As usual I am continually updating this post!
My first impression:
Olympus announced a new kit lens with slow aperture and not so low price ($499). But the real strengths of the lens are the new powerzoom feature, macro focusing and the weather sealed body. It also should have a high optical quality. I think the lens would have made a lot of sense if launched along a new weather sealed PEN camera. But I guess that camera is coming soon anyway…
Press release links:
Pictures of the silver version and lens with hood at Fotopolis. Picture of lens with hood at TV.smith.
Olympus Asia
German press release at Photoscala.
Quesabesde (spanish).
Focus Numerique (french).
Dpreview
Lens resolution chart:
Poll:
Before to vote take some time to think! 🙂
[poll id=”105″]
Full press release:
CENTER VALLEY, Pa., December 14, 2011 – Olympus adds to its powerfully simple and growing PEN family with the first fully-compatible interchangeable Micro Four Thirds lens to incorporate an electronic motorized zoom. The M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 12-50mm F3.5-6.3 EZ (35mm equivalent 24–100mm) delivers smooth, quiet zooming that gives you versatility, portability and maximizes the performance of the Olympus PEN® compact system cameras.
The sophisticated new lens has a zoom ratio of approximately 4.2x, allowing photographers to capture anything from detailed, wide-angle group shots to medium telephoto-range images so you can get up close and personal for intimate portraits of children and pets – even indoors. The photographer can control the zooming speed by turning the barrel – slowly for drama, quickly for performance, or at an intermediate rate. Manual zooming is also available for those looking to take full control.
In macro mode, which can be set by pushing the zoom ring forward while depressing the macro button on the side of the lens, focusing is possible between 8 and 20 inches for close-up shooting with a maximum image magnification of 0.72X (35mm camera equivalent). The L-Fn (Lens Function) button suspends the autofocusing operation temporarily to avoid unintended focusing on obstacles that appear suddenly between the camera and the subject.
Perfect for brilliant still images and high-definition (HD) video capture, the Movie & Still Compatible (MSC) M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 12-50mm F3.5-6.3 EZ has also been enhanced with a linear motor that drives smooth and quiet autofocusing for stress-free shooting.
New lens elements and glass materials ensure the clearest possible imaging performance, and the proven dust and splashproof mechanism originally featured in the Four Thirds SHG (Super High Grade) series lenses is now incorporated for the first time in a Micro Four Thirds System lens. Multiple sealing rings, fitted throughout the lens body, prevent water splashes and dust from penetrating, making the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 12-50mm f3.5-6.3 EZ a versatile zoom lens for the toughest conditions.
U.S. Pricing and Availability
M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 12-50mm f3.5-6.3 EZ: Available Mid-January 2012
Estimated Street Price: $499.99
224 Responses
Size and weight ? Looks too big for it’s aperture range – maybe 55mm wide and 85mm long ?
F/6.3 with the current Oly sensor is way behind the competition. Is there a new sensor on the way ?
I’ll pass and wait for the Panasonic 12-35mm
Yeah, it looks like it’s 80-85mm long. That is roughly the maximum size limit that PEN cameras can handle (and in turn dictates how fast the lens can be).
The 12-35 and 35-100 from Panasonic are going to be bigger, but Panasonic also has bigger camera bodies to accomodate bigger lenses.
Why is this the maximum length?
It’s a max length picked by Booooooooo based on his preferences. I tend to agree though, much bigger and it wont feel “right” on a small body.
It’s the “maximum” length, due to how the centre of mass works. The camera tends to feel right if the lens doesn’t want to tip it over. The longer and heavier the lens, the worse things get when handling the camera – and you get lovely wrist strain, too.
this looks like a good all round versatile lens for an all round versatile photographer/videographer that will sit well on Pen/Lumix bodies, it may well come as part of a kit (thus be better value) and the weather sealing bodes well for 2012 announcements for Micro Four Thirds 😀
All-round, except indoors.
Shoot high ISO RAW and apply noise reduction. Won’t be top notch IQ, but it will work indoors.
well at F6.3 and 90-100mm (FF) you will get such a big DOF that you better use:
Olympus XZ-1 (10Mpx CCD) with its F2.8 or Canon G13 (to be released in 3 months with bigger/improved 12MPsensor – same MPs as olympus) and you’ll gain.
– same DOF if not better 😉
– faster lens so you don’t need to bump ISO to 1600+ to get at least some picture (where noise from E-P3 is horrible even in RAW) because you’re simply shooting with F2.8 or (max) F3.5 on Canon
– zillion times smaller camera + 3 times as cheap + lightweight to carry with you, still RAW + many manual capabilities
they absolutely missed the point of m43 system cameras, if I want to carry such a big lens, which is expensive and low-performing, I choose DSLR or Sony NEX systems – both of which can laugh on Oly sensors + Lenses – and mostly, I pay the same price (3 years old sensor E-P3 for £700 here is laugable!).
If I correctly understand, a new announced kit zoom miss your point based on its tele end therefore I should sell my gear and go for dslr or NEX. Is that what you mean?
As for XZ-1 or G13, specs is not everything. Just because a compact camera has PASM, RAW files and a zoom does not mean it operates quick and smooth. So far I can tell, all the “advanced compact” I ever tried are no substitute to m43. I don’t want any of them nor should I use them.
As for EP3’s ISO. I’ll trust my own judgment when I see it. When exposing to the right, My GH-2 is very usable at ISO 3200+ on RAW. Thats good enough for me.
> …does not mean it operates quick and smooth. So far I can tell, all the “advanced compact” I ever tried are no substitute to m43.
Every single m4/3 body lacks adequate controls and ergonomy to be real substitute for any E-30 level enthusiast DSLR or even seven years old (Konica)Minolta Dimage A1 and A2 “prosumer compacts”. (Canon Powershot Gs are Point&shoots compared to those)
Like you mentioned specs not being everything that covers m4/3 whose claimed high end controls/ergonomy are just that plain bullet-point engineering of marketroids.
True.
There is only that much magic designers can do with limited space. It would even worry me that dslr would lag behind in terms of ergonomy. Except maybe for excessive size, depending on the set-up.
facts:
– GH2 has the best m43 sensor to date.
– G3 is a bit worse, still great though.
– GF2/3 is much worse, but ok here and there, can’t match the aboves 2.
– E-P3 has the worst sensor out of these mentioned, that was the whole point.
ISO1600 is simply not usable, you need to shoot ISO 800-1000 max, sensor wise, to get better quality than similar pro compacts and not fall to their mushy-no-detail-territory.
Now you paid £700 _just_ for the body. Now with these lens you paid £1100 together. Now you set ISO to 800, F6.3, and you’ll try to take picture on 100mm focal range where IBIS come in handy indeed.
tell me, even with zillion of controls to your disposal compared to compacts – will you get proper shutter speed at rain/cloudy day/stormy windy snowy night that this lens is supposed to be used at?
absolutely not, I get twice as good picture with compact. But feel free to buy this lens. I am not defending the compacts as I absolutely agree with you they are the joke compared to m43 systems – but that was my point.
For my money and switch to m43, I want to kick to every compact user. I want to feel like a king. I want to laugh at them. Burry them to ground with their semi-pro looklike equipment. Childish?
maybe, but I want to justify anytime WHY am I paying so much and carrying my E-P3 and big lenses – not compact XZ-1 for that matter! So show me some magic like 20mm F1.7 or 45mm F1.8 or Pana-Leica or any good glass, not this please, unless it is a kit.
Perfect for the beach or ski slopes. To use it just take a permanent vacation! Be sure to stock up on sun screen! SPF 6.3. 😉
Spot on with the rumours Admin. Congratulations once again.
Was the rumor not for F/3.5-4 ? Or 5.6 at least.. but 6.3 ??? come on !
I could search for the original posts / rumours and the updates to back up my statement, but considering you have not bothered, why should I?
It was rhetorical.
Looking forward to the new one that will come next year, it will be 11-52 f4-f8 and only 5 cm bigger…
I was hoping that it could be a constant f4 like my Canon 24-105 even f4-5.6 could be ok but 6.3 is very hard to swallow.
It looks very nice though, it would look cool on a black EP3
PS I don’t get that hysteria with weather sealing, I have used my EP1 in a photo session on the beach. The camera and the humble 14-42 were repeatedly soaked by salt water splashes (huge ones, bigger that any rain storm). I just cleaned the camera and lens with a wet cloth and everything was fine. Todays cameras are very resilient.
great News. I hope the IQ is as good as the FT 14-54.
Not a complaint, but this thing is long! It looks like my Canon 24-105 4.0 L lens! Wow
I’m not doing video, so this lens is not for me, but:
– weathersealed!
– nice magnification
– interesting motorzoom concept
– comparatively cheap
Sorry..comparatively cheap with?
Weather sealed, WA, Macro, power zoom….OK, it’s slow, but very highly spec’d for a kit lens. I’m really looking forward to the body that this will mount on!
Looks long in the image above, but it’s obviously also very slim.
Nice work Olympus!
The AF hold button is interesting, make AF-C more usable for video?
Sorry, Olympus. The lens barrel is too long for my liking, no sale.
Too bad they couldn’t make it collapsing AND weather-sealed, like some of their P&S lenses. Should be smaller for as slow as it is. If it were 2.8-4.5, I would seriously consider it. As it is, I don’t see the point. Shame, I like the zoom range.
Still waiting for rangefinder body with fully-articulated (not tilt) screen!
Waiting patiently for a 10-60 f/11-f/64mm pinhole lens to be released.
LOL 😉
🙂
😀 RAOTFLOL!
with MSRP of $999?
Well, since it’s a pinhole lens that doesn’t need AF, I figure 99 bucks seems a fair price. Or I could just take a toilet paper core and craft my own lens.
um..that would not be weather-sealed…so how about $49.99.
Good stuff, assuming this means a weather-sealed body is on the way. Should be cheaper to get it in kit form along with that future sealed body. Hope they get that one out soon. I’ll hold on to my E-PL2 until then. 🙂
Good news about the weather seals. While I’m not crazy about this lens in particular, but I do like the look of it and the build quality. Looks like a very solid lens. However, I’m more excited about future lenses and hopefully a body all built to match this lens.
That said, it does now seem odd that the $800 12mm f/2 isn’t sealed. I wonder if they have any plans to fix that omission.
You may remember that the MKII MSC 14-42 kit lens was issued with the E-PL1s (Nov 2010) before the E-PL2 was introduced (Jan 2011), so there is an Olympus pattern of new lens before new body….
lens spec
http://omuser.com/viewthread.php?tid=174966&page=1#pid3418855
Weight 211g, 57x83cm
“57x83cm”
I hope they are wrong.
🙂
To compare with it’s closest 4/3 equivalent:
Panasonic LEICA D VARIO-ELMAR
14-50mm F3.8-5.6 ASPH. MEGA O.I.S.
# Filter size = 67mm
# Dimensions = φ74 x 93mm / φ2.91 x 3.66 in.
# Weight = 434g / 15.3 oz.
M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 12-50mm F3.5-6.3 EZ power zoom
Filter Size Diameter 52mm
Dimensions Diameter 57 x 83mm
Weight 211g
This is why I bought into m43, and would never have gone down the 4/3 route. I really hope that weather sealing is a sign that they have given up on four thirds. While I do appreciate that many four thirds users feel abandoned by Olympus, I feel that keeping an attachment to four thirds has held micro four thirds back for outdoor use. Time to move on!
That Leica is oversized. The 2.8-3.5 version is only slightly bigger than the 3.8-5.6. Not a fair comparison.
I also think youre like amalric – a guy who never bought anything but kit lenses and never invested into anything serious nor ever plans to. nobody in their right mind could tell 4/3 users to sod off.
Then compare it to the original 14-45 Panasonic kit lens which was 60×60 and weighed 195 grams. For an extra inch of length and the same weight you get weather sealing, better optical quality (promised but not proven at this point), 12 instead of 14 and a lens that does not change length as it zooms. The latter point is important if the lens is weather sealed because air has to get pumped in and out as a lens changes length which makes weather sealing more difficult.
While this lens is larger it is still very light. I want to see someone I trust test this lens before I believe it lives up the mid and high grade heritage Olympus is claiming for it though. If it is as good optically as the 43 12-60 I will pay $450 for it.
And you lose OIS. Why have power zoom without OIS? I know that Olympus is the leader of the anti OIS movement but power zoom is a video shooters draw. Is the macro functionality the benefactor of the power zoom?
If the lens could be brighter (than it is) because of the power zoom, then I might consider it, but I’ll stay with my 14-45 with OIS for now.
14-150mm F4-5.6
280g, 64×83 mm
12-50mm F3.5-6.3
211g, 57×83 mm
Not exactly a feat of engineering this new one, eh?
Well true to that
One good thing though this one share the same lens hood as 9-18mm
I have the 14mm-150mm (F/4.0-5.6), given the choice I would choose that again over this new lens.
+1
Another proud 14-150 mm lens owner. One of the reasons I’ve bought into the system. Unlike kit lenses, there haven’t been any remakes of it – and for a reason.
AFAIC, Oly and Pana just need to give us focus peaking updates for our cameras and I won’t care for their lenses anymore.
I really hope that maybe this is the kit lens to for the EP3, and a faster kit lens would be available for the Pen PRO. I can only hope =\
Well, it may not have te best aperture, but you can’t have a much more flexible lens then this, wide, macro, portrait distance tele, weather sealed…
If anyone need big aperture, get a prime
True, a prime makes more sense for those seeking a big aperture lens. But f/6.3 at 50mm (100mm eq.)? I guess I know nothing about video, but that seems surprisingly slow. Nice to see some weather sealing though. That is a good development.
I’m curious to see how this will look on the E-P3.
I don’t know much about video, but are larger apertures not as important in video? Also, for such a slow range, it sure does seem rather large….
Am I missing something?
I had hoped for an aperture ring- that was manual… but instead of that I have weather sealed? I’m still slightly piqued with interest. But:
Where the hell is the weather sealed Pen?
no offense to oly, but wow that ugly new zoom is probably the worst lens ever invented. f6.3 at 50mm is probably the slowest aperture made for a lens at that focal length.
and at that price point & size the oly 14-150mm looks much, much better
I seriously don’t know how anything positive can be said about this lens. they should’ve just added fast CDAF on 4/3 14-54mm MKII 2.8-3.5 & released it instead, saving R&D and make everyone happy
Here’s something for all of you that like to take a bath with your lens :). Not for me.
The best news is between the lines: this lens requires a higher spec body, with IBIS enabled for video and probably weather sealing. And knowing Oly release schedule, that’s coming at the end of January.
Huh, sounds like a good all-rounder for me.
Just think:
– little wider landscape shots than 20mm pancake
– “classic” 35 and 50mm focal lengths
– 100mm medium tele for interesting plants, flowers, parts of the buildings
– macro with horizontal FOV up to 24mm (and don’t forget about achromatic close-up lenses, just add Marumi +5 and get just 12mm hFOV at still big distance – enough for “full-body” shot of mid-sized spider or fly)
– no more worries about shooting in wet weather
– macro with silent powerzoom and focusing makes me thinking about shooting short videos about insects, the thing I didn’t even thought before.
It’s highly depends on the favorite subjects (definitely not for portrait shooters or birders), but it really has its purpose.
And I remember, how I payed $500 for my 20mm years ago. Checked the price now – it’s just $340. If 12-50 will drop to, maybe, $430, I’ll go for it, why not?
Now my “all-rounder” for long tele and macro is Vivitar 70-210 by Komine, full-metal pipe, suitable for crashing the sculls if attached to the stick like a Thor’s hammer. Who said 200g is something heavy?
‘little wider than 20mm pancake’
okay you’ve lost my attention and any credibility right there.
60% wider than the 20mm pancake.
Huh, who are you to say, what is “little” and “big” in this case and to judge somebody’s credibility by it?
Just another number-digging troll, I think.
Yes it matters. I remember my early day of work as an assistant for some huge nyorkers. The guy never call for a lens by it’s focal (and finally pretty usefull when you switch from medium format to 35 during the day) but by “wide”, “super wide” etc..
If i had consider that switching from 24 to 40mm was a “little wider”, i would have been fired instantly.
I could argue that it does not matter that much, if at all.
In academics, a chain is as strong as its biggest link, in which case no one is ever discredited simply on an error that slips in.
In other word, just because an University professor has a momentary brain cramp does not means he doesn’t know crap.
If the thesis makes sense, you only correct the error. On the other hand, if you think the thesis does not make sense, you need to pick several more errors and better yet, propose a solid counter-thesis.
Whatever was the case in the early days as an assistant for some huge nyorkers, I believe that this approach is best suited in the present context.
40 is a little wider than 50.
35 is a little wider than 40.
28 is a little wider than 35.
24 is a little wider than 28.
40 and 24 .. NOT even close.
Pricing and history does the judging.
Just look at the Nikkor 28mm vs 24mm AF-D for SLRs. Same brand, same quality, twice the price. Just for ‘a little’ more wide-angle, IMO completely justifiable.
But excuse the rudeness, maybe you are just mistaking the 20mm pancake with the 14mm pancake …
Come on Olympus. Are you kidding? Is this how you treat loyal users with f6.3 at the long end? Really disappointing. Yet another “kit” lens when we need some real photographer lenses.
For a kit lens this one is quite good… but I think that weather-sealed fast prime (in 17-25mm range) makes a lot more sense. m4/3 is created for primes.
And please, Oly, don’t make the future weather-sealed camera bulky and heavy like E-5. Take a look at NEX-7 – large grip, tilting (not articulating since it adds size and weakness) screen and brick-shaped body is all we need!
Btw, shame on Panasonic to have their new 45-175 not weather sealed.
Already up on their website, comes in silver too:
http://asia.olympus-imaging.com/products/dslr/mlenses/12-50_35-63_ez/
Why 0.35m/0.98ft? 0.35m = 1.15ft.
I wonder if the power zoom had to do with the f6.3 max aperture on the tele end. I don’t think weather sealing is needed in m43 as of the moment since they don’t have a weather sealed body to accompany it. How come oly labeled this a macro lens when this only has 0.36 magnification? Its not even a .5 magnification the same as the zd 50f2.0.
First time in years I’m happy with Olympus, this is just great release from Olympus. I know as a lens itself it’s bit slow, but if they make this “kit” lens with weather sealed body, I’m all in and I mean it. Then you got first sealed lens and body to start up for upgrades!
The lens itself is not particularly appealing to me due to its lack of brightness, but the fact that it is weather sealed is a clear hint, that future PENs will also be protected. As I usually shoot outdoor (often in rough conditions), weather sealing is much more important to me than high-ISO nonsense. Hopefuly, I will be able do adapt my FT HG and SHG lenses on this future PEN, though it could be a bit smaller than the E-3…
If it means there’s a body coming with a matching specification then I like it. Provided, of course, that the body is a top of the range PEN E-P4 and not one of the more point-and-shoot oriented models. Also, given its size and low speed it could have excellent optical qualities. I have the 45/1.8 for portraiture so I could probably live with the aperture at the long end and I would like the macro facility. All in all I think it’s a promising lens on several fronts.
Despite of its slow aperture, this lens may mark the beginning of professional era in mirrorless world.
I’m almost sure that both Panasonic and Olympus will release weather sealed bodies as well in the near future.
No, not interested. I just want more pancakes. Really dont care if they are only F2.8, just as long as they are small. Am I stupid or was not the m43 system made to be S M A L L ? Then more zooms is the last thing we need.. We got the panasonic 14-42mm X pancake-zoom. If the zoom cant be that size, whats the point? Then I could just take my dslr out with me instead… Crazy..
Looks like this waterproof lens is the best choice for the toughest conditions of a bright sunny day :)))
exactly
Why the HELL is such a slow lens weatherproof? What, youre going to shoot in torrential rain and cloudy gray low light with a 3.5-6.3 lens? seriously?
This lens is moronic.
Well… for use on a beach this one could be useful.
But I agree with you. 25mm f/1.4 weather sealed next time please, Oly. Along with weather-sealed body.
Why do you think there’s been the big push for higher ISO performance? So companies could sell cheap, slow lenses to witless consumers and still have them be usable.
So, your photos have a little extra noise, apply art filters! It’s a feature! 😉
Lol ! exactly what I was thinking !
Nice one! 😀 😀 😀
I really think that releasing this lens without the weather sealed Pen body that goes with it, is a fail. To me it looks nice, it’s probably well built but it’s slow. I am not sure that’s what micro four thirds needs. And I guess it’s not that small? I dunno.
I would imagine it will be very nicely sharp, and probably the “micro contrast” will be really nice. But F3.5-F6.x? Dunno.
I swear these m4/3 companies are making me sick. enough is enough. m4/3 users really need speed and they need speed more than anyone since m4/3 cams ISOs are disaster.
What the hell is 3.5-6.3, not only you have 2x crop factor and with disaster ISO how we can manage a bokeh with this lens. 6.3 @ 50mm are you kidding me ???????? and it costs $500 ?????
Dpreview just release a nex7 review and as i wrote in my previous comments i spent couple of days with it. I want to say to all small cam fans that stop investing to m4/3. believe me.. Since nex will launch 2 pancakes m4/3 will be history. And we both know that this is only matter of time..
Stop giving money to m4/3 companies who see us as cash cows
enough is enough
Hi George! Do not overreact- You know Panasonic will launch a 12-35mm and 35-100mm fast lens soon?
2.8 is not exactly “fast”…
Where are the 4/3 zuiko 2.0 constant zoom ?
I also just hope that “superzoom” will stop to be labelled as a “video feature” in marketing bullshit. Just look at the pro market, a video lens is :
-Rarely a zoom
-a constant aperture (with an even more accurate measure, “T” instead of “f”)
-a manual aperture control with no click
-no “breathing” whzn foccusing
Powerzoom is a camcorder gimmick, and a trend in photography that i hope will disapear as fast as it did in the nineties.
For a zoom lens, f2.8 is pretty damn fast. f2.0 would be better, but be prepared to surrender your first born son in exchange for it. 😉
2.0 zoom?…also..you will need a caddy to tote it around.
That, too. Buying is one thing. Carrying and using another.
Bearer… my lens! 😉
@ george
You’re making me laugh! As if the world will end if people will buy m43 stuff instead of next! Competition is good, product diversity is good. It’s good that we have so many choices to choose from. If you want the ultimate performace/ resolution, you can get fullframe, for ILC you can get nex7, for lens selection you can get any m43. As some people in here say, me might expect a weather sealed m43 body sooner than we think. I’ll still hang-on to my month old ep3.
Exciting times, is’nt it?!? =)
This is all about offering a better kit lens for an upcoming weathersealed camera. It’s intriguing but too slow for the price. I just can’t see many people buying this by itself – most people own one of the many kit lenses, if you then want to do macro then you are more likely to buy a proper macro lens rather than this. Oly release the lenses to cream off the early adopters whoust have the latest gear- wise people wait to pick it up for a small premium with the new body. Hey, at least Oly are offering a different option from the new Panny X kit. More choice is good.
So, it’s clear: around CES, Olympus will announce a step-up, weather sealed body with this as the kit lens. I. think it will be a true E-620 and/or E-30 replacement, which I’ve been waiting for over a year now… As a kit for such a camera, this lens is great; but I won’t buy it seperately.
On other news: has Olympus posted its revised results yet???
But, but what if an Oly weather sealed camera is DSLR styled and includes a vile and dreaded “hump”?
Will we be deafened by the wails of misery? Slip in rivers of blood from myriad gouged out eyes of betrayed PEN users. Fear to tread near tall buildings for dread of being crushed by the falling bodies of acolytes of the God Pocketable?
O fear, O terror, O sadness and misery await…
😀
“But, but what if an Oly weather sealed camera is DSLR styled and includes a vile and dreaded “hump”?”
I’ll take whatever has an articulated screen, EVF, IBIS and has reasonable size (GH2 and smaller).
> Fear to tread near tall buildings for dread of being crushed by the falling bodies of acolytes of the God Pocketable?
Good riddance I’ll say.
This third rock from the sun is rather overpopulated so if x+half dozen compacts isn’t enough for them I have no objections for them doing favour to environment.
And then some complain that I always look for the bad side of the things… 😉
So, it’s clear: around CES, Olympus will announce a step-up, weather sealed body with this as the kit lens. I think it will be a true E-620 and/or E-30 replacement, which I’ve been waiting for over a year now… As a kit for such a camera, this lens is great; but I won’t buy it seperately.
On other news: has Olympus posted its revised results yet???
YES! They managed to publish the results! Post coming soon on 43rumors!
@bilgy_no1
good news on the results is that Olympus appear to be solvent for the last 5 years, the tricky part is the last 1/4’s results which are still to come but if they can just turn this corner with new non-Woodford management the future looks promising 😀
Wish Olympus would have made it at least one stop faster, and even a constant aperture of 4 would have been okay. I don’t care about size, weight or weather sealing, but 100mm (35mm equiv. focal length) and 6.3 only? Sounds like a $50 toy lens. I still can’t believe it. What a deal breaker! Sad to see where Olympus is heading to, they built better lenses decades ago. So let’s hope for the Panasonic 12-35mm now!
Fantastic, I am looking forward to the new body with this beautiful kit lens.
The lens looks nice and it may even have a nice IQ. But: I would never buy a lens with that aperture. Too much FOV and too little speed. The same issue plagues every m43 zoom lens at the moment. Just have to wait the panny 12-35, although that needs to be f/2 constant to make any sense.
A weather sealed PEN is coming!! Do not expect so much, as it will have the same sensor/spec as EP3. 😛
How is possible in poll
Yes! (27%, 180 Votes)
i not see 27% comment positives
i think tricked or with ironic votes
No tricks.
@Cocoon
lens polls always go the same way on 43rumors….
Not everyone who likes the lens will post to defend it 🙂
With this
after several weeks up, With this news Olympus down.-
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/quote?ticker=7733:JP
shareholders should not be too happy with this poor release.
If they want to release all around lens, why not take 14-54 route. As one of most poppular Oly lens, it’s just 28mm but wide enough, fast enough and can do close up nicely. Oly just made us scratch our head again.
The lens looks very good – if only the aperture was bigger.
They *really* should have made this a 3.5-4.5 or at least a 3.5-5.6 lens. F6.3 is just scaring away the potential customers of a high-grade lens (like me).
Forgot one thought: Maybe this lens *does* make sense after all, if Oly comes up with fast phase detection AF for old & fast 4/3 lenses on the next m4/3 body!
At f/6.3 that lens should be diffraction-limited all the way open. It’s a fair weather lens, albeit splash-resistant, that requires high ISO for shooting moving subjects. The tiny maximum aperture makes this lens pretty useless for portraits, even headshots. Probably good for macro shots around the pool, sauna, and greenhouse. 😛
For current pixel size diffraction starts doing its job after f/7 with F/8 begin perfectly usable.
> Probably good for macro shots around the pool, sauna
Never seen sauna with enough light for f/6.3 and I’m Finnish and hence naturally seen plenty of them.
Is it just me, or are Olympus and Panasonic progressively attempting to reproduce with m43 what we’ve had with superzoom cameras for quite some time now?
I’ve owned a couple Panasonic superzooms which I still use:
– weather sealed lens: check
– power zoom: check (less comfortable than mechanical zoom for stills, better for video)
– macro down to 1cm: check (better than the latest Oly zoom)
– fast AF times: check (down to 0.2s which is a tad slower than the GX-1 or even GF3 but still faster than most other cameras)
– video: check
What does m43 offer me?
– similar highlight clipping
– better IQ especially at higher ISO
– shallower DOF though the difference isn’t that great given the not very large sensor and considering those superzooms go to over 500mm
– overall, a bigger, more complex, much more expensive system
Duh
This lens doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. weatherproof, but slow. Slow, but still very large. Macro, and not a really large magnification. And not really cheap.
And we have to wonder what the weather proof camer awill be like. After all, most companies have a weater proof point-and-shoot now, so maybe it could also be a weather proof EPM or EPL, not the Pen Pro. Although maybe, maybe Olympus has a new sensor that can keep up with the high ISO needed. But seeing how often we have been disappointed rgearding sensors …
Yesterday, I didn´t like it.
Today, seeing the pics and reading the specs, I like it very much!
I think we have to realize it is not possible to get a 12-60 2,0 with size and weight of a pancake! 😉
I think not really need very small size, need smooth and fast focus.
This lens is archaic, slow and big.
For video i think not good lens. Olympus camera video is bad an in panasonic cameras this lens not have stabilizer.
Weight is OK, but not bulk. Price vs IQ??
When deciding about long zoom lens, I choosed Pan 100-300 over Oly 75-300 due to being faster.
(After purchase I also found the lens OIS being far better than Oly in camera IS.)
Most likely I will not buy this lens.
I made the same choice, though aside from OIS, I’m finding that the Panny needs stopping down. I do miss Olympus image quality. Maybe the new 12-50 will prove to create great images.
Perhaps the new Pro body will have an EXR sensor.
18mpx binned to 9mpx for low light high iso shooting.
Lens looks good, though. But 6.3 @ 50mm???
Too bad it is so slow, otherwise the spec is nice but 6.3 it is unacceptable, I stay with 14-140
Love the look, hate the aperture. Actually, the slow aperture is really the only thing I don’t like about it. I really wish it’s f2.8-3.5. I’d totally buy it!
Love the look, hate the aperture. Actually, the slow aperture is really the only thing I don’t like about it. I really wish it’s f2.8-3.5. I’d totally buy it, even if it’s larger than typical mu43 zoom lens
Wow, so much negativity here today, just as always Olympus releases a new lens.
It’s a 24-100 equivalent, which is perfect for a walk around lens.
It weighs just 210 gr. The 12-60 for 4/3 is 575.
It’s weather sealed (hinting a bigger, better Pen camera is coming soon)
It’s just a kit lens.
There will be faster, bigger 1000€ version for all of you crying this lens is very slow.
All other kit lenses for m4/3 are no faster than this new lens at 42mm. Think of the 50mm tele end as a bonus
It has both manual zoom, and power zoom
It has macro capability.
It is MSC.
We don’t know yet about optical quality (I suspect it will be good)
Raúl, you hit the nail on the head.
Most peopole here didn’t realize it’s a KIT lens. And for a kit lens the specs look quite nice, don’t they?
Yes, exactly, it is a kit lens. I guess the wrong expectations came from the comparison to the legendary 43 12-60. The other problem is that we already have so many kit lenses that it really seems like the format would have benefited from a different proposal here. Like a premium fast all around zoom. Which we still don’t have.
Spot on! Sure, it’s not a lens for everyone, but it’s likely a kit lens, for a kit that isn’t here yet!
See the only problem with this lens is, that someone claimed it would be “similar to the 4/3 12-60 lens”.
So people started to imagine that the m4/3 version could be faster, smaller, lighter and probably cheaper 😉
they haven’t been paying attention in physics classes.
How this lens resolution chart compares to 12-60 2.8-4? The difference is major or minor (in sharpness)?
I compared the charts and the 12-60 does better. Then there is the issue of software correction stretching and squeezing pixels of the 12-50, not to mention cropping a bit.
“I think the lens would have made a lot of sense if launched along a new weather sealed PEN camera.”
…yeah just what I would not buy… a weather-sealed Pen body …with the same-old outdated sensor and a big-honkin-SLOW, kit zoom. …and I could walk around saying: “..but, its weather-sealed?” LMAOROTF.
…so it would appear that some companies have a gear called reverse. Yo.. someone at Olympus…visionary reference: Apple. PLEASE look up this word: INNOVATION.
Another company should buy this one and steer it in a direction away from the cliff it is driving off. jeeeeez.
Apple — visionary reference? I’ve never owned a “computer” as bug-ridden as iPhone 4s/iOS5! It is crashing “all the time”, apps are crashing all the time. The Facebook app is “criminally slow” at times, and completely messes up picture links, etc. Etc. Well, some of Apple’s products are good and visionary; others are so-so, and some also appear as beta quality.
—
Of course, if Oly releases a “Pro” m43 with the same sensor as ep3, that would be a major disappointment. But most indications suggest a new sensor. One could hope for a Fuji based one similar to that in X100.
The new lens is disappointing for those who have fantasized about a $400 12-60/2.5-3.5 with 1:1 macro, prime quality, weather sealed, pancake size weighing 200g and with manual focus+zoom+aperture. As a kit lens, it seems quite good and very useful. For serious use, prime lenses are still better — that should not come as a surprice.
BLI…when Apple introduces their “new” CRT monitor, let me know …because that is basically what Oly is doing here. Please.
(Sorry you are having problems with your phone…maybe it is your network…I don’t do “smart” phones…I prefer to be where I am at the time I am there…not punching in a macebook entry about the pair of socks I am buying……….but I have used Apple computers for the last 15 years and I do not know what the word virus means. Isn’t that something that causes the common cold?)
Well, I’ve had Windows PCs for 20 years, and never had virus. I have tried Macs/Apple products a couple of times, and been severely disappointed. Like the first time, ca 1989, when my employer planned to buy a scanner to attach to a Sun Workstation, and a Mac fan talked us into buying a Mac to host the scanner. Only probem: the software crashed when the files were larger than 512 kbyte or something. So every time I hear a Mac fan praise Apple and talk about how stupid everything else is, well, what a simple world :-). Not that Windows and Oly, etc, etc. are flawless — FAR from it.
Well, I see everyone has their experience. I’ve been using Macs for 20 years, Sonys, Toshibas and whatnot, and Macs were the most reliable for me. But that is not the point. Apple are innovative and they are quite the visionaries. You see many companies taking risks like them, yet succeeding? Forget the products, just get their management and Oly might actually survive.
Admin,
Is it internal focussing?
Any pics on a pen?
What does the macro function achieve in magnification, Im not too sure, is it 1:2 like the 50mm 2.0?
Thanks admin, your all over it!
Internal zooming + internal focussing according to specs on one Olympus web page.
So, what we have here is basically an uber kit lens. Nothing wrong with that, every manufacturer has one. The problem is that we have sooooo many kit lenses in m43 that for some (most?) enthusiasts this will sound like a bad joke.
Kudos to Oly for:
1) Weathersealing. If its as good as the 43 weathersealed lenses, this is great news.
2) Starting at 12mm.
3) Avoiding silver bling on this one.
If it had been 2.8-4.0, this would have been the bomb. But 6.3 at the long end (where you need light the most because you need higher shutter speeds to avoid blur) sounds awful.
This is the perfect lens for me as product & food photographer, if and only if the lens is super sharp. The thing is that olympus need is small wireless commander unit and uber clean RAW files starting from ISO 200
*i meant wireless flash commander
The e-p3 flash can control other flashes. I think you can turn down its power so that the built-in flash hardly influences the picture. A radio based wireless (bluetooth, etc) might have been better, but perhaps slower?? IF a pen pro comes along, I’m sure they will not downgrade an expected built-in flash.
I’m sorry, but this lens is in no way a continuation of the great designs of Yoshihisa Maitani.
Here is a quote from Adorama’s obituary of Maitani: “The creator of such revolutionary cameras as the Olympus Pen half-frame pocket-sized SLR, the ultracompact 35mm XA series, and the OM series of small, lightweight 35mm SLR cameras, Maitani spent nearly 50 years working for Olympus. Maitani’s consistent goal was to make cameras as small as comfortably possible, while keeping the controls full-sized.”
This lens is too big, much too big. At that aperture range, Maitani would have found a way to make it half that size. It’s certainly too big for the Pen cameras. Perhaps it could be comfortable on a traditional SLR style body. This lens is an indication the company is drifting and no longer focused on what made Olympus unique among camera manufacturers.
“At that aperture range, Maitani would have found a way to make it half that size.”
Probably he could make my cock twice as long as well…
I don’t think it’s too big, just wait till you see it on a body. Obviously it is intended for a future weather-sealed body which you haven’t seen yet. But even on an E-P3 it will be just fine.
True, Maitani would not have made half measures or been tied up in the 43 or m43 consortium, at times the m43s seems to be the camel that was designed by the committee.
This is just a kit lens for an upside m43 camera, if the price is as rumored $499. If the weather proofing is done as well as the 43 series it would be nice thought for a flew shooters. But why would one not use a DSLR if the new stuff is not much smaller? Is good weatherproofing and being sightly smaller enough of a product differentiation? Certainly playing to their strength of weatherproofing (they do it better then anyone) is a good thing, but is it enough.
One can only hope that there is something outstanding coming along with it. Such as a significantly better sensor, or revolutionary focusing that allows full use of 43 lens.
Just another kit lens, although the power zoom feature will be handy for video shooters.
A maximum aperture of f/6.3 at 50mm?????
BWAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
Olympus, your killing me! Cut it out!
Anyway, there is– thanks to Zeus–the regular 4/3 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 that works fine on all micro 4/3 cameras with an adapter…and goes for the princely sum of $522 USD at B&H Photo in NY…..and it is weather sealed, has 1:2 macro capability, and is built like a tank. But sadly, no power zoom….
While I love the idea of 12mm and weather sealing, I think I’d be better off with the Lumix “X” 14-42 pancake zoom for my hybrid video/still shooting needs…until Panny delivers the 12-35 f/2.8 constant aperture (or maybe even f/2.5???) weather sealed mega zoom sometime soon.
– Olympius
now i found one cheap(…£250) on ebay in mint condition, will it autofocus on panasonic cameras? if yes that is one great lens with an adapter, for me better/cheaper then x-lenses for £1000…
i have gf2 currenly and gx1(i have ordered)
thank you
Panasonic GH2 compatibility list here: http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/connect/gh2.html Look for II version of the lens it works properly.
@wonderer
The 14-54 Mk II will autofocus on Panasonic cameras (with the adapter) with no problem….
But the original Mk 1 variant will not AF at all. You’re stuck using manual focus I’m afraid.
However, all is not lost….if you end up with the Mk 1 14-54, just go off and buy yourself an Olympus E-1 DSLR, which is the absolute best camera to use with the Mk 1. The nice thing about the E-1 is that it is fully weather and dust sealed, just like the 14-54, and is built like a Soviet tank. You can find them used in excellent condition for $200 to $300 USD.
– Olympius
I think there time would have been better spent getting the current kit lens to f4 across it’s range. I look forward to the weather sealed body to match but I’m sure Olympus will let me down seems to be what there good at lately.
“0.72x in 35mm terms”, which in Olympus-speak means “0.36x”. Which means 1:2.777 magnification.
Darn. I was hoping for 1:2 at least. Pass for me, then. 45/2.8 it is.
That’s one sexy lens.
I think is a fantastic lens for general photography, much better range than the current 14-42. If the image quality is up to what has been said, I will buy it right away.
Splash proof f6.3? That’ll be great on a rainy day.
LOL
RIP Olympus. You can’t even make a decent lens anymore? Might as well make it a constant F/8 and call it a day and at $500 too? I’ll keep the cheepo kit zoom I got now and turn the ring myself.
I am so glad that I bailed out of this sinking ship, good luck to y’all
Just curious………. why are you still here? Envy? Regret?
I wish it was envy. I am a huge fan of their past products. I duck my head in once in a while to satisfy my morbid curiosity and to see how rudderless old flagship olympus is fairing. I am still bitter .. they abandoned me and my once-favourite sytem one time too many.
Coming here is a kind of sad, pathetic therapy for me, so yes, I feel better now in case you are wondering, thanks. I will leave you alone to enjoy what I am sure is a functional system, albeit with a very questionable future as far as support and updates go, judging by their past mistakes. I try to regret nothing, but that just isn’t very possible I feel.
I chuckled when I saw that MTF. 😀 Have they ever saw MTF for some decent but now long-gone Contax lens? 😀
Seriously.. WTF?
It is a fantastic lens, weather sealed and with both internal focusing AND zooming! That is just great.
Thats like a cine lens!! probably the only cool thing about the lens tho…
People keep asking why weather sealing. Well you can only use the lens outdoors so I guess its going to need it. The good thing for consumers is they do not even know what the f-stop is or does so all they will know is it has a good range.
Still waiting for much more complete specification…is this a faux macro or true macro?
This is true macro according to Sigma’s definition
What’s wrong with all these spoiled brats here.
Olympus just announce 2 fast prime, now they announce a good kit lens and all these complaints?
Well someone mentioned “4/3 12-60mm”… someone added “f2” 😉
Well, not everyone takes Physics lessons, I guess many of them have a rough day of work too.
Next time Olympus announces a computer they’d complain that it is not a camera.
Judging from magnification data 0.72x looks like a faux macro?
The Zuiko 50/2 macro had a reproduction ratio of 0.5, so 0.72 is better than the (excellent) 4/3 lens.
However, in almost every other respect (barring weather sealing, for which we have to await a weather sealed body*), this new zoom disappoints.
* speaking of weather sealing, I once dropped my GF1 + 7-14/4 into the petting tank at an aquarium, and both the camera and lens worked flawlessly after a quick wipe-down. I pretty much scoff at inclement weather.
@Voldenuit – the .72 is the 2X number, it is actually .36, therefore the .5 is more. The 50 mm does not suffer from geometric distortion, plus it can be doubled by buying a $120 adapter!
Two words, slow and big.
if it is .72x with the 2X FT/MFT ratio, then it is a .36 macro as opposed to a 1.00, the 50 mm f/2.0 is .5 macro, 1.0 with adapter – the 50 mm crushes, although this may be ok, still geometric distortion is going to be present I assume…
From the press release:
“…focusing is possible between 8 and 20 inches for close-up shooting with a maximum image magnification of 0.72X (35mm camera equivalent).”
Hope that helps.
I have the 45-175mm Panasonic lens, which is a few mm longer than this 12-50mm lens and about the same weight and it does not feel monstrously large, even on a camera like the Panasonic GF3. It is also worth mentioning that my 14-42mm Panasonic kit zoom, set at 42mm, is longer than the 45-175mm zoom.
Thus I don’t think a non-extending 83mm and 220g can be classed as too big. The other m43 kit zooms all extend when zoomed and the four thirds lenses at 12-60, 14-50 and 14-54 are all bigger and much heavier.
In fact it makes perfect sense to have a moderately priced general purpose weather sealed kit zoom, once there is a weather sealed camera in the range.
I am interested to see the weather sealed camera that Olympus produces. I will look at it very closely indeed, if it has a built in EVF.
+1
+1
as long as they make a remote that can utilize the power zoom then this will be a big step for cinematographers using m4/3. If not then the power zoom feature is a huge waste
Well said!
F 6.3? Seriously? Power zoom? Seriously? I know I would trade the power zoom for a couple of extra stops any day. It is sad/funny that to get a simple camera that will get out of your way while photographing, you have to spend $10,000.00 for a Leica M9 or Pentax 645.
” It is sad/funny that to get a simple camera that will get out of your way while photographing, you have to spend $10,000.00 for a Leica M9 or Pentax 645″
So true.
Outdoor use only.
12mm wide + Macro with weather sealed is a dream lens for trekkers.
Yes, it’s true when it is sunny. With the slow aperture, at sunset / sunrise or when it is cloudy you will need a tripod which is not the best for trekkers…Maybe I would have preferded the extra weight in bigger aperture…
Well then take One of the fast primes with you 🙂
So *thats* what interchangeable lens bodies are made for!!! 😀
Just putting the name “Weather Sealed” on the lens is going to make it sell and if it’s decent, that will help. I have to give Oly credit for making this lens, as it was a cleaver marketing move and beat everyone else in the mirror less market to the punch.
I take this as good news that this weather sealed lens will be kitted with a weather sealed m4/3 body.
It wouldn’t make sense to sell a weather sealed lens without the weather sealed body…
I don’t like the slow aperture. I don’t mind the powerzoom if it is just an extra feature, but if they could have made the lens: better IQ, or smaller, or cheaper, I would have preferred that they scrapped powerzoom and just left the video features to Panasonic because they are better at it anyways.
I think the weather sealing is awesome news. Correct me if I’m wrong but this is the cheapest price that Oly has offered a weather sealed lens at isn’t it?
Internal focusing is good news.
The range is an improvement over the kit.
The fact that it’s a macro – and with better magnification than the 4/3 50mm macro – is great news too. Does that mean we can expect this lens to be nice and sharp as well?
I see no problem with the size. I routinely use my E-PL2 with the 4/3 zuiko 70-300mm and have no problems at all. I have never wished that the setup was heavier or bulkier by having a bigger camera body. (although I miss having a viewfinder which would allow me to use my head as a third point of contact). The most outrageous size difference I have ever shot handheld was my Tamron 300mm f2.8 on my E-P1 and I still never wished that the body was bigger. I accept that I don’t understand the concept of “balance” that some members are always talking about. I shoot with my right hand on the camera and my left hand supporting the lens – that’s what balance is to me. At 210grams this lens is not too big and I would have accepted even larger if it would have meant faster aperture.
And I don’t see the point of folding design with this type of lens. Even if it did, you could never fold it down small enough to fit it in your pocket anyways. I love the tiny folding 14-42mm as a cheap kit zoom and even the 9-18mm collapsed makes a cool comparison with the wide angles of other manufacturers. But when it’s extended – ie, every time you actually use it – it’s not that much shorter than Panasonic’s 7-14mm and for an expensive keeper-lens, I would actually prefer that it be solidly built with IF and no folding mechanism that allowed wobbling or increased the risk of moving parts failing or allowing dust or water to enter. JMO
– Chad
Plus, internal zooming!! That makes it a very solid construction and you can lean the lens against windows when shooting. I love these internal features in the Panasonic 45-175.
> The fact that it’s a macro – and with better magnification than the 4/3 50mm macro – is great news too.
I’ve just seen that Olympus is touting the magnification as “35mm equivalent magnification”. So it’s really a 0.36x magnification, which is not remarkable.
Boo to Oly for lying through their teeth.
How long can they wait now to announce a weather sealed body I wonder!!!
This a nature, landscape, trekker lens. It’s not a portrait lens or event lens. With a weather-sealed body and if it has good optics at F8, then it’ll be useful for its intended purpose. One lens, a small body, and light tripod — I could hike all day…
all those features like weathersealing, power zoom are nice but, primary use for this object is to take pictures so, glass is most important component, everything else just to service that glass.
so, when does f6.3 kick in? at 40mm… having 45-50mm at f6.3 does not sound like a useful lens at all, even outside use is very limited especially given the smaller sensor and high iso issues
50mm f6.3 – I just give up with this company.
And that’s coming from a long-term user of 30+ yrs.
The product planners at the imaging division must be very amateur
in their photography.
I called the weather sealing two or three weeks ago. I’m going to pat myself on the back.
very logic lens for those who climb or stay a lot in nature. if you look at the apertures used in wildlife or nature photography will see that most of pictures are made over f4.
12mm are very good for lanscapes where the most used aperture is f8.
for long end, the same.
i think everybody thinks that if is water sealed it’s have to be also a night lens.
Wow… weather sealing on the way… can’t wait to see a weather sealed camera… 🙂
Will be interesting to see what happens if/when there the business is sold…
its the Perfect outdoor nature lens! f3.5-6.3 is good enough for landscape photography. the close focus is excellent for outdoor macros and the weather sealing if perfect for when it rains. I use a tripod for 85% of my work so this little lens is gonna be great!
For cross-country skiing, I use the 14-42~3.5-5.6 with my E-620 (and the 40-150 for easy trails). And I keep the 12-60 home for less dangerous activities. Same for caving. So from this point of view, it can be interesting.
Forgot to mention that I need a body to use in conjunction with this “fabulous” lens i.e. that I can use with glacier glasses and snow gloves 🙂
Yeah, the main advantage of having a compact and lightweight camera system is that you can carry a more hefty and sturdy tripod. 😉
I guess since both focusing and zooming is internal, it was not too difficult to weather-seal this lens. Let’s hope they will announce a new body soon also.
3.5 is disappointing, 6.3 is .. well, I won’t even say it.
Nice try, but for me this is a complete fail. 🙁
I can understand trading a larger aperture (ie. 12-60mm f/2.8 lens) for a more compact size (the new 12-50mm f/3.5), as long as the image quality is the same. If fact, you would think it would be easier to design a higher quality lens if the aperture were smaller.
But if you compare the two lens’ MTF charts, the new 12-50 is far inferior to the 12-60. Both lenses have good contrast, but the new lens’ resolution (60 l/mm line) is never over 60% at 12mm, where as the 4/3 lens starts just below 80% and is flat almost to the edge. Same at the longest focal length.
I’m not an expert at MTF charts, but do other folks see this?
Compactness and size are unrelated. Compactness simply refers to a “stumpy” form factor.
Based on the MTF charts, the 12-50 is nothing to write home about compared to the 12-60.
This lens is garbage, except as part of a body and lens kit, or for video it will be decent. The 12-60mm will surely beat the piss out of this optically.
You wont even have to focus it because at 50mm 6.3 you get 5 or so feet in front and 10 or so feet behind dof. Just point and shoot. LOL
Great for video. you never have to worry about focus
With this lens being so slow, why does it have to be splash water resistant? I mean, you need sunny weather when shooting that lens at the long end. Rain and sunny weather do coincide, but not that often! 😉
I will stick with my primes.
I was so hopeful for a 12-60 f/2.8-4 for m43 and now of course there’s no chance. None. Such a shame. I won’t buy Panasonic – their colours suck so that’s it for my love affair with m43. Perhaps Sony will release a decent 16-80 for e-mount and I can swap to that.
Samsung is supposed to release a 16-80mm (24mm-120mm equivalent) in the next month or two. It’s supposed to be an OIS lens. I wonder how it’ll compare to this Olympus. I doubt it will be weather sealed but it will be f3.5 to 4.5. I wonder if the price will be about the same or less. f6.3 is kind of ridiculous- especially for a $500 lens. And for video it’s preferable to have the stabilization in the lens- not the camera.
Someone will always be about to release something. In this case I’d say something different. Comparing the new 12-50 with a new (not released) Samsung lens with different design parameters just don’t make sense to me.
So you only compare lenses that are the exact same? There are similarities, both in terms of equivalent focal lengths and intent of the lenses- both are designed with video in mind. In this regard, I think the Samsung makes far more sense because the image stabilization is in the lens, not the camera body. The aperture of the Samsung is also far more sensible and the lens has a bit more reach. The only advantage I can see for the Olympus is the weather sealing and maybe the price. The Samsung is listed at B & H but they don’t have a price on it yet. My guess is it will be the same price as the Samsung.
You can of course compare anything and the lens you refer to certainly have a similar zoomrange, but the Olympus lens is clearly designed with quite different goals than the Samsung one. Olympus has made a take anywhere do anything kit zoom where size and weight (obviously) have been important parameters. Samsung’s lens got to be much larger and is what I’d call a mid level standard zoom.
Personally I’m interested in a lens like the Samsung 16-80 with, but that doesn’t prevent me from seeing the usefulness of the 12-50. I’m not sure what compact system to go for, but mFT is at the top of my list at the moment and the lack of a mid level standard zoom is one of the reasons why I haven’t decided yet. However, a mid level standardzoom isn’t the type of lens I’d put on the camera for bring everywhere use. I’d need something like the X 14-42 or the new 12-50 for that. Both have really interesting properties and deciding between the compactness of the X-lens and the zoomrange and ruggedness of the 12-50 wont be easy.
Yes, I see you’re point. And you’re probably right about the Samsung being larger/heavier. I like the ruggedness of this lens but I’d wait for the Olympus weatherproof body before getting it. That compact Panny zoom is really something else. Now that lens is a head turner.
Sony have a 16-80 F3.5-F4.5, it has 72mm filter and weight is almost a pound (445 g). It’s difficult to guess how Samsung’s version will compare as shorter flange distance and possibly simpler mechanical design could reduce weight while IS will add weight compared to the Sony lens. Anyway, it’s likely to be around twice the weight of the (211 g) 12-50 have much larger diameter and about the same length.
http://www.dpreview.com/products/sony/lenses/sony_zeiss_16-80_3p5-4p5_za
Not everyone is interested in creative bokeh, but usually happy when most of the elements on the picture are focused.
Not everyone is interested in natural low light pictures, but prefers instead to use a good flash for greater contrast.
For those people, this new lens is great + it looks solid, weather sealed, has macro as well as a powerzoom that would work great for video.
And all of that for less than 500 euros. I think it’s a good move from Olympus.
For the other people, including myself, we’ll stick to our primes, and possibily wait for the Lumix 12-35 which could be the ideal compromise between brightness, creativity and flexibility.
Sure, not everyone is interested in what you consider “low light”, but many are interested in “indoors” or even “outdoors at some time other than noon”.
f6.3 is an unacceptable upper limit for aperture. It’s nice to be able to move to ISO 800 and tighten up the aperture a bit, but really, this aperture in conjunction with the current sensors is not competitive. It’s usable, it can produce some excellent images, but it isn’t as capable as hardware being built by other manufacturers, and that is the ultimate milestone.
It’s not enough that the camera and lens be capable of good photos, it has to be as capable as other alternatives. We’re not trying to justify its existence, we’re trying to justify a purchase- a totally different thing from simply being kind and saying it’s “ok” for Olympus to build this because somebody might find it acceptable. They have to find it to be a good choice.
It’s like they’ve never even heard anyone say that their sensors lack about a stop of sensitivity compared to APS-C.
Now, this could be overcome if standard zooms were f2.8-f3.5, but Olympus still builds f3.5-f5.6+ type zooms as if there was no problem.
The 12mm F2 is brilliant. The 45mm f1.8 is stupendous. But the zooms absolutely must start at f2.8 and finish out at f4 or so in order for the PEN system to produce similar image quality to competitors. Many photographers have said this, and Olympus is ignoring them and doing their own thing.
Power zoom is okay I guess for video, but it’s not a pro feature. At least, not by itself without compatibility with tripod zoom controls.
BUT
If they also announce a camera with weather sealing that does 1080p with a global shutter, it will be incredible for video. Knowing Olympus, they won’t have global shutter, so it will be mediocre.
IMO you’ve misunderstood completely, or it might be wishful thinking. Olympus and mFT’s primary strength is compact bodies and compact lenses. Olympus focus on that, as they should. Nothing wrong with som higher end lenses too and I hope they’ll add a mid level zoom like the 12-60 at some point, but that will never be the main focus.
Olympus need to compete with Nikon 1, superzooms and high end compacts and they do that fairly well although they really need to switch to the 16MP Panasonic sensor or find another sensor source. APS-C is out of reach for high Iso performance and resolution, they can never compensate for the difference in sensor size.
The difference in sensor size compared to APS-C is minimal. They just need a better sensor.
You’re definitely wrong there. While it may appear that a 43 sensor is not much smaller than APS-C, it’s actually about 40% smaller. It’s an optical illusion, partly due to the aspect ratio.
However, that being said, I feel like we shouldn’t be lagging in low light performance as much as we are…..
AND, I’ll take it a step further. Some day 43 sensors will have the same low light performace of the current D3s or 1Ds, but by that time it won’t be enough…LOL
No, they just need a better sensor. It’s not a matter of size, it’s a matter of techonology.
Um, While I am having a tough time getting past the 6.3 aperture on the “long” end, I’m actually warming up to what this lens is. If I read the specs correctly, this lens is only 3.25 inches long and 2.25 inches wide. Also, this lens had no external movement, right? It’s fully enclosed and sealed. I think the picture is deceiving, this lens is smaller than it looks. So consider that it’s sealed, has a fixed length, and power zoom, it’s not all that bad. In fact it’s pretty nice for a kit lens. I think if the long end was 5.6 instead of 6.3, half of the psychology behind the contempt for this lens would vanish immediately! All we need is the weather-sealed body to go with it!
Any thoughts?
Nathan and Berneck,
I agree with both of you.
Yes, the fact that an APS camera has a stop advantage over m43 cameras means that lenses should be in average a stop faster than those for APS cameras to achieve similar quality under similar conditions.
And indeed, if this zoom was stoping at 42mm, it would have probably F5.6 at the long end, the same as the kit zoom which is already a fairly good one.
I am not interested in this lense because I prefer using primes which are much brighter than any zoom lenses.
But in case I would be looking for a zoom, this zoom seems better for me than the kit zoom.
It’s true that for many among us, the Lumix 12-35 looks much more promising, but it might be also much more expensive.
Considering the size and weight of this new zoom : it’s only 15gr more than the Leica 45mm, that’s pretty light in my opinion. So the idea that this new lens is slow and big at the same time is not that true. Slow it is, but not more than the kit-zoom. And the weight is still light.
For all those reasons I believe that this zoom is a welcome addition in the m43 system. But as I said, I’m not interested in it, just happy to see the system growing.
Agreed, I think people are not so much angry about THIS lens, as much as they are angry that they haven’t gotten the fast zoom they have been shouting for for several years now!
@Berneck:
To be even more precise, people are mad because what so many enthusiasts wanted was the micro 4/3 version of the awesome Olympus 12-60mm f/2.8-4. While I’m certain this new micro 4/3 lens will have excellent IQ, the slow speed overall is sure to turn people off, even though the 12-50mm is MUCH smaller and lighter than the big 12-60, and much better suited to the tiny little micro 4/3 cameras.
Though I could probably deal with the slowness of the lens, one thing that turns me off, as it does for most of Olympus micro 4/3 offerings, is the lack of lens based image stabilization. As a Lumix user, I find that a highly desirable trait in a standard zoom for video use, but Olympus’ sensor based image stabilization means that their lenses will never meet my expectations.
Sad, as I really love their regular 4/3 lenses for still photography, and own quite a few.
– Olympius
that is not really true.
F3.5 is F3.5 on compact, m43 and APS-C! Bigger sensor will have more shallow DOF in the same comparable focal lenghth (converted to full frame) but the shutter speed will be the same on F3.5 glass everywhere.
The advantage of bigger sensor is it will indeed catch more light and will allow to use higher ISO, but again, F3.5 is F3.5! That’s why Sony NEX doesn’t have a good glass compared to m43, one-stop advantage is here only for DOF, mostly you need to shoot with higher ISO or slower shutter speed compared to m43 great glasses (20mm F1.7 or 45mm F1.8)!
Once again, the F3.5 is comparatively fast on compacts/m43 or even full frame, once is F6.3 is simply ‘slow’ to use at night, no matter if it would be fitted on a full frame camera, two stop advantage or not!
I think most of you missed the memo on what a u4/3 camera is supposeed to be – SMALL. A 12-60mm f 2.8-4 lens would be roughly the same size as the 4/3’s Zuiko Digital. Have you tried that lens on a PEN? I have… not exactly compact. It’ll take great shots, but it’s all lens. If you want that lens, buy the adapter and there you go. But you can’t have a compact pocket-sized camera, with a 12-60mm f3.5 lens AND a sensor that large… that’s like a pound of glass, 6″ long and 72mm in diameter. It’s simple math. Granted, they could make something shorter and faster, and I’d be all for that – but then you guys would be bitching it wasn’t a longer focal length.