I've spent a lot associated with time carrying the olympus zuiko 12mm f/2. 0 around lately, plus honestly, it's one of those pieces of equipment that reminds me personally why I dropped deeply in love with Micro 4 Thirds in the first place. In a world exactly where lenses appear to be getting bigger and weightier with every fresh release, this little prime is the breath of new air. It's small, it's made of metal, and it offers a specific "soul" that you don't usually find in contemporary glass.
When you're shooting on an OM-D or a PEN body, you most likely know the battle of actually finding that ideal "walk-around" wide angle. You want something wide enough intended for landscapes or tight city streets, but fast enough which you aren't stuck bumping your ISO to the moon the second the sun ducks at the rear of a cloud. That's exactly where this lens sits. Let's jump into what can make it special plus, more importantly, whether it still holds up today.
That will Premium Metal Feel
The initial thing you observe whenever you pick upward the olympus zuiko 12mm is usually the build. It doesn't feel like a toy. They have this particular cold-to-the-touch metallic finish off that just shouts quality. In a period of high-impact plastic materials, having something that seems like an accuracy instrument is really satisfying. It's extremely light, weighing within of them costing only about 130 grams, but it feels dense plus well-constructed.
A single of my preferred things about the design is the "snap focus" ring. In case you haven't used a good Olympus lens with this particular feature, you're really missing out. You basically draw the focus ring back toward the camera body in order to engage manual focus. When you do that, it reveals a distance range. It's tactile, it's clicky, and this makes zone concentrating for street digital photography a total air flow. I find myself personally clicking it back and forth simply for the sake of it—it's that will well-made.
Capturing the Streets with 24mm
On a Micro Four Thirds sensor, the olympus zuiko 12mm gives a person a 24mm equivalent field of view. For a number of photographers, 24mm may be the "sweet spot" for wide-angle taking pictures. It's wide enough to feel extensive, but it doesn't possess that crazy fisheye distortion that can make people's faces appear like they're becoming sucked into a vacuum.
We took this lens out for a day time of street digital photography in a congested downtown area, plus it was a joy to utilize. Because it's therefore small, nobody actually notices you. A person don't look such as a "professional photographer" with a giant rig; you simply appear like someone getting snapshots. This permitted me to get much nearer to the subjects without being intrusive.
The f/2. 0 aperture is a big deal here, too. While MFT sensors aren't specifically the kings of shallow depth associated with field, shooting in f/2. 0 with this particular lens still gives you a nice bit of separation in case you're near to your subject. Moreover, this lets in sufficient light to maintain your shutter speeds high when the light starts to fall short in those thin alleyways.
Sharpness and Image Character
Now, we all have to talk about the image quality. Will be the olympus zuiko 12mm the particular sharpest lens Olympus has ever produced? Probably not. In case you compare it towards the "Pro" line—like the particular 12-40mm f/2. 7 or the 17mm f/1. 2—you might notice a little bit of gentleness within the corners whenever you're shooting wide open.
But here's the thing: sharpness isn't everything. This zoom lens has a particular look. The colours are punchy, plus the contrast is excellent. It provides a means of rendering light that feels very "classic. " If you stop it down to f/4 or even f/5. 6, this sharpens up beautifully over the entire frame. For landscape photos or architecture where you want every thing crisp, stopping straight down slightly causes this zoom lens a beast.
One thing I did so notice is a bit of chromatic aberration (those annoying purple fringes) in high-contrast situations, like tree branches towards a bright atmosphere. Most modern software fixes this along with one click, so it's not a dealbreaker, but it's something to maintain in mind in the event that you hate post-processing.
Could it be Good for Video and Vlogging?
Many people look at the particular olympus zuiko 12mm especially for movie, and I can see why. The 24mm equivalent is almost the perfect focal length for vlogging. It's wide enough in order to show your environment while keeping your own face at a natural-looking distance.
The autofocus is almost silent. If you're using an internal microphone, you won't hear the particular lens hunting or even clicking, that is a huge plus. And again, that manual concentrate clutch is really a godsend for video. In case you want in order to do a regular focus pull, having a physical hard take a look at infinity and close-focus makes it course of action easier than these "fly-by-wire" systems exactly where the ring simply spins forever.
The only downside for video will be the lack of internal stabilization in the lens itself. However, considering that most Olympus (OM System) bodies have got incredible in-body image stabilization (IBIS), this doesn't really matter. You can get silky smooth handheld footage with this combo without the need for a gimbal.
The particular Competition: Why Select This Lens?
I know what you're thinking. "Why should I buy the olympus zuiko 12mm after i could just use the 12-40mm f/2. 8 Professional zoom? " It's a fair question. The zoom is definitely technically more versatile, and it's perhaps sharper.
But for me, it arrives right down to the expertise. The 12-40mm is definitely a bit associated with a brick. This changes the balance of the camera, especially if you're using the smaller body like the E-M10 or even a PEN-F. The particular 12mm prime, on the other hand, makes the digital camera feel as if an expansion of your hand. It encourages you to definitely move your foot, to obtain creative with your angles, and to simplify your process.
There's also the Panasonic Leica 12mm f/1. 4, which is definitely a stunning lens, but it's also much larger plus significantly more costly. For many of us, the f/2. 0 aperture will be the perfect middle ground between size, performance, and cost.
Final Thoughts upon the 12mm Prime
After shooting with the olympus zuiko 12mm for some weeks, I've realized it's the lens of compromises—but they're the right compromises. A person trade a tiny bit of corner sharpness for a lens that may literally fit in your jacket pocket. You trade the comfort of a zoom lens for a stunning metal build and a physical focus clutch that's a boost to use.
In the event that you're a surroundings photographer who needs edge-to-edge perfection for giant prints, a person might want in order to consider the Pro zooms. But if you're the traveler, a street shooter, or someone who just wants a high-quality broad angle that won't weigh you straight down, this lens is usually a gem.
It's been around for a whilst now, which furthermore means you can often find a few great deals on the used market. Even years after its release, this remains a basic piece in the Tiny Four Thirds collection for any reason. It's just fun to shoot with, and at the final of the day, isn't that why all of us carry cameras in the first location?
If you're within the fence, I'd say go with regard to it. Whether you're capturing a sun on a hill top or simply snapping photos associated with your friends in a dimly lit bar, the olympus zuiko 12mm is definitely likely to stay on your camera a lot longer than you expect. It's got that "just one even more shot" quality that's hard to put into words, but easy to see in your photos.