Robin, im a hobby potographer for about 20 years. I would consider myself as experienced. I feel that your are the one of the best, if not the best, photographer from the mFT RU-vidr. Often Im picky about others pictures shown by other youtubers, but yours are great. Thank you for all your information.
I've found that having to walk farther away from the subject is a massive advantage when dealing with shy people. Turns out, many people don't like having a camera put in their face. With the 75mm I find people are more relaxed and behave naturally. The technical disadvantage is the focus zone at f/1.8 is going to be quite narrow, so using the camera's continuous focusing feature with eye-lock is the best way to maximize success when doing portraits with quickly moving subjects like children.
Hi Robin -- I ordered a 75mm f/1.8 today -- Olympus had their semi-annual outlet sale in the United States so got what I believe was a pretty good deal! Can't wait for it to arrive -- been using a Sigma 60mm f/2.8 for portrait work -- but the quality difference between images I've been getting with the Sigma and what you're showing here is huge. Thank you for your videos -- you're always so well spoken, organized, and speaking on interesting topics. Olympus is fortunate to have you. Stay safe from this Coronavirus!
I got the 75mm f1.8 over the 40-150mm f2.8 for almost the same reasons. Have since married it up with the 17mm and 45mn f1.8 primes. I use Panasonic bodies, however all three Oly primes near permanently live in my camera bag with the Panasonic 12-35mm f2.8 on my camera. Was originally intending to get the Sigma trio of primes (16mm, 30mm & 56mm f1.4), however weight and bulk was getting pretty excessive for a M43 kit. Now have this Olympus trio which although half a stop slower they are still very sharp are a lot cheaper (bought used), about a third of the bulk and all three together weigh marginally more than what the Sigma 16mm f1.4 on its own does.
Yes! It is a beautiful lens and carrying the compact 12, 45 and 75 is a wonderful small, light, sharp kit that covers so many shooting situations. And I don't like to carry around a lot of weight either. Wish I could use a teleconverter on it.
Absolutely love this lens and picked it up for the same reason. I shoot a lot of destination weddings and it replaces the 40-150 to keep the carry on weight down.
Purple fringing may be less apparent on an Olympus because they do de-emphasise the magenta end of the spectrum compared to Lumix. There is a pale violet stripe in the petal of a winter pansy (which I use as the test subject as they flower all year) which cannot be reproduced by any Olympus back including the PEN-F which allows you to fiddle with the individual colour gain. But Lumix can. I am not seeing fringing with the Lumix G9. For many years I've used the G X 35-100 f/2.8 for shooting stage/live bands. And although I can usually wander onto the stage with a shorter lens, normally used it around 75mm. With the weird stage lighting even f/2.8 is not always fast enough. So then - the 75mm f/1.8. It is as sharp as the atom-splitting Leica 25mm f/1.4, with a 3D-like quality. f/1.8 is very fast for any 75mm lens. It can be used wide open. Something Leica like to do is design the iris wider than the maximum aperture so they can be uses wide open without fear. Did Olympus do the same here? At 75mm it is a telephoto. I would not call it a normal portrait lens, it is too long for that. However the longer the lens the more shallow the DoF. A defocussed background can be good but not all that long ago bokeh balls were considered a fault, it is a form of aberration. If you want that feature it is easy enough to do but a good lens tries to dial out the worst of the blobs by design. We do have a shallow DoF with this lens which is a bit unusual for MFT, and we can use that. By guestimating the hyperfocal distance and setting focus a little in front of the subject we can can throw more of the background out of focus. There is another important quality to a long lens, foreshortening. Used close up it will flatten a person's face, which can be unacceptable, but will bring the background closer. Choice of lens length can change the depth of the scene in the image.
The 75 is a joy to own and use. I use mine for shooting street performances during our summer festivals as well as seasonal images of cherry blossom, autumn leaves etc where the extra reach is really useful.
I own it, it’s excellent. When I bought it some years back the black version wasn’t available so I wound up with a silver. Looks like hell on my EM1 M2 but as you’ve said, results over ascetics.
How I find right black cylindrical thing in the dark-ish. They're in pouches and the pouches have tie-on price tag labels. That and a little pocket "keyring" led torch you can mask/shield with your hand.
It'd be interesting to see a comparison between this and the 45mm f1.2 Pro. They are both large, heavy and expensive but both seem brilliant in different ways for portraits. The 75 has slightly shallower DOF and a bit more reach. The 45 has the edge on low light ability and on the flip side of having less reach is more versatile. The 45 also has the clutch and weather sealing that comes with being a Pro series lens, whereas the 75 is smaller, lighter and cheaper* (relatively, it's still hella expensive!!!). *IIRC, forgive me if I'm wrong on the relative sizes, weights and other details like weather sealing as haven't checked! I have the 45mm f1.8, which I've not used that often as I don't take many portraits, but it never fails to impress when I do use it. I think I paid just over £150 (maybe £180?) for it new, which is a massive discount on current prices, and despite it not being heavily used I can't see me ever selling it, purely because it's so great at the price it was. For me, personally, it would be a complete waste of money me getting either of these bigger lenses, so such a comparison would be of interest only unless I suddenly found myself taking far more portraits (or other pictures at these mid telephoto focal lengths). But I'm sure there are people out there who are wondering which to get out of the two?
Nice to see you finally got that awesome lens! When we met for a bit of shutter therapy and Laksa in K.L. a couple of years ago, you were pointing out my "fashion faux pas" with my mismatching 45mm. Welcome to the club! :D Great videos, by the way! Keep them coming!
How have you gone this long without one of these gems? This is my absolute favorite lens, I swear, it's like it composes the perfect shot for you every time...and I feel like calling it "sharp" is a VAST understatement
I have this lens but since i purchased the 40-150mm f2.8 a few months back, it sits in my bag unused. I think after your wonderful review i will pull it out again....
I use the Zuiko 75mm for the Japanese Obon which the dancers dance in a circle on the streets . As you mentioned it offers superb images and isolates the dancer from distracting backgrounds. Thank You Robin for your informative videos 😎
This lens is scary sharp wide open. My go to portrait lens whenever possible. If Olympus updated the lens with weather sealing only without changing anything else, it'd be a game changing lens for prime lens shooters like myself. I want weather sealed versions of all the Premium series primes - do nothing else other than weather seal them - I would gladly part with my money! Add to that a weather sealed updated Pen-f... I'd not even remotely consider Fuji any longer.
I was looking at an 85mm f2 (OM system) but found a 75mm f1.8 for less money (crazy really). It is superb. I have used it for low light Jazz venues, my son’s stage bands and his High School graduation. The f1.8 aperture allows this to substitute for my 40-150mm f2.8 pro on most occasions and it isn’t a big impost on my back or space in the bag. I really don’t know why they haven’t made a pro line with weather sealing. Anyhow, keep up the great videos and using Olympus gear......I hope we see more low light monsters in the future from them. Regards Tony
I have this lens in silver as well. When I purchased I was planning on going black as I knew I would be getting E-M1 mk II in the near future. I was able to get a really good price on the silver so that's what I got. I do have silver EM5mkII as well and does go well style wise with that. I found it worked really well for photos our school's running meet.
@@erin758 the bokeh on The Sigma 56mm 1.4 is smoother and the lens is more versatile : it focuses closer too so you get even better bokeh because the 75mm 1.8 only allows a bit more than half body shots it doesn’t focuses closer. It’s a great lens for stage/concert photos (150mm F2 equivalent) but the Sigma 56mm 1.4 (112mm equivalent) equals my Sigma Art 105mm 1.4 on Nikon FX and is 5x lighter and 10x smaller ! It’s even a bit sharper
Thank you for making this video. I really enjoyed the format and footage you provided. Informative and entertaining! You’ve gained yourself a subscriber!
The silver looks fine on your camera, and I may add you presented another excellent review. In regard to street photography, go ahead and give it a go. Shoot for sections of things, as there are times when the bits and pieces look more awesome than the whole. You are all so right about it being so tight for street use however. Do you use 17mm, or 25mm mostly? The Panasonic 14mm is another option. I cover the wide with kit short zooms, which do the trick for sharpness, though a challenge in lower light. Love that 45mm f1.8 Olympus, and the 25mm f1.7 has worked out well for me. A 75mm Oly. would be a nice luxury, but the 60mm Macro, or a upgrade in a zoom makes more sense for the average enthusiast.
My go to street shooting lenses are 25mm for wider shots, and 45mm for tighter shots. I almost always have these two lenses with me all the time I am doing shutter therapy.
Watching your videos Robin is not good for my checking account! I just ordered the 75 1.8. While I have some incredible lenses already I can see where this may help in the area of weight and size compared to other lenses. I still use the Olympus 35-100 f2 from the old 4/3 lineup and it is incredibly sharp but so large and heavy. I only use it on a tripod and now substitute it with the 12-100 when I can. This lens may provide me with even better weight control and more compact size for many jobs as well as better backgrounds. Thanks again for a great video (I think).
Again ! Yes the 75mm 1.8 is the best lens in m43 I'm so happy using this lens for years ! And for the first time in video it works flawlessly with em5 mkIII !
@@hemabe 45mm 1.2 is better (I have) why? the transition what in focus and background is amazing, the 42.5mm is too sharp for portrait. BUT the 75mm 1.8 is really exceptional, it's another level. In my opinion
I've used this lens for flower/nature photography for several years, and it's perfect for isolating the subject and controlling the background. I recently got the 40-150 Pro and have used the 75 less and am beginning to miss it. Think I'll be taking the 75 with me on an EM-5 when I use the 40-150 on my EM-1.
I completely agree with your conclusions: this is a very special purpose lens, and I don’t use it very often, but when I do use it, I have produced some of my all time favorite portraits with it! Sharp subject and gorgeous, creamy bokeh!
This lens, and the Lumix 20mm lens, are the lenses I miss the most now that I sold my m43 bodies. You're very talented and yoyu wedding photos are beautiful ❤️
I really like the colour rendering in those pictures. It's a little distinctive somehow and highly elegant. Do you change color balance or contrast much or does it just arrive there naturally? (I see that a year ago, I left another comment. I still haven't bought one!)
Certainly one of may favourite lenses, and probably the sharpest lens that I’ve personally owned. BUT I can’t use it as often as I’d like because of its length. It stays home too often. Superb lens none the less.
I love this lens. We also have Sigma 56 1.4. Comparing to Sigma the sharpness is almost the same in the center of the frame,but not in corners and rendering and bokah are completely different . Autofocus with Olympus M1Mii with 3.1 firmware is incredibly fast. This is a fantastic lens for racing and sport photography.
It’s a brilliant lens but I still say the 40-150 f2.8 is still the sharpest all round lens on M4/3. I also believe your images on your blog where you compared both lenses shows this...awesome video Mr Wong “Long live M4/3”
Hi Robin, is there a big difference in image quality and bokeh between the 75mm f1.8 and the 60mm F2.8 macro lens? (which I have) I'm very interested in the 75mm for some closer wildlife shots, not sure how often I'll use it though. ( I use 12-100mm f4 and 75-300mm for wildlife) Many thanks :) Edit: I found your comparison video for the 60mm vs 75mm f1.8 :) Today I tried my 60mm on some ducks next to a pond, I was surprised that the images were much closer to the natural field of view of my eyes than expected, only slight magnification.. (I obviously haven't been paying attention to what FOW most of my zoom shots are) Ideally a prime with focal length bit larger than 75mm would have been good to get the bokeh I'm after, but the 75mm is very tempting! Maybe I can think of some work for it 😄
I candidly shot a Lenny Krevitz concert from within the spectator crowd on a Pen F with that lens. The images I walked away with are breathtaking. This is the best MFT lens I use the least. I don't need it often, but when I use it, it is STUNNING.
Thanks for shooting in 4K, I really appreciate it. As a fellow RU-vidr myself, I know how much more difficult shooting in 4k is. Takes up more space to store and takes longer to render after editing but I think it's worth it in the end. Great video, this is one of the few lenses I don't have. Still debating whether to get this or the Nocticron.
Thanks! It is 2020, so I decided to do 4K videos, and surely it has been challenging! I think the benefit outweighs the extra work, and when I need to show how sharp an image is, I believe the 4K really helps.
I'm using a full frame 50MM lens on a Nikon DX camera, effectively making it a 75mm lens, and it opens up a whole new world for me! Thanks for this video...
I love silver lenses. From the three limited Pentax primes I own, two I got them in silver. Such a beauty to look at. And when I get this 75mm Olympus one it'll be in silver too.
I came across this video which I had previously seen. It reminded me to use my 75mm 1.8 which I had purchased as a telephoto lens before the 40-150 2.8. It really is a wonderful lens and I must make more use of it. Thanks Robin I never miss your videos and appreciate the time you must spend on these.
I call this lens the “Mighty 75”. It is a sleeper PRO LENS. It really makes the subjects pop in beauty! I’d love to hear your thoughts about how this lens compares to the 17, 25, and 45 1.2 lenses. The 60mm is amazing too! Love your videos Robin!
None of them as Sharp as the 75 /1.8 . Probably the 60mm macro is the closes one , i have the 45 /1.2 is also very Sharp wide open almost as Sharp as the 60 macro wide open . The only DRAW back for me is the purple fringing on Lumix body is uncontrollable, different with my old Em1, but the 45/1.2 has better control on CA and purple fringing and the bokeh is pleasing .
I've been shooting m43 exclusively since 2010. The 75f/1.8 is a brilliant lens: simple, rugged, razor sharp and fast. Stage photography is precisely why I finally got around to purchasing it a few years back. I had been using the 45f/1.8, which also works very well, but the 75mm gives that extra reach that I was sometimes lacking with the 45mm. I love this lens.
Hi Robin, which camera body where you using on this story ? I notice that at 2.30 you where able to fold the lcd screen in from the “side”. I am intending to get the M10 Mk111. But that seems to only fold from the back. I need the vertical screen to photograph my grandson in his cot, and I’m 74 and not as agile as I used to be. Or could you please suggest another body that has stabilisers with side elevating screen for me. Thank you kind sir. Keep up your presentations, they are appreciated.
Got this lens to allow faster shutter speeds than with the 35-100 2.8 on low light live sets - it makes no noise :) Very happily found that it is a peach for music concerts too. For taking fun photos at concerts, I put it on my wife's hot pink GF8, and we sail past security with our 'joke cheapo camera'.
Great inspiration Robin, I have this lens but rarely use it (I use the 40-150 pro a lot). Will definitely be strapping it on for up-coming family wedding shots thanks to your review :-)
Did you record this video with the E-M5 III? Your videos have always looked nice, but I noticed the video quality of your last few uploads has really gone up in terms of sharpness and color. It's very nice.
Congratulations. It is by far one of my favorite lenses, if you have the distance to work with it. I just wish it was weather sealed. So many times I had to leave it in the bag due to bad weather conditions.
@@Weider63 My profile photo disappeared about a month ago and I can't get it back. I have contacted Google support, but they don't have time for something like this.
@@robinwong True. Although, someone have tried pink and other funky colors, but I guess they didn't sell that well. Maybe it was not the color, but the design, that was bad😀
Great Review Robin. Could you do a video of all the lenses you own describing the reasons you have them, it be like a 'what's in my bag' review. Thanks Andrew
Would appreciate some input on a possible new lense, all are used and excellent or new condition, with not to much of a price difference . Options are: Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary -, £329. Olympus M.Zuiko ED 25mm f/1.2 PRO £619 Olympus M.Zuiko ED 75mm f/1.8 £369. Main use will be portrait.
Oddly when I used to shoot weddings with a Hasselblad it was the 150 F4 shots that really stood out and caused the groups to laugh as to why I was standing so far back. But they were the best. I’ll give this Len’s some serious consideration!
while the 75mm is a great and super sharp lens, the sharpest lens I've used on m34 (Olympus omd EM1 MKII) is that Sigma 56mm 1.4, i have both the 75mm ad 75mm, i love both but the 56mm is crazy sharp!
Спасибо за то что вы делаете.Отличные у вас видео.Подскажите пожалуйста на что вы снимаете и какой объектив используете?У Вас крутая и четкая картинка.
I feel this is the most under rated Olympus lens. For portraits it is special. As you mentioned it can't be used all the time but in the right situation it is spectacular! Your shots with this lens were wonderful. I have followed your blog for quite some time & now enjoy your for videos. Thank you
Thanks Robin, it looks like a great lens! I'm curious how far back from your subject you would have to stand to take full-body portraits as you showed in the video? The bokeh looks so tempting!
Love the big eye in such compact lens body. Looks great and takes great photos too. The down side are no weather sealing, purple flare against bright light and the focus speed by today's standard. But anyway it's the love it or hate it lens by Olympus. I myself enjoy it a lot.
I use silver lens because I live in Central America and things get SO HOT if out in the sun, even if just for a few minutes. So silver is pretty important.
I also think it looks cool to have a black OM body with a silver m. zuiko lens. It makes you look more professional. I hope that OM will keep silver versions if they update their f/1.8 lenses in the future
I've rented this lens in the past a couple times, it's as great as everyone says it is! I've thought about buying it several times, but it's rare I need something that fast with that kind of reach. It is a "Keeper machine" if I ever saw one though! For me though the lack of weather-sealing is the thing that keeps me from buying it, it's a big deal for me. Also, given it's age, while not taking away it's still an excellent lens that still sits in a class alone as the only truly fast telephoto MFT lens... I'm left wondering if something is coming in Olympus' current roadmap that could replace it in the "pro" line? I'd hate to pick one up for ~$450-700 if a new PRO (sealed, focus clutch, etc) model may be on the way for the usual ~$900-$1200 price range. I'd love to know anyone's thoughts?
Just got my first Olympus and 17mm 1.2 - blown away by quality of images. Really. Only reason for me to keep wonderful Pentax is Astrophotography. Olympus lenses are something truly special.
Hi there. Thanks for your videos. They really are very good. I'm planning to buy an e-m1mk2 used (mk3 is a bit out ohhhh budget) and I was wondering which lenses you would advice for any situations for exemple for portrait will you advice 45mm 1.8? 60mm 1.8( with which we can make macro photography) 75mm? For street and landscape? 17mm? For, action ? Which one? I have a soon 4yo daughter and would like to be able to rake nice pictures and videos of her... Portrait and in movement... Are lenses good for portrait photos good for videos too?... Sorry for all question :)
Instead of buying a new cell phone I fixed my broken screen on my current phone and bought this lens instead. The build quality is beautiful. Only wish it was also weather sealed.
