Yongnuo 42.5mm f1.7 Mark II, finally a good lens? - RED35 Review

[@robinschaeffer6252]

I got that lens with a used camera I purchased. It is a very nice lens, fairly sharp and quickly focuses. It is reasonably small and light weight and fits well in the M4/3 system. A bargain even if purchased for $138 as advertised. I found on the Olympus cameras if you set them to AF+MF you can first use the auto focus to get close and then turn the ring to move the focus point to the exact place you want it to be. You don't need to change the position of the AF/MF button on the lens (you can leave it in the auto focus position). This makes it easy to focus on a subject behind something in the foreground that the auto focus is focusing on. I don't have the Olympus or Panasonic equivalent lenses, but don't feel the need for them as long as this lens keeps working.

[@Csnumber1]

As a Videographer using the JVC GY-LS300(2), a 35mm Sensor Cinema Camera (although JVC never marketed it as such) with an active Micro Four Thirds Mount, I have found your reviews to be the single most informative, as they are concise and crisp and focus on MFT offerings. With just enough humor, they never get "silly"!! I am looking for faster, autofocus primes for my Video work. I love the Olympus Pro Lenses and am leaning to the 45 - 1.8. Primes are ideal when using Matt Boxes on rails for shooting video. Keep up the great work Jimmy!!!!

[@garys639]

Good to see the background is not busy,interesting little lens,thanks for the review Jimmy.

[@Red35Photography]

Thanks for watching Gary! Yes, I was pleasantly surprised with the results. Wait for my comparison with Olympus' 45mm 1.8 :)

[@blcsuperdave]

Once again, well done Mr. Cheng. I have been looking at a used Panasonic 42.5 but now I am leaning toward the Yongnuo. Great timing. Thank you.

[@1redgate8]

Did you get one, and what's your thoughts?

[@I_Am_Bone]

Seems ok, but happily just ordered a used Oly 45 f1.8 for same price. Patience in lens searching can definitely pay off. That's how I also found my 12-40 f2.8 Pro for half of new retail.

[@Red35Photography]

Absolutely, this is of course taking about new prices :) Indeed patience is definitely important and there are definitely deals to steal around.

[@MrRoqblok]

Nice follow-up on the Yongnuo. I have the Olympus 45 f1.8 and the Yi 42.5 f1.7. i like them both for different reasons. All my portraits are with the Olympus. I have used the Yi for portraits but like the Macro feature on the Yi if just going out and shooting for fun. Plus the Yi is so in-expensive that if the lens mount wears a little, it is easily replaced with a new lens that does break the bank. I spend more money on coffee in a few months than the cost of the Yi. Prospective.

[@RobTrek]

Great review, Jimmy! Good to see they fixed C-AF problems I was having with the Mark I version.

[@Red35Photography]

Cheers Rob. Yes I wasn't going to review this but after watching yours and then they called, I thought, it would be good to see if they have fixed anything and as bad as your mark 1 or got better.

[@ricardoibanez9456]

I recently bought this lens...thank you for your references!!!

[@TerenceKearns]

This looks like a nice telephoto gimbal-friendly lens for video. Cirtainly cheaper than a cineprime but has nice constant focus with a long throw. Perfect for my Weebill follow focus motor.

[@stephanweiskorn6760]

Excellent video 😮!

[@rwilifeandtravel]

I don't have an Olympus camera but I enjoyed your lens review.

[@Red35Photography]

Cheers mate! Glad you enjoy my contents :) I hope to bring more universal contents later including real shoots and vlogs.

[@eertje01]

I have this lens and I love it! On the exif data though, it shows that it is 43mm rather than 42.5. Is this the same for other Yongnuo owners as well?

[@krismataslipknot]

Amazing video man ! Really helpful

[@okimurafranck7672]

cool review Yongnuo my favourite lenses subscribed

[@glennobrien5039]

It's £124.80 on eBay, direct from China. As opposed to £107.95 + £7.95 postage on eBay for the Olympus 45mm f1.8. That's unusually low for an Olympus 45mm on eBay but........ I think I'll stick with my 12-40 & 12-100 Pro lenses. Interesting video though. Keep them coming Jimmy. 👍👍👍

[@Red35Photography]

That's a steal Glenn! For that price, you can't argue really :)

[@jacuswoczega9180]

How durable is "improved" YN 42.5 ? Problem with test in the beginning after purchase says nothing, did the lens stil be in working condition 2-3 years after, i.e. mechanical gears

[@ubacow7109]

I've always wondered who made the lenses for xiaomi YI?

[@StephenStrangways]

The Yi lenses were made by Asia Optical in Taiwan, who also made the Kodak PixPro S1 lenses.

[@e_yenstudio1539]

I use this len with my GH5s and the focus ring direction is invert from my other lens. Is this correct? #sorry for my eng

[@leonfourie5717]

Nice review Jimmy. To be honest, I mostly try to get the olympus or panasonic lenses and the only other brand I might consider is the Laowa from Venus company. But the Loawa lenses are also a bit pricy and not big range in mft mount.

[@MatthiasBouillon]

Don't forget Sigma. They make some interesting lenses for MFT

[@leonfourie5717]

@@MatthiasBouillon Sorry, yes Sigma is also on my purchase list. Had some good Sigma glass when still with Nikon Aps-c

[@StephenStrangways]

Unfortunately all the Sigma lenses for m43rds are just APS-C lenses with different mounts, so they are larger than they really need to be, and I think they are odd focal length choices for m43rds.

[@MatthiasBouillon]

@@StephenStrangways that's true, but the 56mm is a dream 😊

[@StephenStrangways]

@@MatthiasBouillon if I got any of them, that would be the one. Hard for me to justify as I already own a 42.5mm, 45mm, and 50mm, but still I'd love to try one out if I could find one at the right price.

[@KinChungE]

Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 also feature linear MF, but that's too fast instead of too slow

[@Red35Photography]

Yeah I know. I had the PanaLeica 25mm 1.4 before and I could never judge the focusing. Hence, for video people, or anyone who love using MF, Olympus's manual clutch is always a great option if you want to have the luxury of AF.

[@mariabvcasal]

Como lo veis para video en una gh5 y un gimbal?

[@clanmac66]

Are the Chinese manufacturers bringing out or have M43 affordable zoom lenses?

[@Red35Photography]

Yi has zoom lenses but not widely available as you have to order direct from China. For now, most Chinese lenses are manual focus, as they are easier to implement.

[@clanmac66]

@@Red35Photography Thank you for the insight, Archie. :-)

[@-arcane-]

Please compare it to the yi as well if that is possible.

[@kinaiyastudios56]

Can this do full body portraits ?

[@joecarey7123]

Does this work with the original em1? I saw a list of compatibles and it was not there, among many others. I wonder if it only works on a limited range. I was thinking of picking one up for travel, but not if it doesn't work. I never bring the newest gear away on holiday. Has anybody any answer for reassurance?

[@robinschaeffer6252]

I tested it on the em5 , the em5ii and the Em1ii and it worked on those, so I would be surprised if it didn't work on the original Em1

[@halcyonmemoirs]

Great video! I've been eyeing this lens to use on my E-P3. Do you think it will look big on it?

[@Red35Photography]

Cheers mate. It won't look too big, on EP3, it's bigger than your pancake lens and may be a tad bigger than the kit zoom, but not by much, but you do get a reasonable 1.7 aperture and can blur the background quite nicely for portraits.

[@robinschaeffer6252]

It is about half the size of the kit 40-150 which I think still looks O.K. on my E-P3.

[@mtleealex]

sadly I had the olympus 45mm f1.8 prime lens, love it so much and the muffin are beautiful....yummy

[@Red35Photography]

Thanks for watching mate. Oh yes, the Only 45mm 1.8 is a great lens, wait for my comparison video and you will be relief to see ;) Oh yes, those muffins were nice.

[@mtleealex]

@@Red35Photography sure jimmy.... I will wait for your coming comparison video soon....by the way bake some more muffin for me hahahahaha

[@erin758]

$75 here and I have to remind myself that it has autofocus.

[@1957PLATO]

Your audio sounds very muffled, Jimmy.

[@Red35Photography]

Weird mate, my setting hasn't changed, nor done anything in post, could it be YT?? My end sounds just normal.

[@tobykelsey4459]

@@Red35Photography I watched your video after Rob's review. Your voice here is definitely more muffled then his. Maybe treble balance?

[@faroukr]

lower the volume of your intro, or raise the volume of your voice, so that the music is not so jarring. it's very loud compared to your voice.

[@marshazangroniz9168]

I agree with you.

[@Red35Photography]

noted, I will watch the levels mate.

[@faroukr]

@@Red35Photography a compressor in your editing software would do it.

[@WhoIsSerafin]

Well there is definitely no shortage of primes from 3rd party manufacturers.

[@Red35Photography]

Yes, and I have a few more coming :)

[@willemmostert1534]

Who is the founder of this brand ? and is the intellectual property copied and put back on the market at a cheap rate.. as the country of manufacturing does exactly that ? Current state of our world it’s important who we support..

[@StephenStrangways]

While I don't know about their lenses, they used RGB LED technology in some of their lights that is patented by Philips, and they did properly license it from them - the Philips website lists Yongnuo as one of their licensees. So that's good news.

[@Red35Photography]

They are also an official M43 alliance member if you look up the list of companies. So they are legit. They can't use the M43 logo on the body or box without being a member, otherwise, will be illegal.