Olympus M. Zuiko Digital ED 12-100mm F4 IS Pro Lens, suitable for all MFT cameras (Olympus OM-D & PEN models, Panasonic G-series), black

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A few times, we even managed a decent result at 15 seconds, though nothing can beat the 20 second hand-held exposure Mathieu achieved whilst testing the E-M1 II in Spain a few months ago! E-M1 II, 20s, f/4, ISO 400 – 12-100mm Tipping the scales at 561 grams and measuring 116.5mm in length and 77.5mm in diameter, the Olympus M.ZUIKO Digital ED 12-100mm f/4.0 IS Pro is a substantial zoom lens, but given the constant f/4 maximum aperture, that's perhaps no surprise. When it's zoomed out to 100mm, it measures nearly 16cms in length. The other strength is its mind-blowing optical stabilisation which lets you take long exposures hand-held without the need for a tripod. It works very well on non-stabilised bodies, and bowls you over on the OM-D E-M1 II, with which perfect 5 second exposures hand-held are the norm and 10-15 second exposures are physically possible. I mention those other lenses because they basically define state of the art for mid-range zooms on m4/3 at the moment. The 12-100mm f/4 isn't far off that mark, but it's off the mark, for sure. But that's probably what you'd expect, as the 12-100mm f/4 is definitely trying to be more of a convenience, do-everything-decently lens. From the performance aspects, Olympus got this about right. The problem is that you pay more for it. If you're going for pure performance starting at 12mm in a zoom, get the 12-40mm f/2.8, as it's cheaper and definitely is a notch better in many aspects. If you're going for minimal size and weight starting at 12mm, then the Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 is probably your choice, and it, too, is less expensive.

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-100 mm f/4 IS PRO review Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-100 mm f/4 IS PRO review

It will be useful to nature and outdoor photographers, as well as sports photographers and photojournalists. It acts as a thermal barrier in colder temperatures, shielding your hands from the icy lens surface. Image stabiliser - With the sync- IS using lens IS and Olympus body IBIS together it's like having a built in tripod. The rubber on the hood is collapsible, and the 3-stage design makes it simple to choose the correct cover for your lens. The ridged interior has a matte surface, which reduces reflections even further.I am the limiting factor in taking photos, not the lenses and the IQ of the 12-60 is plenty good enough. This capability has served me well for flower and food photography. I have owned the Olympus 60mm macro lens since its introduction, but now hardly need it for flowers and food. @ 70mm @ 100mm @ 34mm @ 100mm @ 100mm Sharpness : The all-in-one-lens thing plays against the results a bit here. Optically, the center is excellent at 12mm wide open and drifts down to very good at f/8 (diffraction starts to come into play). The lens is better at the center at 12mm than 100mm, though the drift downward in quality at smaller apertures mitigates a bit as you zoom in. Still, from a central area standpoint, I really want to shoot with this lens at f/4 or f/5.6. Do that and you'll stay in or very near the excellent zone.

12-100mm F4.0 IS PRO - OM Digital Solutions M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-100mm F4.0 IS PRO - OM Digital Solutions

There is some sample variation I guess, some copies of the 14-150 II are probably worse than mine from what I have seen in forums or may be I used the better focal lenghts of the lens most of the time. The 12-100mm f/2.8 Pro features its own 2-Axis image stabilisation system. It also features Sync IS, which allows it to work with the excellent 5-axis system in any compatible camera body, like the OM-D E-M1 Mark II that we tested it with, where it offers an amazing 6.5 stops of compensation, surpassing any other camera that we've ever tested. I have the PL 12-60 and e-M1ii and I love it. This lens changed my approach to photography and lured me into this expensive hobby. Comparing 14-140 to my 2,8/12-35 & 2,8/35-100 I do not see any significant IQ advantage to speak of (and I am a pixel peeper - not very proud of being one LOL). Obviously max AV 2,8 that is it. Maybe I have bad copies of pro zooms, or my 14-140 is performing way better than it was originally designed (which option is more probable?)Colour rendition - For me this is really the most important factor, it simply takes the most gorgeous images. Seeing is believing. The 12-100mm f4.0 IS PRO features effective in-lens image stabilization. On its own, this lens provides up to 5 shutter speed steps of compensation. Even better, pair the lens with a compatible OM-D or PEN camera body to get a tandem of image stabilization systems – one in the body and one in the lens. This creates 5-Axis Sync IS, the world’s most powerful image stabilization system. It provides up to 7.5 shutter speed steps of compensation with the OM-D E-M1X or E-M1 Mark III (6.5 shutter steps of compensation with the E-M1 Mark II or E-M5 Mark III) at 200mm (35mm equivalent), compensating for all types of camera motion. Leave your tripod at home and shoot stunningly sharp handheld telephoto images and video. The 12-100 when zoomed in is no bigger than the 40-150. It would have been amazing if it was all internal zoom…but physics right? The fact that it zooms doesn’t bother me…but it is a definite handful of a lens. The 12-100mm, like its other Pro predecessors, is splashproof, dustproof, and freezeproof down to 14°F (-10°C). However, it is not completely waterproof. It is relatively on the heavier side and is certainly larger than its competitor lenses. Some Other Features

Olympus 12-100mm F/4 Pro Lens Review | Unlocking Olympus Olympus 12-100mm F/4 Pro Lens Review | Unlocking Olympus

Lens configuration: 17 elements in 11 groups with 1 HR, 2 Super HR, 3 Aspherical glass, 1 DSA lens, and 5 ED lens elements Crucially, though, the 12-100mm is compatible with Olympus’s Sync IS, in which the lens’s optical stabilisation and the in-body sensor-shift stabilisation work together for increased overall effect. As a result, when used on the OM-D E-M1 Mark II, the system is rated to provide 6.5 stops of stabilisation, and when it’s mounted on the OM System OM-1 the stabilisation is boosted to up to 7.5EV. With older OM-D and PEN cameras, however, the stabilisation won’t be quite so marked.The Olympus M.Zuiko 12-100mm F4 is a professional, small, all-purpose zoom lens for Micro Four Thirds cameras. On a full-frame, its range corresponds to 24mm to 200mm, whereas, typically, these zoom lenses do not have the highest optical quality. The zoom is nice and smooth. Secure with good resistance. Just plain right. Here is an example of zooming during a long exposure. I took a set of side by side landscape shots at a range of focal lengths with both lenses. Nothing scientific, just hand held shots in good daylight with the 12-100 at f/5.6 mounted on the E-M1 MKII and the 24-200 at f/8 mounted on the Nikon Z7. The aperture choices are what I typically use for landscape photography on each respective platform. Like other Zuiko Pro lenses, the 12-100mm offers a programmable "L-Fn" button near the lens mount on the left side. This Lens Function button can be configured using compatible Olympus cameras to set various options -- and options not even related to the lens itself. You can program it to toggle adjustments such as white balance or RAW, but it can also be set as an AF-stop button. The placement is convenient as it's right near or under your thumb when using the proper camera holding technique to support the lens in your hand. (Note: The L-Fn button won't function with Panasonic cameras, although you can mount this lens to those cameras.) Moreover, the Olympus lenses are popular for maintaining their image quality throughout the entire field of view. You will be impressed by its image sharpness because it is so good even when fully zoomed in. Build