Name: Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0
Brand: Olympus

Technical Specifications of Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0

Overall score

7.3

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Popularity

What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the camera lens.

When it matters: When you want to see which camera lenses attract the most buyer attention and review activity.

Mount & Format

1.0

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Lens type

What it is: The optical category that indicates whether the lens is a prime, zoom, macro, fisheye, or another design.

When it matters: When you are choosing between a prime, zoom, macro, or specialty lens for the kind of subjects you shoot.

Importance: LOW

prime

Lens mount

What it is: The mechanical and electronic interface that determines which cameras the lens can be attached to.

When it matters: When camera compatibility and access to the right lens ecosystem are central to your buying decision.

Importance: LOW

Micro Four Thirds

Sensor format coverage

What it is: The largest sensor size the lens is designed to cover without severe vignetting.

When it matters: When you need the lens to fully cover your camera sensor without heavy corner darkening.

Importance: LOW

Micro Four Thirds

Filter thread size

What it is: The diameter of the front filter thread used for screw-in filters and compatible accessories.

When it matters: When you plan to use screw-in filters such as polarizers, ND filters, or protective glass.

Importance: LOW

46 mm

Teleconverter compatibility

What it is: Whether the lens can be used with compatible teleconverters to extend focal length.

When it matters: When you want to extend reach for wildlife or sports without changing to a different long lens.

Importance: HIGH

Optics & Aperture

8.0

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Minimum focal length

What it is: The shortest focal length the lens can provide, which determines its widest framing.

When it matters: When wide framing matters for landscapes, interiors, architecture, or travel shots.

Importance: LOW

12 mm

Maximum focal length

What it is: The longest focal length the lens can reach, which determines its telephoto reach.

When it matters: When you need more reach for wildlife, sports, stage events, or distant details.

Importance: LOW

12 mm

Optical zoom

What it is: The ratio between the longest and shortest focal lengths available in the lens zoom range.

When it matters: When you want one lens to cover a broader range of compositions without swapping glass.

Importance: LOW

Maximum angle of view

What it is: The widest scene the lens can capture at its shortest focal length.

When it matters: When you need to fit more of a room, skyline, or landscape into the frame.

Importance: LOW

84 °

Minimum angle of view

What it is: The narrowest scene the lens captures at its longest focal length.

When it matters: When you want tighter framing on faraway subjects without moving closer.

Importance: LOW

84 °

Focus & Controls

6.3

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Focus motor

What it is: The autofocus drive system responsible for moving lens elements into focus.

When it matters: When fast, quiet autofocus matters for video, wildlife, street shots, or moving subjects.

Importance: LOW

STM, MSC

Minimum focus distance

What it is: The shortest distance at which the lens can focus on a subject.

When it matters: When you like shooting details, food, flowers, or products from a very short distance.

Importance: MEDIUM

Maximum reproduction ratio

What it is: The highest magnification the lens can achieve when focusing at its closest distance.

When it matters: When close-up magnification matters for macro work, textures, or small product details.

Importance: MEDIUM

Full-time manual focus

What it is: The ability to adjust focus manually without leaving autofocus mode.

When it matters: When you want to fine-tune focus instantly without switching out of autofocus.

Importance: HIGH

Internal focusing

What it is: A focusing design in which internal elements move while the outer barrel length stays unchanged.

When it matters: When you use polarizers, gimbals, or close-up setups that benefit from a lens that does not extend while focusing.

Importance: HIGH

Stabilization

4.2

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Optical image stabilization

What it is: A hardware system that shifts optical elements to counteract camera shake and reduce blur.

When it matters: When you want steadier handheld shots and less blur, especially in low light or at longer focal lengths.

Importance: HIGH

Stabilization effectiveness (CIPA stops)

What it is: The rated stabilizer benefit, measured in stops, under CIPA testing standards.

When it matters: When you are comparing stabilized lenses and want to know how much handheld shutter-speed advantage they offer.

Importance: HIGH

Build & Handling

6.5

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Weight

What it is: The total mass of the lens, affecting portability and handling balance on the camera body.

When it matters: When you carry a lens all day for travel, hiking, or event coverage and want to keep your kit manageable.

Importance: HIGH

Lens length

What it is: The physical length of the lens body from mount to front edge.

When it matters: When bag space, balance, or front clearance matters in a compact travel or video setup.

Importance: HIGH

Lens diameter

What it is: The widest outer diameter of the lens barrel.

When it matters: When grip comfort, filter size, or fit inside a tight camera bag matters to you.

Importance: MEDIUM

Weather sealing (splashproof)

What it is: Protective sealing intended to resist splashes, dust, and light environmental exposure.

When it matters: When you often shoot outdoors in light rain, dust, or changing conditions.

Importance: HIGH

Metal mount

What it is: A lens mount made of metal rather than plastic for greater durability at the camera connection point.

When it matters: When durability matters because you change lenses often or use heavier gear for work.

Importance: HIGH

Lab Scores

7.8

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DxOMark overall score

What it is: The combined DxOMark lens rating based on lab-tested optical performance.

When it matters: When you want a quick lab-based summary of overall optical performance before comparing lenses in detail.

Importance: HIGH

DxOMark sharpness score

What it is: The DxOMark subscore that reflects how much detail the lens can resolve across the frame.

When it matters: When fine detail matters for landscapes, product work, or high-resolution cameras.

Importance: HIGH

DxOMark transmission

What it is: The measured light transmission of the lens, expressed as T-stop rather than nominal f-number.

When it matters: When real light loss matters for exposure consistency in studio, cinema, or mixed-lens shoots.

Importance: MEDIUM

DxOMark distortion

What it is: The DxOMark metric that measures how much the lens bends straight lines away from their true shape.

When it matters: When straight lines matter in architecture, interiors, copy work, or product photography.

Importance: MEDIUM

DxOMark vignetting

What it is: The DxOMark measurement of corner darkening relative to the center of the image.

When it matters: When even corner brightness matters for skies, studio backdrops, or clean product shots.

Importance: MEDIUM

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 vs the average camera lens

Why is Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 better than the average camera lens?

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0.8 lower f-number at telephoto end
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 has a brighter maximum telephoto aperture than the average camera lens (f/2 vs f/2.8). The average lens has a maximum telephoto aperture of f/2.8.
What it is: The widest aperture available at the long end of the zoom range, affecting light intake and background blur.
When it matters: When you shoot at the long end in low light or want stronger background blur for portraits and sports.
Importance: HIGH
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 has a brighter maximum telephoto aperture than the average camera lens (f/2 vs f/2.8). The average lens has a maximum telephoto aperture of f/2.8.2 vs 2.8
Has focus distance scale
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 has a focus distance scale, the average camera lens does not. 48.6% of camera lenses include a focus distance scale.
What it is: A marked scale that shows the approximate focus distance set on the lens.
When it matters: When you pre-focus manually for street, zone focusing, or repeatable tripod setups.
Importance: MEDIUM
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 has a focus distance scale, the average camera lens does not. 48.6% of camera lenses include a focus distance scale.
49 mm shorter lens
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 is shorter than the average camera lens (43 mm vs 92 mm). The average lens has a length of 92 mm.
What it is: The physical length of the lens body from mount to front edge.
When it matters: When bag space, balance, or front clearance matters in a compact travel or video setup.
Importance: HIGH
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 is shorter than the average camera lens (43 mm vs 92 mm). The average lens has a length of 92 mm.43 mm vs 92 mm
21 mm narrower lens barrel
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 is slimmer than the average camera lens (56 mm vs 77 mm). The average lens has a diameter of 77 mm.
What it is: The widest outer diameter of the lens barrel.
When it matters: When grip comfort, filter size, or fit inside a tight camera bag matters to you.
Importance: MEDIUM
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 is slimmer than the average camera lens (56 mm vs 77 mm). The average lens has a diameter of 77 mm.56 mm vs 77 mm
0.1 m shorter minimum focus distance
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 has a lower minimum focus distance than the average camera lens (0.2 m vs 0.3 m). The average lens has a minimum focus distance of 0.3 m.
What it is: The shortest distance at which the lens can focus on a subject.
When it matters: When you like shooting details, food, flowers, or products from a very short distance.
Importance: MEDIUM
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 has a lower minimum focus distance than the average camera lens (0.2 m vs 0.3 m). The average lens has a minimum focus distance of 0.3 m.0.2 m vs 0.3 m
0.9 T-stop lower transmission value
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 has a lower T-stop value than the average camera lens (2.2 T-stop vs 3.1 T-stop). The average lens has a T-stop value of 3.1 T-stop.
What it is: The measured light transmission of the lens, expressed as T-stop rather than nominal f-number.
When it matters: When real light loss matters for exposure consistency in studio, cinema, or mixed-lens shoots.
Importance: MEDIUM
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 has a lower T-stop value than the average camera lens (2.2 T-stop vs 3.1 T-stop). The average lens has a T-stop value of 3.1 T-stop.2.2 T-stop vs 3.1 T-stop
0.1 EV less vignetting
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 has less vignetting than the average camera lens (1.1 EV vs 1.2 EV). The average lens has vignetting of 1.2 EV.
What it is: The DxOMark measurement of corner darkening relative to the center of the image.
When it matters: When even corner brightness matters for skies, studio backdrops, or clean product shots.
Importance: MEDIUM
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 has less vignetting than the average camera lens (1.1 EV vs 1.2 EV). The average lens has vignetting of 1.2 EV.1.100 EV vs 1.2 EV
0.8 lower f-number at telephoto end
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 has a brighter maximum telephoto aperture than the average camera lens (f/2 vs f/2.8). The average lens has a maximum telephoto aperture of f/2.8.
Has focus distance scale
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 has a focus distance scale, the average camera lens does not. 48.6% of camera lenses include a focus distance scale.
0.1 m shorter minimum focus distance
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 has a lower minimum focus distance than the average camera lens (0.2 m vs 0.3 m). The average lens has a minimum focus distance of 0.3 m.
49 mm shorter lens
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 is shorter than the average camera lens (43 mm vs 92 mm). The average lens has a length of 92 mm.
21 mm narrower lens barrel
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 is slimmer than the average camera lens (56 mm vs 77 mm). The average lens has a diameter of 77 mm.
0.9 T-stop lower transmission value
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 has a lower T-stop value than the average camera lens (2.2 T-stop vs 3.1 T-stop). The average lens has a T-stop value of 3.1 T-stop.
0.1 EV less vignetting
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 has less vignetting than the average camera lens (1.1 EV vs 1.2 EV). The average lens has vignetting of 1.2 EV.

Why is Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 worse than the average camera lens?

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2 fewer aperture blades
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 has fewer aperture blades than the average camera lens (7 vs 9). The average lens has 9 aperture blades.
1 fewer low-dispersion elements
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 has fewer low-dispersion elements than the average camera lens (1 vs 2). The average lens has 2 low-dispersion elements.
1 fewer aspherical elements
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 has fewer aspherical elements than the average camera lens (1 vs 2). The average lens has 2 aspherical elements.
0.11 x lower maximum reproduction ratio
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 has a lower maximum reproduction ratio than the average camera lens (0.1x vs 0.192x). The average lens has a maximum reproduction ratio of 0.192x.
Not weather-sealed
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 does not support weather sealing, the average camera lens does. 50.3% of camera lenses support weather sealing.
No lens hood
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 does not include a lens hood, the average camera lens does. 89.1% of camera lenses include a lens hood.
Older release date
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 was released earlier than the average camera lens.
June 2011
2.3 % higher optical distortion
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 has a higher optical distortion than the average camera lens (2.6% vs 0.3%). The average lens has optical distortion of 0.3%.
Not weather-sealed
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 does not support weather sealing, the average camera lens does. 50.3% of camera lenses support weather sealing.
What it is: Protective sealing intended to resist splashes, dust, and light environmental exposure.
When it matters: When you often shoot outdoors in light rain, dust, or changing conditions.
Importance: HIGH
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 does not support weather sealing, the average camera lens does. 50.3% of camera lenses support weather sealing.
2 fewer aperture blades
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 has fewer aperture blades than the average camera lens (7 vs 9). The average lens has 9 aperture blades.
What it is: The number of diaphragm blades that shape the aperture opening and influence blur rendering.
When it matters: When the look of out-of-focus highlights matters in portraits, close-ups, or cinematic video.
Importance: HIGH
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 has fewer aperture blades than the average camera lens (7 vs 9). The average lens has 9 aperture blades.7 vs 9
2.3 % higher optical distortion
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 has a higher optical distortion than the average camera lens (2.6% vs 0.3%). The average lens has optical distortion of 0.3%.
What it is: The DxOMark metric that measures how much the lens bends straight lines away from their true shape.
When it matters: When straight lines matter in architecture, interiors, copy work, or product photography.
Importance: MEDIUM
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 has a higher optical distortion than the average camera lens (2.6% vs 0.3%). The average lens has optical distortion of 0.3%.2.6 % vs 0.3 %
No lens hood
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 does not include a lens hood, the average camera lens does. 89.1% of camera lenses include a lens hood.
What it is: Whether a matching lens hood is supplied in the box.
When it matters: When you want flare protection straight out of the box without buying extra accessories.
Importance: MEDIUM
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 does not include a lens hood, the average camera lens does. 89.1% of camera lenses include a lens hood.
Older release date
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 was released earlier than the average camera lens.
June 2011
What it is: The date when the lens model was first officially introduced.
When it matters: When you prefer a newer optical design with more modern autofocus, coatings, or stabilization features.
Importance: LOW
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 was released earlier than the average camera lens.2011 vs 2016
0.11 x lower maximum reproduction ratio
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 has a lower maximum reproduction ratio than the average camera lens (0.1x vs 0.192x). The average lens has a maximum reproduction ratio of 0.192x.
What it is: The highest magnification the lens can achieve when focusing at its closest distance.
When it matters: When close-up magnification matters for macro work, textures, or small product details.
Importance: MEDIUM
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 has a lower maximum reproduction ratio than the average camera lens (0.1x vs 0.192x). The average lens has a maximum reproduction ratio of 0.192x.0.08 x vs 0.192 x
1 fewer low-dispersion elements
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 has fewer low-dispersion elements than the average camera lens (1 vs 2). The average lens has 2 low-dispersion elements.
What it is: Optical elements designed to reduce color fringing by controlling how different wavelengths focus.
When it matters: When you want cleaner edges and less color fringing in high-contrast scenes.
Importance: MEDIUM
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 has fewer low-dispersion elements than the average camera lens (1 vs 2). The average lens has 2 low-dispersion elements.1 vs 2
1 fewer aspherical elements
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 has fewer aspherical elements than the average camera lens (1 vs 2). The average lens has 2 aspherical elements.
What it is: Specially shaped lens elements used to reduce distortion and improve sharpness with fewer optical compromises.
When it matters: When edge sharpness and lower distortion matter in wide-angle, travel, or everyday shooting.
Importance: MEDIUM
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F 2 0 has fewer aspherical elements than the average camera lens (1 vs 2). The average lens has 2 aspherical elements.1 vs 2

Expert reviews

cnet.com

14/08/2011

Summary of the review

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 12mm f/2.0 review

in english language, be very specific, mention pros and cons inside You sent: 1 tab and said: 2 paragraphs summary of this review in english language, be very specific, mention pros and cons inside Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 12mm f/2.0 review: Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 12mm f/2.0 - CNET 2 paragraphs summary of this review in english language, be very specific, mention pros and cons inside

mirrorlessons.com

24/04/2013

Summary of the review

Olympus M.Zuiko 12mm f/2 Review: the best wide-angle lens for Micro Four Thirds

The Olympus M.Zuiko 12mm f/2 is a compact, metal-bodied wide-angle prime lens designed for the Micro Four Thirds system, offering a 24mm equivalent focal length. The reviewer notes that the lens delivers excellent sharpness even at its maximum f/2 aperture, with peak performance achieved between f/5.6 and f/8. It features an ingenious manual focus clutch mechanism where pulling back the focus ring automatically switches the camera from auto to manual focus, exposing distance markings in feet and meters. Furthermore, its high-speed Imager AF (MSC) motor provides quiet and efficient autofocus performance during both casual video recording and still photography. Despite the smaller sensor size of the Micro Four Thirds system, the lens produces a surprisingly pleasant bokeh when focusing closely on subjects. On the downside, the lens exhibits noticeable purple fringing, particularly when direct light hits the glass. This issue is compounded by the omission of a lens hood from the retail packaging, requiring users to purchase it separately for extra flare and physical drop protection. Additionally, sharpness begins to decline noticeably when stopped down to its minimum aperture of...

sansmirror.com

21/10/2011

Summary of the review

Olympus 12mm f/2 Lens Review

The Olympus 12mm f/2 lens (a 24mm equivalent in 35mm film terms) is a high-specification micro 4/3 prime lens featuring a premium construction of metal and glass. On the positive side, it is a very respectably sharp lens with good performance wide open, achieving highly impressive edge-to-edge sharpness when stopped down to f/4. It also features incredibly fast and quiet Movie/Still Compatible (MSC) autofocus, well-controlled barrel distortion (under one percent), and manageable vignetting that clears up completely by f/2.8. A standout design feature is its pull-back focus ring, which physically shifts to reveal coupled distance and depth-of-field markings for a tactile, old-fashioned manual focus experience. However, the lens suffers from noticeable drawbacks, most notably its vulnerability to flare and loss of contrast from side lighting. This issue is compounded by the fact that Olympus does not include a lens hood in the US$800 box, forcing users to buy a highly overpriced, separate official hood. Optically, there is visible color fringing (chromatic aberration) in the corners, alongside some softness and a larger blur circle at the edges when shooting wide open...

lenstip.com

03/08/2011

Summary of the review

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 12 mm f/2.0 EDGo to product viewer dialog for this item. review - LensTip.com

The LensTip review of the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 12 mm f/2.0 ED highlights it as a very solid wide-angle prime lens tailored perfectly for the Micro 4/3 mirrorless system due to its compact and lightweight design. The core pros identified in the evaluation include its robust, high-quality all-metal casing and an exceptional image resolution in the center of the frame, delivering a sharp 60 lpmm even at the maximum f/2.0 aperture. Additionally, it maintains decent corner sharpness, handles lateral chromatic aberrations exceptionally well, performs beautifully against bright light with minimal flare, and boasts a highly efficient, fast, and silent Movie and Still Compatible (MSC) autofocus system. Conversely, the main cons outlined in the final testing metrics involve several optical trade-offs and a lacking retail presentation. The lens exhibits a highly pronounced barrel distortion reaching up to -5.97% in uncorrected RAW files, forcing heavy reliance on camera software to straighten images down to a reasonable -1.17% in JPEGs. LensTip also marks down the unit for a rather high level of coma at the widest f/2.0 setting, noticeable corner vignetting that registers...

photozone.de

27/07/2026

Summary of the review

Olympus M.Zuiko 12mm f/2 ED - Review / Test Report

The PhotoZone review highlights the Olympus M.Zuiko 12mm f/2 ED as the manufacturer's first professional-grade lens for the Micro-Four-Thirds (MFT) system, bridging a gap in a market previously dominated by budget options. Mechanically, the lens is praised for its beautiful craftmanship, featuring a high-quality metal body, a metal mount, and a constant physical length during focusing operations. It debuts Olympus's innovative "ZERO" coating, which field tests confirm is highly resistant against flare by reducing internal reflections by 50%. Additionally, its Movie-Still-Compatible (MSC) autofocus motor delivers fast and silent AF performance, while the mechanical "snapshot focus" clutch mechanism offers an engaging and tactile manual focusing experience. However, the reviewer points out several notable drawbacks. On the physical side, the premium-priced lens lacks explicit weather sealing, and Olympus bizarrely leaves the square-shaped metal lens hood as a costly optional accessory rather than including it in the box. Optically, the fast f/2 maximum aperture behaves like an f/4 in terms of depth-of-field due to the MFT sensor crop, restricting shallow background blur unless shooting very close to a subject. Furthermore, the underlying engineering...

digitalkamera.de

15/07/2011

Summary of the review

Image quality of the Olympus 12mm f/2 ED tested on the Pen E-P3

The Digitalkamera review of the Olympus 12mm F2 ED lens on the Pen E-P3 reports high resolution and excellent edge-to-edge sharpness, even at f/2. Key strengths identified through laboratory testing include minimal vignetting and very low chromatic aberration, coupled with effective detail retention. While offering superb image quality, the lens displays noticeable geometric distortion typical of wide-angle optics. Additionally, a slight decrease in sharpness is observed in the extreme corners compared to the center at the widest aperture.

lesnumeriques.com

13/09/2016

Summary of the review

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 12 mm f/2 Review

The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 12 mm f/2 is a highly compact and lightweight (130g) wide-angle lens designed for Micro 4/3 cameras, offering a 24mm equivalent focal length that makes it an excellent, discreet tool for street, landscape, and architectural photography. Its standout build features include a premium all-metal construction and an ingenious mechanical "clutch" system. This mechanism allows photographers to instantly switch between a responsive autofocus and manual focus by snapping the focus ring back, which simultaneously reveals physical distance stops and a useful depth-of-field scale for hyperfocal shooting. In real-world operation, the lens functions in total silence and handles lens flare and barrel distortion remarkably well, producing a softer, warmer image rendering with smooth, progressive background bokeh from f/2 onward. However, the lens makes a few notable concessions, particularly regarding its optical sharpness at wide apertures. When shot wide open at f/2, the lens is globally soft, even in the center, while the corners and periphery remain noticeably weak throughout the entire aperture range. Sharpness only becomes satisfying once stepped down to f/2.8, peaking around f/5.6, before being significantly...

lesnumeriques.com

20/12/2011

Summary of the review

Olympus M.Zuiko 12 mm f/2 Review

The Olympus M.Zuiko 12 mm f/2 is a premium, retro-styled wide-angle prime lens designed for Micro Four Thirds cameras, making it highly suitable for landscape and street photography. Its standout design feature is a superb all-metal build combined with a unique pull-back focus ring (clutch system) that seamlessly switches the lens from electronic autofocus to a precise, mechanical manual focus experience. Optically, the lens delivers outstanding image quality and near-perfect sharpness at the center of the frame, even when shooting wide open at its maximum f/2 aperture. Additionally, its Movie and Still Compatible (MSC) autofocus motor ensures rapid and silent performance during both photography and video recording, while flare and chromatic aberrations remain very well controlled. Despite its high-quality construction, the lens has notable drawbacks, most significantly a heavy barrel distortion that requires automatic or software-based corrections. There is also a visible 1 EV drop in light (vignetting) at the corners when shooting at f/2, and image sharpness noticeably drops at the extreme edges unless stopped down to f/2.8 or f/8. Finally, while the lens itself is lightweight and highly...

digitalcamaralens.com

sin fecha específica

Summary of the review

OLYMPUS ZUIKO DIGITAL 12mm f/2 ED - Review and Test

This review of the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm f/2 lens (a 24mm equivalent in 35mm format) awards it a decent overall score of 7.24 out of 10. Tested on a Panasonic Lumix DSC G80 camera, the evaluation highlights its remarkably lightweight and compact footprint—weighing just 130 grams and measuring 43 mm in length—built with an excellent combination of metal and high-quality plastic materials. Performance-wise, the reviewer praises its nearly non-existent lateral chromatic aberrations and exceptionally low vignetting across all aperture settings. A major standout feature is its mechanical manual focus clutch mechanism, which shifts back to reveal a useful distance and hyperfocal scale. On the downside, the lens falls short of a spectacular rating due to its weak wide-open performance, suffering from low contrast and noticeable longitudinal chromatic aberrations at f/2. While the central sharpness eventually peaks to an impressive 90 l.p./mm at f/4 and f/5, its corner resolution improves slowly due to field curvature. Geometrically, it produces a somewhat high -0.97% linear barrel distortion. Furthermore, the lens struggles against strong oncoming sunlight, displaying poor flare resistance, and lacks...

photo-review.com

17/04/2014

Summary of the review

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm f/2.0 Lens Review

The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm ƒ/2.0 is a premium, high-speed wide-angle prime lens (24mm equivalent in universal format) that delivers professional-tier performance in a compact, highly portable frame weighing only 130 grams. Built entirely of metal, the lens features an innovative "Snapshot Focus" mechanism that enables seamless shifting between automatic and manual focus simply by sliding the generous focus ring forward or backward. Optically, its complex 11-element design includes specialized aspherical and extra-low dispersion (ED) elements that successfully minimize chromatic aberrations while generating high contrast, rich linear resolution, and a smooth, creamy bokeh through its 7-blade diaphragm. Combined with Olympus's near-instantaneous FAST AF system and a short 20cm minimum focusing distance, it serves as an excellent tool for photojournalism, architecture, landscapes, and indoor street photography. The primary advantages highlighted in the review include its robust all-metal construction, lightweight and compact size, excellent overall image quality, and fast, accurate autofocusing response even under adverse lighting conditions. The lens is also highly praised for its superb handling in manual focus mode and its admirable distortion correction in standard JPEG usage. On...

olympistas.org

02/10/2011

Summary of the review

M. Zuiko ED 12mm f/2.0 (In-depth review)

The provided review forum details user experiences and technical feedback regarding the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm f/2.0 wide-angle prime lens for Micro Four Thirds cameras. Reviewers praise the lens for its exceptional, premium all-metal build quality and robust finish, noting that it delivers an impressive tactical feel despite its remarkably small and compact form factor. Optically, users highlight its outstanding central sharpness and excellent ability to control chromatic aberrations and technical flaws, making it a powerful wide-angle performer. Additionally, the internal focusing system is noted as quiet, fast, and highly reliable, with special praise given to the convenient manual focus clutch mechanism built directly into the focus ring. On the downside, the primary complaints center around the high retail cost, which forum members note is roughly triple the price of the M.Zuiko 45mm f/1.8 prime lens. Users find it difficult to fully justify the price point when compared to cheaper primes or standard zoom alternatives. Another notable con is the lack of weather-sealing, a missing feature that disappointed some users who felt that a premium lens at this price...

focus-review.com

13/07/2014

Summary of the review

Test Olympus 12mm f/2.0 Limited Black

The Olympus 12mm f/2.0 Limited Black is a special edition wide-angle lens released in 2012 with a limited run of 3,000 units, featuring an identical optical design to the 2011 silver version but offering a matte black metal finish. Tested on an Olympus OM-D E-M1, this compact 130-gram lens provides an angle of view and depth of field equivalent to a 24mm f/4 lens on full-frame cameras. It is highly praised for its exceptionally high and uniform sharpness from corner to corner right from its maximum f/2 aperture, and it exhibits virtually no noticeable vignetting or distortion in practical use due to automatic software corrections. Additionally, its Movie & Still Compatible (MSC) mechanism ensures fast, silent autofocusing, and it includes a mechanical distance scale with depth-of-field indicators ideal for street photography zone focusing. On the positive side, the lens delivers premium image quality, a portable form factor, excellent resistance to flare, and comes bundled with a stylish, exclusive metallic lens cap (LC-48) and rectangular hood (LH-48). However, it carries several notable disadvantages: it is completely lacking dust and splash resistance,...

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