halfmac's reviews

  • Olympus 40-150mm f/3.5-4.5 Zuiko Digital

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    Small, lightweight, good range, sharp, well made, metal mount and fits in my bag
    Front of lens turns.

    I bought this lens as part of the e-300 2 lens kit. I was pleasantly surprised by the quaiity of the lens. I had only seen the 14-45 on demo cameras. I use this lens alot. The 40mm end is almost wide enough for normal photography and is 2 stops faster than the 14-45 at 45mm.

    This lens travels well because of it's size. F4.5 is fast enough for most situations.

    Very good centersharpness, excellent edge sharpness and very low chromatic abberations.

    Much better than my Canon 70-210 that I had on my Digital Rebel.

    Came with lens hood!

    reviewed November 8th, 2005
  • Olympus 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko Digital

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    Good sharpness, small size, non-rotating front for shade, metal mount.
    Slow f-stop on the 45mm end (what do you expect from a kit lens)

    This is the best kit lens on the market. The only one with a metal mount. Only one the front does not turn.

    Very good center and edge sharpness. Seems very well made for a kit lens.

    Both of the kit lens compare very well to Olympus OM prime lenses and these are zooms.

    Came with lens hood!

    reviewed November 8th, 2005
  • Panasonic 100-300mm f/4-5.6 ASPH MEGA OIS LUMIX G VARIO

    8 out of 10 points and recommended
    Great reach for Size, OIS works great
    Lens creep and wobble

    This lens is amazing when you consider the long end is a 35mm equivalent 0f 600mm . It now work on my GH2. It has a great size and weight for it's reach. The manual focus ring works great. It is large and smooth. Comes with the lens shade that reverses for storage.

    Did I say great reach. I should. Great performer for it's focal length. A reasonable price when compared to the alternatives. The OIS works great.

    I plan on using this lens for video recording.

    reviewed December 13th, 2011 (purchased for $539)
  • Panasonic 14-140mm f/4-5.8 ASPH MEGA OIS LUMIX G VARIO HD

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    Small for reach, Great for video outdoors, Good walk around lens
    Slow aperture, heavy compared to other m4/3 lenses

    Lens is Sharp and takes very good stills but needs a lot of light because of the starting aperture at F4.0

    Much Better than the kit lens for video because it is silent while focusing. Lens IS helps a lot too especially for the E-PL1 which only has in body IS which doesn't help with video.

    Disadvantages are it's a heavy lens and not especially suited for small cameras like GF1 or EP series because of the bulkiness. It balances much better on the GH1.

    reviewed December 13th, 2011 (purchased for $450)
  • Panasonic 25mm f/1.4 ASPH LEICA DG SUMMILUX

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    Sharp, Fast, Small, Reasonably Priced
    Shade does not reverse, Noisy Aperture

    This lens is great. I am have so much fun with this lens. It now lives on my GH2. Makes a great size and weight. Love the manual focus ring. It is large and smooth. Odd that the lens shade does not reverse for storage.

    Did I say sharp. I should. Stellar performer, @ the fraction of a Leica M lens. A Summilux for $500?

    I plan on using this lens for video recording.

    reviewed December 12th, 2011 (purchased for $529)
  • Panasonic 14mm f/2.5 ASPH LUMIX G

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    Tiny, wide, Large Aperture
    none

    This lens is great. I am having so much fun with this lens. I now use it on my GH2. Makes a great size and weight for a walk around. Camera and lens fits in a jacket pocket. Tiny focus ring but serviceable.

    Did I say Tiny. I should. Stellar performer for it's size.

    I plan on using this lens for video recording.

    reviewed December 12th, 2011 (purchased for $230)
  • Olympus 45mm f/1.8 ED M.Zuiko Digital

    8 out of 10 points and recommended
    Sharp, Small, Light, Excellent
    No Lens shade

    I got this over the Christmas holiday on my way to CA. Was able to see it and hold it at a real camera store (Shutterbug in Portland, OR). Fell in love with it right away. What can you say: Sharp, Small, Light, Fast and Excellent. Very pleasing out of focus. Quiet for video. Great lens. Compares very well with my Nocton 40mm f1.4 M lens.

    reviewed January 17th, 2012 (purchased for $399)
  • Panasonic 7-14mm f/4 ASPH LUMIX G VARIO

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    Sharp, Small, Constant Aperture, Internal Focus and Zoom.
    Price

    The Best 4/3rds Lens. This is the lens that made m4/3rds a necessity.

    On a video or CSC camera it does not breath when focusing. Constant aperture is a bonus.

    Very well made and small for what it does.

    And did I say sharp. I should.

    This is a lens that would be great on any camera system if it would fit.

    reviewed January 17th, 2012 (purchased for $770)
  • Olympus 12-50mm f/3.5-6.3 EZ M.Zuiko Digital ED

    8 out of 10 points and recommended
    Small, light, weather sealed, wide, macro, internal zoom & focus
    slow tele aperture

    The M.Zuiko Digital 12-50mm f3.5-6.3 EZ kit lens was a bit of a surprise. I did not think that I needed this lens but I do like it.
    It is very small and light. It is also weather sealed like the camera and focuses very quickly. I like that the wide end is at 12mm. At f3.5 it is not that slow in aperture.
    The implementing of the power zoom is well done.
    The images are good. Stays on my camera a lot. Here in WA we get a lot of rain so this is a nice lens to have.
    I also use the macro function quite often.
    The lens did not come with a lens shade so I ordered one from a third party one. Come on Olympus, where is the shade? Thank you, Panasonic.

    See my EM-5 review at: http://frugalfilmmakers.com/2012/07/10/i-could-not-resist-the-olympus-e-m5/

    reviewed August 9th, 2012