It’s been a while since I added a new MFT (Micro Four Thirds) mount lens. As a LUMIX user, this is my first non-branded lens: the OLYMPUS M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 12-100mm F4.0 IS PRO. The link below is for an OM SYSTEM product, but I heard the specs haven’t changed from the previous company name, so I bought a used one with the OLYMPUS branding.
I recall a few years ago, when I first started using MFT cameras, a highly skilled amateur photographer friend recommended this lens, saying, “This one lens will handle everything.” Back then, I believed “small and lightweight is everything for MFT,” so I wasn’t tempted by this larger lens. However, my mindset shifted somewhat after I started using the larger G9 PRO II, leading to this purchase.
The catalyst was starting to use the SIGMA 20-200mm on L-mount, which made me truly appreciate the value of a reliable high-power zoom. That made me think now was the perfect time to try the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 12-100mm on MFT too.
I’m looking forward to this Olympus PRO lens, renowned for its sharp, crisp rendering across the entire zoom range.
Here it is mounted on the G9 PRO II. I snapped this quickly with my phone, but even with a larger lens, the balance looks decent on this body.
My trust and high regard for the Leica DG 12-60mm and Leica DG 50-200mm lenses, which I use as my main lenses, remains completely unshaken. However, situations where it would be convenient to “get by with just one zoom lens” are surprisingly common. For casual photography walks where you can decide you don’t need telephoto beyond 100mm (200mm full-frame equivalent), this lens will undoubtedly prove invaluable.
I haven’t done test shots yet, but one feature I found clever upon first handling it is the “focus clutch” – sliding the focus ring switches between AF and MF. It’s handy for manual fine-tuning after autofocusing. My old Tamron 90mm macro (K-mount) had this same mechanism.
And it’s not heavy, absolutely not heavy (I’m telling myself that).
