Top 5 Best Micro Four Thirds Lenses With MFT Expert Robin Wong
– We take some of the best MFT lenses on the market for the money.
If you’ve chosen to go the Micro Four Thirds (MFT) route with your camera system, then you already appreciate the balance of size, performance, and quality that this system offers. But as you may know, the lens you select can be as crucial—if not more so—than the camera body itself. The question that naturally arises is: Which Micro Four Thirds lens is the best for you?
Understanding Your Needs
Before delving into specific lenses, you need to ask yourself what you primarily aim to achieve. Are you into landscape photography where wide-angle shots are paramount? Or perhaps you’re a portrait photographer in need of a fast lens to isolate your subject from the background. Maybe you need a versatile lens for travel, or a macro lens to capture intricate details.
1. Landscape and Architecture:
For these types of photography, wide-angle lenses are typically preferred. The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 7-14mm f/2.8 PRO and the Panasonic Lumix G Vario 7-14mm f/4.0 ASPH are both excellent choices. They offer a broad field of view and have sharp optics, ensuring the beauty of landscapes and structures are captured in full detail.
2. Portraits:
If you love taking portraits, you’d want a lens with a longer focal length and a wide aperture. The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 45mm f/1.2 PRO is a gem in the MFT world. The 45mm focal length (equivalent to 90mm in full frame) is perfect for headshots and the f/1.2 aperture ensures beautifully blurred backgrounds, making your subject pop.
3. Versatility/Travel:
For those who need a single lens that can handle a wide variety of situations, especially while traveling, a zoom lens like the Panasonic Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm f/2.8 II ASPH or the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO would be the top picks. These lenses offer a flexible range from wide-angle to short telephoto, and their relatively wide apertures ensure good performance even in low light.
4. Macro Photography:
Capturing the minutiae of the world requires a dedicated macro lens. The Panasonic Leica DG Macro-Elmarit 45mm f/2.8 ASPH. MEGA O.I.S. is a fantastic lens for this purpose. Its 1:1 magnification capability ensures that tiny subjects are reproduced in life-size on the sensor, revealing details that might be invisible to the naked eye.
5. Videography:
Videographers have unique needs. Lens stabilization, silent autofocus, and a smooth manual focus ring can be critical. The Panasonic Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm f/2.8 II ASPH ticks all these boxes, making it an excellent choice for MFT videographers.
Budget Matters
While it’s tempting to chase the best optical performance, budget constraints are a reality for most of us. The good news is that there are budget-friendly MFT lenses that offer excellent value for money. Lenses like the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f/4.0-5.6 R or the Panasonic Lumix G 25mm f/1.7 ASPH provide good image quality without breaking the bank.
In Conclusion
Choosing the best Micro Four Thirds lens isn’t just about picking the most praised or the most expensive one. It’s about understanding your unique needs and preferences and then finding a lens that aligns with them. With the wide variety of MFT lenses available, there’s undoubtedly a perfect lens out there for every photographer or videographer, whether professional or hobbyist. Remember, the best lens for you is the one that helps you bring your creative vision to life with ease and joy.
Robin’s list of favorite MFT lenses.
Panasonic 9mm F1.7 More Info Here
Olympus 25mm F1.2 More Info Here
Olympus 45mm F1.8 More Info Here
Olympus 75mm F1.8 More Info Here
Olympus 12-40mm PRO More Info Here