Recently I’ve been considering a new lens purchase for my olympus dslr, but can’t decide whether to get the 25mm f2.8 or the 50mm f2.0. The 25mm essentially becomes a standard 50mm lens on my 4/3 olympus, and the 50mm acts as a 100mm. The larger aperture on the 50mm is certainly nice to have while shooting in low-light situations and the macro feature is a bonus, although I don’t do much macro work.

On the other hand, the 25mm pancake lens is a great choice because of its small form factor and light weight. The other main differences here are price and quality. The 50mm lens is $200 more than the 25mm and sits in olympus’s “high-grade” lens bracket whereas the 25mm is deemed a “standard” lens. I already own one of the zuiko “high-grade” lenses and have been happy with the quality of the images and the lens build itself, so i’d imagine the 50mm would be comparable. I’ve heard mixed reviews about the 25mm pancake lens however, some stating that it has noticeable chromatic aberration at the edges and just isn’t as sharp as their higher-grade lenses.

Really, what it all boils down to though, is whether or not the lens will be useful for me and the type of photography I do. The 50mm f2.0 would make a great action, portrait, and low-light lens. The 25mm on the other hand would make a great street photography lens and all-around performer. It most likely won’t have the versatility of the 50mm though, with it’s built in macro and short telephoto reach. And if that wasn’t enough for me to make a decision, dpreview had this to say about the 50mm, “Quite simply, every E-system user should own one.” So, all in all, I’m leaning towards the 50mm. There I said it. However, if someone can prove to me that I should turn my attention back to the 25mm, I’m all ears.

Throughout this process, I began to think about the steps I normally take while researching a lens purchase. Just for kicks, I’d like to share my typical pattern with you. It goes something like this:

1. Look at flickr for sample photos. – check.
2. Look at manufacturers website for more info/photos. – check.
3. Look at pricing online at reputable online dealer such as B&H. – check.
4. Look at dpreview. – check.
5. Get distracted looking at all the other lenses available. – yup, check.
6. Debate some more. – check.
7. Check craigslist to see if anybody is selling one for dirt cheap. – come on, you know you do it too!
8. And debate even more? – check.

Of course, after much debate I usually make up my mind, but I’m still on the fence about this one. If anybody has used or currently owns one of these lenses and can provide their personal insight on the matter, I would love to hear it! Just leave your comment below and lemme know what you think.