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We can long discuss if you like the upcoming PEN or not but one thing is sure, the two upcoming Olympus lenses will be awesome! We already knew for a long time that one of the lenses would be the 12mm f/2.0 High Quality PRO lens. But we were not so sure about the second lens. Some said it would be a 50mm f/1.7 and others told me it would be a 45mm f/1.8. I finally got the right answer! Olympus will announce a new 45mm f/1.8 lens which will cost around 299 Dollars/Euro only! I think that’s an amazing cheap price for a lens that is fast and will have a very good image quality (at least that is what sources told me). It’s not a pancake, it’s a bit bigger lens. It should be very similar (in size) to the just announced Panasonic/Leica 25mm f/1.4 lens (click here to preorder on Adorama!). Wow, Olympus finally is making the lenses we wanted! What I don’t know yet is if the lens is a macro like the famous Olympus 50mm macro lens ([shoplink 23192 ebay]Click here to see that lens on ebay)[/shoplink]. One source told me it is NOT a macro lens but that’s a very weak rumor for now. Reminder, the only Micro Four Thirds macro lens to date is the [shoplink 14794]Panasonic-Leica 45mm f/2.8[/shoplink].
The new three PEN cameras + the two new lenses will be announced on June 30th! Follow us daily. There are still many rumors I am working on! P.S.: The chance is big that there is something more coming (lenses and accessories).
Links to mentioned lenses:
Panasonic/Leica 25mm f/1.4 at [shopcountry 23110] (hard to find preorders).
Olympus 50mm f/2.0 macro lens [shopcountry 23192].
Panasonic-Leica 45mm f/2.8 at [shopcountry 14794].
[poll id=”69″]
211 Responses
Good news! Is the 12mm a pancake?
Not a pancake. Forgot to tell you that!
“Let’s assume the quality is top notch:”…hmmmm…that is a BIG assumption …considering ALL of Olympus’s MFT lenses to date pale in comparison to the Panasonic lineup.
I am sure for this price the the Olympus lens will be second rate compared to the 45mm Panasonic/Leica f/2.8 Macro that I own…and at a price of $299..I am SURE it will be less than sharp at f/1.8. No doubt.
It’s not what I heard!
But of course, we first have to see the real image samples to be sure of that!
The Olympus 12mm, f/2.0 “Pro” lens sounds more hopeful from a quality standpoint. I know Olympus has the capability to make incredible lenses…but they just have not shown that to us in their MFT offerings to date..(none of them). Since MFT may be their only serious camera of the future..perhaps that is about to change??????????? Hope so!!!!! 🙂
Yes Bob, it’s about to change. The 12mm is actually impressive. I hope to get images of the lenses soon. Would be a pleasure to show you the lens 🙂
Now you have me salivating….but if we could just give mice (and me) that integrated viewfinder. LOL!
agree. Why would anyone buy this focal lenght for so much money. I dont get it. Its primarily street shooter. And if you want portraits like i do just by some 50 1.4 manual and you are more than good to go 🙂
So “ALL” lenses pale, right? Not what I see… the new 14-42 m.Zuiko kit zoom is definitely better than the Panasonic 14-42, on par with the 14-45 and is much smaller. The 14-150 is also a very strong lens, the Pana is sharper at the wide end (a bit), the Oly at the long end. The Oly 40-150 also performs very well…
Parci…my point is …Olympus has been making “consumer” quality lenses for MFT. Nothing top grade. It appears that that may be changing with the new 12mm. That would be very positive (as is the rumor of the new focusing system).
Seems more like your point is that you’re somewhat of a jerk.
Euh shoot the message, not the messenger. Please.
🙂
Okay, fair enough.
Also…Parci..you have a point about the Panasonic Zoom..14-42mm..why oh why did they make THAT….plastic mount and less image quality than the original 14-45mm…. go figure. I didn’t say all the Pany glass was great…
I do own and love the 7-14mm, 20mm, and the Pany/Zeiss 45mm macro.
They are all top notch in my book. I also bought a 14-45mm…but rarely use it.
Am contemplating a 200-300mm…as the price just keeps on dropping!!!!
I am really not a fan of zooms…but the 7-14 is particularly good for this format. Really!
True, the 7-14 is very nice, but I believe the 9-18 is even more so for this format. Anyway, my point is that Olympus is actually not that bad with m43 zooms, I think they fit the format well with their minimized size and are optically good. Not so much with primes, but that is about to change as well. 🙂
The Olympus 9-18 is top notch. I do actually earn part of my salary with it. So much for “consumer”.
@Parci — Agree with Bob. I don’t think much of either of those lenses, Pany or Oly. They’re both bland consumer lenses. Nothing wrong with that for general use, but nothing exciting about them either and not very useful apertures for low light use.
I’m waiting for the rumored 12-50mm f/2-?? as a brighter and more professional general range zoom.
@Parci — Agree with Bob. I don’t think much of either of those lenses, Pany or Oly. They’re both bland consumer lenses. Nothing wrong with that for general use, but nothing exciting about them either and not very useful apertures for low light use.
I’m waiting for the rumored 12-50mm f/2-?? as a brighter and more professional general range zoom.
I’m sure it’ll be great for portraits @ f/1.8, and equal or better your overpriced PL @ f/2.8
Olympus-to-date does not equal Olympus-going-forward.
“I’m sure it’ll be great for portraits @ f/1.8, and equal or better your overpriced PL @ f/2.8 Olympus-to-date does not equal Olympus-going-forward.”
Lens speed is but one variable in optic quality and so far I can tell, PL45 is very well rated. Some even call it a bargain.
As far as Olympus’s rumored 1.8/45, it is priced as a consumer grade lens. At this point it is sheer speculation, but I would not hold my breath on it bettering the PL45 IQ wise. There aren’t that many free lunches in the business. There are reasonable hopes however that it turn out to be a great value for the money.
The 45mm is a good lens. I took one for a spin for a week. If I didn’t already have the 50mm 2.0 macro, I would have kept the 45. Having said that, 1.8 will do wonders for portrait work over 2.8, if the bokeh quality is good. We shall see…
All I ever wanted was an integrated viewfinder…
Mice, would not be to worried about that. Just be patient.
That subtle hint might get 300 comments again 😉
YES !, GR-1 COMES WITH EVF! or it doesn’t?
I am with you mice. Thats all i want as well. Does Admin hint imply that at least Olympus are working on it? I hope so.
By the way Admin – I remember you giving some hint that parts of the X100 were made by either Panasonic or Olympus – do you have any more info on that? I was hoping that Oly and Fuji were sharing parts/working on viewfinder components together and that might mean that at some point Oly was going to bring out a rangefinder style cam.
if it’s anywhere nea r as good as a voightlander 40mm f 1.4 then definitely a player.
this is a good move by olympus.
I can believe that this could be super sharp at f1.8 for that price if it’s NOT a Macro. A 45/f1.8 isn’t exactly a complex lens.
If it IS a macro though… Corners will be cut somewhere.
Most cerainly not a macro. Macro is the realm of manual focus, and I’d just as soon use a nice legacy lens (say, the Olympus 50/3.5 [which I own] or the droolworthy 50/2, which I don’t ;-)).
At $300, I expect consumer grade construction with Zuiko optical quality, which can be world-beating. I’m looking forward to finding out.
A good move by Olympus finally! This will sell by the truckloads and generate momentum within the system as no one really gives a shot about the 45mm Leica.
I don’t think that’s true… But the PanaLeica is definitely a niche lens – not for everyone.
I love the PanaLeica 45mm f/2.8!
http://www.dropmocks.com/mOLGA
The price tag makes it become a niche lens…
And the slow aperture…
Actually for MFT f/2.8 is pretty fast..yes there are other lenses out there that are faster…but not many…and um…are ANY of them Olympus lenses??????????
Wow if all these rumors are true this could really start to turn things around for Olympus, and with the development of the allegedgly “super fast” auto-focus could explain the lack of decent lenses to date. They were being saved for the new auto-focus system.
If only Olympus can release the new cameras with say a stop better ISO performance, and a stop better DR, IBIS, together with the auto-focus and new lenses, it’ll be a great and portable system.
And if panasonic’s lenses don’t work with Olympus’ new auto-focus system it will stop Olympus losing lens sales to Panasonic! Payback for being screwed over with inferior sensors 😀
Looks like Panasonic could really have some competition from here on.
You will be very happy what’s coming from Oly 🙂
I hope you are referring to DR and noise. 🙂
Honestly, 1EV/1-stop improvement are all I want.
So they’re issuing the E-650, the E-50 and the E-5 Mk II? 🙂
oh dear,
hell yes i will buy it! At 299$, thats more than a bargain! Even if the IQ isnt top of the notch and on Leica level, i will buy it!
Any hints about the 12/2 price? Still rumours it will be under 1000$ Or even on par with 9-18? If its near the 600$, i will def. buy the 12/2 in top of the 9-18!
It’s not a cheap lens but should be a bit below $1000.
Well, i asume its al righty then.
I counted on 600$ for the nifty fifty, but when its on 300$, i actually save 300$, and then, 900$ for the 12/2 would be al right then 😀
geez, im really so excited right now. thanks a lot admin! 😀
I am excited too. I love to give you good news. And if all works fine with my soruces than I can soon disclose more good news 😉
GR-1 good news?
lol +1. If the 12mm is more cash money than the 9-18, im going to go chicken little on this forum
Thank you Admin! This is what I’ve been waiting for.
Right focal length, right price, can hardly wait! For my needs,pancake size and “pro” quality aren’t “must haves”.
This makes my day.
Yes, its a terrific news even for me. I will buy that lens!
Finally reasonable priced 50mm from Olympus, even new PL 25mm is better priced than FT version. The MFT saves size and money too ;). Thanks Admin for this post, cheers.
Hey Admin,
This is a little of topic, but with all the great news your get news your receiving from sources,
Is there any talk of the GH2 vertical battery grip?
I “lost” the source that told me about the battery grip. Don’t know why he disappeared but he gave me correct info in the past. I think it’s coming. Hope it will come before the GH3 🙂
I already have the Nokton 40/1.4 but at that price it’s a no-brainer, just to get the AF.
Very nice news, seems like the fast primes are finally comming. This gonna give a major push for M43 among enthusiasts and the 45mm will probably be bought often if its really that cheap.
For my nature trips I would like to have a compact and lightweight m43 set. I hope this will be possible once with m43.
The zuiko 300mm F2.8 is too expensive for most people.
What I need:
– Pen with body like the GH2
– m.Zuiko 12-60mm
– m.Zuiko 100mm F2.8 Macro
– m.Zuiko 100-400mm or m.Zuiko 400mm F5.6 (priced as the Canon ones, but at least 30% lighter)
Just dreaming 😉
Thank you Olympus!
+1
GH2 is not good enough?
2.8/100 macro : YES!!! Olympus or Panasonic.
12-60 : bright or compact? Panasonic has a bright zoom in consideration.
100-400 : I’d be surprised that it appear anywhere soon on any roadmap. But it would be interesting to see.
For me the GH2 is OK, but it would be nice if Olympus has a similar body.
Now I make photos of birds with E520 + Sigma 50-500.
But the Bigma isn’t sharp enough (I prefer the Canon 400mm F5.6, very sharp and nice price, only no OS).
When Olympus, Panasonic or Sigma make a sharp 400mm prime for m43 with price like the Canon 400mm F5.6 then I’m very happy! Its like a expensive 500mm prime for Canon/Nikon!
A 100-400mm zoom with quality and price as the Sony 70-400mm is OK too!
I’m not so sure this lens lineup is sounding as good as everyone is making out in primes you will have PRO 12mm, then nasty 17mm, then Good 45mm?
What about all the in between bits? Or are they keeping something back?
Don’t get me wrong I welcome the news as both focal lengths are welcome for me, it just seems they don’t fit in with the overall picture very well!
Well, if you count Panasonic in, you will have very good and fast(ish) lenses at 12, 20, 25 and 45 mm FL. That already covers a lot. Just compare what NEX has…
ALAN, 17mm is PANCAKE, not NASTY 😀
And i need a 25mm F2.8 Pancake also 😉
now this sounds like the olympus I came to love~
Awesome! I can see a 12mm, 25mm, 45mm trio in my future 🙂
12+20+45 sound like a great combo and are f2 or faster 🙂
Zooms are shitty on m43.
m43 is all about the size and most of the time zooms are used at either short or the long end, and they’re not very high quality like the bigger 43rds ones.
m43 should capitalize on short register distance and release wide and fast lenses in 10-40mm range which were impossible or very large/expensive on regular 43rds.
That’s the system’s main strenght. No point in releasing existing tele lenses in m43 mount because they won’t be better or smaller.
In any case, I expect 12mm f2 to be similar in size or smaller as existing 30-35mm f1.8-f2 lenses for DSLR which is quite small.
+1
12,20,45, same combo here!
And then a 45-200 Zoom lens. E-P1 (for funshooting) and G3/E-P3(if it has major improvements, and a cheaper, more retro looking EVF, the actual VF-2 may be pretty solid, but too expensive)
+1 totaly, (halfway already!)
12, 25, 45 sounds even better! I remeber my Contax G1 with AF and 28, 45, 90 – this was the most pleasant kit for photography I ever had. This can be very similar provided that the right camera occurs.
I think I’ll stick with my 20mm just because it’s a pancake, rather than getting the 25mm.
A 1.8/45 for 299 EUR/USD will definitely not be a MACRO. Thus it could be sharp wide open (compare the Panny 1.7/20, which is a little bit more expensive but also a little more complicated design).
Will be mine (if the first samples are OK, I will preorder directly).
I can mark Samsung off my shopping list today.
After the disappointment from the upcoming PEN cameras, this is indeed a great news!!! yay 😀
does it have aspherical elements? becuase if it has image quality will be outstanding i believe… i can then sent away my Canon FD 50mm f1.4 that only works with good quality at f2.4 and acceptable at f2 if there arent high contrast lights in the picture
so good wide open performance is a must and f1.8 although wont blur full body portraits it would blur background of half body shots…
Admin,
1. Any chances that any of these cameras (especially the one with tilt screen) do have touchscreen?
2. Will the 45/F1.8 have the same fast focus speed?
3. Any chances that the 45/F1.8 will also have decent focus speed on Lumix G bodies (say ~0.2 sec in good light conditions)?
Hi!
1) I think yes (but I need confirmation)
2) Will ask.
3) no idea
Yeah, another plastic glass (carbon lenses inside) optics… And nothing made of real glass…
Guys, rather get the 40/1.4 Nokton. I had mine for 300 EUR new from HKG and eventhough the 35/1.2 is better, would never trade it for some optic that makes character(soul)less pictures like a P&S and weights +-150 grams.
The Nokton 40/1.4 is a very nice lens (I have it) but the quality wide open is only suitable for “artistic” shots. Also, the bokeh wide open isn’t liked by many. It’s better stopped down though. If the new 45/1.8 has bokeh like the new Panasonic 25/1.4, it will be a much better portrait lens than the Nokton 40/1.4
I second this, I had the 40mm/1.4 as well. It gives a very unique look, but a portrait lens it is not. The bokeh is just far too harsh on it. I loved the build quality and feel of the Nokton, but I sold mine because ultimately image quality is what matters.
…Pablo did u see the 3d look of 25mm pana leica…did u see how much “soul”in that pics…:)
Do u still belive 25mm in m43 is a wide angle lens…??????
45mm: PLEASE BE A MACRO, PLEASE BE A MACRO, PLEASE BE A MACRO 🙂
Free thinking, what by 150mm F2 macro for 2000$
45mm: PLEASE NOT A MACRO, PLEASE NOT A MACRO, PLEASE NOT A MACRO 🙂
The mFT system already has a 45 macro; a macro lens is necessarily slow AF (by optical construction); a macro lens at f/1.8 and 300$ will be of very poor quality (no free lunch). However, Canon, Nikon and Sony (ex-Minolta) have old but reasonably good 50/1.8 for SLR in the 150-200$ range; so at 300$, we can expect wonderful results from a modern formula/glass quality/lens coating that is not constrained by the long focal flange distance of SLR mounts.
for $300 it’s a no brainer… will pre-order my first lens ever (using a link from Admin’s webpage of course). For me to purchase it, I only need it to be better than my manual focus cannon 50mm FD… I’m sure it won’t disappoint.
Excellent news. For this price it’s a no brainer even if the build quality is so-so.
Now you have all the new lenses it’s time for a poll: “12,25,45: choose one”.
Will do that when I know exaclty how the lenses do perform! And I still need to know more about the final price of the 12mm lens!
Should be around $850. It’s a specialty lens and that will be reflected in the price tag. If it’s even similar to that mockup, I’m getting one.
The performance of the 45 is an easy one. Should be similar to the 20/1.7. It’s of the same category exactly.
I am “in” for the 12mm! I already have the P/L 45 and the Panny 20mm….so as far as I am concerned the 24mm would round me out to some nice primes!!!!!
i.e. above…(24mm equiv.)
Why choose just one?
did Olympus ever made a so-so lens? even considering the relative bad performance of the actual kitlenses, compared to other kitlenses, the performance is pretty good.
Im sure the 45/1.8 will be a stunning performer, maybe not a bargain-leica, but certainly very sharp with high contrast!
The 17/2.8 is definitely a so-so lens. Anyway, I was referring to build quality, not to optical quality.
Olympus certainly did not make any lenses comparable to their 43 counterparts but none of them is so-so. Kit lens wise, if the 14-42 or the 17 is bad, I can’t find other descriptions for…let’s say those for Sony Nex.
Bravo Olympus! That’s the lens many have been waiting for. Not me, but it will surely make the system more popular. But with that price, it’s going to sell very well. Now, only if 12mm came a bit closer to that 300 USD…
BTW, I hope it’s not a macro, we’ve already got a 45mm macro in the system.
Now, give us addon flash and EVF similar to those Pentax viewfinders shown here couple of days ago http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/pentaxlx/viewfinders/index.htm – for those cameras without built in flash or EVF.
They look pretty cool! Would appreciate such a viewfinder, it it costs under 150$! 😀
+ 1 very cool!
Perhaps you’ve never used Oly’s 50mm 2.0 macros? Those are magic lenses in so many ways (I have the OM, but the ZD is just as good). One lens to do macro and portrait would be phenomenal, but at that price, I don’t see it. I think this will be Oly’s ubiquitous lens (think the old school 50/1.8 — cheap, abundant and good) and they’ll release a macro at some future date.
“Perhaps you’ve never used Oly’s 50mm 2.0 macros?”
No, I’m not fond of macros. When I have to, I use a zoom, good enough for me…
“No, I’m not fond of macros. When I have to, I use a zoom, good enough for me…”
???
When I want to photograph a flower or an insect, I zoom in, serves my needs well. I don’t want a separate lens for my 10 macros per year.
There are still some data missing. Will PL3 be able to command external flashes? Does the E-P3 have touch screen?
Do they have a 12 or 16 Mpx? Do they have real Multi Aspect – making lenses wiider in 16:9?
What is the rationale of a 12/2 costing almost 1000 $?
How about the back port. Only One? Will there be a long due GPS nodule? A cable or radio extension for the VF-2. Will there be a cheaper VF-3?
Thank you!
“What is the rationale of a 12/2 costing almost 1000 $?”
Fast wide primes with good optical characteristics are never inexpensive. The soft in the corners until you stop down to f/2.8 Sigma 24/1.8 is only $550 but hopefully this m.Zuiko 12/2 will be a much better lens with better build quality and optics.
The 45mm is a must buy for me.
Very happy about that news.
If they then offer a body that fully convinces me (X100 style), than I will buy into a full nice small mFT system with an oly body, the 12mm, the 20/25mm and the 45mm. If the body has a nice grip I will add the 100-300. Hach, just dreaming 🙂
+ 1 Soren. Thats what I am waiting for. Such an Oly body and the following lenses:
9-18, 20mm, 25mm and 45mm
The 12mm sounds nice but will be a bit pricey for me so I might go for 9-18 instead because its cheaper plus its a bit wider!!
I’m very happy for this news of the 45/1.8, but honestly Olympus, could you not have made it 50mm? I’m not talking from an EFL point of view, but it just looks like plain copying of Panasonic. At least the other lenses are off by a few mm, but this one will be a copy of the Pan-Leica 45mm.
Still I will be happy an most likely buy one. I can put my canon FD 50mm 1.8 to rest then.
I’d rather buy the 45 than the 50mm. The 50 is a bit long I think…
45mm will be 90mm equiv. Thats the perfect portrait length. 50 is often bit too much.
Guys, you really need to start to change your thinking a little, step outside the box 🙂
Let’s compare 45/1.8 and 50/1.7
To get the EXACT same depth of VIEW from both, let us say, if you use the 45mm @ 10ft, then the 50mm would be @ 11.11ft, just step back a foot or two, simple!
Now, I know what your thinking!! Depth of FIELD will be worse? OMG! Oh NO!!! 🙂
DoF for 45/1.8 @ 10ft is 0.79ft
DoF for 50/1.7 @ 11.11ft is 0.75ft
sooo the 50/1.7 would have DoF 0.04ft shallower for the people looking for shallow DoF.. of course if the 50mm was 1.8 then it would be the same @ 0.79ft
There are no hard and fast rules on what is a portrait lens. But the 50/1.7 would have been better than the 45/1.8
just saying… 🙂
p.s. i’m still buying it! 🙂
It’s not only about DOF/DOV, but also about how far away from the subject you are. There’s more distortion on the face with a 45mm than a 50mm, and especially a proper (for me) portrait lens length of 65mm+.
Distortion comes from perspective, and perspective is due only to point-of-view (i.e., distance to subject), not focal length. So a 45mm in mFT gives the exact same distortion as 90mm in FF, and that is classically accepted as the focal length that allows the point-of-view with the most pleasant perspective for human faces (43mm on FF is closer to a human eye, but with 90mm on FF the nose is less “pop-up”, the eyes larger, so the result nicer). In other words, 45mm on mFT is the best focal lens for classical portrait.
Of course, depending on the specific photographic conditions, that might not be the best for everybody; so to generalize, a short tele (75-135 mm on FF = 38-68 mm on mFT) will give the most pleasant perspective for human faces. Indeed, a good portrait studio is designed to allow the corresponding distance from the subject. Now, we don’t all have to do classical portrait, so there’s plenty of space to innovate for everybody to find their happy lens. But that’s not what “portrait lens” means, then 🙂
Distance-to-subject was exactly what I was talking about as well.
90mm is not “classically accepted” as a portrait lens, 100mm is – there are no 90mm lenses in 35mm format AFAIK. Many – including me – consider 100mm too short, and prefer 135mm or even longer. In any case, calling 45mm or any other focal length “best” for portraits is a call that can’t be made, as the best focal length is a personal preference. So I fully agree with your 2nd paragraph.
Not many, but there are definitely 90mm vintage lenses and some of them are macros. An example of this is the Olympus 90mm f/2 Macro OM.
90mm is close to 85mm, which is a very popular FL for portraits.
So, this 45mm will definitely be very popular.
Ben Tom
Wat protait, is the, animal, face, body and group ?
But if we talk aboat face will i say 35mm-60mm in M4/3, 4/3, and for body maybe 20mm-50mm in M4/3, 4/3. also, whatever indoor and outdoor. ?
Oh mama! 12mm + the PL25 + 45mm f1.8 + Panasonic 3 Layer (foveon kind) sensor = Photographic orgasm.
This is terrific news. I’ve been waiting for a portrait lens. At f1.8 there is no chance this will be a macro.
Maybe Olympus come by extension tube soon, a MEX 14mm-20mm like the 😉
Complements and parallels the Panny 20mm -unstabilised, sensible price, fast, good quality:-)
Sets the sensible price for regular mft primes.
Extraordinary month for mft. Panny & Oly well done and it sounds like there is more to come:-)
Maybe Oly has been listening, but has just been slow on delivery?
Obviously it’s not a macro. Technically it’s much too difficult to make a macro lens perform well with F1.8 max (for this price), and practically it makes no sense to use F1.8 with macro because nothing will be in focus.
Close-focus sure that’s possible (like the Nokton25), but a true macro needs optimization of the lens elements, and surely they’ll do everything they can to optimize it for portrait instead. Just having F1.8 affects the Whole aperture range you know. A lens that has only F2.8 max for example would have less trouble with F4 than a faster lens does. So with F1.8 the whole range is challenge enough, not to mention the importance of smooth bokeh for a portrait lens.
So much more interesting than high Iso sensor developments and much more useful. this gives over 3 stops more light (& reduced dof) than many of the zooms. Can’t wait!
Accessories finally? Could it be teleconverter/full frame focal reducer/autofocus adapter for manual lenses? Say its so!!! Def buying this lens as soon as it hits the shelves. No matter how crap it is, it should be at least sharp at f2. Potrait lens with autofocus and no leica snob label yes!! Sold.
I’m slightly baffled by the suprise and the excitement over the 45mm f1.8 – very similar spec and price to the already available and highly regarded Panasonic 40mm f1.7.
Olympus releasing another me-too lens – who could have predicted that?
Woosh!!!! Its a 45mm not a 20mm. Theres no 40mm Pana. 40mm equiv and 90mm equiv. The 20’s a slightly wide normal. The 45 is a portrait lens. Only other option is vastly overpriced 45mm Panasonic due to the Leica snob label.
Panasonic has a 20mm f1.7 out, if you want to you could see redundancy with the panaleica 45 f2.8 macro, but that is quite expensive and only f2.8…
I would wish olympus bringing out a 20mm f1.7 in the quality of the pany pancake lens BUT with the super fast (and silent) focus! this as kit lens with e-pl3 with swivel screen and oly sensor with better DR and i’m happy 😀
You guys are all too keen on this lens without knowing anything about it.
I suggest you hold off your orders until I have mine so I can tell how good it is. 🙂
We all got stockholm syndrome. Looks like there gonna sell these by the bucket load from the poll.
$300 a good price?
A canon/nikon 50/1.8 can be had for less that $100…
You goto pay the Micro four thirds tax. Be happy it aint got Leica written over it then you would have to pay the value added hipster tax on top too.
The Canon 50 1.8 sux
And Nikons version?
Buhuhuhu, why can I have 14-54mm for 300$ and Nikon 14-24 or Canon 16-35mm costs 6-7x more?
Or why is PL25mm 1.4 only 600$ and Canikon 24mm 1.4 costs 1500-2000$
😀
See what I did there?
Because of the crop factor, you complete tool.
You’re a tool.
There’s no crop factor involved.
Point is that 45mm 1.8 covers the same angle of view as 80(85mm) and 85mm 1.8s cost much more and are bigger and heavier.
Canon 50mm 1.8 is a shit lens, it’s got horrible autofocus and it’s built like a cheap ass toy.
Also, there are no bodies from Canikon which will give you same pixel density or “crop factor” to offset the difference.
Typical deluded M43 fanboy. You just compared the Oly 14-54mm with the legendary 14-24mm full frame Nikon. You know nothing.
Hahaha, what a dimwit.
I “compared” because you compared two completely different lenses on different systems.
Of course 14-24mm is different to 14-54mm (covering entirely different angle of view), but so was your comparions between CaNikon 50mm and Olympus 45mm.
Not to mention Olympus lens is going to be smaller and with a camera it will weigh less than an entry level body from CaNikon.
If we’re to compare – why not compare 600mm f4 which costs $10k, with ZD 300mm f2.8 which costs $5-6k – they cover same angle of view on their respective systems.
You complete muppet look again. I never compared anything. The only comparisons have been from you and anyone with half a brain can see straight through them. You seem to be constantly trying to defend and protect the failures of Olympus’s M43 offerings, hence them going broke. Your comparisons have been null from the get go.
Sorry, but the Canon 50/1.8 has a horrible build quality and is too soft wide open. You get exactly what you pay for. If, if the oly 50mm is solid and usable wide open then I have no problem with paying a higher prize.
Buhuhuhu, why can I have 14-54mm for 300$ and Nikon 14-24 or Canon 16-35mm costs 6-7x more?
First because almost no one wants them.
Second because it’s a wide zoom (28mm equiv) and not an ultra-wide (14 and 16mm).
Third, because in practice it’s two stops slower because a full frame sensor outperforms a Four Thirds sensor by two stops (or more).
There you got it.
One of my first digital cameras was an Olympus E-1, my current camera is a Panny GH2 and if the next Oly 12mm f/2 is any good you can bet my next camera will be an Olympus E-P3 glued to that lens. I tell you this because I know you would call me a fanboy just because I gave you those facts that true fanboys resist to believe.
Because the Nikon 14-24 and Canon 16-35 are f2.8 🙂
But you must notice, that the Canon 50/1.8 (don’t know the Nikon) is one of the worst APS-C lenses that has ever been produced. None of the Oly-lenses we have seen so far is nearly as bad as this product. For me, the 50/1.8 is not that interesting, as I use the 50/2.0 on my E-3 and E-620. I prefer such a pro-lens for its macro-ability, excellent IQ and superb build-quality (dust and splash-water protection). However, for mFT as a system, a fast and affordable 45/1.8 is a big step forward. I think that one of the problems of the 4/3-system was the fact, that it lacked “cheap” lenses that attract the low-level shooters.
All of those old nifty fifties are quite soft wide open, and don’t clean up until 2.8. I’m assuming (and you know what that means!) that the Oly will be sharp wide open, just like most of the recent Zuikos.
I agree that if it comes in at that price, it will be a no-brainer purchase for me… even if the construction is plasticky and the optics are no better than “acceptable.” If nothing else, I will buy it as a gap-filler and continue hoping that something better will come along later (50/1.4 Sigma, anyone?)
For the kinds of photos I make, lenses slower than f/2 are almost useless and a medium-tele/”portrait” focal length is a necessity. For a long time my most-used lens on my M4/3 cameras has been the RF-mount 50mm f/1.5 Nokton, but I will be glad to have an AF option in this length/speed range!
@mal : you mean the Pana 20mm f1.7 ?
@RT ; the quality of the canon 50mm f1.8 is poor (build quality, no MF…). The 50mmf1.4 is much more expensive
Now let’s hope they will sell a “E-P3 + 45mm” kit 🙂
Pen Protrate kit
I can feel a nice fast, sharp mid range zoom coming with this new line up… Just a feeling… But…
Len
Thats exactly what I was hoping for. Admin doesnt seem to have any news on that. Maybe it could be coming later. I was hoping for a MFT 14-54mm or even the 12-60. The other thing I would like Olympus to do is to come out with a higher quality 17mm lens than the current pancake. Even if it has to get a bit bigger. That would really complete the set. Then there would be 12,14,17,20,25,45.
great price for a native/fast mft 45mm.
so this one would take benefit too from the new AF?
Great news admin! Put me down for one of these as well… just as soon as they become available.
Any news on how this lens will compare to the ZD 50mm macro? Not interested in the macro capabilities – but I am hoping for that wow factor that it gave to photos. Almost like it was built with magic glass like pablo is always going on about.
WANT !!! 🙂
It always be an endless debate on the equivalent viewing angle. Crop factor at the same time means the area of defocus or bokeh is cropped away. Please remember that the DOF is quite different with double focal length. Try to take a photo from a 50mm f2.8 macro on a m4/3 system and try to find a FF camera using 100mm f2.8 and make the same framing when shooting. I think everyone should see the bokeh from 100mm f/2.8 is softer. So theoretically, a 45mm f/1.8 doesn’t mean it can achieve the same visual result for 90mm f1/.8 (though the lens not exist in actual life). But you can expect the DOF should be double by 1.8 X 2, which means it is roughly equivalent to 90mm f/3.6 on a full frame.
Is it the point to judge the value? Well, it is really hard to say. But I just know a Minolta 45mm f/2.0 with an cheap adapter just cost more or less than 40 USD if you are lucky enough. MF is just fine to me and the quality is damn superior. LOL
You are talking build quality right, not image quality. I have owned dozens of MF lenses during the time I have had my PEN. I just finished selling off the last of my favorites – a bunch of nice OM lenses (my best being the 100mm f2.8 and 85mm f2 but I never had the 90mm macro), my Canon FD 35m f2 with concave thorium front element, a Tamron 300mm f2.8, and my Tamron 90mm f2.5 macro. As much as I loved playing around with old 35mm lenses, it seemed that they were still hampered by reduced contrast due to all that extra light that didn’t hit the sensor straight on but bounced around inside. I know that people have had success making baffles for their full frame lenses, but I think that you will still get the best results on m4/3 if the lens is built specifically for m4/3.
Now that we are starting to get more selection, I no longer feel the need to fill the gaps with other lenses – as fun as it was to collect them.
If this lens is a good performer, then hats off to Olympus for releasing it with a reasonable price tag – which isn’t diminished by the fact that you can find 35 year old used manual focus lenses built for a different sized format, for less money.
12mm, 20mm and 45mm. That’s my trinity!
Think it’ll be the same for me 🙂 I’ll be eBaying some zooms soon, but I’ll keep my 57mm Hexanon for portraits.
1+ 😀
Given the new AF, it seems very likely they will replace the 17 soon. It would certainly make sense to bring out a 25 to complete the range.
This would also make better sense of their new camera lineup. With a better 17 and/or 25 many people would buy the camera with one of these pancake primes and never need flash at all. The flash only on top end body, largely for control purposes and subtle fill-in.
woot!!
9-18, 17mm (cos i love it), 25mm 45mm and 70-300
My super kit 🙂
Good job Olympus and panasonic 🙂
F 1.x pancakes please. There’s only one at the moment and it focuses somewhat slowly. Also it doesn’t have internal focus which is at times a little bad. Image quality is good.
Olympus has a long history of making a great assortment of small primes at F 2.0 to go with the OM. Maybe if the current line is PEN, they can bring the EVF + great primes combination as EOM or OM-E or something.
Oly M.Zuiko 45 1.8 ? I MUST have it! And: Good quality is good enough for me. No need to be the best lens ever made.
More compact Oly E-PL3 with new sensor and tilt-display ? I MUST have this too! Finally the cam to replace my E-620, E-PL1 AND XZ-1 !!!
This are tremendous news indeed! It clearly seems that Olympus still have a fight in them. I just joined the Sony NEX system, but might switch to MFT if Olympus if the EPL-3 and the 45/1.8 will turn out nicely.
I wonder, does the new autofocus system mean that Olympus will produce a third iteration of their collapsible kit lens?
Was waiting or this lens 🙂
I LOVE the one long page comments!
I dont’t like it.
I visit 43rumors a few times a day and with only one endless page of comments I can hardly find the point for going on with reading…
You can change to “flat view” and see the newest comments first, if that helps.
Its better then clicking new comments vs old comments over and over again
I’m with Angry about this one!
long comment page rullz.
Sounds good! I hope it’s sharp wide open, as that’s where I want to use it most. Man, this summer is gonna be expensive… New E-P3, 45, 25 and maybe the 12… Yikes.
So Olympus has at least 1,000 sales already on the new lens, according to the poll~
Yes, and the potential of 1340 customers..:)
Real fanboy buys twice!
Indeed – and 43rumors is a tiny sample of the potential market for such a lens. Place your pre-orders 🙂
Lieber Admin,
bitte mache eine dicke laufende Nummer vor jeden Kommentar in
einem Strang, damit man bei Rumurs-Mobile-IPhone…;°) die letzte
Stelle beim Lesen wieder findet.
Du machst tolle Arbeit !
Ich bin registriert, aber leider übersetzt Google nicht nach
dem Einloggen…!?… ;°(
Gruß Swejk (Deutschland)
Werde sobald wie moeglich eine extra iPhone version entwickeln lassen!
Man, if this is true, that’s a killer price.
ADMIN: do you have any news on whether this lens will use the NEW autofocus system you hinted at for the 12mm lens?
Not yet. I asked my sources. Should get answer soon.
It will definetly use the new AF system, the question should be if the lens include a fast enough(or faster) motor tehn the 12mm
sadf
If that’s true, count me as inspired and heartened. Heck, it’s the right lens even at twice that price, if it’s high grade. Even if it’s not, it’ll be great.
Olympus doesn’t make any crap lenses, let’s hope it isn’t a repackaged Sigma.
Of course, at that price, I’ll buy one even if it is.
good news. so my precious rokkor 58/1.2 is now looking for a new owner 😉
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130534270059
Now if only Olympus would come out with a “high grade” version of the 17mm, preferably with a f.1.8 or even f.2 aperture. I’d love to see a series of small, fast, high quality Olympus micro 4/3 primes at f.2 or faster.
As for this new 45mm, I’m not that excited yet. The 17mm f.2.8 is no better, IQ wise, than the 14-42 kit lenses. In order for this 45mm to be on my wish list, it’s going to have to perform really, really well at f.1.8, otherwise, it’s no deal for me.
Olympius
sounds very good. now gimme a 60
67?
~67mm f/1.4 or even f/1.2 is my dream portrait lens.
If its as good as the Zuiko 90 2.0, it will be great.
Why need a 45mm 1.8 when there’s already a 20mm 1.7? I guess it’s good for more long range photography? What I want is a good wide angle fast lens or a faster pancake to compete with the 20mm. For me what sets m4/3 apart is smaller size and I have yet to see anyone beat the 20mm 1.7. Even the new leica I don’t know what people are excited about given it’s huge size and I’m not sure the quality is that much better given it’s almost double cost.
BTW…if that 12mm f.2 really is $900 to $1,000 USD, then it’s a no-deal for me. I’ll get the M.Zuiko 9-18 or Panny 7-14 instead. Yes, they are slower, but much more versatile.
I do hope, for Oly’s sake, that the $1,000 USD price tag is bad information–it’s not going to sell at that price, especially with two Leicas from Panasonic costing much less.
But if they are so foolish, I understand the Panasonic will be coming out with a fast, wide-angle prime later this year, or early 2012. Might be worth waiting for.
Olympius
I have the same opinion.
In wideangle, I don’t need f2, because with IS your can handhold even the 7-14 easily under “dark” condition. Depth of field shouldn’t be the big point in wideangle. At the moment I own a m9-18, which is a nice lens.
No, you can’t. If you´re already at 1/8 or 1/4 seconds and things get even darker, IS will not help you. A faster lens is the only solution that works in that case.
let’s hope sigma makes a m4/3 version of its 30mm 1.4
Sounds great,
I will buy one if image quality is ok.
If it has the new autofocus system I will buy it within a heartbeat.
And if it is a macro lens I will preorder it.
Since m4/3 came out, many have waited and waited for a good landscape prime lens around 12mm and a fast portrait lens with autofocus. Finally! Note we will actually have a choice of two 12mm lenses when the Noktor HyperPrime 12/1.6 comes out as well.
Personally, I am very glad Olympus picked 45mm for their portrait offering. I used to use a Canon 100/2.8 in film days and often wished it was a tad shorter, while my PenF 40/1.4 on m4/3 is a tad wide. 45mm is perfect. This is a great time for us indeed!
Well,
unconfirmed rumor or not. Olympus has had a lens roadmap on their official web site for a long time that seem to be forgotten by this rumor site. The road map show a 45mm macro lens to be announced in the spring/summer 2011 so that should not come as a surprise to anybody. A more confirmed rumor is hard to find.
It would be strange if it was not a fast macro lens after all. Olympus already has the technology and patens. It os faster than most macro lenses and I agree that the depth of field will be very shallow. I have a Nikon 105mm f/2.8 macro lens on a full frame body. Its depth of field would be equal to an Olympus 45mm f/1.4. In lieu of that fact, a f/1.8 macro is not so extraordinary. Also keep in mind that the lens would only be 1/3 stop faster than Olympus´existing Four Thirds lens. I agree that for pure macro work one usually works with a narrow aperture, but this lens will also double as a portrait lens.
Meh, I was hoping for a proper portrait lens: 50-70mm prime, f/1.4 or faster. I’ll stick with my 57mm Hexanon.
With the 2x crop factor of the 4/3 sensor, this new Olympus lens is an excellent focal length for portraits. After all, didn’t your konica still produce nice portraits during the film era it was designed for?
I wouldn’t know, I’ve only used it on MFT. 57mm on a film camera is too short for my tastes even for full-length portraits. I shoot facials with ~135mm equivalent focal length with APS-C digital and MF film, so 57mm on MFT is shortish.
I think a 45/1.8 will be a good fit for most people (self included) but I feel your pain. I wish Olympus would blow the dust off the drawer where they keep the design drawings for the Pen F’s 60mm f/1.5 and 70mm f/2 lenses and do something with them… those lenses may not be “great” by today’s (bogus) Imatest standards, but they made beautiful images.
Wow, 1400 people so far have said they would buy this lens if the quality is good. I guess my order will have to compete with a few others.
I wonder how the interest here will relate to the actual marketplace (it is often pointed out that 43rumors readers are not necessarily representative of the buying public).
Does anyone know if the ZD 50mm f2 was a lucrative product for Olympus? This should have a similar customer base right?
I would not be so sure about the FT 50/2.0 and the mFT 45/1.8 having a similar customer base unless we have more details. The FT 50/2.0 is a relatively expensive lens, with superb image quality, dust and splash water protection and macro-abilities. We do not know yet to which extent the 45/1.8 will posses these abilities. I love my ZD 50/2.0, for me (!) a 45/1.8 without macro-abilities and tanklike construction is not that tempting.
Why does m4/3 like to compare AF speed to the 5d, the GH2 also did that. The 5D af is a very dated AF, similar to the 20D. Not fast at all compare to a 50d, 60d, 7d or 1d4 or even the current T rebels.
I would be really impress if it AF like a 50D with a 70-200 2.8 USM. Not the fastest of the canon’s but very fast.
But I totally agree, oly hear their customers and listen to what they wanted in then next gen of pen’s. This new AF is a big step in the right direction. Now can we get a new sensor?
“Olympus will announce a new 45mm f/1.8 lens which will cost around 299 Dollars/Euro only! I think that’s an amazing cheap price for a lens that is fast”
Now lets take a look at other manufacturer’s prices for fast primes.
EF 50mm f/1.8 II Autofocus Lens $119
Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D Autofocus Lens $129
Sony 0mm f/1.8 DT AF Lens $149
Oly coming with a 45mm f1.8 lens with maybe $300 (if it is euro it makes around $450) and you are calling this “amazing cheap price”
Seriously guys what is wrong with you? It seems you really enjoy getting screwed my m4/3 companies.
Do you have any kind of logic. I read lots of comments and people are very happy about the price.
LOL i mean LOL big LOL
triple price comparing to others and you are saying lens is cheap
:))))
sounds like you didnt own any 4/3 lenses before.
Oly lenses were never cheap, but they always had decent quality, with the 50mm f2.0 macro being one of the sharpest lenses for DSLR available.
sure the previous Oly kit lenses for m4/3 are not great, but the rumor is that these upcoming lenses are supposed to be ‘higher grade lenses’ so most are assuming that quality is at least on par with the 4/3 lenses
In case you haven’t noticed: At least the Canon 50/1.8 (don’t know about Nikon and Sony) is a very, very bad lens, probably one of the worst APS-C lenses ever produced. Not only is the image quality below standards, but also the build quality so toy-like that the lens occasionaly falls apart for no reason at all. The FT 50/2.0 cost me 500 Euro as compared to the Canon 50/1.8. Nevertheless, I think the Oly lens was well-priced by comparison.
@George: take a look at the wide open performance of those three lenses you listed and tell me who is LOL-ing now? If the the m.Zuiko offering is close to its 50mm f/2 Macro big brother in this regard, it will be an instant classic.
Well, that Nikkor 1.8D won’t AF on entry level Nikons… All depends how will new Zuiko perform at wide apertures (also stopped down) and lens built quality. BTW there are many legacy lenses at 50mm range with price even uder 100$ so this 45mm lens is option for those who want AF lens optimized for 4/3 sensor.
George, you get what you pay for.
I own the Canon 50mm f/1.8 and it’s OK for the price – but it’s certainly not a good lens. The build quality is rubbish, the manual focus ring sucks. The lens has four advantages: it’s cheap, it’s fast, it’s light and it’s cheap.
By comparison, the more expensive Olympus Four Thirds lenses that I own outperform any other lens in their focal length range and price class (even higher price classes) by leaps and bounds. Olympus knows how to build excellent lenses.
Excellency has its price.
I am not a big fan of their Micro Four Thirds lenses so far, owning only the kit lens that came with my E-PL1. I think it’s not as good as the kit lens that came with my E-520. I wouldn’t buy any of the Micro Four Thirds zoom lenses. I am very open for the prime lenses though.
The angle of view is different, and they are designed for different purposes. For an equivalent angle of view, you have to step up to 85mm in full-frame:
Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 – List price $670, $419 at Amazon
Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D – $489.95 at B&H
To get the same angle of view for an APS-C camera, you’d have to go up to 57-60mm:
Canon EF-S Macro 60 mm F/2.8 – $449 at Amazon
60mm f/2.8D AF Micro-Nikkor – $479 at Amazon
Granted, those last two are macro lenses, but hopefully you get the point.
George nice to see that you care about other’s finances now go and find another sandpit to mess around in
George,
look at the price of 85mm lenses offered by these companies and you’ll see the announced price is very much in line.
Olympus have made some strange decisions over the years, but there seems to be some light at the end of the tunnel here (well, perhaps only ½ way down), and I fully applaud these new prime lenses (12,45)on the way. Up to this point I’ve only dabbled in m43 (Pany GF1/20mm) but it seems I will be able to turn this into a small compact 3 prime system. To me this is what m43 should be about. Congratulations Olympus!!!
GF-1
14mm f/2.5 Pancake
20mm f/1.7 Pancake
45mm f/1.8 Compact
Seems like a mighty good lightweight system to me……………..
It’s a good choice for a focal length, should compliment the 20mm f1.7 quite well.
So a 90mm lens? Still too much. the Lumix 20 (40mm) is as perfect as an all around fit as I have found. For years it has been established that 50mm is the perfect size. So a 90mm is nothing for me to get excited about.
Definately will be buying this, its a suprisingly useful focal length
E-P2 with 17mm f2.8, just sold my 20mm Pana, waiting for my 25mm 1.4 Leica, Nikon 50mm 1.4, 55mm f2.8 Micro and 105mm f2.5 with adapter, except for lack of AF on those Nikon glasses, I’m very happy with the result, until the new Oly 45/1.8 proven to out perform my Nikon 50/1.4, I’m not going to buy it.
My E-P2 is tough, took a lot of beat, scratches all over the body, but no dent, no crack, recently brought a beautiful skin from a Japaness Company, it looks like new again. Oly M4/3 lenses are different story, kit zoom cracked, sold on ebay as parts, 17mm filter ring chipped, but still works, thank god. I don’t expect the new Leica lens has the toughness of my old Nikon lense, at lease should be better than the 17mm, which cost $250. You can get all 3 of my Nikon lenses on Ebay for that amount of money.
just preordered the 25 1.4 panny and will do so for the 45 when they list it ….at adorama i do this in person so i can learn how many folks are ahead of me ……
for the 25mm 1.4 lens more than 250 people preordered before me , for the fujifilm x 100 which i also put down a deposit there are 70 folks ahead of me…
about a month ago i asked how many preorders they had
for the x 100 and my adorama guy told me more than 600!
i waited lol…..Adorama is a fun place to shop
Gonna sell my voigtlander 45mm and buy this new portraitlens. I am amazed by the looks of it, almost camera porn. Olympus did well!! gonna spend some euro’s on it. 🙂