Egami just discovered a new Panasonic lens describing a quite unspectacular new micro Four Thirds lens. It is a 12-60mm f/4.5-5.6 with inner focusing, inner zoom and O.I.S. zoom. While the zoom range is certainly interesting I don’t get it why Panasonic wants to make it that slow. The only reason would be if the lens would have the size of the 14-42mm X pancake but it’s it not the case here (lens length is 10cm!). Pana/Oly just try to get inspiration from the [shoplink 23681 ebay]Olympus Zuiko 12-60mm f/2.8-4.0 (here on eBay)[/shoplink] if you don’t know how to do it right 🙂 The lens is that much loved that is has an average review of 5 stars out of 5 at Amazon US (Click here).
111 Responses
What an utterly useless lens that would be
you couldn’t have said it better
I dont understand how a company can invest in developing such useless lenses…. they should be spending their R&D budget on primes and better zooms!!! Panasonic, you should know better!!! And you should read this site!!!
Just because I bought the GH2 and the 1.4/25 does not mean I can speak on behalf of each and everyone saying that kit lenses has no uses.
Hey admin, I beg to disagree. When equipped with a decent close focus range and weather sealing, this is an improvement over the existing 12-50mm. A perfect walkaround hiking lens, in fact.
If it is ack sharp. The range is perfect, if the sharpness is there too, this is all we need. For large apertures, get primes
I agree and at the Tele end it’s faster than the Zuiko :-). If it’s cheap, I’ll get it
Will they ever release lenses comparable to the ones in the FourThirds system? I guess the top priority in their lens design now is to make it as small as possible.
If you don’t want small, you’re in the wrong system..
I thought the 14-54 was small enough. I just wish someone would make that lens in mFT. I’d be a happy camper with that, although I’m curious what the 12-35mm brings.
Maybe when the bodies get much larger. Fast, quality lenses are big and weigh a lot – well, only compared to existing m4/3 cameras which all fit on the palm of an average person’s hand.
If you want quality zooms, stay out of m4/3. It’s a system for smallish prime lenses and nothing else.
And then there are the Panasonic 12-35/2.8 and 35-100 lenses, weather-sealed at that. Those certainly aren’t prime lenses.
And then you’re forgetting the 9-18, 7-14, 14-150, 14-140, 75-300, and 100-300 lenses, all quality zooms for what they are.
I will agree that they have a boatload of zoom kit lenses, though, but even those are good performers when compared to similar lenses in DSLRs (well, reported issues on the X lenses aside).
By quality I think he means bright (f/2.8) which the 12-35 and 35-100 certainly qualifies. It’d be nice if there were a few more though.
The 12-35 and the 35-100 do not exist. For all we know, they will be soft and require lots of software corrections.
The other lenses you’ve mentioned are maybe comparable to SG 4/3 lenses, but nowhere near HG or SHG glass.
As far as I’ve heard, the Panasonic 7-14 is every bit as good as the Olympus SHG 7-14.
The Panasonic 7-14 has awful lens coating which attracts dust like I attract mosquitoes in the summer. It’s also an f/4 lens, whereas the Oly SHG lens can be tricked to be f/2.8 at 7mm. The Oly lens also has much less distortion, is weather-sealed, and has a much higher build quality; the Panasonic lens is cheap plastic.
“For all we know”…
Please go ahead an tell us what you know!
Plus one, well said
People demand higher and higher ISO, but it looks like they give a **** for fast zooms. I want a descent standard zoom with f/2.8-3.5!
With the high ISO abilities the OM-D has shown I’m no longer too concerned with fast zooms. I’m more interested in useful range. With 4/3’s size sensors to get decent DOF control you really need f/2 or faster anyway, and as we know f/2 zooms are huge even with a limited range zoom like the Olympus 14-35mm.
I fully intend on using my 12-50mm for studio shots, landscapes, architecture, and macro….pretty much anything I would normally do from f/5.6-8. Then when I want DOF control I’ll just switch over to the PL 25mm/1,4 or Oly 45mm. This 12-60mm could be used exactly the same way by Panasonic shooters.
So I really don’t understand why some people think slow zooms are useless, they have their place. I did this portrait with a cheap slow zoom:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/eparks/5419131722
For that type of thing f/2.8 and faster matters not.
83mm and equiv of f8 cca. This will be capable of 83mm at f10-11 equiv probably. At max it will be 120mm f11 equiv. Not exactly thin DOF eh?
I hear you!
I agree to 100%.
Slow zooms with good range + real fast and quite small prime lenses are a very interesting option vs. big, expensive and medium fast F2,8 zooms
I still want to make pics at base iso if possible, because it’s still brings out the best image quality. But some 2.8 – 3.5 (or 2.8-4.0) zooms would be good enough for me.
That’s when you use an adapter with the ZD14-54 II & ZD12-60 SWD & you’ll get the quality photos you need. It just won’t be the light carry around package the micro 4/3’s lenses can give.
High ISO usability shouldn’t be a crutch.
I agree, and as much as I love m4/3 primes (I recently got the 45 to add to my kit), I certainly don’t want to have to choose between having zoom flexibility and DOF control when there can be lenses like the old 12-60 or the 14-54 on 4/3.
I really don’t know what’s keeping Olympus from making those. They already have the base designs for it. Panny gets a pass because they’re already working on the 12-35/35-100 combo.
“I really don’t know what’s keeping Olympus from making those.”
The size & weight is most likely why. They (“the old 12-60 or the 14-54 on 4/3”)would still be fairly large as well as heavy for that range & especially that aperture size & that would not help with keeping things light in a micro 4/3’s system. That would defeat the purpose of having the micro 4/3’s system, but the E-M5 with grip does help in this regard to using the larger lenses which gives more options to go heavier.
It was Olympus’s glorious idea that anybody who didn’t want to lug an E-5 around should move on to m4/3. If Oly think they can tell me slow and mediocre zooms are what I need or want, they can go screw themselves.
Of course, I understand that Panasonic wants to compete with their own slow and mediocre zoom in the m4/3 circus arena.
Plenty consumers will buy what appeals to the lowest common denominator.
The SWD12-60 is a great lens for video though–parfocal, mechanical focusing. If only it were stabilized. Oly please stabilize it.
The point is there are plenty of slow zooms. What we need are fast ones. F/2 or F/2.8. How many zooms with overlap in the 12-60mm space? More than enough.
Not bad actually,
if it is also weather-sealed,might be a strong contender to Oly 12-50mm since it’s longer at the tele end and a little brighter.
Would love a faster lens definitely but I think it would have been huge and very expensive, just try to limit fast lenses to primes.
I think it could be the kit lens for GH3 as to 12-50mm on E-M5
I agree with you on that. We aren’t going to see the fast X zooms as kit lenses. The GH3 will have this lens or the 14-42X pancake as kit options. People are silly. Imagine the moans if Panny brought out a WP GH3 and no matching kit lens!
I wouldn’t even consider buying the E-M5 without a WP kit lens. Consider the camera as the chicken, the kit lens as the egg. Does it matter which comes first, as long as both come?
Seriously? That slow? Diffraction is starting to limit m4/3s at f5.6! Thats really not good idea..
f3.5 – 4.5 would be decent – usable
If they continue this way, m4/3 system will be based on primes only pretty soon (not saying its bad thing tho..).
“Diffraction is starting to limit m4/3s at f5.6!”
Not really. Given the effective pixel size under the Bayer pattern, diffraction wouldn’t be limiting even at f7.1. Depending on whether you use a 16Mpixel or 12Mpixel sensor, diffraction exceeds pixel size just at f8 or slightly beyond, respectively.
It’s strange how Panasonic is doing a much better job bringing Olympus’ high grade and super high grade lenses to micro 4/3 than Olympus is doing. Our dear admin may not like a 12-60mm lens with an f/4.5-5.6 maximum aperture, but that’s why Panasonic is coming out with a nice, little 12-35mm lens with a fixed f/2.8 aperture. I would certainly take this rumored Panasonic 12-60 over the Olympus 12-50 any day of the week, especially if it has lens based OIS (which it will), and a half-stop faster speed at the long end (which it does). I prefer lens based IS for video work, no matter what advances Olympus may make in body-based image stabilization.
The problem with making an actual copy of the Olympus 12-60mm f/2.8-5 for micro 4/3, is that it would basically be close to the same size it is now. You can only “bend” the laws of physics so much. Fast zooms on micro 4/3 are only going to be reasonably sized if you keep the zoom range fairly small, like 12-35mm for instance. You cannot have your cake and eat it to when it comes to micro 4/3; which is why it’s so important for us to be championing the design and manufacture of more fast little primes, like the excellent Olympus 45mm f/1.8, and Lumix 20mm f/1.7.
But if you want a fast zoom, and want it right now, go get the regular 4/3 Olympus 14-54mm Mk II with contrast-detect focusing. It’s weather-sealed, fast, can focus fine on Pens and Lumix cameras, and is the same overall length as the Olympus 12-50 and this rumored 12-60, though you have to add 20mm for the adapter.
As long as this Lumix 12-60 is weather sealed, I could certainly find a use for it, no problem.
hai Ron,
I’ve been looking for any full user review regarding ZD 14-54/2.8-3.5 mkII on Oly m43 body, you got any link for reference ?
I’ve ask this lens to Robin & he said “The 4/3 lenses will still work on micro 4/3 body like E-M5, but the AF will be very slow and sluggish”
I like to travel lite so this 14-54/2.8-3.5 & 45/1.8 should cater to my need…the FT4/FT5 Pana 12-35 & 35-100 f/2.8 (i think) will to expensive for me
Hi Konikonaku,.
ask this Guy about Oly 14-54 MkII 4/3 version; Joe Gunawan , He mentioned that he used 14-54 on his professional job with GH2,…
Joe Gunawan Fotosiamo commented on the blog post Olympus E-M5 shows less rolling shutter video jello effect. 5 days, 10 hours ago · View
I have the GH2 and the 4/3 14-54 mkII lens. Prior to that lens, I was using exclusively the 20mm 1.7 and 45mm 1.8 combination. After I got the 14-54mm, I hardly use those two lenses. The focusing is fine, on par with the 20mm 1.7 in most situation, but with just as good of […]
I have the GH2 and the 4/3 14-54 mkII lens. Prior to that lens, I was using exclusively the 20mm 1.7 and 45mm 1.8 combination. After I got the 14-54mm, I hardly use those two lenses. The focusing is fine, on par with the 20mm 1.7 in most situation, but with just as good of an image quality, hardly any distortion, pretty sharp wide open, very sharped stopped down from f4 to f11. Overall, one hell of a workhorse lens and I love it!
By the way, I shoot fashion and commercial photography strictly with mu4/3. Check it out at http://www.fotosiamo.com
– Joe | fotosiamo
this comment which is posted 6 days ago should help you should help you
hai Anonymous,
yea…i’ve seen his work the first time he said he use m43 + 14-54 mkII for professional work and its impressive…but the geek inside me think not enough coz i think it look that great coz got some help from PP software…i shoot JPEG and PP that i do only using Photoscape…but it made positive impression in my shopping list…thanks for the reminder
Hi konikonaku,
I wrote my own lengthy user review of the Olympus 14-54mm Mk II, and posted it to the B&H Photo website. Look for the user review by “Contemplative Imaging” — which is the name of my photo business.
Here’s a direct link to the lens on B&H Photo:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/590390-REG/Olympus_261060_14_54mm_f_2_8_3_5_II_Zuiko.html
Sadly, I did not include any image samples, but I have over 200 you can look at on Flickr.
Just go to flickr.com, and enter the following text into the search window: OLY HG 14 54
And yes, you need to include the spaces! If you enter the text string correctly, and do a search on Flickr, you will all the photos I took with the Olympus 14-54 Mk II.
Or, you can just click on this link to see them:
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=OLY+HG+14+54&f=hp
I hope that helps. The Olympus 14-54 Mk II is, without a doubt, the best contrast-detect zoom you can put on a micro 4/3 camera, and, as far as I’m concerned, it’s probably one of the best “normal” zooms ever made. The only zooms that are even better, are the very expensive Olympus 12-60 and 14-35 zooms, but those zooms do NOT have contrast detect focusing, and will not auto-focus at all on a Lumix micro 4/3 camera.
And I’ve since found out that the 14-54 Mk II will even auto focus when I do video on my GH1!
I hope that helps.
RZ
hai Ron
a big help…and your pics in Flickr are impressive…thank you very much
now all i have to do is to pray that Oly give free MMF-3 for the pre-order…or that battery grip (event better) 8)
this should be lens I´m waiting for and which I was suggesting in previous post about lenses..
I´m having now panny 14-140mm and I love this lens It´s a little bit heavy lens (compared to other m4/3) but stopped down it´s very sharp.. but I don´t use focal lenghts 70mm and longer that often I would like to have smaller weathersealed 12-50/60 lens , capable for a macro (1:2 magnification would be fine for me) which I could take anywhere with me .. if it starts at f4,5 I think it will be a nice sharp weathersealed kit lens for the mighty gh3.. oly´s weathersealed kit lens is too big (I mean long)
Great, that would make eight slow aperture kit zoom…
Must be some kind of world record in number of such lenses at such short time. Maybe Panasonic can make another version of 14-45mm in next year if we ask nicely…
Well put!
+1. If they in fact make this lens, please let it replace all the 14-4x lenses…
too many talk to face one fact…
can’t remember Panasonic actually DID a good lens by themself… oh, they got some help on vignetazing 25mm F1.4 pana leica and that’s that…one lens is a achievment?
ah – there’s also an ‘accidental’ 20mm F1.7 which is a miracle to this date how they could produce such a good lens… how come this happened?
all the other lenses are average at best, very bad mostly though, with firmware problems unsolved (just check 14-42X lens dpreview forums). Thanks God for Olympus and Voigtlander and Leica and …
I’m not exactly what you would call a Panny enthusiast, but I have to contradict, here. My Lumix 14-45 is a really good standard zoom lens and comes – apart from being slower – very close to being on a par with my Zuiko 14-54 II.
Or how about the spectacular 7-14mm? Maybe the very impressive 100-300mm? Fanboyism is one of the least respected traits on the interwebz. Really you’re only embarrassing yourself here.
I agree. I lean more towards Olympus (at least in bodies), but I can verify from personal ownership that the 100-300 is one heck of a lens. Reasonably priced, as sharp as I need it to be, and it’s also reasonably fast (especially compared to Olympus’ offering).
I also used to own a 45-200, and it’s also a fine lens. The only flub I’ve seen from Panasonic are their new X kit lenses, and it’s not even a design problem since there are good copies of those out there.
+10
Yep, the 100-300m is mighty impressive, given the size, weight and price.
Don’t forget the 7-14mm, but that’s waaaaay out of the league of all the other M4/3 zooms at this point.
This is a video-centric lens. I think the inner zoom means the length of the lens does not change as it zooms, and this is very desirable for video. Recall that these lenses also go on Panasonic high end video cameras.
Yeah, but if the f-stop changes when you zoom it defeats the point. So again, what is this really for?
This lens will be a game changer!
Please! Panasonic, Olympus! Listen to us!
Either you make fast prime lenses, either you make bright or very powerful zoom lenses.
A standard zoom with such a small aperture is totally useless.
Besides, the real problem with micro 4/3 is not the sensitivity, it is the depth of field. So we do care for fast lenses, not for ISO consideration but in order to keep a shallow dof!
Another idiot. What’s the concept of m43? Small. Portability. What’s the target customer? People who wants to take pics with better portability. Then under what condition? Normally outdoor, taking lanscapes or pic with people and background. Then is DOV/brightness necessary? No
I’m sorry, but YES it is necessary. Not brightness but DOF.
I have the Voigtlander Nokton and use it with a ND filter for DOF. I can take good portraits with a satifying DOF as well as landscape when stopping down. It’s versatile.
And I agree, micro 4/3 has to be small. So why bother with zooms?
If there is any concept to m43, it is to sell.
Once and for all, its a bloody protocol, not a goal!
Arguably, both Olympus and Panasonic has found out that there is a better market for smaller optics, which would explain why we have a plethora of kit lenses available. But to say that there is no place for brighter zoom (and to call someone an idiot for it) is taking things one theoretical step too far.
Oh and by an extension of your logic, we have no AG-AF 100.
It’s not totally useless, and they’re already making a fast zoom lens. This is greatly preferable to the 14-42, which has been their go-to kit lens for a while now. Once the new fast zooms come out, you’ll have plenty of options to cover your needs.
A 3.5-4.5 with a shorter range might be nice, though.
What is wrong with your DOF? Mine is fine with me.
If its built, then it more than likely would be a replacement for the 14-42 in G series kits.
I get a kick out of all these people who think that every lens needs to be 2.8 or faster. It’s comical. 🙂
2.8 isn’t especially fast. I get a kick out of people shooting at ISO 800 with IBIS at f/8 in daylight.
C’mon KK, faster lenses give you much more creative control and flexibility. But, then I’ll take a fast manual prime over a slow AF zoom any day.
Otherwise, flip on the IBIS, crank up the ISO, keep all your subjects centered in the frame, shoot everything in burst mode and hope you find one decent shot out of 100… maybe 500. 😉
If its a Leica type, I’ll bite!
What’s the concept of m43? Small. Portability. What’s the target customer? People who wants to take pics with better portability. Then under what condition? Normally outdoor, taking lanscapes or pic with people and background. Then is DOV/brightness necessary? No. It’s just good to have but not a priority.
M4/3’s concept is getting rid of that hundred year old mirror which was at the time only technical solution available for getting through the lens picture viewable.
On the nose. The number of people asking for lenses that defy the laws (or is it guidelines?) of optics is hilarious. Over and over people are posting “I want f/2 constant zooms!” Well, guess what boys: there a system built around that concept, and it failed in the marketplace. I seriously doubt that Olympus is going to go down that road again.
Inner focus with good range and slow lens….. What I think about is …… Is it a weather seal lens?
If yes……IMO it should be the kit lens of the new weather seal camera…(GH3?) Even it is not a kit lens for New weatherseal camera , compare with OM’s 12-50. It’s still very attractive…
Another dead-slow lens. Not interested at all in another consumer-friendly lens.
Too slow , not my type . Such length should in F2.8 , forget about it . I think is design for kit lens . Compactness is good for a lens but must able to deliver especially in tough situation . I prefer Pana to come out another Leica branded lens .
All I want is for the quality of the pictures – at similar aperture – to be like the Olympus 43 lens. I have no problem accepting slower zooms in the interest of lower price, better range or smaller size. I just wish the zooms we get had better IQ.
I will probably get the Oly 12-50 when I get the EM5 simply to have a weathered walk around zoom (and the price with the kit is nice), but I can’t say I an thrilled about it. I would on the other hand have run to the store already if the IQ had been anything close to the Oly 12-60.
You can have
– fast
– good range
– inexpensive
– small
but you can’t get more than two of these at the same time!
The Zuiko 12-60mm is a very big and heavy lens, and it cost $1000.
This proposed Panasonic lens is only one stop slower, which actually means it’s more useful in low light than the Zukio was on an old 4/3 camera which had really poor high ISO ability.
My 12-60 cost $899 and I’d love to use in on an E-M5.
Jeez… aren’t there already enough lenses in that focal range and speed!
Apparently the masses have an insatiable desire for more of the same.
The idea of small fast primes is great but they do not bring new users into M43. New users will be looking at the hype around, say, the new E-M5 and when considering a purchase they will not be looking at the range of primes available, that MAY come later. Initially they will be looking for a fairly fast mid range zoom of good or better quality.
For this person, the new M43 user, the slow zooms on offer may not crack the impression of APSC lenses being faster or of better quality, after all they are so much bigger they must be better? and 2.8 against 3.5 and 4 and 6.3 Yuck! That sits in the mind of the potential new user, not how many primes am I going to purchase.
People who think primes and such are already M43 users who are upgrading, or people moving the M43 format from another format. THe manufacturers want to keep those they already have but they want new users, and small fast zooms are the entry for those people not primes.
Well, they can’t break the laws of physics. I doubt very much that a large, heavy and expensive lens would be a hit with potential m4/3 beginners.
Nobody talked about the laws of physics. You mentioned large and heavy not me, but don’t forget these people will also be looking at NEX and anyone who can accept that sort of balance ratio will accept anything. The comment was that people new to m43 want fast zooms, only the people already in want fast primes (well mostly). When moving to M43 from something else or moving up or across to M43 the buyer will look at the standard zoom and its range and speed compared to others as a major part of the move decision.
Physics has nothing to do with it, nothing at all. Balance and aesthetics will win for the fastest.
So you mean Olympus and Panasonic could make a fast zoom lens that is small, cheap and lightweight if they only wanted?
Depends on your definition of small and lightweight. My point was about marketing not engineering. Most things in engineering can be fiddled to give a desired result, then redeveloped to give a more desired result. Marketing involves people, that’s slow and 1 Million customers = 1 million different wants.
Maybe Panasonic and Olympus still think that M43 user are just enthusiast and entry level photographer who would not need yet or not ready for A Fast aperture Zoom,..
It’s really frustrating for me after 3 years m43 of seeing the progress of a zoom lens ,but still haven’t got the Fast Zoom,.which likely to be proud off as M43 user
I think they are targeting this to their GF3/GF5 users which are mostly concerned with zoom range than aperture, coming mostly from point and shoots. so they want it as small as possible and with bigger zoom.
they already have the 12-35mm planned so enthusiast would go for that
Just yesterday, just yesterday I wanted 12-36mm but F4 POIS.
Imho it’s the sign 12/1.4 is not coming anytime s00n.
Great news for Olympus I’ll buy another MSC labeled lens;)
Can we have 17/2.8 Mark II, please? 🙂
Panny: just like I told you, these are #1 priorities for system:
1. 100/2.8 Leica macro
2. 10/2.8 pancake
You want it slow OK, just give us 6-12mm f/4-4.5 then I’ll buy
What a waste of RD resources
If you want a 10 to be a pancake, it won’t be 2.8. Try f/4, which, quite frankly, is a better choice for that focal length.
Instead of coming out with so many variation of lenses, m43 cameras should come out with hybrid focusing, CDAF and PDAF so that m43 users could have a wider range of lens choices and this will please the 43 users as their lens collection will not be obsolete soon. PDAF will also improve night focusing too.
At one moment I was thinking about buying the E-M5 because I have the 45mm lens, but seeing all these slow lenses being produced I think it would be a better bet to get a second Nikon DSLR body like the D7000…
So you mean your 45/1.8 will be less useful just because there are other (slower) lenses in the market?
One limited purpose lens doesn’t make a system.
And what about the Panasonic constant f/2.8 lenses?
I’m afraid those will be way to expensive…
I now have a 17-50mm 2.8 Tamron lens for my D90 for about €300 second hand.
No, I love the 45mm but it focusses painfully slow on my E-PL1…
I also have the Nikon 50mm 1.4 so a D7000 would maybe make more sense…
It’s a shame, I love the small M43 bodies, but with the limited supply of (affordable) fast glass I’m afraid it will not be a great system to have when you want to go forward in photography… It will be impossible to do a paid job with the E-PL1 and 45mm because of the slow focus.
Assuming its weather-sealed, maybe this is just Panasonic releasing their version of the 12-50mm. It could even be the new kit lens for the GH3. That would also mean a weather sealed GH3 I would have hoped.
It doesn’t seem especially useful otherwise.
12-60 f/3.5-5.6 certain that was more interesting…
f/4.5-5.6 …??????????????
Personnally I think it is better have a tack sharp lens, rather than a faster soso lens, but I would like it to be xsomewhat compact. Of course if there was a tack sharp, compact lens opening at a constant F2.8, I’d be happy, but mft is all about compromise and I prefer sharpness to large apertures.
> better have a tack sharp lens, rather than a faster soso lens.
Problem is that with all the software covered mediocrities m4/3’s lens motto is more like: Neither tack sharp nor fast.
If the final product is sharp, does it really matter that the processor has a good Lucy-Richardson implementation?
It doesn’t really matter except that as far as zooms go, the final product is rarely as sharp as it could/should be.
Can you explain that I did not understand.
I hate slow lens! money is no objection, just give constant f2 in small package!
Lens sales = revenues
Pana needs this lens for their cameras to be, system wise, competitive with Oly. As Pana has IS in its lenses, Pana users need Pana lenses with OIS.
My expectation is that 12-35 and 35-100 are for users that demands higher quality and are willing to spend more. This patent aims at the “medium quality demands group”
I believe there are three levels of users: entry – uses the kit lens, medium – want better IQ but will not spend that much money, and enthusiasts that want optimal result withing the system and like me spend (too) much on their photography.
Boith Oly and Pana need to take care of them all.
Very similar to my comment above on who wants what out of M43. The old base wants fast primes size is important here as well. The potential new users upgrading or side grading want fast standard zooms with slightly extended range (say 12-60 or cheaper 14-50) in the kit. They will buy as much based on lens as sensor. Lens physical size is not so important, just look at the NEX acceptance. Once ‘in’ the users will then gravitate to primes or just stay with the kit lens for ever. If the kit lens was slow, the next purchase will be another brand.
What is the problem? It is a new zoom range at least. I had expected them to introduce another 14-42 Next Generation.
Yes… no matter the speed it has to be sharp, tack sharp or it isn’t going anywhere near my M4/3 body…
Well this will definetly be a GH3 weathersealed kit macro lens.
They should just make a fixed aperture zoom and be done with it!
Make it f5.6 make it sharp and be done with it…
Very limited market, only a small % of established users would be interested. it would not sell a camera as a kit lens.
sounds like it is gonna be a weathersealed alternative to the 12-50mm.
best video lens ever, would be a 12-50 or 12-60 mm
f2.0 constant with high IQ, stabilisation and powerzoom 🙂 🙂 🙂
Just because there is a patent for such a 12-60/f4.5-5.6 lens does not necessarily mean it will go into production? However it does seem like a counter to Olys 12-50/f3.5-6.3 lens for the OM-D but with only 1/2 stop variation in lens speed but faster and longer at tele end may prove to be more useful for video use and fast AF used to be very problematic for any lens slower than f5.6 in the past.
I personally do not like the rumored 4″ length of lens and would have preferred shorter but expect that is caused by internal focusing and wide focal length range. I would rather have seen an improved versions of the existing compact X lenses only slightly faster or faster 17mm and 100mm primes. We are seeing these zoom lenses because of the constant clamor of those wanting a 12mm wide angle lens and the Oly 12mm costs an arm and a leg. The wide angle of this lens is primarily for use outdoors or for landscapes or with flash indoors.