1442 vs 1250 mm Lens for Olympus EM-5

[BoltSnap]

I am planning to buy the Olympus EM-5 camera setup and wondering if I should buy the 14-42 or the 12-50 mm lens. My main use for the camera is for still photography U/W. When looking at the focal range for each type of lens, I see that the 1250 lens has everything the 1442 mm lens has plus more. Does anyone have any feedback on which lens to buy for use U/W for macro or if I should buy both? (The question can be asked, is there a reason to buy the 1442 lens if one already has the 1250mm lens or should they buy the 1442 mm instead of the 1250?)

 

[jlyle]

My vote would be for the 12-50mm lens over the 14-42mm. Of course, I'm still waiting for my Nauticam lens port so I can take the 12-50 u/w.

The 12-50 has better glass, is both wider and narrower at the extremes, and will do very nice macro (using the Nauticam port switch).

The 14-42 is a nice lens, will do nice macro with a 67mm SubSee, is shorter than the 12-50.

 

[BoltSnap]

But no advantage for the 1442 over the 1250? No reason to buy the 1442 if one already has the 1250?

 

[jlyle]

But no advantage for the 1442 over the 1250? No reason to buy the 1442 if one already has the 1250?

Yes, I agree. No reason to buy the 14-42 if you already have a 12-50. For my recent trip to Mexico, I borrowed a 14-42 and lend port while I wait for the Nauticam port for the 12-50.

You can see my pictures here: COZUMEL WITH A NEW CAMERA – AUGUST 2012

 

[BoltSnap]

Yes, I agree. No reason to buy the 14-42 if you already have a 12-50. For my recent trip to Mexico, I borrowed a 14-42 and lend port while I wait for the Nauticam port for the 12-50.

You can see my pictures here: COZUMEL WITH A NEW CAMERA – AUGUST 2012

I read the report and saw the pics. Excellent!!! Thank you very much!!!

What lenses do you have or intend to have for this camera?

 

[jlyle]

I read the report and saw the pics. Excellent!!! Thank you very much!!!

What lenses do you have or intend to have for this camera?

8mm, 12-50, 45, and 40-150. I'm going to buy a 60mm macro lens and look at some of the telephoto options.

 

[BoltSnap]

8mm, 12-50, 45, and 40-150. I'm going to buy a 60mm macro lens and look at some of the telephoto options.

I guess that the 40-150 is for topside only, is this correct? Does the 45 offering anything the 1250 doesn't?

 

[calicant]

I think only the 12-50mm is splash proof. It also has a macro switch but I have not seen the 14-42mm and don't know what it does.

The 12-50mm sits in a drawer next to my portless Nauticam housing since I have two primes I love using - the Panasonic 20mm/f1.7 pancake lens and the Olympus 12mm/f2.

I might use the kit lens on trips where I'm worried about rain.

 

[jlyle]

I guess that the 40-150 is for topside only, is this correct? Does the 45 offering anything the 1250 doesn't?

Yes, 40-150 for topside. The 45mm macro is a prime lens and is better for macro than the 12-50.

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I think only the 12-50mm is splash proof. It also has a macro switch but I have not seen the 14-42mm and don't know what it does.

No macro switch on the 14-42. However, I found I could do nice macro with this lens by screwing a SubSee 10X diopter on the front of the port.

 

[BoltSnap]

Yes, 40-150 for topside. The 45mm macro is a prime lens and is better for macro than the 12-50.

If I buy the 1250 and the 60mm, is there a reason to buy the 45mm lens?