Lens wish list

[blackfox]

Been mulling over changing systems lately but nothing comes near to requirements either weight or price wise .. so sticking with Olympus what are the alternatives and it’s quite simple the lens range needs developing … my wish list is quite simple really I would like the hinted at 100mm macro to be announced and something along the lines of the sigma 150-600 f6.3 . Which then gives us the same effective reach as the 1.6 crop factor bodies.. we can achieve that focal length by adding a teleconvertor but lose aperture ,so a natural longer zoom would help ..can’t understand why sigma or tamron have blindsided MFT so far

[Dave in Wales]

The 100mm macro won't be cheap I'll bet.

And if it has a similar focus distance scale as the 60mm, I'll not be in the queue for one.

[wanderer]

I'd like the macro. It would be even better if it were 120mm. I'd also like to think that since the 60mm came out, the tecgnology has moved on. I do like nmy 60mm, I use it a lot. I've also had good results with the 150-400mm at close focusing.

[Tram]

Something like a 10mm 1.4 would be my choice please

[gazza95]

Yes, would go along with that

[mindy_monster]

Yes, I'd also be in favour of one of those.

[Bikie John]

..can’t understand why sigma or tamron have blindsided MFT so far

I have heard (on here and, I think, elsewhere) that the Oly 100-400 is actually a Sigma wearing an Oly suit. It seems to have sold well and to be liked by those who have it, including me. So maybe we might see some further developments in that direction.

John

[Phill D]

Tamron do make a nice little 14-150mm MFT lens Jeff. Not what you want but it's a token offering I guess.
When you say 150-600mm are you talking in FF units? I just Googled the Sigma lens and it does look pretty good.
On the Wex listing I notice it says it's suitable for the lens mount conversion service? not sure what that is but if they can convert it to MFT then maybe you have your answer.

[blackfox]

No Phil it’s a swop Nikon,Sony,canon as far as I’m aware

[Mark_R2]

There are two versions of the Sigma 150-600mm f5-6.3 lens called the Contemporary 'C' and the Sport 'S'. The S version is optically superior and has faster AF. I have this lens in Canon EOS mount and can confirm it is an impressive performer, really only needed stopping down at 600mm to get superb sharpness. However, I guarantee nobody would want this lens simply converted the m4.3 mount. It is huge and very heavy (nearly 3kg). i hardly use it because it is so big and heavy I cannot hand hold it.

Of course, it is designed for 'full frame' so the size of the glass elements has to be bigger to get the required image circle. This is why you don't get too many third party super-tele lenses in m4.3 mount. Simply converting a FF lens makes for something that is excessively big and heavy and won't sell. Making a lens specifically for m4.3 is too big an investment for a limited market. Converting a lens designed for APS-C crop would be better, but with everyone else going 'full frame' there isn't the market for those either so no-one is going to design an APS-C super tele lens now either.

For info, there are good reviews of the Sigma C and S lenses on lenstip

https://www.lenstip.com/434.1-Lens_review-Sigma_C_150-600_mm_f_5-6.3_DG_OS_HSM_Introduction.html

https://www.lenstip.com/417.1-Lens_review-Sigma_S_150-600_mm_f_5-6.3_DG_OS_HSM_Introduction.html

The C version is by no means a weak lens and would make a more practical affair for m4.3

[blackfox]

I know all that already I had the first sigma sport in the u.k thanks to a tip off from a friendly rep .. that went tits up a week before the 3 year warranty ran out and was replaced by a new one .. I then sold that due to changing from canon to nikon and got the C which lasted until I changed to olympus .. both though in current form are to front heavy for MFT use .
I currently own a nikon 300mm f4 afs-if with a broken focus motor and that works great using M/F on the 1-mkiii I'm wondering if a nikon t.c might help with that one ? as it takes the 1.4/1.7/and 2x Tc's

[Miketoll]

I would like the 100mm macro too.

As far as longer glass goes a 150 5/600 f6.3 would be lovely. Mind you my eldest son has a Canon 80D and the Sigma 60-600 f6.3 Sport and it is heavy! If I try to hand hold it for more than a few seconds my forearm aches, no way could I use it hand held for a days shooting. My son is a big lad but knows it when he has been out for a day with it even though he can handhold it.

I guess the reason why Sigma and Tamron don't really support mft is simply they don't think they would sell enough of them to make a decent profit, or any profit come to that.

[Ian]

Been mulling over changing systems lately but nothing comes near to requirements either weight or price wise .. so sticking with Olympus what are the alternatives and it’s quite simple the lens range needs developing … my wish list is quite simple really I would like the hinted at 100mm macro to be announced and something along the lines of the sigma 150-600 f6.3 . Which then gives us the same effective reach as the 1.6 crop factor bodies.. we can achieve that focal length by adding a teleconvertor but lose aperture ,so a natural longer zoom would help ..can’t understand why sigma or tamron have blindsided MFT so far

Sigma and Tamron have both released Micro Four Thirds lenses.

I don't quite understand '..long the lines of the sigma 150-600 f6.3 . Which then gives us the same effective reach as the 1.6 crop factor bodies..' On a Canon APS-C body that lens only has the field of view of a 94-375mm lens on Micro Four Thirds. So What's wrong with the Oly or Panasonic 100-400?

Ian

[Miketoll]

I think Nikons crop factor is 1.5 so "only" a 900mm effective reach compared to the Olly's 800mm.
You also have to think of the number of pixels on the bird. I think that a 45 MP sensor will only give you about 17-18 MP equivalent in crop factor mode so the advantages of the Nikon is not all that great.

[blackfox]

ah yes its canon that are 1.6

[Ian]

A converter attached to a lens at f/6.3 is going to be significantly diffraction limited.

[blackfox]

just to add to this I have a nikon 300mm f4 af-s if lens which I use manual focus and get good results with . just bought a old nikon fit 2x tc for the princely sum of £5 of evil bay . that should give me a effective 600mm x 2 reach so 1200mm worth a try for that price..withe the olympus i.b.i.s it may well work ?

[blackfox]

Yep I already know that Mike ,it works well on the bare lens at 300mm allowing with focus peaking for b.i.f shots in MF . And for a fiver worth a play . Olympus never ceases to amaze me with its versatility and having a rather weird assortment of lenses I have yet to find anything that’s under par

[Ian]

What make is the converter? While you can probably get away with the 2 stops of loss in brightness and avoid the worst of diffraction at f/8, I wouldn't expect much from the optical performance of an old film-era converter, particularly if it wasn't a Nikon one. Even the modern and digitally optimised EC-20 2x converter Olympus produced for E-System lenses was regarded as sub-par compared to the EC-14 1.4x converter.

[blackfox]

It’s a old paragon one Ian and I’m definetly not expecting much .. in reality it’s a cheap trial run to see if it’s worth getting a decent one .. if ? It works in practice there are several Nikon or kenko ones that are available .. in 1.4 versions .. or at a stretch the Nikon 1.7 was also good giving 500mm reach with that lens and one of my favourite combos from my Nikon days . I might even see if it’s worth getting the focus motor repaired and couple it with a cheap Nikon body as as alternative rig .. but as I said before olympus never ceases to pull the rabbit out of the hat so let’s wait and see

[Tram]

Just seen a rumour that Panasonic are going to produce a 9mm f1.7 AF lens with their Leica branding
Put me down for that one if it comes to fruition.