Which versatile lens?

timb64 · 06-21-2017, 10:09 AM

16-85 and carry the 55-300 too if you're feeling energetic/expecting wildlife that needs more reach.

npc · 06-21-2017, 01:08 PM

Originally posted by pres589

Hey WPRESTO, you say the 16-85 is the second best wide-to-modest-tele lens you've used, so what's the best from your point of view?

I was wondering the same thing ...

**WPRESTO** · 06-21-2017, 06:18 PM

Originally posted by npc

I was wondering the same thing ...

I'll only give a hint: the FF equivalent would be 24-200mm, constant f4, maximum repro 0.3

**pres589** · 06-21-2017, 07:03 PM

This guessing game stinks.

**WPRESTO** · 06-22-2017, 05:37 AM - **2 Likes**

OK. Even though when I can cause someone distress I sleep better. When I got it, the 16~85mm quickly surpassed all previous wide-tele zooms as my favorite. AND, I really, really like my K1 and the IQ obtained with several lenses I have. The 28~105 was better than expected; the 150~450mm is just plain amazing, and the Laowa/Venus 12mm is about as good an ultra-wide prime as ever I've used. Images I got with the 28~105mm in Utah are among the most satisfactory travel pictures I've taken. BUT, on a recent trip, hiking up to Natural Bridge (600+ wooden steps) carrying FF kit in a backpack was frankly exhausting. And at one place where the 150~450 was the logical lens to use, I left it in the car because I couldn't abide the thought of carrying it. SO, I recently decided to experiment with micro 4/3, especially for traveling. Got an Olympus OM10-ii and an Olympus 12~100mm f4 (24~200mm FF equivalent), and frankly I am impressed. An extremely useful range for a zoom, constant f4, IQ starts out excellent at f4 and hardly changes all the way to f16 (aperture changes DOF, but not IQ) and performance is pretty much the same at every focal length (insignificant IQ drop @ 100mm). Just plain amazing lens.

But there is more: The lens has a push-pull focus ring to go from AF to MF - BUT, when you move it to MF, it also automatically switches the camera to MF, with focus peaking immediately activated (multiple choices for the highlight color) and if you have selected beforehand, it engages an automatic enlarged-view MF system, Give a slight twist to the focus ring and you immediately have enlarged LV with focus peaking both on the screen and through the viewfinder - stop twisting the ring and in a twinkling the view returns to normal framing. And also: @ 100mm, the lens focuses to 0.3 life size, more than enough for flower close-ups and macros of most larger insects (horizontal FOV about 2.5 inches). Using it for a week made it my favorite wide to tele zoom. Does it have the IQ of the 16~85mm when used on my K3 or the 28~105 used on my K1? Almost certainly not, but without the EXIF I doubt anyone on PF can consistently tell which camera + lens combo I used for images I post. With the reduced pixel count for posting, and the lesser pixel count on any and all monitors, I doubt it is possible to tell without having a separate cropped image to inspect.

**WPRESTO** · 06-24-2017, 06:53 AM

Why I like the 12-100mm Olympus on MFT.
First image below is straight from camera RAW, no PP of any kind. shot with this lens @ 100mm, very near the minimum focus distance, 1/400. f8, ISO 500, HH.
Second image below is a crop from the first, again, no PP except the cropping.
I consider this better than satisfactory performance from a zoom lens with such a range (24~200mm FF equivalent). It's really pretty impressive.

**pres589** · 06-24-2017, 08:44 AM

Nice images. You've probably used a ton of lenses and related gear of the years, so, I think hearing that you're fond of the 16-85 is good to know.

**mikesbike** · 06-24-2017, 11:50 AM

+1 for the DA 18-135mm WR. I also have a host of expensive primes, including Limiteds, and fast zoom, but for a general-use all-around setup for going about, this is a great lens. Great because for one thing it is very compact and lightweight for the flexibility it offers, yet its build quality is exceptionally good. It would be the equivalent to having a 28-200mm on the K-1. Its imaging is very good overall, and its AF is one of the fastest and most sure and accurate of all my lenses.
.
When I think I may want more tele range at some point, I also pack my DA 55-300mm WR into a compact belt holster. With the 18-135mm on my K-5IIs, or my KP, or for lighter yet on my KS2, in a small-size camera holster with strap cross-shouldered, this makes for an easy-carrying, very capable setup.

06-22-2017, 05:37 AM - 2 Likes	#20
WPRESTO Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Massachusetts Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 59,107	OK. Even though when I can cause someone distress I sleep better. When I got it, the 16~85mm quickly surpassed all previous wide-tele zooms as my favorite. AND, I really, really like my K1 and the IQ obtained with several lenses I have. The 28~105 was better than expected; the 150~450mm is just plain amazing, and the Laowa/Venus 12mm is about as good an ultra-wide prime as ever I've used. Images I got with the 28~105mm in Utah are among the most satisfactory travel pictures I've taken. BUT, on a recent trip, hiking up to Natural Bridge (600+ wooden steps) carrying FF kit in a backpack was frankly exhausting. And at one place where the 150~450 was the logical lens to use, I left it in the car because I couldn't abide the thought of carrying it. SO, I recently decided to experiment with micro 4/3, especially for traveling. Got an Olympus OM10-ii and an Olympus 12~100mm f4 (24~200mm FF equivalent), and frankly I am impressed. An extremely useful range for a zoom, constant f4, IQ starts out excellent at f4 and hardly changes all the way to f16 (aperture changes DOF, but not IQ) and performance is pretty much the same at every focal length (insignificant IQ drop @ 100mm). Just plain amazing lens. But there is more: The lens has a push-pull focus ring to go from AF to MF - BUT, when you move it to MF, it also automatically switches the camera to MF, with focus peaking immediately activated (multiple choices for the highlight color) and if you have selected beforehand, it engages an automatic enlarged-view MF system, Give a slight twist to the focus ring and you immediately have enlarged LV with focus peaking both on the screen and through the viewfinder - stop twisting the ring and in a twinkling the view returns to normal framing. And also: @ 100mm, the lens focuses to 0.3 life size, more than enough for flower close-ups and macros of most larger insects (horizontal FOV about 2.5 inches). Using it for a week made it my favorite wide to tele zoom. Does it have the IQ of the 16~85mm when used on my K3 or the 28~105 used on my K1? Almost certainly not, but without the EXIF I doubt anyone on PF can consistently tell which camera + lens combo I used for images I post. With the reduced pixel count for posting, and the lesser pixel count on any and all monitors, I doubt it is possible to tell without having a separate cropped image to inspect. Last edited by WPRESTO; 06-22-2017 at 01:01 PM.

06-24-2017, 06:53 AM	#21
WPRESTO Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Massachusetts Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 59,107	Why I like the 12-100mm Olympus on MFT. First image below is straight from camera RAW, no PP of any kind. shot with this lens @ 100mm, very near the minimum focus distance, 1/400. f8, ISO 500, HH. Second image below is a crop from the first, again, no PP except the cropping. I consider this better than satisfactory performance from a zoom lens with such a range (24~200mm FF equivalent). It's really pretty impressive. Attached Images

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06-21-2017, 10:09 AM	#16
timb64 Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: /Situation : Doing my best to avoid idiots! Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,510	16-85 and carry the 55-300 too if you're feeling energetic/expecting wildlife that needs more reach.

06-21-2017, 01:08 PM	#17
npc Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 313	Originally posted by pres589 Hey WPRESTO, you say the 16-85 is the second best wide-to-modest-tele lens you've used, so what's the best from your point of view? I was wondering the same thing ...

06-21-2017, 06:18 PM	#18
WPRESTO Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Massachusetts Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 59,107	Originally posted by npc I was wondering the same thing ... I'll only give a hint: the FF equivalent would be 24-200mm, constant f4, maximum repro 0.3

06-21-2017, 07:03 PM	#19
pres589 Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Wichita, KS Photos: Albums Posts: 4,529	This guessing game stinks.

06-24-2017, 08:44 AM	#22
pres589 Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Wichita, KS Photos: Albums Posts: 4,529	Nice images. You've probably used a ton of lenses and related gear of the years, so, I think hearing that you're fond of the 16-85 is good to know.

06-24-2017, 11:50 AM	#23
mikesbike Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Southeastern Michigan Posts: 4,549	+1 for the DA 18-135mm WR. I also have a host of expensive primes, including Limiteds, and fast zoom, but for a general-use all-around setup for going about, this is a great lens. Great because for one thing it is very compact and lightweight for the flexibility it offers, yet its build quality is exceptionally good. It would be the equivalent to having a 28-200mm on the K-1. Its imaging is very good overall, and its AF is one of the fastest and most sure and accurate of all my lenses. . When I think I may want more tele range at some point, I also pack my DA 55-300mm WR into a compact belt holster. With the 18-135mm on my K-5IIs, or my KP, or for lighter yet on my KS2, in a small-size camera holster with strap cross-shouldered, this makes for an easy-carrying, very capable setup.