As a landscape photographer, the relatively slow maximum aperture doesn't bother me as I would be stopping down to f8 to f11 a lot of the time anyway. The close focusing ability of this lens is very very good from what I have heard. Definitely on my radar as a next lens purchase. Good review.
Thanks for your review Matti Coupled with my OM5 body I find this lens (f4 ) is perfect for landscape photography when out walking, Pin sharp, weather- sealed, and crucially smaller and lighter than the f2.8, which I would use stopped down anyway for increased depth of field.
I'm big on small & light. I replace my excellent 10-40 2.8 with this lens. I don't need 2.8, and the was out of balanced on my EM5 and found it was left in my bag too many times. I'm very happy that I switched lenses.
I have that lens. I find it perfect for travel because of its size, weight and sealing. I think it's very versatile and personally, I don't need brighter lenses to take pictures of the places I visit on vacation. You don't need massive blurs when you're looking to shoot with context. I tend to close down to f/5.6 or f/7.1. It's very sharp. And if I do some portraiture during my travels at 40 or 45mm, at f/4 it has enough nice blur that you can still see where you are. It's possibly the lens I use the most. I love it.
This lens looks very tempting to me! If I were to buy a new camera right now, I would buy the kit with it. I do, however, already have a Lumix 12-35mm f2.8, which is about the same size and weight and still has OIS to work with Lumix Cameras. In that case, I don't see the need to have another similar lens. My great expectation is the future Olympus 8-25mm f4! This one will be spectacular! Can not wait!
There are some cross compatibility issues with MFT system and maybe this is one of them. I'm no longer a brand ambassador and no longer a G9 user so I can't verify this.
The Lumix 12-35/f2.8 is only slightly larger and heavier. Don't Lumix cameras such as the G9 and G90 have a settting for the direction of focus-by-wire?
Matti, thanks a lot for your review. I love this lens, this is my best hiking companion :) take anywhere, any weather kind of lens. Just wondering, how is it comparing to PanaLeica 12-60/2.8-4 from optical prospective?
I have the GH5 and the Olympus Zuiko 12 - 40mm. But I have a problem manually focusing at 12mm. Nothing is in sharp focus but it does come into focus at 14mm. Do you have this problem or heard of anyone having this problem? i thought the L-FN button did not work with the GH5. How do you use that button. I have no idea how it works but you mention programming it in your video. "On Panasonic Lumix cameras however the L-Fn button cannot be programmed so that it can only be used in its default behavior as a focus stop button." I would love to have the option of sharp focus at 12mm. Any help would be appreciated.
Question not answered: How is it on Lumix? Of course it will fit and it is as sharp on Pana, as it is on any other MFT. This is what we knew already. But focussing would be good to know. AFS as ASC. And as well as in Foto like in video. And are there any differences depending on the Body, like a G9 or GH5, as this is 2 years old.
I don't own the lens like I mentioned in the video, so I can't answer your questions. Please search RUclips and I'm sure you'll find more info on the lens.
I ended up buying a 12-40mm used for $100 cheaper. As long as the front and back element is nice and clean, most likely with the weather sealing, the internal optics will be in excellent shape. Mine didn't even have a scratch or internal dust.
I have a g9 does it allow lens corrections or do you have to apply it in post,( i know you indicated both are possible but can you be more specific re the g9 applying lens corrections in body?) Does the new 2.5 linear focus work on the olympus lens? Thanks for your time
This is a nice lens but there is so much good competition from Lumix. 12-60 and 12-35 lenses for example. The prices are similar. What about the size difference though? Is this 12-45 a lot smaller than those Lumix lenses?
Judge for yourself in the following image (the Lumix 12-60 F2.8-4 and the Olympus 12-40 F2.8 are about the same size): ruclips.net/video/ULxlFpicZXo/видео.html
@@mattisulanto from what I understand image quality seems very high quality on all these lenses. It looks like personal preference on other attributes is what decides which lens to go for.
@@tizio54 the Oly 12-45 seems much smaller than the 12-40 f2.8. But what of the Lumix 12-60mm f2.8-4, you get more reach. I am not sure how much physically bigger it is than those two lenses. The price is around the same.
Hi . I wanted to consult with you about purchasing another lens. I have the following equipment: Body: EM10-Mark 2 Lenses: 1.Kit 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 2.45mm f1.8 3.75mm f1.8 4.40-150mm f4-5.6 What do you want to recommend as my next lenses? Saturn in Germany has a good deal on 12-45mm F4.0 PRO only for 300 Euro. Does that make sense to buy these lenses?
@@mattisulanto First, thank you for your feedback. Secondly, I like to do street photography and portraits but I lack the equipment for landscape, architecture and macro photography. I thought maybe this 12-40 F4 Pro will help me in these areas, but I'm not sure
@@seyedmahdiamiri4924 The Pro has almost the same range as your kit lens, but it's a bit sharper. If you want to do macro, you'll need a macro lens. As for architecture I'd probably go for something wider, but that's only me.
Why go off-brand for a standard zoom. Panasonic must have also comparable lenses. The main difference between Oly and Pana seems to be the zoom direction (which is annoying every time you use it). And if you really want compact, go for the Pana 12-32 or a pancake lens.
This Oly Slow Pro lens sounds like it is sharp ( would check detailed testing first ) but is overpriced. If JIP sells it later on for $349 to $399, then maybe it is an OK deal. The little gem, Lumix 12-32mm is sharp and the image color is pretty good as well -- got it as a kit - almost nothing. It is not a fast lens, but this pro lens is not terribly fast at all. For range in a zoom the 12-60mm makes the most sense.
I can imagine constant aperture lens being good for video ... but is it parfocal? Because for me (I'm barely taking any videos) zooming while taking video makes everything out of focus and it's very distracting. On the other hand i would prefer constant F4 aperture to F3.5-5.6. Difference between F3.5 and F4 on wide end does not matter at all, difference on telephoto end means longer hand held times and possibly some work with depth of focus. But I don't think many people will buy this lens, Panasonic has awesome 12-60 kit lens which is very cheap with new camera bodies. And there are other comparable lenses that are either smaller or that have extra zoom range and this one is a bit overpriced for not offering anything special.
It does not have a clutch but you go to manual focus directly by just activating the focus ring and not by menu. The maximum quality is already obtained at maximum apertures and in most ranges it exceeds 12-40 f2.8. Also the backlight flare is superior to that lense. Complementarily, the IPX1 sealing and the size make it unbeatable for me.
@@albertocugat9689, well at least they nailed a demographic for this lens. I don't so a point for this when the PL 12-60 exists. I'd probably still go for the PL lens if I ran Olympus bodies. The Olympus 12-100 seems pretty nice and I had considered that lens for my G9 before I became fixated on the 10-25 f/1.7. Now I just need to find one for about $1300...
@@glsracer Going with a small, professional team is priceless. For 1,380 euros I bought, new (in Barcelona), two months ago the E-M1 II + the 12-45 f4 PRO. The combo is sensational. The 12-100 is very good, it is very fast and light, but it is very big for the day to day and with my needs. At the moment it is the only objective I have. I'm looking forward to the announced ZUIKO 8-25 f4 PRO and the new ZUIKO Macro 100mm f2. By the way, the 12-45 PRO has remarkable semi-macro capabilities.
This 12-45mm is extremely portable in combination with lightweight bodies e.g. E-M5. Also has closer focusing than the 12-40mm so it's more versatile for (moderate) macro use, and has a little more reach at the long end.
@@albertocugat9689, seems like a great price for that. I think the EM1 II would be my preference over the mark III due to how the sensor was set up for better low light SNR vs the sensor in the EM1 III. I often shoot at between ISO 640 and 3200 so the G9 or EM1 II were the best options for me. I've always been a Panasonic and Canon shooter, and I was lucky to get a new G9 and PL 12-60 for $1270 back in March when the dollar was strong against the UK £.
A good review of my favorite go-to lens.
Thanks Peter for your comment and letting me try the lens.
I like the collaboration and cross brand lens testing. Good for both brands and should be encouraged.
Looking forward to more of the same
Thanks.
Happy to see two anbassador of olympus and panasonic sharing lenses ❤️
Thanks.
I’m loving the crossovers with you and Peter. Really loving your videos. Even though you are on the wrong “team” lol. Thanks for posting.
Thanks for those kind words.
As a landscape photographer, the relatively slow maximum aperture doesn't bother me as I would be stopping down to f8 to f11 a lot of the time anyway. The close focusing ability of this lens is very very good from what I have heard. Definitely on my radar as a next lens purchase. Good review.
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for your review Matti
Coupled with my OM5 body I find this lens (f4 ) is perfect for landscape photography when out walking,
Pin sharp, weather- sealed, and crucially smaller and lighter than the f2.8, which I would use stopped down anyway for increased depth of field.
I'm big on small & light. I replace my excellent 10-40 2.8 with this lens. I don't need 2.8, and the was out of balanced on my EM5 and found it was left in my bag too many times. I'm very happy that I switched lenses.
Thanks for sharing.
This photo lens is perfect for videos outdoors or in the studio, facing the camera. The faces are clear, precise. Very good rendering.
I have that lens. I find it perfect for travel because of its size, weight and sealing. I think it's very versatile and personally, I don't need brighter lenses to take pictures of the places I visit on vacation. You don't need massive blurs when you're looking to shoot with context. I tend to close down to f/5.6 or f/7.1. It's very sharp. And if I do some portraiture during my travels at 40 or 45mm, at f/4 it has enough nice blur that you can still see where you are. It's possibly the lens I use the most. I love it.
Thanks for sharing your experience with this lens.
Thanks for your very inspiring review, Matti. Now this lens is on my wishlist.
Thanks!
I prefer the 12-40 F2.8 or the Leica 12-60 F2.8 a F4
This lens looks very tempting to me! If I were to buy a new camera right now, I would buy the kit with it. I do, however, already have a Lumix 12-35mm f2.8, which is about the same size and weight and still has OIS to work with Lumix Cameras. In that case, I don't see the need to have another similar lens. My great expectation is the future Olympus 8-25mm f4! This one will be spectacular! Can not wait!
on om5 and some olympus cameras you can reverse the focus ring direction. Can you not do so in G9?
There are some cross compatibility issues with MFT system and maybe this is one of them. I'm no longer a brand ambassador and no longer a G9 user so I can't verify this.
The Lumix 12-35/f2.8 is only slightly larger and heavier. Don't Lumix cameras such as the G9 and G90 have a settting for the direction of focus-by-wire?
Interesting lens but I'm aiming for the Pana 12-35 or the Olympus 12-40 for the extra stop of light.
The Lumix 12-35mm F2.8 is super nice.
43 years shooting Olympus
If you have Olympus or Panasonic just get the panisonic 12-60mm f2.8-4
You can set aperture at f4
Except the Panasonic 12-60 is bigger, heavier and nowhere near as sharp.
@@markolwick2223 ahahahahahaha. You look at sharp only? There are a lot of other things more important.
@@markolwick2223It's only slightly bigger and heavier and my copy is very sharp. I'd take the PL over the OM in a heartbeat.
Matti, thanks a lot for your review. I love this lens, this is my best hiking companion :) take anywhere, any weather kind of lens. Just wondering, how is it comparing to PanaLeica 12-60/2.8-4 from optical prospective?
Thanks for sharing. I don't think there is any distinctive difference in the image quality between the Leica 12-60mm and the Olympus 12-45mm.
Hello Matti, thanks for the video. Is the lens autofocus quiet?
Yes, it’s silent.
I have the GH5 and the Olympus Zuiko 12 - 40mm.
But I have a problem manually focusing at 12mm. Nothing is in sharp focus but it does come into focus at 14mm.
Do you have this problem or heard of anyone having this problem?
i thought the L-FN button did not work with the GH5. How do you use that button. I have no idea how it works but you mention programming it in your video.
"On Panasonic Lumix cameras however the L-Fn button cannot be programmed so that it can only be used in its default behavior as a focus stop button."
I would love to have the option of sharp focus at 12mm. Any help would be appreciated.
If nothing, absolutely nothing between the lens and infinity, is in focus, it has to be a lens related problem. You press the button and the AF stops.
Please test the 12-100 also on the G9.
I have done it, please search my channel.
Question not answered: How is it on Lumix?
Of course it will fit and it is as sharp on Pana, as it is on any other MFT. This is what we knew already.
But focussing would be good to know. AFS as ASC. And as well as in Foto like in video.
And are there any differences depending on the Body, like a G9 or GH5, as this is 2 years old.
I don't own the lens like I mentioned in the video, so I can't answer your questions. Please search RUclips and I'm sure you'll find more info on the lens.
I ended up buying a 12-40mm used for $100 cheaper. As long as the front and back element is nice and clean, most likely with the weather sealing, the internal optics will be in excellent shape. Mine didn't even have a scratch or internal dust.
Thanks for sharing. Used gear can be a very good value, but you have to check the gear properly before buying.
Does the Lumix DFD focusing work just as well, or at all, with the Olympus pro 12-45mm as it would with a Panasonic or Panasonic/Leica lens?
I don't the DFD works, but I didn't notice any problems with the AF.
@@mattisulanto Thanks for your reply. Be happy, be well, be safe!
I have a g9 does it allow lens corrections or do you have to apply it in post,( i know you indicated both are possible but can you be more specific re the g9 applying lens corrections in body?) Does the new 2.5 linear focus work on the olympus lens? Thanks for your time
Lens corrections are automatic. I don't know if the linear focus work.
Nice lens. How would it compare to the lumix 12-35mm f2.8 which is just slightly heavier but a little faster?
Well, the zoom range is obvious and if you can do with 35mm and use a Lumix camera, then the 12-35mm is a better choice, in my opinion.
This is a nice lens but there is so much good competition from Lumix. 12-60 and 12-35 lenses for example. The prices are similar. What about the size difference though? Is this 12-45 a lot smaller than those Lumix lenses?
Judge for yourself in the following image (the Lumix 12-60 F2.8-4 and the Olympus 12-40 F2.8 are about the same size):
ruclips.net/video/ULxlFpicZXo/видео.html
You are right, there are so many other zooms in the same range and a lot to choose from. I like the Lumix 12-35mm F2.8.
@@mattisulanto from what I understand image quality seems very high quality on all these lenses. It looks like personal preference on other attributes is what decides which lens to go for.
@@tizio54 the Oly 12-45 seems much smaller than the 12-40 f2.8. But what of the Lumix 12-60mm f2.8-4, you get more reach. I am not sure how much physically bigger it is than those two lenses. The price is around the same.
@@MichaelGerrard Sure is a matter of personal preference.
Thanks
Hi .
I wanted to consult with you about purchasing another lens. I have the following equipment:
Body:
EM10-Mark 2
Lenses:
1.Kit 14-42mm f3.5-5.6
2.45mm f1.8
3.75mm f1.8
4.40-150mm f4-5.6
What do you want to recommend as my next lenses?
Saturn in Germany has a good deal on 12-45mm F4.0 PRO only for 300 Euro. Does that make sense to buy these lenses?
I don't know what you should buy😀
Ask yourself why you need another lens?
Please also watch this: ruclips.net/video/lKmjeFpLn4A/видео.html
@@mattisulanto First, thank you for your feedback. Secondly, I like to do street photography and portraits but I lack the equipment for landscape, architecture and macro photography. I thought maybe this 12-40 F4 Pro will help me in these areas, but I'm not sure
@@seyedmahdiamiri4924 The Pro has almost the same range as your kit lens, but it's a bit sharper. If you want to do macro, you'll need a macro lens. As for architecture I'd probably go for something wider, but that's only me.
Why go off-brand for a standard zoom. Panasonic must have also comparable lenses. The main difference between Oly and Pana seems to be the zoom direction (which is annoying every time you use it). And if you really want compact, go for the Pana 12-32 or a pancake lens.
Of course Lumix for Lumix is the best choice, but this is one option.
@@mattisulanto On electrically operated lenses, the direction of focus or zoom rotation can be determined by menu.
I go off brand all the time and my photos do not suffer because of it (12-35 f2.8 on E-M1iii).
This Oly Slow Pro lens sounds like it is sharp ( would check detailed testing first ) but is overpriced. If JIP sells it later on for $349 to $399, then maybe it is an OK deal. The little gem, Lumix 12-32mm is sharp and the image color is pretty good as well -- got it as a kit - almost nothing. It is not a fast lens, but this pro lens is not terribly fast at all. For range in a zoom the 12-60mm makes the most sense.
You don’t need the clutch to manually focus this lens!!! Just touch the focus ring, peaking appears immediately (if turned on).
Of course it's not necessary, but it would be very nice.
Once you go clutch ...you never! go bsck
I can imagine constant aperture lens being good for video ... but is it parfocal? Because for me (I'm barely taking any videos) zooming while taking video makes everything out of focus and it's very distracting.
On the other hand i would prefer constant F4 aperture to F3.5-5.6. Difference between F3.5 and F4 on wide end does not matter at all, difference on telephoto end means longer hand held times and possibly some work with depth of focus.
But I don't think many people will buy this lens, Panasonic has awesome 12-60 kit lens which is very cheap with new camera bodies. And there are other comparable lenses that are either smaller or that have extra zoom range and this one is a bit overpriced for not offering anything special.
I did not test if it's parfocal, I only took photos on it.
I don't really see a point to this lens unless it is cheaper than the PL 12-60 f/2.8-4.
The Leica 12-60mm is a great lens, indeed.
@@mattisulanto I've been using the 12-35 f 2.8 LUMIX and love the dual IS....what's the point of the f4.0?
@@MyNorthAmetican40 I like that 12-35mm F2.8 too, but for someone else the 12-45mm range might be a better option.
It is significantly cheaper in Czech Republic:
This one: 17000 CZK,
12-60/f2.8-4: 27000 CZK,
12-60/f3.5-5.6: 12000 CZK
I’ve heard all the explanations for that lens but that’s one strange to produce.
Is it worth twice the price of a lumix 12-60?
That is a very personal question, but purely from the image quality point of view, probably not. In my opinion, that is😀
If you have the 12-100 f/4, I would think this lens would not be worth while.
Probably not.
The 12-100 is my favorite lens, but the 12-45 is substantially lighter while keeping the excellent quality.
It should have been 12-60mm
Really don't get this lense. No clutch, no LN button....the current price: all reasons to go for a used 12-40. Really underwhelming release tbh.
It does not have a clutch but you go to manual focus directly by just activating the focus ring and not by menu.
The maximum quality is already obtained at maximum apertures and in most ranges it exceeds 12-40 f2.8. Also the backlight flare is superior to that lense.
Complementarily, the IPX1 sealing and the size make it unbeatable for me.
@@albertocugat9689, well at least they nailed a demographic for this lens. I don't so a point for this when the PL 12-60 exists. I'd probably still go for the PL lens if I ran Olympus bodies. The Olympus 12-100 seems pretty nice and I had considered that lens for my G9 before I became fixated on the 10-25 f/1.7. Now I just need to find one for about $1300...
@@glsracer Going with a small, professional team is priceless.
For 1,380 euros I bought, new (in Barcelona), two months ago the E-M1 II + the 12-45 f4 PRO. The combo is sensational.
The 12-100 is very good, it is very fast and light, but it is very big for the day to day and with my needs.
At the moment it is the only objective I have. I'm looking forward to the announced ZUIKO 8-25 f4 PRO and the new ZUIKO Macro 100mm f2.
By the way, the 12-45 PRO has remarkable semi-macro capabilities.
This 12-45mm is extremely portable in combination with lightweight bodies e.g. E-M5. Also has closer focusing than the 12-40mm so it's more versatile for (moderate) macro use, and has a little more reach at the long end.
@@albertocugat9689, seems like a great price for that. I think the EM1 II would be my preference over the mark III due to how the sensor was set up for better low light SNR vs the sensor in the EM1 III. I often shoot at between ISO 640 and 3200 so the G9 or EM1 II were the best options for me. I've always been a Panasonic and Canon shooter, and I was lucky to get a new G9 and PL 12-60 for $1270 back in March when the dollar was strong against the UK £.