Jiffster Loc: Southeast Michigan

I purchased my Panasonic LUMIX G85 kit a couple of years ago. It came with the LUMIX G Vario 12-60 f/3.5 to f/22 lens.
My primary purpose, at that time, was for video for guitar lessons. I’ve also purchased a LUMIX G 25mm f/1.7.

I’ve since really gotten into photography and am really working to learn and get better. Reading and practicing from Bryan Petersons books and some others.

Although I realize the equipment is least factor in getting quality photo/video, I also understand the benefits of having better tools. Let’s not get into how much I’ve spent on guitar equipment over the past 42 years!

I’ve purchased some pro lighting & tripod to help with my videos and I’m working to up my game with photo (and video) and am considering purchasing a zoom lens.

My main interests in photography right now would be landscape & street photography.

I’ve been reading a lot about lenses and, if I am correct, a 24-80mm equivalent would be the way to go?

One that seems to get good reviews is the “Olympus M.Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO”.
Whichever lens I get, I do want to seriously considered used to lower my cost.
This lens seems to be going for about $900 new and between $450-550 used.

I’m a relative newbie, am open minded, understand the value of experience and decent gear.
Your advice would be greatly appreciated.

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

The Olympus M.Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO is a good lens. I have owned one for about 4 years now, and use it on an Olympus body.

bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

I use Nikon full frame cameras exclusively so I can't speak directly to the Olympus lenses available for your camera. That being said, my general advice would be that for landscape photography you should consider the addition of a wide angle lens (not fisheye lenses). Assuming your camera is a crop frame camera, a 12-40mm f2.8 lens sounds ideal. Assuming that the angle of view at 12mm is 90-degrees or more, you will be able to capture the entire interior of a room by standing in one corner and then in the opposite corner. It is also a terrific focal length for capturing the scale of large interiors such as cathedrals by using a vertical format. Once you master wide landscapes with a wide angle lens, you could consider a telephoto lens because that can also be useful for landscapes.

BebuLamar

The 12mm is only over 80 degrees but less than 90 degrees.

bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

Can you get a 10mm? If not 12mm will certainly do the job for landscapes.

Delderby Loc: Derby UK

As you are interested in street and landscape, you must have decided that your 12-60 will not further your aspirations. I would suggest that before you invest in an expensive lens, which would necessarily cover much the same range, you should look again at what you have, shoot some street and landscape and see what you achieve. If you are confident of your technical abilities and feel you can get better results - that is the time to think about a new lens.

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

I use my 25 for street photography and love it. I think you may already have what you need,

Petesfixit Loc: Houston Texas

So, can you play the guitar?
Your lenses are fine. Just forget the book.
The only way you'll learn to photograph better is by taking lots of pictures and studying composition and lighting. Compare your pictures with the ones you admire. Try to understand how they were composed. Don't obsess over the technical details. Pick a subject that you are interested in. Take your camera everywhere ( small lens is usually better for that). Be consistent . Be diligent. Narrow your focus. Specialize. Repeat .
Segovia only played a classical guitar, right?
Ansel Adams is primarily famous for his 8x10 B&W images of Yosemite and the Zone System , correct?
Rembrandt is famous for what? Rembrandt lighting?
Cartier Bresson is famous for B&W street photography. One camera, one 50mm normal lens?
Narrow your focus.
Specialize.
Learn one thing well.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

Your camera has a 2X crop factor so your lenses would be FF equivalent to a 24-120 and a 50mm. Your zoom would be decent for landscapes and street photography. Whatever you get, try not to duplicate the focal lengths you already have. In landscapes, a tele will pull distant objects closer and a wide will push them farther away. Keep that in mind when you think about potential subjects. Your zoom is a nice mid-range zoom and I’d think it would be pretty flexible in the streets.

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

Welcome aboard, you came to a good place. You will get some great advice here. Sounds like a great start!!

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

You cannot go wrong with the Olympus 12-40 f2.8 Pro.

Bill P

Did Charlie Christian have the latest guitar? Grant Green? Wes Montgomery? Herb Ellis? Barney Kessell? They got something when the one they had was no longer usable/repairable, or they wanted to do something it wouldn't.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

1st - WELCOME TO UHH!

The Olympus M.Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO covers a focal length already avaiable in the kit lens! What are you unhappy about with that one? Have you had occasions where the kit lens was inadequate? If so how? If not, what are you tying to accomplish with this purchase?

Jiffster Loc: Southeast Michigan

Lots of great advice here and I've received some PM's with advice as well.
As a result, I've decided to hold off on purchasing any new lenses and, instead, focus on learning to use what I have.

There's so much that I don't know and I think this question illustrates that. I'm looking into signing up for a 6 week online course with Bryan Peterson.

I appreciate the advice and enthusiasm to help that I've received here. Looking forward to learning and joining in the conversations here at UHH.

Thanks in advance for your patience with my future questions! LOL!!

BebuLamar

12mm on the M43 is about the same as 24mm on the FF. With that said I rarely need wider than 24mm on my FF.