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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. 😎👌
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.
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. 👌
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.......
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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!
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 :-)
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.
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.
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.
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.
Great reviews Darren - some of the best I've seen on TH-cam, 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
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.
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!
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?
+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
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.
Hi Darren. 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? I have found a good deal on 12-45mm F4.0 PRO only for 300 Euro in Germany. Does that make sense to buy these lenses?
+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...
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.
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!
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!
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.
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
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..
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.
+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...
I currently have the 25mm f1.8, 14-42mm kit lens, and 40-150mm zoom - I'm debating between buying a used 17mm f1.8 for ~$300 to get a wider prime that's faster than the kit lens, or I can go for this 12-40mm f2.8 pro for ~$500 used and sell the 25mm AND the kit lens for like $250..... Is the latter the more practical option? Less shallow DOF and not as fast in low light but SO versatile - I'd almost never have to change lenses, and 12mm on the wide end is great indoors right?
I just got the 12-40mm a month ago, and I would definitely recommend it. This is a very versatile lens. 12mm is great for indoors as well as landscapes. I don't know if I'd sell that 25mm 1.8 though. You may want it for lower light situations. I'm thinking off adding a 45 1.8 for low light and 45 only because it's also a different focal length.
I would advise you to keep the Olympus 25mm F 1.8 for low light situations. It's very good and sharp. I have the 12mm, 17mm, and the 45mm as well as the 25mm...and all of these are sharp and excellent in low light and very nice and compact. I'm thining of getting the 12 to 40 just for speed and versality and to check out the pro zoom capabilities for these Olympus lenses. The 12mm and the 17mm are my favorites though because of the manual focus clutch mechanisms on those.. Good luck.
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.
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.
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.
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
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?
Hello Darren I just ordered a GH4 and I am aware it doesn't perform that nicely in low light situations; I was watching your videos about lenses. Olympus 45mm f/1.8 Panasonic Nocticron 42.5mm f/1.2 Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO I really like the idea of buying the Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO. There is only one problem. I’ll be using my camera to record the Big Ben bell ring in London at midnight let’s say, and I’ll be about 400 meters far from zooming in to the clock.(do I need a prime lens for this?) The clock is lit in green in the evenings and it is almost static. What lens should I buy? I’ll use the lens mainly for making music videos. Thanks a lot in advance.
From 400 meters away.... Hmmmm....From that distance the 45 f/1.8 will still be pretty wide - not knowing what your budget is, have you considered the 75 f/1.8 or the 40-150 f/2.8?
Darren Miles I didn't know about the Olympus 75mm f/1.8. is it better than the 45mm f/1.8 and do I need an adaptor between GH4 and the Olympus lens? I think Olympus 40-150mm F2.8 is too intimidating to me. thanks.
Nelzon Mamani No adapter necessary - Olympus and Panasonic M43 lenses are interchangeable. The 75 f/1.8 is considered to be one of the absolute best M43 lenses, and I'd have to agree, it's amazing!
Darren Miles thanks so much Darren. I'll order one ASAP, but if I can wait 2 more weeks probably the 40-150mm 2.8 Pro monster hehehe. thanks again :D .
Nelzon Mamani for low light photography you might want to focus on Panasonic cameras with OIS. I shoot the dawn service on ANZAC day at my local returned servicemans league here in Australia. The event starts well before dawn in the pitch black with only a few distant street lights. I've found the ability to shoot basically still subjects like soldiers at attention in front of the monuments in very low light comes down almost entirely to to olympus's IBIS. On my e-m1 at 6400iso with IBIS on I was getting usable shots in crazy dark situations. I actually bought the fl-600 for the event but I wasn't getting good results and I thought I'd have to wait for some more natural light but on a whim I pumped the ISO and took a few wide open shots with the 12-40mm f2.8 at around 1/20th and got away with some nice clear pictures. Obviously not every one was a keeper and it was a little tricky with moving subjects, but I know from previous years that you just can't do that without stabilisation, even with a FF camera like the 5dmkii with the iso turned all the way up to 11. Because you don't have in body stabilisation you should have a look at the Panasonic OIS lenses to do the same job. For regular shooting the 12-40mm f2.8 will be just fine but if you're going to be doing a lot of shooting in the dark it's definitely something to think about.
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?
Is the lack of DFD support on the Olympus 12-40mm f2.8 Pro if my camera is a GH5? Should I go for Panasonic 12-35mm then even though I really want the Olympus? What would I give up if I stay with Olympus instead of Panasonic? Thank you.
Panasonic Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm f/2.8 V2 or Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm 1:2.8 for 4K 60 fpd videos? im an enthusiast not an expert so i im a bit confused on the details. ill do astrophotography timelapse vids and coverage of live events. Im thinking combine one of these with the Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema 4k
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...
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?
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
Thanks Andrew, that really means a lot! Really appreciate that. If we all agreed all the time, what a boring place this would be :-)
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. 😎👌
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 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. 👌
Thanks DM, your reviews are pure joy and very reliable, cheers.
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.......
Fantastic review... What an incredible piece of kit this lens is!
I enjoyed the footage you shot, and the review was great, Darren. Thanks for taking the time!
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.
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.
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.
I just got this lens and the OMD EM1...Deff a killer setup !
Indeed it is!!
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.
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.
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!
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!
Wow! Another really great review, thanks Darren!
I like that there's some more b-roll throughout!
I took your advice :-)!!
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.
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.
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!
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.
Great and informative review. You did it so well makes me want to really acquire one!
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
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!!
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!
Hi Darren, very usefull and good review! Thanks very much and best wishes from Switzerland
ai siju Thank you very much!
Love your reviews Darren, fantastic!
All the way from Australia :) and yes we do have cameras there, not just kangaroos lol
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!
Very professional. Thanks for the great review.
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!!
I'm still drooling on July 8, 2019! I'm selling my Zuiko 50-200mm SWD to make $$ room for this bad boy.
Thanks for the great review. Just got one, trying out tomorrow
You're going to love it!!
Darren Miles Yes I do! chrystal sharp
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 :-)
You are an Olympus fanboy! That's okay. So am I. :)
Indeed I am - stated it many times :-)
Keep up the fantastic micro 4/3 reviews. They get a score of 10 - out of 10!
Im an oly fanboy as well. I mainly shoot on film but my em5ii is a really great camera. I enjoyed shooting with it
Shaka My sincere wish for 2019 is that we can all just let people use the technology they prefer without resorting to labelling them as a "fanboy".
@@gwarlow Yep kinda like certain people calling other people that don't agree with them racist, right?
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 :).
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.
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!!
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.
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.
Great reviews Darren - some of the best I've seen on TH-cam, 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
thinking of buying this lens.thanks for a great review
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 😎👌
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.
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!
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?
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
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
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.
Hi Darren.
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?
I have found a good deal on 12-45mm F4.0 PRO only for 300 Euro in Germany. Does that make sense to buy these lenses?
this lens is outstanding just got one buy buy buy!!
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!!
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...
Got this lens with Panasonic Lumix GX8 got amazing videos and photos.
Me too Moshe, GREAT combo.
Thank you excellent review. You make me feel like trying micro four third system.
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.
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!
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!!
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.
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
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..
thank you so much my bro. you are so good. and helped me to chose .. your fan from Saudi arabia
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.
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! :)
I currently have the 25mm f1.8, 14-42mm kit lens, and 40-150mm zoom - I'm debating between buying a used 17mm f1.8 for ~$300 to get a wider prime that's faster than the kit lens, or I can go for this 12-40mm f2.8 pro for ~$500 used and sell the 25mm AND the kit lens for like $250..... Is the latter the more practical option? Less shallow DOF and not as fast in low light but SO versatile - I'd almost never have to change lenses, and 12mm on the wide end is great indoors right?
I just got the 12-40mm a month ago, and I would definitely recommend it. This is a very versatile lens. 12mm is great for indoors as well as landscapes. I don't know if I'd sell that 25mm 1.8 though. You may want it for lower light situations. I'm thinking off adding a 45 1.8 for low light and 45 only because it's also a different focal length.
I would advise you to keep the Olympus 25mm F 1.8 for low light situations. It's very good and sharp. I have the 12mm, 17mm, and the 45mm as well as the 25mm...and all of these are sharp and excellent in low light and very nice and compact. I'm thining of getting the 12 to 40 just for speed and versality and to check out the pro zoom capabilities for these Olympus lenses. The 12mm and the 17mm are my favorites though because of the manual focus clutch mechanisms on those.. Good luck.
Thank you, Darren! Great review!
Thank you sir!!!
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.
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
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!
Great review. It would be nice if you get a chance to compare side by side blow ups of your Canon & this. Thanks.
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.
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..
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
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.
OK, how about using it on your newest EM1mkii?
nice
Hello Darren I just ordered a GH4 and I am aware it doesn't perform that nicely in low light situations; I was watching your videos about lenses.
Olympus 45mm f/1.8
Panasonic Nocticron 42.5mm f/1.2
Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO
I really like the idea of buying the Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO. There is only one problem. I’ll be using my camera to record the Big Ben bell ring in London at midnight let’s say, and I’ll be about 400 meters far from zooming in to the clock.(do I need a prime lens for this?) The clock is lit in green in the evenings and it is almost static. What lens should I buy? I’ll use the lens mainly for making music videos. Thanks a lot in advance.
From 400 meters away.... Hmmmm....From that distance the 45 f/1.8 will still be pretty wide - not knowing what your budget is, have you considered the 75 f/1.8 or the 40-150 f/2.8?
Darren Miles I didn't know about the Olympus 75mm f/1.8. is it better than the 45mm f/1.8 and do I need an adaptor between GH4 and the Olympus lens? I think Olympus 40-150mm F2.8 is too intimidating to me. thanks.
Nelzon Mamani No adapter necessary - Olympus and Panasonic M43 lenses are interchangeable. The 75 f/1.8 is considered to be one of the absolute best M43 lenses, and I'd have to agree, it's amazing!
Darren Miles thanks so much Darren. I'll order one ASAP, but if I can wait 2 more weeks probably the 40-150mm 2.8 Pro monster hehehe. thanks again :D .
Nelzon Mamani for low light photography you might want to focus on Panasonic cameras with OIS. I shoot the dawn service on ANZAC day at my local returned servicemans league here in Australia. The event starts well before dawn in the pitch black with only a few distant street lights. I've found the ability to shoot basically still subjects like soldiers at attention in front of the monuments in very low light comes down almost entirely to to olympus's IBIS. On my e-m1 at 6400iso with IBIS on I was getting usable shots in crazy dark situations. I actually bought the fl-600 for the event but I wasn't getting good results and I thought I'd have to wait for some more natural light but on a whim I pumped the ISO and took a few wide open shots with the 12-40mm f2.8 at around 1/20th and got away with some nice clear pictures. Obviously not every one was a keeper and it was a little tricky with moving subjects, but I know from previous years that you just can't do that without stabilisation, even with a FF camera like the 5dmkii with the iso turned all the way up to 11.
Because you don't have in body stabilisation you should have a look at the Panasonic OIS lenses to do the same job. For regular shooting the 12-40mm f2.8 will be just fine but if you're going to be doing a lot of shooting in the dark it's definitely something to think about.
this is the quality I want …. but I was thinking about the prime 45mm 1.8…. is that as good?
I love it.
Thanks again Darren.
☆☆☆☆☆
Such a new review. thank you, i like it a lot.
Nice Videos and fantastic pics!
What camera strap do you use with your Em-5? It's very beautiful!
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 !!
Is the lack of DFD support on the Olympus 12-40mm f2.8 Pro if my camera is a GH5? Should I go for Panasonic 12-35mm then even though I really want the Olympus? What would I give up if I stay with Olympus instead of Panasonic? Thank you.
Great review! Thank you!
Panasonic Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm f/2.8 V2 or Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm 1:2.8 for 4K 60 fpd videos? im an enthusiast not an expert so i im a bit confused on the details. ill do astrophotography timelapse vids and coverage of live events. Im thinking combine one of these with the Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema 4k
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...
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?
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.
Another great review Darren, 10/10.
Thank you very much!
nice review! it is indeed a sweet lens