The Micro Four Thirds system may not be for everyone, but it certainly is popular amongst many photographers. Companies such as Olympus and Panasonic have created some wonderful lenses for the system, but it appears that one of the options is now reaching the end of production. If you are an MFT user, here is a look at the option that you must get your hands on.
According to Asobinet, the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm f2 is now reaching its stock completion. Japanese retailers such as MAP Camera and Camera Kitamura have listed the 12mm as ‘discontinued.’ While there is no report from Olympus itself, it is possible that the lens is reaching the end of production due to the years it has been on the market.
For the uninitiated, the 12mm f2 has a 24mm equivalent field of view in full-frame terms. It is designed for street photography, architecture, travel, and environmental portraiture, which makes the lens more important. The 12mm was introduced in 2011, offers a fast aperture, a nice premium build, and looks quite classic.
Created with 11 elements in 8 groups, the 12mm lens has 7 aperture blades, a 0.2m magnification, a 0.1x magnification and 130g weight. Available in silver and black, the Olympus 12mm can focus the fastest on the EP-2. Paired with the latter, you get a system that is quick, easy to keep in your pocket, and is ideal for posed photographs.
For a 12MP sensor, I’m actually quite amazed. I’ve used the Nikon D700, D300s and other 12MP cameras and I haven’t been able to see such amazing sharpness even despite using the good Nikon lenses. The fact that it’s beating even the D300s even astounds me.
The image quality is pretty fantastic, offering true-to-life colors, and no distortion. There is vignetting wide open, which can be corrected in post-production. Photographers who like flare will not like the lens since it is quite controlled. There is also some bokeh to work with, especially when you are closer to the lens.
The Olympus 12mm is available at $550 on Amazon, which means if you are thinking of buying the system, this is a good time. The other alternative is the 17mm f1.8 II, which sits closest to the 12mm, and costs less than $500. Until then, we have to wait and see what Olympus has in store.