Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40 mm F2.8 PRO Lens, Universal Zoom, Suitable for All MFT Cameras (Olympus OM-D & PEN Models, Panasonic G-Series), Black

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The focusing ring is just like the previous one’s: it can slip into manual focus mode if you pull it back.

Flare is very well controlled, and although you'll still need to stop down to avoid excess coma that's hardly a fault unique to this design. It is clear, though, that the exceptionally good performance in the 12-25 mm range was paid for by weaker results at the maximum focal length. This lens will help you capture stunning close-up shots of insects, leaves and flowers and other small objects.Nottinghamshire based creative, with a focus on branding, digital and print design alongside photography. At the longer focal lengths, however, we saw very low CA between 30-40mm, which was lower on average than the wider focal lengths. PRO, which is well known for its high resolution, and incorporates an optical design with 15 elements in 9 groups (2 ED lenses, 1 Super ED lens, 1 HR lens and 2 aspherical lens).

Nоt оnlу dоеѕ thіѕ lеnѕ lооk thе раrt, wіth іtѕ ѕlееk аnd ѕtуlіѕh dеѕіgn; іt аlѕо іѕ buіlt fоr рrоfеѕѕіоnаl uѕе. Standard wide-angle to portrait-length zoom lens is designed for Micro Four Thirds mirrorless cameras and provides a 24-80mm equivalent focal length range. It looks and feels sturdy and handy – undoubtedly a pro lens – but mounted on an EM-5 the whole thing is far from a small and lightweight package. The camera-lens combo is capable of locking focus on a subject almost instantly, even when alternating between close and faraway subjects.First is the zoom range, I’ve always shot 28mm, but having the 80mm possibility, sometimes I found myself exploring these focal lengths. Like the previous example, this lens will get you similar focal lengths, but at the cost of a fast, constant aperture. But honestly, if I’m out for a hike, nipping overnight to London, if I’m taking landscape photos or even if I’m just not sure where the day is gonna take me, I’m going to throw the Oly 12-40mm on, chuck my camera on my strap or capture clip (FYI- best non-tripod accessory I’ve ever added to my kit) and get on with it and not worry about my kit. The high overall vignetting levels seem to indicate to me that the image circle of this lens is barely covering the m4/3 frame. Focusing is internal, so the length of the lens does not change, but the zoom ring is mechanical and the lens does extend as we zoom in to 40mm.

Part of that is that fact that they sit close together, part that they’re exactly the same diameter, and part because the material used is a little slick, which masks the change in texture. Chris's editorial work includes not only editing and scheduling articles but also writing them himself. I have no scientific test or anything, but I am pretty sure that that lens and the PEN F or any higher end mu43 can hold their own against the higher end Canons.For me, 12-40mm covers the focal lengths that I shoot at 95% of the time (my 45-150 covers the rest), and it has a fixed aperture of f2. We shoot both images using the default JPEG settings and manual white balance of our test bodies, so the images should be quite consistent from lens to lens. In the case of that body the highest results, reached by the best fixed focus lenses, amount to about 80 lpmm. We did see some diffraction softness come into play at the smaller apertures such as ƒ/16-ƒ/22, but overall it wasn't very severe. The good news is that the area of highly vignetted results is very much pushed out into the corners, and it shows a circular pattern.

Being the only wide-angle zoom lens I own right now, I have used it a lot on the Lumix GH4 and the AF is accurate and very fast. It's also a rugged lens with splash-, dust- and freeze-proof construction, which makes it a great match with the equally-rugged E-M1. It’s around the same weight, still has the same aperture blades, and retains many of the same specs as the original lens. The black and white images are really beautiful, really like the photo of your son against that saturated red of the car.FAVORITE SUBJECT TO PHOTOGRAPH: Chris enjoys creating conceptual work that makes people stare at his photos. When mounting this lens to a camera, it feels very securely locked in the mount, with the weather-sealing gasket providing a tight, reassuringly snug fit. In May I was away for five days in Dubai for a business travel reportage job and 70% of my pictures were taken with the 12-40mm. That is not the case with the PEN F and the 12-40mm, I already made a lot of family shots, personal work and paid work with it.