2010 Micro Four Thirds Lens Roadmap: What's Missing?

With any new system, it is impossible to cover all lens needs right away. Thus manufacturers need to prioritize according to commonly used lens types and market demand.

Here's what we have so far for Micro Four Thirds:

Ultra-wide:

  • Lumix 7-14mm f/4 (difficult to locate in United States)
  • Lumix 8mm f/3.5 (fisheye, due in 2010)
Wide:
  • M. Zuiko 17mm f/2.8
  • Lumix 14mm f/2.8 (due in 2010)
Standard:
  • Lumix 20mm f/1.7 (due soon)
  • M. Zuiko 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6
  • Lumix 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6 O.I.S.
  • Lumix HD 14-140mm f/4-5.8 O.I.S.
Telephoto:
  • Lumix 45-200mm f/4-5.6 O.I.S.
  • Lumix 100-300mm f/4-5.6 O.I.S.
  • Leica DG Macro-Elmarit 45mm f/2.8 O.I.S. (1:1 macro, due soon)
So what's missing?  That depends on who you ask, but I find it curious that neither Four Thirds nor Micro Four Thirds have a standard portrait lens in the lineup.  Sure one can use the Zuiko Digital 50mm f/2 macro, but that lens is slow to focus, requires an adapter, and has a smaller maximum aperture than I'd like in a lens which should ideally be suited to indoor situational photography.  The recently announced Leica 45/2.8 will also likely be a good portrait lens but again on the slow side.  We also have the Sigma 50/1.4, but that too requires an adapter is quite a heavy lens to pair with a Micro Four Thirds camera and standard lens.

What I'd like to see is a high quality optic with the following characteristics:
  • Fixed focal length between 37.5mm and 67.5mm
  • At least f/1.8 speed and preferably f/1.4
  • Quick autofocus
What else is missing from the roadmap?  What lens would you like to see for your Micro Four Thirds camera?

Posted by Amin

 
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