Multi Coated lens and its here that I want things to be spot on. Are the voights as sharp as the Oly m43rds? Anywhere I can look at test charts online?

I started off with a GH1 and Oly 4/3rds lenses, 12-50 f2.8-4 and the Sigma 30mm 1.4, nice lenses but the build of the sigma was not great and the Oly wasn't constant aperture but it was sharp!.

I think the 12-35 and 35-100 are well worth investing in for our little cam and will look at getting these.

I think Zeiss are off the menu for my own personal set of lenses.
 
On Monday I received the Rokinon 8mm, 14mm, 35mm, and 85mm Cine lenses. On Tuesday I made a series of tests that included the 24mm that I received a few days earlier. I'm very impressed with the results, all the lenses were sharp as a tack at normal aperture settings and all but the 35mm were incredibly sharp wide open. The 35mm was just a little soft, not bad, but I've returned it and will test the replacement lens when it arrives. These Rokinon lenses are now my go lenses for the AF100 and MFT BMCC when it's available, check them out........
 
Here is how I ride. Handheld I use the OIS awesome Lumix 12-35 for shorter stuff and the 35-100 for more compressed scenes. I have to admit I like the 35-100 more. Love the tight shots and this baby is sharp. No macro ability with it. The Voightlander 25mm is my go to for dialog without walking. Handheld is fine but not walking. I love that lens wide open! I haven't used my PL glass much lately because the shoots dont require much focus pulling and to me thats when these wonderful lenses shine.
MFT lenses have come a long ways since the day the AF-100 was introduced so if you want to keep her humming along the new Lumix lenses are a good choice.
Sorry for enabling :)
I want to try out the Rokins. Keep hearing good things about them and the price is right!
 
Thanks guys, I'm interested in the Roks too. I just figured that my own personal lenses need to be sharp and not its the earth. I can rent $25Ks worth of PL glass as and when it's needed.

Just took delivery of the Oly 75mm and 45mm 1.8, the 45 is funny small but I can't deny the picture quality or the cost, great it down interview lens, the 75 is just beautiful, good size for manual focus, bright and really sharp across the range, great colours and contrast too.

Going to look into the 12-35 and 35-100 in the new year, see if I can save. Little in a GH3 kit and sell my GH2 on.

you guys want to see anything from these Oly lenses?

auto focus is surprising good too
 
Vardalos said:
On Monday I received the Rokinon 8mm, 14mm, 35mm, and 85mm Cine lenses. On Tuesday I made a series of tests that included the 24mm that I received a few days earlier. I'm very impressed with the results, all the lenses were sharp as a tack at normal aperture settings and all but the 35mm were incredibly sharp wide open. The 35mm was just a little soft, not bad, but I've returned it and will test the replacement lens when it arrives. These Rokinon lenses are now my go lenses for the AF100 and MFT BMCC when it's available, check them out........
Click to expand...

Are the cine lenses available in an mft mount and if not which mount and adapter are you using?
 
All my Rokinon lenses are for a Nikon F Mount and I'm using a Voightlander MFT to Nikon F adaptor, B&H catalogue # VOMA43F cost $179.00. It works great and you can mount the lenses from the operator (focus puller) side of the camera.
 
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