LS300: Veydra 50mm T2.2 MFT vs Olympus 45mm 1.2 Pro lens

[W. Bill Magac]

I currently use an Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro lens to shoot interviews with my LS300. I would like to use a lens for the interviews with a slightly longer focal length. I also own an Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 Pro lens, however this lens has proven to be a bit too long. The interviews are conducted at events with large crowds walking about. I need to keep a fairly short distance between me and the interviewer and interviewee in order to prevent people from walking in front of the camera, but not so close as to make the interviewee uncomfortable. I am considering the Veydra 50mm T2.2 MFT and Olympus 45mm f/1.2 Pro lenses. They both have received positive reviews and are priced the same ($1,199USD) at B&H, which is within my budget. Your thoughts on these two lenses or other lens suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Bill

P.S. I shoot the interviews using a tripod so image stabilization is not required.

[Nick Haman]

Hi Bill,

If you have12-40mm and 40-150mm - then you've got every focal length you'll need for any interview covered. Why not zoom to 50mm and see how you like it before buying a new lens?

I also shoot a lot of interviews, and find that my favourite length is around 35mm. This gives you enough space around the subject to show the setting, but not too much. At 35, I set the tripod up maybe 2 meters away and right next to the interviewer's head, so you have a nice eye line on the frame.

If you like I can share some screenshots of interviews with this setup.

[Noa Put]

Originally Posted by W. Bill Magac

I also own an Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 Pro lens, however this lens has proven to be a bit too long.

You mean the lens is too long in size? Personally I would choose the 45mm f1.2 over the 50mm t2.2, you don't have to shoot wide open at f1.2 but at least you have the choice if you want to blur out the background more or, in case of a low light scene you also don't have to push your iso so high.

[W. Bill Magac]

I would like to have a shallower depth of field than my f2.8 mft lenses provide. I read that the 35mm full frame equivalent of a f2.8 mft lens is f5.6. I checked out the Olympus 45mm 1.2 lens at B&H a couple of months ago. Nice lens. I'm thinking of renting a couple of Veydra lenses and testing them out.

[Noa Put]

The problem is that when you use other brand mft lenses like veydra or voigtlander that they can render color a bit different, the same with Panasonic vs Olympus glass, side by side you also will see differences in color, allthough the differences can be subtle it can notice if you mix them. That's why if you get a veydra lens you should get a set of focal ranges you need and only use those, with the Olympus you at least can be sure it perfectly will match your other olympus pro glass.