How PRIME LENSES Will Change the Way You See the World

[@jimmywestphoto]

Do you own any primes? Which ones? If not, are you planning to buy? 😄

[@MisterFoxzee]

Absolutely loved this video, you seem like an awesome guy! I'll definitely be thinking of your tips and reasons when looking for new lenses. A prime lens is definitely on my mind, I'm just not sure which one yet. Keep this going man! You've got my sub forsure ^-^

[@jimmywestphoto]

What an awesome comment! Thank you so much. Which primes have you been looking at? And for which camera? Thanks for the sub! Wishing you the best of 2025 Jimmy

[@MisterFoxzee]

@@jimmywestphoto Thanks Jimmy! I've been looking at a few different vocal lengths in lenses. Something between the 20-30mm is always a good option but I doubt if I need it or not. I've also been looking at the 105mm from Sigma. Definitely a lot of options out there!

[@robertvolk5252]

I shoot with the E-M5 III. I bought the Olympus 17 f1.8 to compliment my f4 lenses. I wanted something light and fast for low light situations, I usually keep the 12-45 f4 on my camera at all times like you. After watching a Thomas Eisl video I decided to buy the 20 f1.4 Pro. It balances nicely on the camera, the bokeh is beautiful, and the color rendering is really nice. I prefer it to the 17 now! Thanks for your videos. Love your channel.

[@jimmywestphoto]

Oh, that sounds like a fantastic setup! I've loved my 12-45 dearly, but I'm actually thinking about selling it right now to fund more primes. I did buy the 17mm f/1.8 just yesterday. Unfortunately, it's not weather-sealed, which makes me hesitant to let go of the 12-45. How did you find the color rendering on the 17 f/1.8? Wishing you the best for 2025, and thank you so much for the kind words-it really means a lot. Cheers, Jimmy

[@sebzematik]

I've used the Oly primes 17mm/1.8, 25mm/1.8 and 45mm/1.8 for more than ten years with my OM-D E-M10 and E-M10 m3. I love how small and light they are, and how good the pictures turned out. I am far from being anywhere near professional, so no clue about rendering etc, I just liked the sharpness and the colours. Sometimes it was a hassle to change the lenses when being with people - shooting portraits and sceneries at the same time is tricky. Sticking to just one focal length is a good way to getting used to certain frames for sure, and I have enjoyed that as well. When I bought the OM5 last September, I also got the Oly 20mm/1.4 pro, and my latest purchase is the rather old Oly 75mm/1.8 but I haven't used any of them much lately as I was busy digitalizing my father's slides from the 80s with the Oly 60mm/2.8 macro (and the Valoi easy35). For taking pictures of friends and family during the holidays I took the lazy route using just the Oly 12-40mm/2.8 pro lens. I do need to go out more, I am aware of that, and I will definitely go with just one prime at a time. Thanks for your thoughts and the beautiful photos you shared, as usual!

[@jimmywestphoto]

Oh, I've heard so many good things about the 17mm f/1.8! Enough that I ended up buying one second-hand, even though it's not weather-sealed (I'm still waiting for delivery). But honestly, I figure I can always rely on my 12-45mm if the weather gets really rough. I've also heard that the 17mm f/1.8 holds up pretty well in less-than-ideal conditions-have you found that to be true? Getting your father's slides digitalized sounds like such a rewarding project. How are you finding the process? Is it smooth with the 60mm macro, or has it been a bit tricky? It’s such a meaningful way to preserve those memories. And thank you so much for the kind words-it’s always a pleasure seeing you here. Wishing you an amazing 2025! Jimmy

[@sebzematik]

@@jimmywestphoto Aww, thanks also for your kind words, wishing you and everyone around a fabulous 2025 as well, of course. I think that due to the aperture of 1.8 the small primes are all working very well in difficult conditions. Since the E-M10 is not weather sealed it has never been an issue for me. I just kept them warm and dry indoors. ;D But you have your solution at hand when the conditions are tough. I am really looking forward to seeing your results! I did the digitalizing of the slides (and negatives as well) already once with some cheap device, and I was never satisfied with the outcome. So when I read about the Valoi easy35 (from Kamerastore in Tampere, btw) I got all excited and started to do it all again. It does take a lot of time but for me it is worth the effort. Cheers from Berlin, Seb

[@jpsteiner2]

The OM Systems 20mm f/1.4 pairs well with the OM-5. You'll love it, and it's weather sealed. I owned and used almost exclusively, the 17mm f/1.8 for about a year. I was amazed how much using one lens at one focal length for many months improved my composition and my ability to 'see' a photo without my camera. Today, I probably use the 20mm f/1.4 more than the 17mm. Funny story, I bought the lens used from a guy who preferred 17mm and was selling his 20mm. For me, the rank order is: 20mm, 17mm, 25mm and 45mm, with the 45mm being used only about 5-10% of the time.

[@jimmywestphoto]

I'm sure I'd love the 20mm f/1.4, but the size, man-it’s almost as big as the 12-45 that's what makes me hesistant. Even though weight isn’t an issue, I want something small and portable. I don’t know why I’m that sensitive, though-it’s not like I walk around cities doing street photography! 😂 I did end up buying the 17mm f/1.8 just yesterday, and I hope it arrives next week. I also own the 45mm, and while everyone says it’s such a great lens, I don’t find it useful for much besides portraits. Where do you find yourself using the 45mm the most? Wishing you all the best for 2025! Cheers, Jimmy

[@jimmywestphoto]

@jpsteiner2 Hey! Since KZbin doesn't have a PM function I pray you'll get this notice and see this message. Do you know if It's possible on the OM-5 to AF Lock on the AEL/AFL button? Currently I'm just BBF but I want to experiment with C-AF on half-press on shutter, but then being able to lock AF with AEL/AFL instead. I can't get it to work in the menu and I don't find anything about it on the forums Cheers! Jimmy

[@innercityunit2112]

I think you give great advice here and that's exactly how I did it, using a standard zoom kit lens, a good number of years back. Most people who are new to photography will end up with a camera and corresponding kit lens and when you start out, understandably, you kind of zoom in and zoom out, all excited, with no real understanding or direction. But the, after mastering the basics, you begin to see which are your favourite focal lengths and hone in to 28/35/50/85, for example, and once you start understanding those, that's when a real buzz starts to happen, so it's excellent advice you give and there will always be a place for zooms and always be a place for primes. I'm shooting a lot of 50mm (FF) B&W at the minute and loving it. There's so much one can do, so many different directions to take with photography, it can really never get stale... Great video and really nice shots and I love that, to my eyes at least, slightly desaturated (or, saturated just to the right level), ancient creamy look to your colours.

[@jimmywestphoto]

Thank you so much for the kind words-I really appreciate it! I completely agree with you about the progression from experimenting with a kit lens to discovering your favorite focal lengths-it’s such an exciting journey. There really is a place for both zooms and primes, and the process of honing in on specific focal lengths is so rewarding. Shooting 50mm B&W sounds incredible-it’s such a classic and versatile focal length. I’ve been meaning to try B&W more seriously myself; it has this way of stripping a photo down to its essence that’s so powerful. Do you usually do walkabouts with the 50mm, or is it more specific shoots? Also, thanks so much for the compliment on my colors. Wishing you a fantastic 2025! Cheers, Jimmy

[@innercityunit2112]

@@jimmywestphoto Hi Jimmy, I usually do photo walkabouts with 50mm and 35mm, as they cover most of what I need. This is a topic we could discuss endlessly since it’s both technically objective and highly subjective, depending on the photographer’s artistic vision and the moments they aim to capture. 50mm is fantastic for a more subject-centric approach. Its natural looking perspective helps create clean, minimal compositions, while its ability to isolate subjects makes it ideal for portraits or tightly framed scenes. On the other hand, the 35mm excels when context and storytelling are a priority. Its wider field of view provides more of a sense of immersion, making it perfect for tight spaces like street markets or tighter urban environments, so I switch between the two focal lengths accordingly. As I like/try to keep things as simple simple as possible on the move, these are my main go-to focal lengths. Occasionally, I’ll shoot 28mm for establishing shots or switch to 85mm when I want more subject isolation and compression, but I love 35 and 50. I think your 40mm sits in a sweet spot between 35 and 50mm, offering a versatile balance of context and subject isolation, so it’s definitely a great choice!

[@Mike-VR]

Hi Jimmy, I really enjoyed your video. Your style resembles another well known KZbin photographer .... :)

[@jimmywestphoto]

I would believe so.

[@WhoIsSerafin]

Glad you are enjoying the 20mm. Thinking I may have been the one who influenced you a little 😂. I got the 12mm last week. Don’t ask me how good it is 😜 I have the pro 17mm and it’s my favorite lens of all time from any brand. It’s that good.

[@jimmywestphoto]

MMMmm, you definitely helped spark a new addiction-primes! Now, every time I head out with my camera, I’m thinking in primes. 😂 Just today, I picked up the Olympus 17mm f/1.8 (non-pro). Got it for around $180 USD (2000 SEK). I know the pro version is amazing, but the size just isn’t my thing. I also considered some manual options like the TTArtisan 17mm or the newer Yongnuo 17mm, but they felt a bit too bulky for what I prefer. This little Olympus seems like the perfect size 😊 You got any experiences with this lens?-Fail or Win 😅

[@WhoIsSerafin]

@ I didn’t like the 17mm 1.8. It felt like the camera had to do a lot of in camera corrections maybe? Something just felt off with the rendering I couldn’t put into words. Maybe it’s just me? I think your 20mm gives better rendering by far. But I’m telling you, you get that 17mm pro you will get used to the extra size. It’s just plain worth it with its lovely rendering. I’ve owned the laowa 6mm lens and it was excellent. But I just found I had very little use for a 6mm lens that wide. But they do make excellent lenses.

[@pikku-iikka]

Hello again! Nice photos with a nice lens and a useful practicing tip. As it happens, I just yesterday ordered a used Olympus M.Zuiko 17mm f1.8 from our superb Kamerastore in Tampere (Tammerfors) - (some must-see-videos about them here to search...). I also thought about the Panasonic 20mm, as it seems to be sharper in full aperture. But since I already have the Oly 25mm, and because the Oly 17mm is just so cool looking with the Dof markings and MF clutch, I presume I'll be satisfied with it's picture quality. If not, it is so easy to sell back and get something else. The 25mm has been great in low light situations like churches, but just a bit too narrow many times. Next weeks will show, if the 17mm will stick to my OM-5 for forever.

[@jimmywestphoto]

Thank you, and hello again! Funny enough, I also ended up buying the 17mm f/1.8 just yesterday. It really does have such a cool look with those DoF markings and the MF clutch-I couldn’t resist either. Please let me know how you think it performs once you've had some time with it! Wishing you all the best for 2025. Cheers, Jimmy

[@ninemile30]

As someone umming and erring over pulling the trigger on their first prime, and that prime being 30mm sigma for aps-c, I feel targeted! Happily I might add. Oh, and, I live at a beach!

[@jimmywestphoto]

Oh, that'd be a very nice 45mm FF equivalent! I mean, you don't have to ask me what I think you should do... And that's great, leaving near the sea. I have around an hour, hour and a half in either direction before I'm at the coast 😅 Have a great weekend Jimmy