However, I’ve made an exception with the Olympus 40-150mm f/4-5.6, an MFT telephoto lens that offers great performance at a bargain price. With the more compact build of MFT cameras and lenses, the actual working distance between the front of the lens and the subject remains entirely usable, at about 10cm. 25-Mar-20 Four Thirds Day - April 3, 2020 Send us the photos you shoot on Four Thirds Day. Weight: 120 g (0.26 lb). (67 x 73 mm) As an added bonus, the Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 offers optical image stabilization, which can mean the difference between a blurred and a sharp hand-held shot in low light. We've selected seven cameras ranging from compacts to full-frame, all of which are easy to operate. If you’ve got a small MFT camera, attaching a big lens to the front kind of defeats the benefits of the format if you ask me. Focal Length: 35-100mm (70-200mm equivalent) Available in black or silver – make sure this is the first micro 4/3 lens you buy, no matter the brand of your camera – it really is worth every penny. This optic trades off a little at the wide end for extra telephoto reach next to the Olympus option above. And, while it's not as bright as the Olympus, it offers similarly impressive image quality and greater range in the same sized package. It’s still not budget by any means, but when you compare it to the Canon/Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 equivalents, it starts to look very good value for money. Take a look at some of our top picks below: Type: Zoom | Sensor size: MFT | Focal length: 7-14mm | Effective focal length: 14-28mm | Maximum aperture: f/2.8 | Image stabilizer: No | Minimum focus distance: 0.2m | Filter size: N/A | Dimensions: 79 x 106mm | Weight: 534g. With a weight of just 165g it's an ideal take-anywhere option, with the integrated petal-shaped hood making sure that extraneous light is never an issue. 112mm equiv. From 100-150mm, sharpness is still good, but I have to say that it’s not quite as sharp as the wider end of the spectrum. I found sharpness at the centre to actually be better than the more expensive Olympus equivalent, and images are vibrant and contrasty at all apertures. Aperture: f/1.8 (f/3.6 equivalent) Type: Prime | Sensor size: MFT | Focal length: 8mm | Effective focal length: 16mm | Maximum aperture: f/3.5 | Image stabilizer: No | Minimum focus distance: 0.1m | Filter size: 22mm (sheet filter, mounted at rear) | Dimensions: 51 x 60.7mm | Weight: 165g. As for auto-focus performance, it’s something of a mixed bag. shooting experience. Also consider: Panasonic Lumix G Vario 14-140mm f/3.5-5.6 Asph Power O.I.S. Even so, the lens is no lightweight in terms of build quality, with a robust and weather-sealed construction. A classic ’70-200mm’ lens for MFT format cameras, Type: Zoom | Sensor size: MFT | Focal length: 35-100mm | Effective focal length: 70-200mm | Maximum aperture: f/2.8 | Image stabilizer: Yes | Minimum focus distance: 0.85m | Filter size: 58mm | Dimensions: 67 x 100mm | Weight: 357g. Typically on inferior zoom lenses, zooming ‘closer’ results in the camera being forced to choose a smaller aperture, bringing with it all the inherent drawbacks – it’s fine in good light, but in low light, forget it! Micro 4/3 lenses are produced by several manufacturers, including Panasonic, Mitakon, Samyang, Sharp, Sigma, Tamron, Tokina and Olympus, with all lenses being compatible with all micro 4/3 camera bodies. Arguably the star of Olympus's trio of super-fast 'Pro' primes, the 45mm F1.2 is designed to give attractive bokeh, as well as shallow depth-of-field.
Tele: Olympus 45mm f1.8 - in my opinion one of the best for M4/3 and one that every M4/3 user should have. I am very happy with the Olympus 30mm f/3.5. Also consider: Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 15mm f/1.7 ASPH. A 90mm equivalent field-of-view, compact design and 15cm (5.9") minimum focus distance gives a good working distance. Type: Prime | Sensor size: MFT | Focal length: 60mm | Effective focal length: 120mm | Maximum aperture: f/1.8 | Image stabilizer: No | Minimum focus distance: 0.19m | Filter size: 46mm | Dimensions: 56 x 82mm | Weight: 185g. However, this time it’s completely justifiable, due to 3 main reasons. The Panasonic 14-140mm F3.5-5.6 II is a compact, affordable and image-stabilized 28-280mm equivalent zoom, that lets you do a bit of everything.
f/1.8 will also allow for some low-light photography without the need to resort to your camera’s flash. Considering the prices of Canon and Nikon 50mm f/1.8 lenses for full-frame cameras, the Olympus doesn’t look terrific value. The products in this post may contain affiliate links. However, wide angle prime lenses aren’t typically attached to your camera all day long like a 35mm/50mm lens might, so this slight trade off is fine for most people. The Micro Four Thirds system, sometimes abbreviated to MFT or M4/3, is a standard released by Olympus and Panasonic in 2008 for the design and development of cameras and lenses for the mirrorless format. Yes, there are many good alternatives out there, but stick to this list and you can build yourself an affordable, high-performance photography kit can that can keep up with the big boys with their big(ger) sensors ;-). Before you get all excited about the prospect of owning one of the cheapest Micro Four Thirds wide angle lens, hold your horses – this one’s manual focus. This was the first Micro Four Thirds lens that made me take proper notice of MFT cameras in general. A manual focus MFT lens may sound like a drag, but with wide-angle, there really isn’t anything more to think about – you’ll only be adjusting focus when photographing subjects at very close distances, and the rest of the time, you’ll think you have an AF lens attached anyway ;-), CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST PRICE ON THE ROKINON 12MM F/2, Aperture: f/1.7 (f/3.4 equivalent)

By shooting wide open at f/1.7, you’re maximising your camera’s ability to suck in as much light as it can, before it needs to resort to a slower shutter speed or higher ISO. However, when we’re talking about a wide angle lens (a 24mm equivalent), MF starts to become more acceptable. Focal Length: 45mm (90mm equivalent) Best kit lens replacement. And, although the lens is a fraction longer, this still gives more working distance between the lens and your subject (which also makes it easier to light). Longer reach:Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-200mm F3.5-6.3.