I've owned Olympus' OM-D E-M5 camera body since Christmas 2012. Using the kit 12-50mm and the 40-150mm (24-100mm and 80-300mm 35mm equivalent) lenses I've had a fun year capturing photos. The camera has been everything I wanted it to be, with the exception of being just average tracking kids playing soccer.
But the 12-40mm f/2.8 lens takes the camera to a different level. I thought I was getting decent performance from the 12-50mm lens -- and I thought wrong. It's okay, for what it is, but it's slow (f/6.3 at 50mm) and just average in sharpness. With nothing to compare to, I didn't realize how it was holding back the E-M5's potential.
The 12-40 is truly top caliber. Sharp from corner to corner. Chromatic aberration cannot be found. Fast for extending the E-M5's low light capabilities at modest ISOs (I can gain nearly three stops from the 12-50mm in many situations). On the PC I'll zoom in on shots and be astonished by the crispness that simply didn't exist before.
Having never owned an expensive DSLR (I had a decent Nikon FE2 film body and some Vivitar Series I lenses in the 80's, however), I'd been lulled into thinking the images I was capturing were simply all that such a camera was capable of. The E-M5 is a very good micro four thirds body, after only the new E-M1. What difference could one lens make? Well, as it turns out, a great deal.
The 12-50mm has a smooth motor drive mode for video (which I rarely shoot) and a dedicated macro mode, which is nice. But the 12-40mm, while not being optimized for macro, turns out to be a fully capable macro lens as well, better than the 12-50, IMHO, because of its superior resolution and significantly faster performance and ability to isolate at f/2.8. The only step up for close up photography being to a dedicated macro lens. (And yes, I know that with regards to depth of field it is twice that of a full frame sensor. But f-stop is dimensionless, and with regards to light-gathering-per-sensor-size/exposure/ISO, f/2.8 is f/2.8 is f/2.8, whether it be APS, M43, full frame or a large format camera.)
The only thing I don't like is the price. $1,000 was a big chunk. But the way it has changed the performance of the E-M5 is truly revelatory. There really is a significant optical difference between a decent mainstream consumer lens and a pro level lens. The 12-40 lives on my camera now, and the 12-50 is going to end up on eBay.
If you've got the E-M5 or M1 and can afford it, this lens is a no brainer and will not dissappoint. Since the long end is only 80mm equivalent, I think even Lumix body owners can enjoy it's benefits despite not having the in-camera stabilization that Olympus bodies have.
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This Item  OM System OLYMPUS M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 Pro Lens, for Micro Four Thirds Cameras |  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | $398.00 | $999.99 | -22% $699.99 List: $899.99 | $199.99 | $199.99 | $549.99 |
| Delivery | Get it as soon as Thursday, Apr 25 | Get it as soon as Thursday, Apr 25 | Get it as soon as Thursday, Apr 25 | Get it as soon as Thursday, Apr 25 | Get it as soon as Thursday, Apr 25 | Get it as soon as Thursday, Apr 25 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
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| Sold By | Japan-Fine-Select | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com |
| lens type | Wide Angle | Standard | Telephoto | Telephoto | Telephoto | Telephoto |
| compatible mountings | Micro Four Thirds | Micro Four Thirds | Micro Four Thirds | Micro Four Thirds | Micro Four Thirds | Micro Four Thirds |
| lens design | Zoom | Zoom | Zoom | Zoom | Zoom | Prime |
| focus type | Stepper motor | Automatic Only, Manual Only | Automatic Only, Manual Only | Micromotor | Micromotor | Auto Focus |
| minimum focal length | 12 millimeters | 12 millimeters | 40 millimeters | 40 millimeters | 40 millimeters | 60 millimeters |
| max focal length | 40 millimeters | — | — | 150 millimeters | 150 millimeters | 60 millimeters |
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Reviews with images
Nice, but still being tested
This is my first review of this lens and I intend to do follow-ups. I used this lens as my main lens on a recent trip to San Francisco on vacation. We visited many of your typical tourist areas and I tested the lens in a variety of situations. First, I should also report I used this lens on an Olympus E-Pl9. From other reviews I gleaned many people say the lens is too big for a Pen. This was not my perception. I found it to be large, but manageable, and in fact enjoyable to use. I simply cupped the bottom of the lens in my left hand and used my right to do everything else. It felt fine and for those concerned with aesthetics, it looks very cool on the Pen. Regarding the quality of the images, the lens came into focus quickly and produced nice sharp images. My only concern is that in most situations the sunny blue sky looked a bit dull and not very blue. My iPhone 10 did a much better job. That makes me raise an eyebrow. In all fairness, I suspect I need to learn a little bit more about maximizing this lens with my camera. The iPhone is basically a point and shoot, while my Olympus Pen and lens combo is not. Is this lens a keeper? Yes. However, I will update this report again after I use the camera/lens combo a few more times.
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Top reviews from other countries
René López Villamar
El mejor lente pro para comenzar
Reviewed in Mexico on December 23, 2022Style: BaseVerified Purchase
Russell Gosse
A great lens for most situations.
Reviewed in Canada on January 3, 2019Style: BaseVerified Purchase
Emm Tan
The original 12-40 mm f2.8
Reviewed in Singapore on May 27, 2023Style: BaseVerified Purchase
kasun fernando
Perfect lens for BMPCC4K
Reviewed in Australia on December 10, 2020Style: BaseVerified Purchase
Emmanuel Zamorano
El mejor lente para M4/3
Reviewed in Mexico on November 6, 2021Style: BaseVerified Purchase
