Olympus M.Zuiko 12-45mm f/4 PRO Review
May 2020, Carl Garrard
24-90mm f/4 (T) is as near perfect as you can get for a compact zoom. Not only is the zoom range ideal for most subjects, but the close focusing is excellent too. Tie in pro quality build, and near prime optical performance in the entire range, small size, and this lens is a no brainer that brings true practical value to your m4/3 kit. Practical value means you'll appreciate it, and forget all about its price, and zoom range. Other lenses we have in our kit we may wonder why we bought them, not so for this lens. As soon as it was announced, I knew it was a gem that ticked off all the right boxes, price is excellent too (link provided here), as the optical performance alone well compensates for the price you pay. Everything else about this wonderful lens is a bonus beyond that in terms of price. It's a must have you'll not regret purchasing. In fact, you'll be glad you did, and you'll wonder why there aren't more photographers making a huge deal out of this lens. The old f/2.8 argument is well engrained, goes way back to the film days. F/4 lenses are the real value these days, and they are better than ever.
Olympus M.Zuiko ED 12-45mm F4.0 PRO Lens
For traveler's or minimalists, you'll have a tough time deciding on this lens. You'll just have to decide if you want a one lens or two lens option if you want to go over 90mm equivalent. The convenience of an all in one zoom, such as the 14-150 or 14-140mm options, is intoxicating. Then you have the 12-100mm f/4, or the 12-200mm f/3.5-6.3. It's a tough world out there. Price, weight, size, features, optical quality, oh my!
What I'll tell you about this lens, is that the combination of all the great features and performance tends to trump the convenience of a one lens solution. Find a good f/4 telephoto zoom or prime to pair with this, and you'll be glad you did. You'll find that most of the time you'll have this little 12-45mm f/4 stuck to your camera and lens changes will be much less frequent than you thought.
Bottom line, this is the lens to get, you just may not have arrived at the same conclusion yet, but ultimately you will. By the time you buy and sell many other zooms looking for that extra optical performance that this lens gives you, you'll come back to it anyways. So save yourself the time and hassle.
It's an ultra fast focusing, super sharp, super well built, compact little gem. Works great on Panasonic or Olympus bodies (I have many). Great fit for the GX8, EM5 MKII, and my G9 for landscapes and close up nature work. Absolutely fantastic lens. Weather sealing is the icing on the cake!
For those of you who wonder if you should go with a constant f/2.8 lens, I won't support that. Fact is, there's not a lot of difference in light gathering or subject isolation on the m4/3 platform between f/2.8 and f/4. It's not worth it. F/4 lenses are the value and practical sweet spot in any mount these days.
Wide open this lens will rock corners. F/2.8 lenses usually need to be stopped down anyways. Silly, right? With gains in the modern sensors, you compensate for the light gathering ability of f/2.8, and get better optical performance to boot. Then when you factor in size, weight, range, price, features, you realize the truth.
The argument for f/4 lenses is just better these days than the argument for f/2.8 lenses. It didn't used to be that way, but progress is impatient. Something so small and well priced shouldn't perform this good, but, it does.
Get it, don't hesitate. Then come back here and tell me thank you for recommending it so bluntly.
Stay focused.
-Carl
Olympus M.Zuiko ED 12-45mm F4.0 PRO Lens
May 2020, Carl Garrard
Olympus M.Zuiko ED 12-45mm F4.0 PRO Lens
For traveler's or minimalists, you'll have a tough time deciding on this lens. You'll just have to decide if you want a one lens or two lens option if you want to go over 90mm equivalent. The convenience of an all in one zoom, such as the 14-150 or 14-140mm options, is intoxicating. Then you have the 12-100mm f/4, or the 12-200mm f/3.5-6.3. It's a tough world out there. Price, weight, size, features, optical quality, oh my!
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| Olympus M.Zuiko ED 12-45mm F4.0 PRO Lens |
Bottom line, this is the lens to get, you just may not have arrived at the same conclusion yet, but ultimately you will. By the time you buy and sell many other zooms looking for that extra optical performance that this lens gives you, you'll come back to it anyways. So save yourself the time and hassle.
It's an ultra fast focusing, super sharp, super well built, compact little gem. Works great on Panasonic or Olympus bodies (I have many). Great fit for the GX8, EM5 MKII, and my G9 for landscapes and close up nature work. Absolutely fantastic lens. Weather sealing is the icing on the cake!
For those of you who wonder if you should go with a constant f/2.8 lens, I won't support that. Fact is, there's not a lot of difference in light gathering or subject isolation on the m4/3 platform between f/2.8 and f/4. It's not worth it. F/4 lenses are the value and practical sweet spot in any mount these days.
Wide open this lens will rock corners. F/2.8 lenses usually need to be stopped down anyways. Silly, right? With gains in the modern sensors, you compensate for the light gathering ability of f/2.8, and get better optical performance to boot. Then when you factor in size, weight, range, price, features, you realize the truth.
The argument for f/4 lenses is just better these days than the argument for f/2.8 lenses. It didn't used to be that way, but progress is impatient. Something so small and well priced shouldn't perform this good, but, it does.
Get it, don't hesitate. Then come back here and tell me thank you for recommending it so bluntly.
Stay focused.
-Carl
Olympus M.Zuiko ED 12-45mm F4.0 PRO Lens
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