photohounds's reviews

  • Olympus 25mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko Digital

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    Sharpness/colour low vignetting/CA Size/weight
    Not f/0.85

    I compared to the 25mm Pana 1.4 and 1.7, not the f0.9x beasts. Even so, lucky me to have them for 2 days! This "high standard" lens makes up in sharpness and low/distortion/CA for the tiny amount it lacks in speed. Good into the light too.

    Silent, fast and accurate focus. Image quality from wide open: superb. I was going to say "handles beautifully", but in fact, I was barely even aware of it being there, most of the time.

    If you are in the market for a μ4:3 "fast standard" lens, you could not possibly regret it unless you really want f/0.9.

    A price/size/performance bargain, in practical terms - it rules.

    Other makers could learn a lot here - many lenses hailed as "superb" don't measure up to this.

    reviewed November 30th, 2015 (purchased for $290)

  • Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 Pro M.Zuiko Digital ED

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    Sharp, fast focus, the closest focus of any such lens. Great hood, rain impervious, good into the light. Compatible with focus stacking and other EM-1+ or EM-5mk2+ advanced features.
    IQ falls off a tad with the converter attached.

    I pre-ordered this lens with convertor when released. I only occasionally use the converter.
    Even though I've scratched it (a bit), I have never regretted the purchase for a moment.
    . Want a close shot of something small and timid? This is as good as it gets.
    . Want model shots including tightly cropped faces with good OOF? Wish granted.
    . Focus is very reliable and it follow-focuses fast (especially if you turn EYE focus off - more so with the mk 1)
    . The hood is fast & clever, but don't 'rip' it from one extreme to the another (you can break it)

    With EM-2 (now mark2) stabilization, one can just about perform miracles with this lens.
    Most of us could hold it all day with a grip strap. I do and I'm not young.

    In the 1980s many of us would have committed several crimes to have such a lens.
    Proof? Plenty reasonable real-world samples to see at https://photohounds.smugmug.com/browse : Gear tests, Cars, Events and Nature have the most.

    reviewed May 16th, 2018 (purchased for $1,300)