Micro Four Thirds Lens Compatibility

AndyCr15 · 9 Apr 2019 at 20:06

I recently bought a Panasonic Lumix DC-GX800 for which Google tells me I need a Micro Four Thirds lens. Can it be any Micro Four Thirds lens? Any manufacturer?

Also, for reasonably close up work, so ability to focus within 6 to 10 inches of the camera and a nice wide field of view (without fisheye effect) does anyone have any recommendations?

Thanks!

**EDIT** I've just checked and the stock lens is 12-32... so I guess unlikely I will get something wider?

**EDIT2** So I may have answered my own question here, but this looks quite good, although manual focus wouldn't be great (I would be using it for video and would want the ability to focus close up so I can move an object closer from time to time)

EGuitarStar · 9 Apr 2019 at 22:24

What is the reason behind wide angle requirement?

Olympus and Panasonic do some wider angle lenses, you can use any brand. Where brand matters is for stabilisation (the GX800 doesn't have) and auto focus. Panasonic's DFD focus doesn't work with Olympus lenses.

If you are looking for detailed close up work, you'll need to look at macro lenses.

AndyCr15 · 10 Apr 2019 at 06:25

I am filming things on a desk, the camera being low and out of view is a preference.

Thanks for the info. It's looking like a decent lens would be quite a lot more than the camera cost at the moment.

Minstadave · 10 Apr 2019 at 07:12

Wide angle lenses aren't cheap on m43, I'm not sure on other formats.

Wide-angle, AF and short min focus difference makes for a relatively expensive lens.

D.P. · 10 Apr 2019 at 08:08

The Olympus 7-14mm f/2.8 is a nice lens and very wide, the 7mm is equivalent to 14mm on FF which is quite extreme.

TBH you have lots of options and the prices are all pretty reasonable. Panasonic have a slightly cheaper but slower equivalent.

Minstadave · 10 Apr 2019 at 08:23

D.P. said:
The Olympus 7-14mm f/2.8 is a nice lens and very wide, the 7mm is equivalent to 14mm on FF which is quite extreme.

TBH you have lots of options and the prices are all pretty reasonable. Panasonic have a slightly cheaper but slower equivalent.

He's bought a £200 body. I'm not sure he's after an £1000 7-14 F2.8.

Even the Pana 7-14 f4 is £600 (unless you import).

Terminal_Boy · 10 Apr 2019 at 08:30

AndyCr15 said:
I am filming things on a desk, the camera being low and out of view is a preference.

Thanks for the info. It's looking like a decent lens would be quite a lot more than the camera cost at the moment.

You could do a lot worse than to ask your questions here:

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/1041

MFT/M43 lenses do tend to be expensive due to the smaller production runs involved, but there are some bargains to be had online and good S/H lenses can be had for sensible money.

D.P. · 10 Apr 2019 at 09:08

Minstadave said:
He's bought a £200 body. I'm not sure he's after an £1000 7-14 F2.8.

Even the Pana 7-14 f4 is £600 (unless you import).

Well, that is the thing. Lenses are always far more expensive than the camera and this needs to be taken into account when budgeting. The camera will be bout 1/5th of the system cost.

Minstadave · 10 Apr 2019 at 09:13

Whilst I don't disagree I suspect the OP hasn't budgeted like that.

SonicSW20 · 10 Apr 2019 at 10:17

Olympus 9-18mm can be found under £300 used if that extra few mm really matters.

iamtheoneneo · 10 Apr 2019 at 17:02

Do you need AF?
Look at Samyang stuff. Optically a lot of their glass is well up there and it's well priced

EsaT · 13 Apr 2019 at 16:10

AndyCr15 said:
I am filming things on a desk, the camera being low and out of view is a preference.

12mm is quite wide so first try how well it works.

For wider Olympus 9-18mm is well priced.
Besides fisheyes there aren't much of wider than 12mm fixed lenses
https://www.four-thirds.org/en/microft/lens_chart.html
For manual focus Samyang has some 10mm lenses