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I only owned one of those briefly when I bought some used gear, I did not realize it was weather sealed or I might have kept it! Those macro shots are certainly respectable and quite impressive considering it's a kit lens.
Thanks! The 12-50mm was the first weather-sealed lens made for Micro Four Thirds, which was a kit for E-M5, the first weather-sealed camera for Micro Four Thirds. The 12-40mm PRO was launched less than a year later, which gained wider attention because of the highly successful E-M1, and the lens has constant F2.8 aperture. The 12-50mm is nowhere near the 12-40mm PRO in terms of optical performance, but as a budget kit lens, or bundled lens that came with E-M5, it was no slouch either!
Finally someone has said something great about this "Swiss Army Knife" lens. It is not super sharp or fast in any regards, but it does literally anything, great for practicing different style of photography. The Marco feature is indeed noteworthy selling point of this lens. While it's Marco is not spectacular, it is good enough for those who want to experience marco on a budget. Thanks Robin for showing us how to squeeze out more Marco ability out of the 12-50EZ.
This lens is really a killer! - Internal zoom, doesn't stick out like any other lens. - Perfect coverage for 80% of normal use. - Manual zoom & power zoom. - And very capable macro function. Bought mine (used, but near mint) for only 100$ to couple with my GH5. Simply the best investment for my Panny so far - love it!
This lens is often overlooked, and its internal zoom and focus also made a lot less susceptible to dust and fungus...dust barely gets in there even after 10 years of use.
wish they made more swiss army lenses like these.. you can take it on a hike, take scenery photos and if you happen to spot a small creature you can take a picture of that too without wasting time switching lenses (and by then the creature is long gone)
Hi Robin, it's good that it's weather sealed, not bad for a Twelve year old camera. Lovely insect photos they didn't look small, they looked big. Great job you did making those insects look big, that's how they should look👏. What a difference the flash made thanks for showing that. Another fun video, thank you. 😊
Thanks, glad you enjoyed the video! The point of doing macro is to fill the frame as much as possible with the insect or bug! And we can see their beautiful small world.
I think the 12-50mm is underrated overall, especially considering its build quality and perfect range. But it’s also stacked with features and can be picked up for cheap on the used market. I think I got mine for less than $80 earlier this year. Excellent value.
This has inspired me to get some shots I've been meaning to get for some time but not got around to taking. No, I probably won't be using my 12-50 EZ. I'll be using my 60mm F2.8 macro but the flash set up will be similar. Not insects, but instead 'll be photographing white clawed crayfish which are native to the UK but rare. Not that small but are in water tanks so I need to get as close to the glass tank as possible to reduce reflections. This is pushing me to get off my backside and go get the shots, probably Tuesday but may be tomorrow.
Thanks, and yes, the 60mm Macro lens is miles better than what the 12-50mm can do. Dealing with reflections isn't easy, I have not tried shooting through a glass tank before, the reflections will be challenging!
This was the kit lens with my original E-M5. I traded it as part of the deal when I bought the 60mm F2.8 Macro a few years ago. By then I had bought the 14-150 zoom lens, and I wanted a more specialized macro lens. But if you are planning to buy a used Olympus kit just to try out the system, this lens is a very good option as a general do-it-all zoom lens.
I used this lens for underwater photography. Nauticam even had a special port for it, one that allowed you to switch from macro to regular zoom in the same dive. Not the sharpest lens I had, but I got excellent results with it. I had several samples of it, the first one in the kit along with the EM-5, back in 2012. I later sold the combo, purchased the firs EM-1, bought it again, and the story repeated itself with the EM-1 MK2…
This a great lens, I got mine as kit lens with the original omd em1. It makes a great walk around lens and I have dabbled in macro with it. I do have the 60mm f2.8 Olympus lens which is obviously better. If you can find the 12-50 mm at a good price it is worth getting. Always love your macro photography Robin.
I got this lens with the original M-5 and it is a very good lens, and I have shot macro with it. It's not as good as the 12-45 Pro but it really works as a single all around lens, and it's weatherproof. With the 12-50 and a 40-150, you have all you need for a walking around kit.
That lens does great as a macro! I'll have to look into one of those. Thanks for the macro photos, too! Gives me something to look forward to. Regards!!
Just wanna you to know that you are the reason why I just bought EM1 Mark ii. Yes, it's a used one and came with a good price. Can't wait to get my hands on it
Got one, and it is great fun. My goto lens ... and than there is the Macro ... That being said, its cheap, and fast enough, and being cheap you do not have be afraid to use it everywhere.
That's some crazy field curvature at the macro setting (probably made worse by the extension tubes) but I do love the results. Thank you for sharing the macro flash setup and the flash diffuser to try off-camera flash with my PixaPro (Godox rebranded for UK market) V350 II
The spherical and chromatic aberration can be a problem away from the center, but hey, it is a cheap lens, for all the technical control you need a true macro lens. Yes, the wireless setup works quite well, as some of those critters love to hide at unlikely places.
Saludos Robin, I use this lens for video with the OM-5 and with the body stabilizer as if I were using a gimbal! For macro I prefer the Zuiko 60mm macro lens.
This is still one of my favorite lenses for underwater photography. It has the only internal zoom in this focal length range. So I also use it for underwater macro, but with a macro (wet) lens and not with extensions. Most of the time I shoot with 50mm and not in macro mode. With 50mm and a macro (wet) lens there is more working distance. With macro mode & macro (wet) lens you can get more magnification but the working distance is very short. The best I can remove the macro lens underwater and then I still have a 12-50 zoom lens. Extension rings could not be removed underwater and also have to fit into the underwater housing.
Great Video Robin. I wish the lens supported Focus Stacking. Anyways its dirt cheap to buy used. You tempted me to get one and try something different. 🙂
I was just searching infos about this specific "top kit" lens. Planning to try it also on a BMPCC OG, using its digital zoom feature (not sure if it will be supported) and then on a E-M5. This lens reminds me the Canon 28-80mm USM don't know why.
Thanks Marlene for being here, and yes, the extension tubes should work with any Micro Four Thirds lenses, preferably those with already very good close up shooting.
@@robinwong that is true. What I hope OM to make a newer version (better aperture, better chromatic aberration) of this amazing kit lens with current technology. Half the length or retractable would be nice.
Do you think OMS will do some update to this lens? It will be nice to see some 12-50/2.8-4.0 with that close-up function. Something similar like Sigma 17-70/2.8-4.5 or 17-70/2.8-4.0 is for APS-C DSLRs. Also have you ever tried 12-100/4 with extension rings?
I wish they would add a sucessor to this lens to OMD lens roadmap. OMD will probably follow on with their big lenses on the Pro lineup, but it wouldn’t hurt to have a 12-50/macro for the non-Pro users.
@@robinwong I probably understand this a bit since I got the 12-100/4.. It is large like APS-C lens or maybe even larger. But it has perfect image from corner to corner, so the projected image circle must be larger than M4/3 sensor size + something more for IBIS movement. It is similar like when I use FF telephoto lenses on APS-C. I don't use weaker edges and even older things like Sigma 100-300/4 then provide excellent image for the APS-C frame. But yes, they should keep also some small ones with a little bit more compromises on frame edges, but more portable.
Really good images! I'd struggle to do as well with the 60mm f2.8. Do you know if the FL-LM2 is contributing to the light on subject or does it only trigger the off camera flash? Or do you dial down the little flash to avoid direct illumination on the subject?
Hi Robin! Do you think focus stacking would work with these extension tubes? Do you use that feature/technique at all? I'm trying to figure out whether I need a dedicated macro lens or I can live with some tubes for now, but I would like to learn as many techniques as I can
Thanks for the video. This lens is only about $100-$120 on MPB. It is definitely my next purchase. One question though, how is the power zoom?? I have the electronic zoom feature on my kit lens and I am not crazy about it. (Too fast...) Is the power zoom on the 12-50mm any better?
I bought one of these on the recommendation of the earlier video. It's a wonderfully versatile lens, considering both its macro and power-zoom capabilities. Unfortunately it is out of production. But if it does return, I wish it would receive an update including more fine-grained control of power zoom speed, which would greatly increase its appeal to video shooters. BTW I don't know what it is about the 43mm focal length but Panasonic's excellent 42.5 f/1.7 has some quasi-macro capabilities featuring 0.2X magnification (0.4X FF equiv) and a minimum focusing distance of 1 foot. The closest Oly prime (45mm f/1.8) has a farther close-focus distance (1.5 feet) and only 0.11X magnification (0.22 FF).
About a year ago, OM Digital Solutions were selling off their stock of MCON‑P02 macro converters in various territories, so I got one. I think someone once asked you whether you had evaluated it, Robin, but I think you didn't publish anything about it eventually, or at least not any conclusions. My experience with that converter seems to be that the focusing distance range is really narrow: move too far or too close and the camera just cannot focus on the subject. Do you have any thoughts about the MCON-P02 or similar converters? Thanks for the informative video, as usual!
I tried those, and are not impressed. Attaching any glass in front or behind the lens will degrade the image quality significantly. This is where the extension tubes solve the problem - it does not have any glass, it just adds distance between the lens and the sensor, and without any additional glass for the light to pass through, you don't have image quality loss, unlike those converters.
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This video was released to Members-Only access 24 hours before public. Do consider joining membership of my channel to further support me. You can get some really cool perks, and at the same time, keep me going. I have plenty more shooting techniques, photo tips and tricks to share!
Join as a member here: th-cam.com/channels/jUwaonD9QVeDzEdSqwrGmA.htmljoin
I only owned one of those briefly when I bought some used gear, I did not realize it was weather sealed or I might have kept it! Those macro shots are certainly respectable and quite impressive considering it's a kit lens.
Thanks! The 12-50mm was the first weather-sealed lens made for Micro Four Thirds, which was a kit for E-M5, the first weather-sealed camera for Micro Four Thirds. The 12-40mm PRO was launched less than a year later, which gained wider attention because of the highly successful E-M1, and the lens has constant F2.8 aperture. The 12-50mm is nowhere near the 12-40mm PRO in terms of optical performance, but as a budget kit lens, or bundled lens that came with E-M5, it was no slouch either!
Finally someone has said something great about this "Swiss Army Knife" lens. It is not super sharp or fast in any regards, but it does literally anything, great for practicing different style of photography. The Marco feature is indeed noteworthy selling point of this lens. While it's Marco is not spectacular, it is good enough for those who want to experience marco on a budget. Thanks Robin for showing us how to squeeze out more Marco ability out of the 12-50EZ.
Yes, the lens is not better than other options out there, but its versatility is unmatched. It does a lot for a kit lens.
I had this lens back when I had my EM5 MK1. In my opinion, it is a really underrated lens and is one I would like to have back in my collection again.
Indeed, it matches the original E-M5 so well!
This lens is really a killer!
- Internal zoom, doesn't stick out like any other lens.
- Perfect coverage for 80% of normal use.
- Manual zoom & power zoom.
- And very capable macro function.
Bought mine (used, but near mint) for only 100$ to couple with my GH5. Simply the best investment for my Panny so far - love it!
This lens is often overlooked, and its internal zoom and focus also made a lot less susceptible to dust and fungus...dust barely gets in there even after 10 years of use.
Yeah it is a lot for a kit lens, and not asking for too much either!
wish they made more swiss army lenses like these.. you can take it on a hike, take scenery photos and if you happen to spot a small creature you can take a picture of that too without wasting time switching lenses (and by then the creature is long gone)
Amazing results from "just" a kit lens!
Hi Robin, it's good that it's weather sealed, not bad for a Twelve year old camera. Lovely insect photos they didn't look small, they looked big. Great job you did making those insects look big, that's how they should look👏. What a difference the flash made thanks for showing that. Another fun video, thank you. 😊
Thanks, glad you enjoyed the video! The point of doing macro is to fill the frame as much as possible with the insect or bug! And we can see their beautiful small world.
@@robinwong It is a great small world. Thanks Robin 😊
I think the 12-50mm is underrated overall, especially considering its build quality and perfect range. But it’s also stacked with features and can be picked up for cheap on the used market. I think I got mine for less than $80 earlier this year. Excellent value.
Yeah it is a wonderful one lens to do it all solution, that is budget friendly too.
This has inspired me to get some shots I've been meaning to get for some time but not got around to taking. No, I probably won't be using my 12-50 EZ. I'll be using my 60mm F2.8 macro but the flash set up will be similar. Not insects, but instead 'll be photographing white clawed crayfish which are native to the UK but rare. Not that small but are in water tanks so I need to get as close to the glass tank as possible to reduce reflections. This is pushing me to get off my backside and go get the shots, probably Tuesday but may be tomorrow.
Thanks, and yes, the 60mm Macro lens is miles better than what the 12-50mm can do. Dealing with reflections isn't easy, I have not tried shooting through a glass tank before, the reflections will be challenging!
This was the kit lens with my original E-M5. I traded it as part of the deal when I bought the 60mm F2.8 Macro a few years ago. By then I had bought the 14-150 zoom lens, and I wanted a more specialized macro lens. But if you are planning to buy a used Olympus kit just to try out the system, this lens is a very good option as a general do-it-all zoom lens.
Yeah if you have the dedicated macro lens, like a 60mm macro, that will give you superior results no doubt!
I used this lens for underwater photography. Nauticam even had a special port for it, one that allowed you to switch from macro to regular zoom in the same dive. Not the sharpest lens I had, but I got excellent results with it. I had several samples of it, the first one in the kit along with the EM-5, back in 2012. I later sold the combo, purchased the firs EM-1, bought it again, and the story repeated itself with the EM-1 MK2…
Happy Monday Robin, thanks for the awesome video.
Happy Monday to you too, Rob
I would love to see a video of these extenders and the 60mm Macro. I need to pick up these tubes.
For the kind of work that I do, the 60mm macro is enough as it is. Adding additional magnification will complicate things.
Thank you, Robin, for the tip! I have this lens and I'ma get those extension tubes too.
No worries, go try get some close up macro shots!
This a great lens, I got mine as kit lens with the original omd em1. It makes a great walk around lens and I have dabbled in macro with it. I do have the 60mm f2.8 Olympus lens which is obviously better. If you can find the 12-50 mm at a good price it is worth getting. Always love your macro photography Robin.
Thanks for the kind words. Definitely the 60mm macro is a superior lens, if you have it, super awesome!
I have this lens thar cane with my OMD EM5. I love this lens! The macro function is a great option on this lens.
Indeed, the lens matches the original E-M5 quite well
I got this lens with the original M-5 and it is a very good lens, and I have shot macro with it. It's not as good as the 12-45 Pro but it really works as a single all around lens, and it's weatherproof. With the 12-50 and a 40-150, you have all you need for a walking around kit.
That lens does great as a macro! I'll have to look into one of those.
Thanks for the macro photos, too! Gives me something to look forward to. Regards!!
Thanks for the kind words, and yes, go take some macro photos!
Thank you Robin .
Cheers
Wonderful very informative. Love from South Africa 🇿🇦
Thanks
Just wanna you to know that you are the reason why I just bought EM1 Mark ii. Yes, it's a used one and came with a good price. Can't wait to get my hands on it
Thanks, hope you enjoy the E-M1 Mark II!
Fabulous Images Robin 👍
Thanks!
Got one, and it is great fun.
My goto lens ... and than there is the Macro ...
That being said, its cheap, and fast enough, and being cheap you do not have be afraid to use it everywhere.
That's some crazy field curvature at the macro setting (probably made worse by the extension tubes) but I do love the results. Thank you for sharing the macro flash setup and the flash diffuser to try off-camera flash with my PixaPro (Godox rebranded for UK market) V350 II
The spherical and chromatic aberration can be a problem away from the center, but hey, it is a cheap lens, for all the technical control you need a true macro lens. Yes, the wireless setup works quite well, as some of those critters love to hide at unlikely places.
impressive Pictures Robin!
i got the lens, got the tubes... got to try it out!
Oh yes, go out give it a try!
this lens is always in my macro backpack 😀
Good call!
Saludos Robin, I use this lens for video with the OM-5 and with the body stabilizer as if I were using a gimbal! For macro I prefer the Zuiko 60mm macro lens.
Of course, if you have a macro lens, that would be superior. But for a budget option, the 12-50mm is impressive.
This is still one of my favorite lenses for underwater photography. It has the only internal zoom in this focal length range. So I also use it for underwater macro, but with a macro (wet) lens and not with extensions. Most of the time I shoot with 50mm and not in macro mode. With 50mm and a macro (wet) lens there is more working distance. With macro mode & macro (wet) lens you can get more magnification but the working distance is very short. The best I can remove the macro lens underwater and then I still have a 12-50 zoom lens. Extension rings could not be removed underwater and also have to fit into the underwater housing.
I got this lens and I like it because of the servo zoom capable and this is great msc lens. Thanks for your review Robin!👍
The 12-50mm is underrated, and it does so many things for one kit lens!
awesome Robin, im looking for this lens im quite interested, i do have the 60mm macro, but still it looks quite versatile.
For macro only, the 60mm is a superior lens. But the 12-50mm is a versatile weather-sealed kit lens.
Great Video Robin. I wish the lens supported Focus Stacking. Anyways its dirt cheap to buy used. You tempted me to get one and try something different. 🙂
I think the lens has too much technical flaws to have focus stacking. But for what it is, you get really good results
I am wondering if applying the macro extension tube on the 12-40 f2.8 pro will the result more stunning...🤔
Thank you :)
An underrated lens...bens lens i had for landscape stills.
I was just searching infos about this specific "top kit" lens.
Planning to try it also on a BMPCC OG, using its digital zoom feature (not sure if it will be supported) and then on a E-M5.
This lens reminds me the Canon 28-80mm USM don't know why.
I have not used the Black Magic camera, so I would not know either
Very cool! Thanks Robin. Great photos too. P.S. do those extension tubes work with Lumix lenses for Macro?
Thanks Marlene for being here, and yes, the extension tubes should work with any Micro Four Thirds lenses, preferably those with already very good close up shooting.
This is my 'kit' lens, if it can 'pancake' then it would be awesome. OM System should make more lenses like this.
With weather-sealing, quasi-mechanical zoom, dedicated macro function, I don't think you can make that pancake though! That is too much to ask for.
@@robinwong that is true.
What I hope OM to make a newer version (better aperture, better chromatic aberration) of this amazing kit lens with current technology. Half the length or retractable would be nice.
Do you think OMS will do some update to this lens? It will be nice to see some 12-50/2.8-4.0 with that close-up function. Something similar like Sigma 17-70/2.8-4.5 or 17-70/2.8-4.0 is for APS-C DSLRs.
Also have you ever tried 12-100/4 with extension rings?
Honestly I don't know what OM Digital Solutions is doing recently. All they want to make are bigger expensive longer lenses.
I wish they would add a sucessor to this lens to OMD lens roadmap. OMD will probably follow on with their big lenses on the Pro lineup, but it wouldn’t hurt to have a 12-50/macro for the non-Pro users.
@@robinwong I probably understand this a bit since I got the 12-100/4.. It is large like APS-C lens or maybe even larger. But it has perfect image from corner to corner, so the projected image circle must be larger than M4/3 sensor size + something more for IBIS movement. It is similar like when I use FF telephoto lenses on APS-C. I don't use weaker edges and even older things like Sigma 100-300/4 then provide excellent image for the APS-C frame.
But yes, they should keep also some small ones with a little bit more compromises on frame edges, but more portable.
Hey Robin, you should try doing some macro with the 75mm f/1.8 and those tele extenders: I find it produces nice results and it's pretty sharp!
I tried. It was not that great with the extension tubes.
Really good images! I'd struggle to do as well with the 60mm f2.8. Do you know if the FL-LM2 is contributing to the light on subject or does it only trigger the off camera flash? Or do you dial down the little flash to avoid direct illumination on the subject?
Really impressive, how would you compare the image quality of this set up to shooting with the 30mm F3.5 macro?
As I have mentioned in the video, a true macro lens is better.
Hi Robin! Do you think focus stacking would work with these extension tubes? Do you use that feature/technique at all? I'm trying to figure out whether I need a dedicated macro lens or I can live with some tubes for now, but I would like to learn as many techniques as I can
Can still use focus bracketing with in-camera stacking!
I don't believe you can, in-camera is limited to certain lenses
@@kite6864 oh... I have hacked firmware, so it'll try with any lens. Most with autofocuse work.
@@StephenTack ooh, I need that so I don't have to buy $1500 dollar lenses
@@kite6864 what body?
@@StephenTack em5 ii for now , will upgrade once I have more lenses
Nice reminder. I have not shot with this lens in ages because I have several macro lenses.
Does the flash on the camera set off the external one?
Thanks for the video. This lens is only about $100-$120 on MPB. It is definitely my next purchase. One question though, how is the power zoom?? I have the electronic zoom feature on my kit lens and I am not crazy about it. (Too fast...) Is the power zoom on the 12-50mm any better?
If you don't like the power zoom, you can opt for the "mechanical" zoom.
❤❤❤❤❤
I bought one of these on the recommendation of the earlier video. It's a wonderfully versatile lens, considering both its macro and power-zoom capabilities. Unfortunately it is out of production. But if it does return, I wish it would receive an update including more fine-grained control of power zoom speed, which would greatly increase its appeal to video shooters. BTW I don't know what it is about the 43mm focal length but Panasonic's excellent 42.5 f/1.7 has some quasi-macro capabilities featuring 0.2X magnification (0.4X FF equiv) and a minimum focusing distance of 1 foot. The closest Oly prime (45mm f/1.8) has a farther close-focus distance (1.5 feet) and only 0.11X magnification (0.22 FF).
The Panasonic has 0.2, but the 12-50mm has 0.36 with the macro function actvated. You can clearly see how much difference this makes.
About a year ago, OM Digital Solutions were selling off their stock of MCON‑P02 macro converters in various territories, so I got one. I think someone once asked you whether you had evaluated it, Robin, but I think you didn't publish anything about it eventually, or at least not any conclusions.
My experience with that converter seems to be that the focusing distance range is really narrow: move too far or too close and the camera just cannot focus on the subject. Do you have any thoughts about the MCON-P02 or similar converters? Thanks for the informative video, as usual!
I tried those, and are not impressed. Attaching any glass in front or behind the lens will degrade the image quality significantly. This is where the extension tubes solve the problem - it does not have any glass, it just adds distance between the lens and the sensor, and without any additional glass for the light to pass through, you don't have image quality loss, unlike those converters.
How does it compare to the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 EZ ?
the 14-42mm does not have a macro function. It cannot go that close.
not sure its a secret when there is that HUGE MACRO label on its side.
Wow, you must have eagle eyes being able to see such microscopic label. Congratulations!
No way)
What way?
It's better with 12-40 F 2.8
It isn't. If you want better magnification and higher quality, a true macro lens is the answer. Everything else will have compromises.
Maybe. I have 90mm super macro F 3.5
then why bother with 12-40mm? It does not make sense. Th 12-50mm is a budget setup. If you already have the PRO lenses, use the PRO lenses.
Robin, nice catching 👌🏻