What are the best prime lenses for Micro Four Thirds street photography?

Question

Hey everyone! I recently switched over to a Panasonic GX9 because my old DSLR was just too heavy for long walks. I am looking for a solid prime lens to use for street photography, but I am stuck between a few options.

I really want something small and discreet for shooting in the city. I have been looking at:

The Panasonic 15mm f1.7

The Olympus 17mm f1.8

The Lumix 20mm f1.7

I mostly shoot candid shots, so fast autofocus is a huge deal for me. I have heard the 20mm is a bit slow to focus, which makes me nervous. Does anyone have experience with these on a Lumix body? Which one would you recommend for the best balance of size and speed?

Danielhox · Accepted Answer

Honestly, grab the Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 15mm f/1.7 ASPH. I have shot with all three and it is the only one that stays snappy on the GX9 for street stuff. You were right to worry about the Panasonic Lumix G 20mm f/1.7 II ASPH—it is a classic but the focus is way too slow for candids. The 15mm is basically glued to my camera now.

OpalOracle · Answer

Had a moment to think about this more and wanted to share my experience. I spent a long time tracking the technical specs of these AF motors because I hate missing focus. My journey with the GX9 really improved when I started using lenses with internal focusing. I ended up loving the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 17mm f/1.8 for street work. It uses a MSC mechanism which stands for Movie and Still Compatible, basically meaning it is super quiet and quick. If you really want that tiny footprint, you should look at the Panasonic Lumix G 14mm f/2.5 II ASPH too. It is a genuine pancake lens and the AF is surprisingly snappy for its size. Quick tips:

Use AF-S mode instead of AF-C to minimize that DFD contrast hunting.

Turn off your focus assist light to stay discreet in the city.