Olympus lens advice please

[Denis]

Hi
I'm after some advice and direction on what lens to buy.

I've got an E500 with the stock (bundled) standard bundled lens package - 17.5 to 45 f5-5.6 , and 40 to 150 f3.5-4.5.

Most of my photography is a mix of speedway and landscape shots, quite different in their requirements.

Should I sell the two bundled lens and get something a bit faster (especially for the speedway usage, with a slightly longer zoom) and buy two better quality lens for my type of use?

My main problem is that the 40-150 struggles with the light conditions and usually makes my images a bit variable (mainly grainy). Would prefer to get at least a 200mm lens for this usage.

My total budget for both lens would be say £600 to £700 (including the amount that I would get for the sale of my existing lens).

All advice and comments greatly appreciated.

[El_Sid]

Sadly the price of the Oly 50-200mm f2.8 has just shot a bit out of your budget...

However the Sigma 70-200 f2.8 at £680ish may still just creep in... As a lens designed for 35mm full frame I suspect you'd get exceptional performance across the whole frame on 4/3rds, this is a lens that also has a good reputation for sharpness...

[Rugby_Nut]

Hi Denis

One of the issues of the 4/3rds system is the relative lack of lens choice (albeit all 4/3rds lenses are excellent in my opinion). In essence you've only got Olympus and Sigma to consider (there's also Panasonic/Leica but they're really out of the game here!). Given your budget, (and Nick is right that the Oly 50-200 is a stonking, but now expensive lens) I think it's best to look at this another way. Landscape and speedway are pretty much two ends of the spectrum. The one thing I would recommend for speedway (but not landscape) is IS (Image Stabilisation).

All the following prices are from srsmicrosystems.co.uk, who are generally representative of best pricing in the Oly market in the UK. By all means shop around!

The current Oly kit lens, the 14-42mm, is an excellent lens for landscape on a budget. The E-520 is an excellent budget camera with 10mp and in-body IS:-

E-520 + 14-42 lens = £379 (E-520 body only = £299)

In terms of speedway, and trying to keep somewhere within your budget and the extra reach you need, there are only really 3 choices:-

Olympus 70-300 f4-5.6 = £320
Sigma 70-200 f2.8 throughout = £665
Sigma 55-200 f4-5.6 = £109

Now, I'll be honest and say that I've no personal experience with any of these lenses but you've got to assume that what you pay is what you get!

Sadly, you're existing E-500 with the two kit lenses is worth no more than £150-200 (my opinion only!).

So in the best scenario:-

E-520 + 14-42 = £379
Sigma 55-200 f2.8 = £665
Sell existing = £150
Net Cost = £894

The next best scenario:-

E-520 + 14-42 = £379
Olympus 70-300 = £320
Sell existing = £150
Net Cost = £549

Obviously there are lots of different combinations, including trying to source a second hand 50-200, but hopefully I've given you food for thought

[Denis]

Thanks for the replies, it has given me something to think about. I could well go for the option of selling my existing kit and getting the 520 variations though.

[mike_j]

The pre SWD Olympus ZD ED 50-200mm is optically vitually the same as the current SWD version and is a superb lens. Your camera doesn't take advantage of the faster focusing of the SWD version so why not try and find a good used 50-200mm. It's ideal for your purpose I should think and well within budget.

[Rugby_Nut]

Thanks for the replies, it has given me something to think about. I could well go for the option of selling my existing kit and getting the 520 variations though.

The E-520 is excellent value at the moment and really is a very good camera. The in-body IS does work and will be important when using longer reach lenses.

In terms of the cheap Sigma, Andrzej Wrotniak has reviewed it here It may be of help.

Mike is quite right. If you can get hold of a second-hand 50-200 then that may be the best option. They can be as rare as rocking horse doo doo though

[Denis]

Thanks for the replies, it has helped with my decision.

I've somewhat changed my tack on my camera needs. Selling the E500 and decided to buy a Canon 40D with a 18-200 IS lens.

[Rugby_Nut]

Thanks for the replies, it has helped with my decision.

I've somewhat changed my tack on my camera needs. Selling the E500 and decided to buy a Canon 40D with a 18-200 IS lens.

Yep, the 40D is a very good camera and will undeniably be better for speedway than the E-520. IQ at lower ISO is very similar between the two but the Canon certainly pulls ahead at ISO800 and above. Mind you, when it first came out it was significantly more expensive than the E-520, so your're getting a lot of camera for your money.

Just a little word of warning, lenses with a wide angle to long zoom range tend to have optical deficiencies. There are so many lens options in Canon world (including Sigma, Tamron, and Tokina) that it can be a bit mindboggling. For instance I see that warehouse express are selling the 40D + 18-55 IS + 55-250 IS for a tad under £900. In theory, you've got one lens for landscape and one for speedway. It may be the case that these two lenses would be optically better than one superzoom.

I'm sure you are aware of the weight of it as well. It is a lot heavier than you're possibly used to. Not so much a problem at speedway but may be a consideration when traipsing over hill and dale.

I recommend (if you have not already done it) that:-

1. You pick one up at a camera store and try it for weight and size.
2. Pose the question to our friends on the Canon forum. They will almost certainly come up with some lens recommendations you've never thought of.

Good luck