Years later but I just bought this lens in large part do to your review. So far I love this baby so sharp so fast to focus. A perfect mate to my 75mm 1.8 for portraits.
Darren, please stop making these videos! I saw your 7-14mm video and bought the lens. After watching this I went out and bought this one also. If you make any more videos I'm going to go broke. Mark
I love my 12-40 Olympus pro. It has all I need for a wide angle lens. It is sharp. The color is excellent. It fits my m5 Mark II (with the optional handle...I highly recommend getting that handle as it allows better feel for this larger lens) I am amazed at the clarity of images as I can zoom into photos and have very low degradation of image quality. This is one of those "must have" lenses. I have the 12....the 17....the 25 and 45.5 primes......all are great.....but this lens is on my camera more often than any other as it is that good and so easy to use...I hate switching lenses!
Great review. I would also add that... in many shooting situations, having MORE DoF is actually beneficial than having less. Indoor shots where you want to get more people in focus, you don't have to reduce shutter speed or bump the ISO because you can shoot it at 2.8 on m43's where you'd have to stop down on a FF or APS-C.
Great point. In many situations it is an advantage not a disadvantage. It gives one reason to run a small light system like m4/3 and full frame with some fast primes when you need shallow dof. I just bought a m4/3, but will keep my Nikon for exactly that reason.
I tried explaining that to someone who, as it turns out, comments on a disturbing number of MFT videos. As a FF diehard, you can imagine how open minded he was. More DoF can be beneficial for Indoor shots, indoor portraits, macros, and super telephotos where less light is available. When is less DoF useful? When trying to “hide” a cluttered background, or when going for a “dream” look. A moderately fast lens and fairly telephoto/super tele lens seem to be able to achieve that in most situations. It’s a trade. Also, a crop sensor can be really handy when it comes to size and stability (and anti-shake effectiveness) in super telephoto and ultra wide shooting... though as demonstrated here in this video, even a “bread and butter” is noticeably lighter and less imposing.
I have been a pro for over forty years, and have recently moved to M43 with great success. I used one of these lenses to shoot a wedding two weeks ago, and the results look as good as anything I've ever seen under normal viewing conditions. Strangely enough, clients comment more about the retro appearance than the size. I guess they perceive it as being a 'real' camera because it looks like a classic! Nice review too, by the way...
Keith Spillett the photos cannont look that good, they may have looked good enough for you client. Stop pretending that, in wedding photography micro four thirds is not even close to full frame dslr as looks,depth of field,,general rendering of the image, flashes and triggers options, speed and snappiness of the autofocus, speed if operating the camera, battery life, not to mention llreally low light, which you encounter so often at the weddings. The only advantage i would see would be the size of the lenses, but if you are not fit enough to carry around some heavier stuff at the weddings, maybe you should stop doing weddings. Micro for thirds are amazing for video, for street and casual photography, for travel, for getting somebody into the love for photography.
You are absolutely right about the clients. My last few photoshoots have been on the Olympus system, and my clients love their photos. NONE of them indicate that they want the "background to be more blurry" or anything like that. It definitely seems to matter more to us than them.
Excellent review. I had the opportunity to shoot the Oly 12-40 Pro during a recent expedition to the Guadalupe Islands. This lens did NOT dissapoint. Thanks Darren.
And me too - well just about to after much humming and harring. Currently using a Nikon Df but have decided to switch to M43. OMD5 ll and a 12-40 f2.8 Pro for starters.
Hi Darren just wanted to say all the way from Northern Canada (where the Northern Lights are always in my backyard) that I am a big fan of your videos. Because of you is the reason why I have decided to switch to Olympus and the micro 4/3rds format. I used to live in Orlando until a few years ago but moved closer to family. Keep up the great work ,I always look forward to your reviews...............thank you.......
Excellent review. Thank you. I am primarily a videographer so obviously considered the Pany 12-35 but now we use external stabilisation, this lens looks ‘PERFECT’.
Darren your reviews are just getting so much better with each one. You should be really proud of the work you are doing. I dont always agree with you but Im always impressed with your videos. Keep up the great work, from the beautiful Naples Florida and thank you.
Darren, it is hard not to enjoy videos. Professional videos, outstanding testing samples and a posture that takes us with you like we are in the pool deck chatting. Congratulation and keep up the good work.
Looked at your comment Tzadeck. At the moment I'm looking at the 12mm f2, but am tossing around with the 12-40mm as well. I would like to keep to the smaller primes for street shoots, but the 12-40mm is a nice piece of kit.
If I got some doubts about buying this lens or not, well...You completely cleared my brain.Excellent review, Darren. You covered any kind of requests for a lens review in a few minutes.
This might convince you ... I did some consulting for a Medical Imaging Machine Company which made , X-Rays, Atomic Mass Spectrometers, Dental Equipment, etc a few years ago. After years of intense testing. They only use Olympus Lenses. Stating that Olympus lenses results were the most accurate & had the least distortion. (Eg Every 10 mm thick lens allows x amount of light through) Tolerances were such, that one wipe (with a super fine polish on a cloth) too many on any make a lens rendered it useless. (Other Lens maker company’s tolerances were too high.... Eg... Every 10 mm lens allowed too much or too little light through with the occasional perfect matching lenses). That’s when I became an Olympus fanboy. 😎👌
Hi Darren I just bought this lens with the Olympus OMD - E5 Mark 2 camera, great combination of lens and camera. Your review of each was spot on and so informative, they helped me to choose this AWESOME combo. Appreciate it, Thanks and Cheers mate.
Excellent review! Comprehensive and detailed. Thanks for your mention of the subtle "aire-presure-type-sound" made when zooming. Also, the cinematic effects of switching between manual and auto-focus while filming. Very great points I haven't heard on any other reviews. Purchasing this lens comes down to the comparison with its competing lens, the Panasonic 12-35 f2.8 OIS. I'll note that I shoot mostly documentary/narrative type short films, events, and PSA's for organizations. I'd be sacrificing the image stabilization of the Panasonic 12-35 if I get the Olympus 12-40 f2.8 , given that my Panasonic GH3 body doesn't have image stabilization built in as the Olympus body's do. I do love the cool function of the Olympus to quickly switch between manual-to-auto for cool varying focus aesthetics, but I feel the practicality of using that feature often, and being able to achieve that same focus "switch" in post-editing, makes me wonder if that sexy function is a significant enough benefit to tip me over to the Olympus and sacrifice image stabilization that is important in video (since I don't have an Olympus body/Olympus lens doesn't have auto-focus switch built into lens). I love the quality of the Olympus, though it comes at a price. The 'focus ring stops' with the #'s displayed on the lens itself is just awesome, and would allow my attention to be on what's in front of my camera, vs. my screen so I know when to stop/go etc. I was really hoping to stay in the $700 zone for a fast (f2.8 aperture) zoom lens, so I can also put money towards a 30-100 f2.8 and/or a macro lens to have a diverse lens kit. I have to decide if the Olympus's manual-auto "switch" focus, slightly better quality, and focus ring stops are worth $300 more while sacrificing image stabilization in the Panasonic lens. The functional cost/benfits outweighs my concern about the extra $300....I'll spend the money if the functionality of the Olympus truly trumps the Panasonic.
Thanks for a great review Darren. I have been looking for lenses for my soon to be purchased BMPCC 4K and after this review this lens will be one of them.
Dear Darren, Many thanks for the comprehensive review and assessment that you have made for this magnificent lens. However; I have one question, how is this lens performing in shooting videos, as regards to noise and auto focus capabilities, when compared to other rivals among Panasonic and Sony M43 Cameras.
Yes, I agree with you totally, Viet Phan. I have bought a few items, based on my research, but then finally on Darren's reviews. He is honest and very reliable. 👌
Excellent review Darren. If you're an OMD camera user, this is the standard zoom to get. GH3/4 users may wish to plump for the Panasonic 12-35mm f2.8 which has the built in image stabilisation. Many thanks.
I wonder if this makes it not worth it to buy the 12mm f2.0. I was thinking about buying the 12mm for a long time, but if I could get this with all the extra focal lengths for just a few hundred dollars more... Plus, I don't have any weather sealed lenses at the moment so it would be good to have on rainy days.
Well shot and professionally presented, Darren. You've identified the strengths of this lens, but to get the most out of it, the lens really should be mated to an Olympus body with in-built image stabilisation and software to correct for nasty things like distortion.
Hey FlashoneFilms, it does not, however, stabilization is built into the OMD bodies and as such any lens attached to the OMD becomes "stabilized" - this would not be the case if you use this lens on a Panasonic body.
Thanks for the video. It is very helpful. I am starting to dabble in the video side of the dream pool and decided to go with a G7 and this lens. I am very excited! Thanks again!
Thanks for the details Darren! I was on the fence about this lens until I saw your review. It'll pair nicely with my OMD EM5 and my Panasonic 20mm f1.7 II as a world travel camera!
Let me help you with that - G - H - 4!! Unless you're already heavily invested in Canon Glass, I'd wait for the GH4 - I can't wait to get my hands on one, but that won't likely be until late this summer.
As an environmental portrait photographer, I like the smaller sensors as I don't want my DoF too narrow, or too see pores in the skin. Oly and Fuji are doing great things.
+Sebastian Syder Not sure I want to test it in a downpour, and I certainly wouldn't drop it in a pool of water, but drizzle, cold and damp situations I wouldn't hesitate...
I found one in pristine condition, used, for $500. I wasn't planning on getting this lens, but I am not sure I can pass up the price. I had originally planned on getting the 25mm 1.8 and continuing to utilize the kit 12-50 3.5. Any advice?
Exactly the same happened to me as well. I was planning to buy the 12mm (since I already have the Olympus primes 25mm f/1.8 and 45mm f/1.8) but then I found this one used for €500 ($587) and I couldn't skip it. They still sell this 12-40mm lens for €999 ($1173) here in Finland so it's quite expensive.
I'm kind of in this dilemma, either buy the 25mm 1.8 or 1.7 pany and the 45mm 1.8 or buy this 12-40 2.8 pro. do you find yourself still using the 25mm and 45mm? are they faster than the 12-40? since they are a step or 2 faster with aperature?
awesome review and this really sold me. Was thinking of getting the new e-m5 mkii with maybe a prime then buying this along the road but I think I'll just buy the body with this bundled rather than waiting to buy it later. looks like it will be well worth the money!
Great review, ive got this with a Em1 but see it as a fun camera for holidays, would always use my 6D or D800 for a job. I do Pest Control as a main job, you always carry a great big torch around, you dont need to, smaller new pencil led ones are adequate, you just look more professional with a big one!
Hi Darren, thanks for a great review. Do you think my pen-f and this 12-40 lens will be a good combination? The lens is quite large. I have the 17mm & the 45mm lens but I want this lens because in some shooting situations I don't want to change the lenses.
cheers for the review! would I need a uv filter with it? or just a clear one to protect the lens or would the hood protects its wear n tear? also is there any visible flaring in outdoors shoot?
Love your reviews Darren. You were a big influence in my purchase of an em-5 mark II for my family trip to Hawaii. I was torn on what lens or lenses to get--I ended up buying the cheaper 40-150mm Olympus telephoto lens...it's pretty good. I also got the 25mm f/1.8 lens.....nice shots too. Now when I look back, I should have gone with this lens I think....would say that this 12-40 f/2.8 Pro lens is the best everyday/every situation lens? Thanks.
Well, DM, again you gave me a good shoulder to hang on while purchasing a lens. As usual, I trust your gear reviews to be among the best. It's a great lens, and your opinion on where to put your money matters. Thank you.
Awesome review Darren....... I just bought the OMD EM10 coming from the EPM2. As a hobbyist, I have some issues about changing lenses specially when I'am on the move. Would the Oly 12-45 f2.8 worth it to replace my current set of lenses w/c includes the P14 f2.5, P20 f1.7, O45 f1.8, O40-150mm and the 14-45mm kit lens? ... Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Honestly, I think there's room for both - I LOVE Olympus's prime lenses, but the 12-40 is a nice compromise, you loose a little depth of field, but you gain a lot of versatility. It's a personal decision, but I've opted to keep both the 12-40 and the primes.
Stellar review, as always. Great videos that could mesmerize you until the end. It was absolutely worth that I subscribed. Always a clean and honest review with actual samples of photos and videos. Keep up the great work.
Hey Darren, really enjoy your reviews of the Olympus PRO lenses! I was wondering since most reviews were produced a couple of years ago, have you had the opportunity to test them now with the Panasonic GH5? I'm really curious with the autofocus performance as Panasonic's DFD technology isn't supported with the Olympus lenses. Thanks!
Very nice video! I only wonder, how is it possible that Tony Northrup's conclusion is that this lens is more or less only a kind of kitlens, and not so sharp?
I'm sold! I bought an Olympus OM-D E-M5 mk2 a few days ago and a 17mm prime for it. This will be my next lens purchase. I'm coming from a Canon 5D mk2 with the 24-70 2.8 L and the 24-105 2.8 L IS, which are monstrous in comparison. I'm not quite giving up on Canon, but it will be nice to have a small, portable camera that doesn't compromise on quality.
Your review is right on the money! Congrats. I noticed you had some wind in the background and your sound was great. Could you tell me which mic were you using? Thanks.
Am kinda noob here. "Constant F/2.8" - does that mean that it is not possible to deliberately change the aperture ? Does that mean that the "A" mode has only one settable value, which is F/2.8 ? Love your review. Before I jump in to commit on this lens, just want to know a little more. Thank you
In general, a constant aperture means that if you're at 12mm or 40mm the lens can still shoot at f/2.8. Whereas if a lens has a variable aperture, that would mean that as you zoom, the aperture (which is essentially the iris of the lens) gets more narrow - for example, let's say you have a 15-85mm lens that goes from f/3.5 - f/5.6. As you zoom, the lens's construction will only allow you to shoot at the widest aperture available at a given focal length. So at 15mm it would be possible to shoot at f/3.5 but as you zoom, you may only be able to shoot at f/4 or f/5.6. In practical terms a variable aperture lens lets in less light as you zoom, meaning - all things being equal - a slower shutter speed in order to expose the image properly which can result in blurry images. Not a big deal on a bright sunny day, but can pose some serious problems indoors in less than ideal lighting conditions. Also in general, constant aperture lenses are bigger, heavier (more glass to let more light in) and exponentially more expensive. But if you're a pro wedding photographer, that stuff matters and they'll generally bite the bullet and pay for the more expensive lenses.
Hi Darren, your reviews are really excellent, well done!! Could it be an issue using the Olympus PRO lense series and the M.Zuiko 1.8/45mm lense with a Panasonic GX8?
Love your reviews Darrens, i was a canon dslr diehards with several L lens for several years till a week ago :) ur great review perfected my mind changing from heavy FF to light m43 but not willing to sacrifice either build & photo results quality, hopefully i got my pen f + 12-40 f2.8 by tomorrow, one question, do we still had to use uv-haze filter for this oly pro series lens ? Or just a simply clear protector filter will do ? Tq so much Darren
+mariotheotaku I haven't used the 12, but I am reviewing the 17 as we speak, for the shear versatility and build, I would probably go for the 12-40 - interestingly, almost all of the Olympus advertisements that display photos are shot with the combination of the EM-1 and the 12-40 PRO... so there's that...
How to be taken seriously for wedding photography and sports. I would attach a battery grip on it. It almost doubles the size plus gives you extra battery life. If you can afford it buy a second camera similar to the one you have with a battery grip and a different lens. Attach both to a spyder clip holster and that should get the job a lot easier.
Thank you for these reviews, I'm interested in getting the olympus om-d e-m10 as my first entry level camera, could you please tell me what would be a good lens set up to begin with?
Great reviews Darren - some of the best I've seen on RUclips, Keep them coming. I`m using a 14-54Mk2 four thirds lens with adapter on the EM-1. Is the 12-40 2.8 worth the $1000.00 comparing focus speed and image quality compared to what I'm using
Enjoyed the review! I recently purchased a GH3 and am wondering should I go with this or the Panasonic 12-35? The thing I'm wondering the most about is image stabilization. I know the Olympus cameras have image stabilization built in so the lenses don't have it. I'm not gonna BS I can't honestly say I know what image stabilization does though so I'm doing some research now. Besides that this lens seems to be the one I like tho. I'd love to know what someone more experienced thinks. I plan to use it for both videos and pictures. Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO or Panasonic Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm f/2.8 Asph for a GH3? Thanks a bunch
I started looking at this lens after initially examining the Oly 17mm and 25mm primes for my Oly em5 mk2. Obviously it loses out on the f1.8, but does this zoom otherwise match those primes in everything else - AF, IQ sharpness and contrast etc? thanks
Darren Miles great review mate, can I ask where you got that neck strap for the body inthisvideo? looks great. I've been looking for something simular. Cheers from Oz
Excellent review - I bought this lens last month with the help of your advice and I'm vey happy with it. Thank you, Darren. Do you know the artist and title of the music playing during the series of stills and video clips? Thanks again.
Chrys, So glad to hear that, it's one of my favorite lenses! As for the music, it's called "Colors of the World" by Lost Harmonies and it can be picked up on Premium Beat.com
Great review Darren. I found your channel because someone on Google+ linked to this one. I've been debating on the 12-40 vs. the Panasonic 12-35 since they are now the same price but after watching your review I think I'm going with the Olympus. My EM5 has stabilization built in and I like the idea of my lens matching the camera :-) Keep the great reviews coming!
I tried both those lenses in a store today and the extra focal length really makes a difference. Felt and looked so much better too. It’s now on my must have list :-)
The number one question with all of my M43 reviews :-) You can pick it up at www.Barton1972.com - Hong Kong based, and it takes about 10-14 days to get your strap.
Your reviews make me want to buy the lens. I have EM5 mk2 I have Oly 45mm f1.8 and Pan 20mm f1.7. In your opinion, should I sell both of what I have and buy this 12-40mm f2.8? or Keep what I have.
tim nam I'd keep what you have and I'd save for the 12-40 :-). I love the versatility of the 12-40, but I also love the shallow depth of field of the primes.
Ops, Hi again. TechCloud, like you said, see in DOxMark and observe Transmition information. Set some lens and change camera and you will see that information do not change. I set for exemple, Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II in Canon 6D, a FF sensor and 7D, a aps sensor, crop factor 1.6x. T-stop or transmition information do not change. Both are 2.1T-Stop. Sometimes there is a little difference between two sensor,but never is 1 ev or 1/3 ev, is minor difference, about 0,2 T-stops, tops.
Hi Darren, My mate is looking at buying an Oly kit. He is thinking the EM-5 or em-10, but isn't sure which lens kit to go for. Because it is his first attempt at interchangable lens cameras I suggested the walk around 14-150 (only becase of its versatility). Only problem is there are no reliable reviews on the internet (anywhere that I can find). I was wondering if you could do a review on the 14-150 ii on your channel?I find your lens reviews some of the best around and your opinion would help in the decision. I hope to hear from you soon.
***** Hey peter, thank you for the kinds words. I'm sure it would be a great lens, I haven't used it, so it would be really difficult for me to say one way or the other as to how it would perform. What I can say is both the EM-5 or the EM-10 are fantastic little cameras, love them for travel and walking about, and they absolutely can be used professionally. I'll put it on my list, but I have quite a few ahead of it, and it takes me about 2 weeks to make a review.
No problem Darren. Thank you for your reply. Just a quick "in your opinion". Would the 14-150 be a big improvement over the 14-42 40-150 kit option that is the common twin lens kit option? Or would the image quality be similar and you're paying for the convenience? If be interested to hear your thoughts. I have bought the 40-150 2.8 for my em1 largely due to your you tube review. I love it. Amazing lens.
The 14-150 would probably be in the same league image quality wise as the 14-42 - maybe slightly worse, but it's definitely more versatile and convenient...
Darren I need your help to decide, I'm torn between olympus omd em 10ii or a6000, i had canon t4i which is great camera, also i had sony syber shot, I sold both of them either because of bulky or the quality of image. I want to move to mirrorless camera.
+Victor the The lens selection for Olympus is much better. Sony ergonomics and body also fall short in terms of handling. You can play with it in the store if you have a camera shop near by.
which is better for travel photography and ocassional video? Leica 12-60mm f/2.8-f4 vs Oly 12-40 f/2.8 to pair with GX7. I currently own a lumix 35-100mm f/2.8.
I have the Oly primes 12, 17, and 45. Do you think this zoom would replace all of them? I want this zoom lens for travel but not sure I want to give up the primes.
I went through the same dilema except I had the Oly 25mm. I opted to trade in my 12 and 45mm to fund the 12-40. The 25mm is my night time lens or times where I don't want to carry the 12-40. Coming from a full prime setup, the 12-40 is significantly heavier than and of the standard f1.7-8 primes which is one reason why I kept the 25mm. However it is just so damn convenient that it practically lives on my Em5 II now.
@@APPLEPIE978 thread dig... but I have a similar dilemma now... I have 14, 24 and 45. The size of this worries me. I was considering keeping the 45, but you make a good point about the 25 - its more of an allrounder. What do you think? Maybe the pancake 20mm and this?
@@KRBY555 Ya I specifically kept my 25 because it is a good all rounder. The 20mm pancake would be a good choice since I would assume the only times you wouldn't have the 12-40mm on is when you want to be really light. Personally in the past 2 years, I have really only dusted off my 25mm when I try street photography every once an while. Again the 12-40mm is just too damn good and too damn convenient.
I wish the samples included some in low lighting as that's usually missing from other reviews as well. How well does this perform in low light in your opinion?
Hey there, my experience has been quite good - when you say "Perform" are you referring to the images or AF performance or both? Images are good, but high ISO on M43 can get grainy at lower ISO figures than APS-C or Full Frame - AF performance is noticeably better on the EM - 1 than the EM-5....
Darren Miles Thanks. I have the E-M1 so good to know. But both really, was thinking of getting this lens at some point so just wondering if this was sufficient for photographing at night/in low light as well as daytime. Just hard to find reviews that cover this well. And obviously wouldn't like it to focus hunt a lot. Not looking for any pro grade images but overall good performance as in this zoom range there weren't a lot of other options. But that aside the review was very informative.
It’s interesting how full frame focal length equivalence is always mentioned (2x crop factor) but the full frame aperture is not ever mentioned.. in this case it’s pretty close to f/5.6 in full frame equivalent. If this was mentioned more the m43 manufacturers would be more pressured to make the full frame equivalent apertures on m43 like a f/0.9 (f/1.8 equivalent) or an f/1.4 which is the true f2.8 equivalent. They could do it, it would require more glass but none more than a full frame lens so should be competitively priced..
Just wish Olympus would make a pro series f1.2 prime in a 25mm and 45mm. The primes they have are pretty nice. I have the 45mm. Just wish they had the build quality of the Pro series zooms which I have in 7-14 and 12-40. If they made them F 1.2 then they could steal a lot of the thunder from the .95 Voigtlander lenses. We would be giving up very little in light gathering but we would have autofocus.
@@DarrenMiles I spoke with B&H Photo Video and they said that it's a 1/4 aperture falloff and wouldn't be a vignette. A vignette is when it's straight up black vignette
@@PolymerJones When I said vignetting is "noticeable" that just means the light fall off in the corners is noticeable, but it doesn't render the photo unusable, nor is it a hard circle around the image.... It just means there is some darkening in the corners...
Would you recommend the Panasonic 12-35mm instead since I have a GH4? I'm looking for a video and photographic fast zoom, but without IBIS I''m guessing the Panny is better suited for me?
I think it's debatable. I haven't used the 12-35, but the 12-40 has better range and at least similar optics - if not slightly better. I might suggest trying them both out and seeing which you prefer...
I've used both, I suggest the Panny without hesitation. The Panny has better AF for video/moving subjects. The Oly hunts too much. Also the Oly doesn't have great latitude
+cccooroxcrow Funny thing about this lens, if you look at all of Olympus's print ads, it seems like in about 80% of them, the lens used in the image in the ad is a 12-40.... Hmmmmm....
+Darren Miles I guess this pretty much seals the purchase then! Thank you so much for your in depth reviews btw! Your review videos are actually one of the reasons as to why I got some of my new gear this year haha
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Darren, has done a great job here! To the point, eloquent in his speech and presentation and not boring to watch.
Thank you sir!
Years later but I just bought this lens in large part do to your review. So far I love this baby so sharp so fast to focus. A perfect mate to my 75mm 1.8 for portraits.
Darren, please stop making these videos!
I saw your 7-14mm video and bought the lens.
After watching this I went out and bought this one also.
If you make any more videos I'm going to go broke.
Mark
😂😂👍👍👍
I love my 12-40 Olympus pro. It has all I need for a wide angle lens. It is sharp. The color is excellent. It fits my m5 Mark II (with the optional handle...I highly recommend getting that handle as it allows better feel for this larger lens) I am amazed at the clarity of images as I can zoom into photos and have very low degradation of image quality. This is one of those "must have" lenses. I have the 12....the 17....the 25 and 45.5 primes......all are great.....but this lens is on my camera more often than any other as it is that good and so easy to use...I hate switching lenses!
Great review. I would also add that... in many shooting situations, having MORE DoF is actually beneficial than having less. Indoor shots where you want to get more people in focus, you don't have to reduce shutter speed or bump the ISO because you can shoot it at 2.8 on m43's where you'd have to stop down on a FF or APS-C.
Great point. In many situations it is an advantage not a disadvantage. It gives one reason to run a small light system like m4/3 and full frame with some fast primes when you need shallow dof. I just bought a m4/3, but will keep my Nikon for exactly that reason.
I tried explaining that to someone who, as it turns out, comments on a disturbing number of MFT videos. As a FF diehard, you can imagine how open minded he was.
More DoF can be beneficial for Indoor shots, indoor portraits, macros, and super telephotos where less light is available. When is less DoF useful? When trying to “hide” a cluttered background, or when going for a “dream” look. A moderately fast lens and fairly telephoto/super tele lens seem to be able to achieve that in most situations. It’s a trade.
Also, a crop sensor can be really handy when it comes to size and stability (and anti-shake effectiveness) in super telephoto and ultra wide shooting... though as demonstrated here in this video, even a “bread and butter” is noticeably lighter and less imposing.
I have been a pro for over forty years, and have recently moved to M43 with great success. I used one of these lenses to shoot a wedding two weeks ago, and the results look as good as anything I've ever seen under normal viewing conditions. Strangely enough, clients comment more about the retro appearance than the size. I guess they perceive it as being a 'real' camera because it looks like a classic! Nice review too, by the way...
Keith Spillett the photos cannont look that good, they may have looked good enough for you client. Stop pretending that, in wedding photography micro four thirds is not even close to full frame dslr as looks,depth of field,,general rendering of the image, flashes and triggers options, speed and snappiness of the autofocus, speed if operating the camera, battery life, not to mention llreally low light, which you encounter so often at the weddings. The only advantage i would see would be the size of the lenses, but if you are not fit enough to carry around some heavier stuff at the weddings, maybe you should stop doing weddings. Micro for thirds are amazing for video, for street and casual photography, for travel, for getting somebody into the love for photography.
@@CHADAINSWORTH this is the best real-world written feedback I've read about micro four thirds system. Very applicable and realistic. Thank you
@@adrianpocea2287 And I bet you drive one of those huge jacked up trucks to compensate for other inadequacies.
You are absolutely right about the clients. My last few photoshoots have been on the Olympus system, and my clients love their photos. NONE of them indicate that they want the "background to be more blurry" or anything like that. It definitely seems to matter more to us than them.
Excellent review. I had the opportunity to shoot the Oly 12-40 Pro during a recent expedition to the Guadalupe Islands. This lens did NOT dissapoint. Thanks Darren.
Thanks for a great review Darren. I pulled the trigger and have purchased this lens along with an omd em5 mark ii.
And me too - well just about to after much humming and harring. Currently using a Nikon Df but have decided to switch to M43. OMD5 ll and a 12-40 f2.8 Pro for starters.
Evan I recently upgraded from my original EM5 to the EM5 mkII. How has this lens worked out for you?
Hi Darren just wanted to say all the way from Northern Canada (where the Northern Lights are always in my backyard) that I am a big fan of your videos. Because of you is the reason why I have decided to switch to Olympus and the micro 4/3rds format. I used to live in Orlando until a few years ago but moved closer to family. Keep up the great work ,I always look forward to your reviews...............thank you.......
Excellent review. Thank you. I am primarily a videographer so obviously considered the Pany 12-35 but now we use external stabilisation, this lens looks ‘PERFECT’.
Fantastic review... What an incredible piece of kit this lens is!
Darren your reviews are just getting so much better with each one. You should be really proud of the work you are doing. I dont always agree with you but Im always impressed with your videos. Keep up the great work, from the beautiful Naples Florida and thank you.
Thanks Andrew, that really means a lot! Really appreciate that. If we all agreed all the time, what a boring place this would be :-)
Darren, it is hard not to enjoy videos. Professional videos, outstanding testing samples and a posture that takes us with you like we are in the pool deck chatting. Congratulation and keep up the good work.
Thanks DM, your reviews are pure joy and very reliable, cheers.
Looked at your comment Tzadeck. At the moment I'm looking at the 12mm f2, but am tossing around with the 12-40mm as well. I would like to keep to the smaller primes for street shoots, but the 12-40mm is a nice piece of kit.
If I got some doubts about buying this lens or not, well...You completely cleared my brain.Excellent review, Darren. You covered any kind of requests for a lens review in a few minutes.
Thanks for the review! I'm coming closer and closer to purchasing Olympus gear every day!
This might convince you ... I did some consulting for a Medical Imaging Machine Company which made , X-Rays, Atomic Mass Spectrometers, Dental Equipment, etc a few years ago. After years of intense testing. They only use Olympus Lenses. Stating that Olympus lenses results were the most accurate & had the least distortion. (Eg Every 10 mm thick lens allows x amount of light through) Tolerances were such, that one wipe (with a super fine polish on a cloth) too many on any make a lens rendered it useless. (Other Lens maker company’s tolerances were too high.... Eg... Every 10 mm lens allowed too much or too little light through with the occasional perfect matching lenses). That’s when I became an Olympus fanboy. 😎👌
Hi Darren I just bought this lens with the Olympus OMD - E5 Mark 2 camera, great combination of lens and camera. Your review of each was spot on and so informative, they helped me to choose this AWESOME combo. Appreciate it, Thanks and Cheers mate.
Excellent review! Comprehensive and detailed. Thanks for your mention of the subtle "aire-presure-type-sound" made when zooming. Also, the cinematic effects of switching between manual and auto-focus while filming. Very great points I haven't heard on any other reviews.
Purchasing this lens comes down to the comparison with its competing lens, the Panasonic 12-35 f2.8 OIS. I'll note that I shoot mostly documentary/narrative type short films, events, and PSA's for organizations.
I'd be sacrificing the image stabilization of the Panasonic 12-35 if I get the Olympus 12-40 f2.8 , given that my Panasonic GH3 body doesn't have image stabilization built in as the Olympus body's do. I do love the cool function of the Olympus to quickly switch between manual-to-auto for cool varying focus aesthetics, but I feel the practicality of using that feature often, and being able to achieve that same focus "switch" in post-editing, makes me wonder if that sexy function is a significant enough benefit to tip me over to the Olympus and sacrifice image stabilization that is important in video (since I don't have an Olympus body/Olympus lens doesn't have auto-focus switch built into lens). I love the quality of the Olympus, though it comes at a price. The 'focus ring stops' with the #'s displayed on the lens itself is just awesome, and would allow my attention to be on what's in front of my camera, vs. my screen so I know when to stop/go etc.
I was really hoping to stay in the $700 zone for a fast (f2.8 aperture) zoom lens, so I can also put money towards a 30-100 f2.8 and/or a macro lens to have a diverse lens kit. I have to decide if the Olympus's manual-auto "switch" focus, slightly better quality, and focus ring stops are worth $300 more while sacrificing image stabilization in the Panasonic lens. The functional cost/benfits outweighs my concern about the extra $300....I'll spend the money if the functionality of the Olympus truly trumps the Panasonic.
Thanks for a great review Darren. I have been looking for lenses for my soon to be purchased BMPCC 4K and after this review this lens will be one of them.
Thanks for the review Darren. Look forward to the Panny 42.5mm f/1.2 if you are able to in the future.
Now that is a lens that's on my radar!!
Thanks for the great review. Just got one, trying out tomorrow
You're going to love it!!
Darren Miles Yes I do! chrystal sharp
OK, how about using it on your newest EM1mkii?
nice
Dear Darren,
Many thanks for the comprehensive review and assessment that you have made for this magnificent lens.
However; I have one question, how is this lens performing in shooting videos, as regards to noise and auto focus capabilities, when compared to other rivals among Panasonic and Sony M43 Cameras.
This is such a real review. I actually believe he's a pro by just how he's talking about this lens and photography on this one video. Great stuff!
Yes, I agree with you totally, Viet Phan. I have bought a few items, based on my research, but then finally on Darren's reviews. He is honest and very reliable. 👌
I just got this lens and the OMD EM1...Deff a killer setup !
Indeed it is!!
What camera did u shoot this video with?
I enjoyed the footage you shot, and the review was great, Darren. Thanks for taking the time!
trying to decide if this was a good lens and also how it would preform in video great review i really like your approach to your review
Excellent review Darren. If you're an OMD camera user, this is the standard zoom to get. GH3/4 users may wish to plump for the Panasonic 12-35mm f2.8 which has the built in image stabilisation. Many thanks.
Thank you sir, glad you enjoyed it!
Awesome video. Concise & to the point. Saved me having to do the trial & error run.
Guess which lens is on my next shot list ? Thank you 😎👌
I wonder if this makes it not worth it to buy the 12mm f2.0. I was thinking about buying the 12mm for a long time, but if I could get this with all the extra focal lengths for just a few hundred dollars more... Plus, I don't have any weather sealed lenses at the moment so it would be good to have on rainy days.
Well shot and professionally presented, Darren. You've identified the strengths of this lens, but to get the most out of it, the lens really should be mated to an Olympus body with in-built image stabilisation and software to correct for nasty things like distortion.
Thanks William, this is a GREAT lens!!
Great review Darren Miles I have one question I didn't hear you stated,does it has image stabilizer?
Hey FlashoneFilms, it does not, however, stabilization is built into the OMD bodies and as such any lens attached to the OMD becomes "stabilized" - this would not be the case if you use this lens on a Panasonic body.
Ohh okay great thanks a lot you should do more Micro 4th third reviews I like your reviews really helpful, Im switching to Micro forth DSLR.
Thanks for the video. It is very helpful. I am starting to dabble in the video side of the dream pool and decided to go with a G7 and this lens. I am very excited! Thanks again!
Thanks for the details Darren! I was on the fence about this lens until I saw your review. It'll pair nicely with my OMD EM5 and my Panasonic 20mm f1.7 II as a world travel camera!
Bob Ochiai Yes it will!!
Great review. You're doing an awesome job with these reviews. Love the pictures you take with these cameras/lenses. Thanks for the videos.
Thank you very much!! I really appreciate it!
Oh man. I was going to get the 12-50 standard lens when I replace my Pentax K5 with the EM5 mkii .. but now I have to get this one
Great and informative review. You did it so well makes me want to really acquire one!
what was the opening shot of this interview shot on? cam and lens? looks great!
Hey Adam, I almost always use the 5D3 or 70D with the 70-200 f/2.8 Mark ii. Killer combos for video.
thanks, I'm trying to decide between the canon 6d and panasonic gh4... have any input?
Let me help you with that - G - H - 4!! Unless you're already heavily invested in Canon Glass, I'd wait for the GH4 - I can't wait to get my hands on one, but that won't likely be until late this summer.
As an environmental portrait photographer, I like the smaller sensors as I don't want my DoF too narrow, or too see pores in the skin. Oly and Fuji are doing great things.
Enjoyed the review. Weatherproof lens, weather proof camera. How weather proof? Drizzle or tropical downpour? Were would you draw the line.
+Sebastian Syder Not sure I want to test it in a downpour, and I certainly wouldn't drop it in a pool of water, but drizzle, cold and damp situations I wouldn't hesitate...
I found one in pristine condition, used, for $500. I wasn't planning on getting this lens, but I am not sure I can pass up the price. I had originally planned on getting the 25mm 1.8 and continuing to utilize the kit 12-50 3.5. Any advice?
12-40. If you find that you use that focal length, it's a killer lens.
Darren Miles thanks. That is what I ended up doing. I am so happy I did too.
Exactly the same happened to me as well. I was planning to buy the 12mm (since I already have the Olympus primes 25mm f/1.8 and 45mm f/1.8) but then I found this one used for €500 ($587) and I couldn't skip it. They still sell this 12-40mm lens for €999 ($1173) here in Finland so it's quite expensive.
I'm kind of in this dilemma, either buy the 25mm 1.8 or 1.7 pany and the 45mm 1.8 or buy this 12-40 2.8 pro. do you find yourself still using the 25mm and 45mm? are they faster than the 12-40? since they are a step or 2 faster with aperature?
I love this review. Made me satisfied on what I have. Olympus OM-D E-M1 with this lens. :) now thinking of getting the 45mm 1.8 prime. Thanks Darren!
Thank You very much!! It's a great lens and the 45 is simply amazing!!
awesome review and this really sold me. Was thinking of getting the new e-m5 mkii with maybe a prime then buying this along the road but I think I'll just buy the body with this bundled rather than waiting to buy it later. looks like it will be well worth the money!
Syafik Hassan Thank you for the kind words! Olympus doesn't skimp on their PRO line of lenses - it's really, really nice!!
Hi Darren, very usefull and good review! Thanks very much and best wishes from Switzerland
ai siju Thank you very much!
Wow! Another really great review, thanks Darren!
Great review, ive got this with a Em1 but see it as a fun camera for holidays, would always use my 6D or D800 for a job. I do Pest Control as a main job, you always carry a great big torch around, you dont need to, smaller new pencil led ones are adequate, you just look more professional with a big one!
Hi Darren, thanks for a great review. Do you think my pen-f and this 12-40 lens will be a good combination? The lens is quite large. I have the 17mm & the 45mm lens but I want this lens because in some shooting situations I don't want to change the lenses.
cheers for the review! would I need a uv filter with it? or just a clear one to protect the lens or would the hood protects its wear n tear? also is there any visible flaring in outdoors shoot?
Love your reviews Darren. You were a big influence in my purchase of an em-5 mark II for my family trip to Hawaii. I was torn on what lens or lenses to get--I ended up buying the cheaper 40-150mm Olympus telephoto lens...it's pretty good. I also got the 25mm f/1.8 lens.....nice shots too. Now when I look back, I should have gone with this lens I think....would say that this 12-40 f/2.8 Pro lens is the best everyday/every situation lens? Thanks.
thinking of buying this lens.thanks for a great review
Well, DM, again you gave me a good shoulder to hang on while purchasing a lens. As usual, I trust your gear reviews to be among the best. It's a great lens, and your opinion on where to put your money matters. Thank you.
Awesome review Darren....... I just bought the OMD EM10 coming from the EPM2. As a hobbyist, I have some issues about changing lenses specially when I'am on the move. Would the Oly 12-45 f2.8 worth it to replace my current set of lenses w/c includes the P14 f2.5, P20 f1.7, O45 f1.8, O40-150mm and the 14-45mm kit lens? ... Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Honestly, I think there's room for both - I LOVE Olympus's prime lenses, but the 12-40 is a nice compromise, you loose a little depth of field, but you gain a lot of versatility. It's a personal decision, but I've opted to keep both the 12-40 and the primes.
Thanks for the insights. Keep up the good work.
Stellar review, as always. Great videos that could mesmerize you until the end. It was absolutely worth that I subscribed. Always a clean and honest review with actual samples of photos and videos. Keep up the great work.
Thank you very very much!
Hey Darren, really enjoy your reviews of the Olympus PRO lenses! I was wondering since most reviews were produced a couple of years ago, have you had the opportunity to test them now with the Panasonic GH5? I'm really curious with the autofocus performance as Panasonic's DFD technology isn't supported with the Olympus lenses. Thanks!
Love your reviews Darren, fantastic!
All the way from Australia :) and yes we do have cameras there, not just kangaroos lol
Great review. It would be nice if you get a chance to compare side by side blow ups of your Canon & this. Thanks.
Very nice video! I only wonder, how is it possible that Tony Northrup's conclusion is that this lens is more or less only a kind of kitlens, and not so sharp?
Han Mikkers I have no idea, the only thing I can think of is production variance. My copy is awesome.
I'm sold! I bought an Olympus OM-D E-M5 mk2 a few days ago and a 17mm prime for it. This will be my next lens purchase. I'm coming from a Canon 5D mk2 with the 24-70 2.8 L and the 24-105 2.8 L IS, which are monstrous in comparison. I'm not quite giving up on Canon, but it will be nice to have a small, portable camera that doesn't compromise on quality.
The Serial Hobbyist Girl You won't be disappointed!
Awesome review, I've been waiting for a detailed review of this lens for quite some time. I'll be buying this when I have the funds this fall :).
Your review is right on the money! Congrats. I noticed you had some wind in the background and your sound was great. Could you tell me which mic were you using? Thanks.
Thanks for the reply Miles!
Am kinda noob here. "Constant F/2.8" - does that mean that it is not possible to deliberately change the aperture ? Does that mean that the "A" mode has only one settable value, which is F/2.8 ?
Love your review. Before I jump in to commit on this lens, just want to know a little more. Thank you
In general, a constant aperture means that if you're at 12mm or 40mm the lens can still shoot at f/2.8. Whereas if a lens has a variable aperture, that would mean that as you zoom, the aperture (which is essentially the iris of the lens) gets more narrow - for example, let's say you have a 15-85mm lens that goes from f/3.5 - f/5.6. As you zoom, the lens's construction will only allow you to shoot at the widest aperture available at a given focal length. So at 15mm it would be possible to shoot at f/3.5 but as you zoom, you may only be able to shoot at f/4 or f/5.6. In practical terms a variable aperture lens lets in less light as you zoom, meaning - all things being equal - a slower shutter speed in order to expose the image properly which can result in blurry images. Not a big deal on a bright sunny day, but can pose some serious problems indoors in less than ideal lighting conditions.
Also in general, constant aperture lenses are bigger, heavier (more glass to let more light in) and exponentially more expensive. But if you're a pro wedding photographer, that stuff matters and they'll generally bite the bullet and pay for the more expensive lenses.
Hi Darren, your reviews are really excellent, well done!!
Could it be an issue using the Olympus PRO lense series and the M.Zuiko 1.8/45mm lense with a Panasonic GX8?
+MrJueKa Not at all. The M43 format is "Open" meaning that Olympus and Panasonic lenses are fully compatible with either camera system.
Thanks a lot for your answer, Darren. Cheers !!
this is the quality I want …. but I was thinking about the prime 45mm 1.8…. is that as good?
Hi. Where can I buy the camera strap? It looks cool,
Google Barton Strap... I think the website is barton1972.com
Love your reviews Darrens, i was a canon dslr diehards with several L lens for several years till a week ago :) ur great review perfected my mind changing from heavy FF to light m43 but not willing to sacrifice either build & photo results quality, hopefully i got my pen f + 12-40 f2.8 by tomorrow, one question, do we still had to use uv-haze filter for this oly pro series lens ? Or just a simply clear protector filter will do ? Tq so much Darren
Got this lens with Panasonic Lumix GX8 got amazing videos and photos.
Me too Moshe, GREAT combo.
Great review Darren! I have a dilemma, between this PRO lens and the Olympus 12mm f2.0 & 17mm f1.8 which setup would you pick?
+mariotheotaku I haven't used the 12, but I am reviewing the 17 as we speak, for the shear versatility and build, I would probably go for the 12-40 - interestingly, almost all of the Olympus advertisements that display photos are shot with the combination of the EM-1 and the 12-40 PRO... so there's that...
Thank you, that helps! :)
How to be taken seriously for wedding photography and sports. I would attach a battery grip on it. It almost doubles the size plus gives you extra battery life. If you can afford it buy a second camera similar to the one you have with a battery grip and a different lens. Attach both to a spyder clip holster and that should get the job a lot easier.
Thank you for these reviews, I'm interested in getting the olympus om-d e-m10 as my first entry level camera, could you please tell me what would be a good lens set up to begin with?
Thank you excellent review. You make me feel like trying micro four third system.
Great reviews Darren - some of the best I've seen on RUclips, Keep them coming.
I`m using a 14-54Mk2 four thirds lens with adapter on the EM-1. Is the 12-40 2.8 worth the $1000.00 comparing focus speed and image quality compared to what I'm using
I like that there's some more b-roll throughout!
I took your advice :-)!!
Enjoyed the review! I recently purchased a GH3 and am wondering should I go with this or the Panasonic 12-35? The thing I'm wondering the most about is image stabilization. I know the Olympus cameras have image stabilization built in so the lenses don't have it. I'm not gonna BS I can't honestly say I know what image stabilization does though so I'm doing some research now. Besides that this lens seems to be the one I like tho. I'd love to know what someone more experienced thinks. I plan to use it for both videos and pictures. Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO or Panasonic Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm f/2.8 Asph for a GH3? Thanks a bunch
Very professional. Thanks for the great review.
I started looking at this lens after initially examining the Oly 17mm and 25mm primes for my Oly em5 mk2. Obviously it loses out on the f1.8, but does this zoom otherwise match those primes in everything else - AF, IQ sharpness and contrast etc? thanks
What you lose in low light, you gain in versatility - it's a GREAT lens!!
Darren Miles great review mate, can I ask where you got that neck strap for the body inthisvideo? looks great. I've been looking for something simular. Cheers from Oz
Awesome review! Also what lapel mic were you using, I am impressed that it is very windy and I don't hear any pops or blowing
Excellent review - I bought this lens last month with the help of your advice and I'm vey happy with it. Thank you, Darren.
Do you know the artist and title of the music playing during the series of stills and video clips?
Thanks again.
Chrys,
So glad to hear that, it's one of my favorite lenses!
As for the music, it's called "Colors of the World" by Lost Harmonies and it can be picked up on Premium Beat.com
Great review Darren. I found your channel because someone on Google+ linked to this one. I've been debating on the 12-40 vs. the Panasonic 12-35 since they are now the same price but after watching your review I think I'm going with the Olympus. My EM5 has stabilization built in and I like the idea of my lens matching the camera :-)
Keep the great reviews coming!
Thank you very much! The 12-40 is awesome! It really is!
I tried both those lenses in a store today and the extra focal length really makes a difference. Felt and looked so much better too. It’s now on my must have list :-)
Good review of another good MFT lens, but how about testing 12-35mm.f.2.8 lens from Panasonic?
Thanks Jess - it's on my radar, but I've got about 4-5 lenses I'm working on right now...
Like the review..
hi, can you tell me where to get this nice camera neck strap from? thx
The number one question with all of my M43 reviews :-) You can pick it up at www.Barton1972.com - Hong Kong based, and it takes about 10-14 days to get your strap.
I'm still drooling on July 8, 2019! I'm selling my Zuiko 50-200mm SWD to make $$ room for this bad boy.
Your reviews make me want to buy the lens.
I have EM5 mk2
I have Oly 45mm f1.8 and Pan 20mm f1.7.
In your opinion, should I sell both of what I have and buy this 12-40mm f2.8?
or Keep what I have.
tim nam I'd keep what you have and I'd save for the 12-40 :-). I love the versatility of the 12-40, but I also love the shallow depth of field of the primes.
Ops, Hi again. TechCloud, like you said, see in DOxMark and observe Transmition information. Set some lens and change camera and you will see that information do not change. I set for exemple, Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II in Canon 6D, a FF sensor and 7D, a aps sensor, crop factor 1.6x. T-stop or transmition information do not change. Both are 2.1T-Stop. Sometimes there is a little difference between two sensor,but never is 1 ev or 1/3 ev, is minor difference, about 0,2 T-stops, tops.
12:20 : not a shortcoming but a feature depending on what you're doing.
Very, very true! With the wider DOF you're almost always assured of getting your subject in focus...
Hi Darren,
My mate is looking at buying an Oly kit. He is thinking the EM-5 or em-10, but isn't sure which lens kit to go for.
Because it is his first attempt at interchangable lens cameras I suggested the walk around 14-150 (only becase of its versatility). Only problem is there are no reliable reviews on the internet (anywhere that I can find).
I was wondering if you could do a review on the 14-150 ii on your channel?I find your lens reviews some of the best around and your opinion would help in the decision.
I hope to hear from you soon.
***** Hey peter, thank you for the kinds words.
I'm sure it would be a great lens, I haven't used it, so it would be really difficult for me to say one way or the other as to how it would perform. What I can say is both the EM-5 or the EM-10 are fantastic little cameras, love them for travel and walking about, and they absolutely can be used professionally.
I'll put it on my list, but I have quite a few ahead of it, and it takes me about 2 weeks to make a review.
No problem Darren.
Thank you for your reply.
Just a quick "in your opinion". Would the 14-150 be a big improvement over the 14-42 40-150 kit option that is the common twin lens kit option? Or would the image quality be similar and you're paying for the convenience?
If be interested to hear your thoughts.
I have bought the 40-150 2.8 for my em1 largely due to your you tube review.
I love it. Amazing lens.
The 14-150 would probably be in the same league image quality wise as the 14-42 - maybe slightly worse, but it's definitely more versatile and convenient...
Darren I need your help to decide, I'm torn between olympus omd em 10ii or a6000, i had canon t4i which is great camera, also i had sony syber shot, I sold both of them either because of bulky or the quality of image. I want to move to mirrorless camera.
+Victor the The lens selection for Olympus is much better. Sony ergonomics and body also fall short in terms of handling. You can play with it in the store if you have a camera shop near by.
which is better for travel photography and ocassional video? Leica 12-60mm f/2.8-f4 vs Oly 12-40 f/2.8 to pair with GX7. I currently own a lumix 35-100mm f/2.8.
I have the Oly primes 12, 17, and 45. Do you think this zoom would replace all of them? I want this zoom lens for travel but not sure I want to give up the primes.
Usually if you have to ask if you need prime lenses or not. You don't need it get the zoom
I went through the same dilema except I had the Oly 25mm. I opted to trade in my 12 and 45mm to fund the 12-40. The 25mm is my night time lens or times where I don't want to carry the 12-40. Coming from a full prime setup, the 12-40 is significantly heavier than and of the standard f1.7-8 primes which is one reason why I kept the 25mm. However it is just so damn convenient that it practically lives on my Em5 II now.
@@APPLEPIE978 thread dig... but I have a similar dilemma now... I have 14, 24 and 45. The size of this worries me. I was considering keeping the 45, but you make a good point about the 25 - its more of an allrounder. What do you think? Maybe the pancake 20mm and this?
@@KRBY555 Ya I specifically kept my 25 because it is a good all rounder. The 20mm pancake would be a good choice since I would assume the only times you wouldn't have the 12-40mm on is when you want to be really light. Personally in the past 2 years, I have really only dusted off my 25mm when I try street photography every once an while. Again the 12-40mm is just too damn good and too damn convenient.
I wish the samples included some in low lighting as that's usually missing from other reviews as well. How well does this perform in low light in your opinion?
Hey there, my experience has been quite good - when you say "Perform" are you referring to the images or AF performance or both? Images are good, but high ISO on M43 can get grainy at lower ISO figures than APS-C or Full Frame - AF performance is noticeably better on the EM - 1 than the EM-5....
Darren Miles
Thanks. I have the E-M1 so good to know. But both really, was thinking of getting this lens at some point so just wondering if this was sufficient for photographing at night/in low light as well as daytime. Just hard to find reviews that cover this well. And obviously wouldn't like it to focus hunt a lot. Not looking for any pro grade images but overall good performance as in this zoom range there weren't a lot of other options. But that aside the review was very informative.
It’s interesting how full frame focal length equivalence is always mentioned (2x crop factor) but the full frame aperture is not ever mentioned.. in this case it’s pretty close to f/5.6 in full frame equivalent. If this was mentioned more the m43 manufacturers would be more pressured to make the full frame equivalent apertures on m43 like a f/0.9 (f/1.8 equivalent) or an f/1.4 which is the true f2.8 equivalent. They could do it, it would require more glass but none more than a full frame lens so should be competitively priced..
Nice Videos and fantastic pics!
What camera strap do you use with your Em-5? It's very beautiful!
Hi Darren,
Does it give same result while put on Olympus PEN EP-3 ?
Just wish Olympus would make a pro series f1.2 prime in a 25mm and 45mm. The primes they have are pretty nice. I have the 45mm. Just wish they had the build quality of the Pro series zooms which I have in 7-14 and 12-40.
If they made them F 1.2 then they could steal a lot of the thunder from the .95 Voigtlander lenses. We would be giving up very little in light gathering but we would have autofocus.
Vignetting is noticeable on a Panasonic body??? Isn’t that a big deal ?
Paul Fisher Media Not really, it’s kind of an easy fix in Lightroom, and sometimes vignetting can make an image look better..,,
@@DarrenMiles I spoke with B&H Photo Video and they said that it's a 1/4 aperture falloff and wouldn't be a vignette. A vignette is when it's straight up black vignette
@@PolymerJones When I said vignetting is "noticeable" that just means the light fall off in the corners is noticeable, but it doesn't render the photo unusable, nor is it a hard circle around the image.... It just means there is some darkening in the corners...
Darren, this was another great review. Thanks!!!
Will you be reviewing the Olympus 40-150mm f2.8 in the near future?
Jeff G On my radar - dying to get my hands on one...
Darren Miles I have the 40 150mm 2.8 Pro - You need to get one of these incredible babies, totally awesome!
Hey Julie, this one is ABSOLUTELY on my list - I have a few ahead of it, but I'm past due to review an Olympus lens - this one looks amazing!
Would you recommend the Panasonic 12-35mm instead since I have a GH4? I'm looking for a video and photographic fast zoom, but without IBIS I''m guessing the Panny is better suited for me?
I think it's debatable. I haven't used the 12-35, but the 12-40 has better range and at least similar optics - if not slightly better. I might suggest trying them both out and seeing which you prefer...
I've used both, I suggest the Panny without hesitation. The Panny has better AF for video/moving subjects. The Oly hunts too much. Also the Oly doesn't have great latitude
Well there you go. Time to buy this lens!
+cccooroxcrow Funny thing about this lens, if you look at all of Olympus's print ads, it seems like in about 80% of them, the lens used in the image in the ad is a 12-40.... Hmmmmm....
+Darren Miles I guess this pretty much seals the purchase then! Thank you so much for your in depth reviews btw! Your review videos are actually one of the reasons as to why I got some of my new gear this year haha