Olympus M.Zuiko 25mm f/1.2 PRO Lens Review

Handling and Features
Performance
Verdict
Specification


This 25mm f/1.2 lens for Micro Four Thirds (MFT) cameras is equivalent to a 50mm f/1.2 “standard” lens in 35mm-format terms. The standard lens was for many years the lens of choice when buying a new camera, in more recent times largely replaced by the “kit zoom”. However, a growing awareness that prime lenses are light, bright and potentially of better quality than inexpensive zooms gives rise to their current popularity as a subsequent purchase. Notwithstanding the appearance of several f/0.95 optics, traditionally f/1.4 was the brightest norm and the very few f/1.2 lenses regarded as something really quite special and very expensive. It will be interesting to see how this new f/1.2 design performs, mounted for this review on a Panasonic Lumix G6 body.

Olympus M.Zuiko 25mm f/1.2 PRO Handling and Features

Designated as a PRO lens, there is no doubt about the general quality of manufacture. The overall package is compact and weighs in at a reasonable 410g. It is designated as being splash and dust resistant. The round lens hood provided fits slickly and has a locking catch to make sure that it never works loose. All of this fits easily and with great precision. The bayonet hood fitting surrounds a 62mm filter thread.

A thin ring then describes the lens details, and as we travel further towards the camera body next up is an equally thin depth of field scale. Then we find the manual focus ring. If pushed forwards, this ring can be used to manually override the AF. If pulled backwards it reveals the manual focus scale and the ring operates as a manual focus ring, with traditional hard stops at each end of the focusing range. There are indications in feet and metres revealed on a thin ring forwards of the focusing ring, but because they are all in the same plane and the ring is so thin there are very few actual figures inscribed. The forwards / backwards action of the focusing ring is very light and it could usefully have a tad more friction to prevent accidental operation.

Focusing is down to 0.3m, giving a maximum magnification of 0.11x. This equates with a working distance of around 19.5cm. There are 9 rounded diaphragm blades for smoother bokeh, the quality of the out of focus areas in an image.

Finally, a solitary push button marked L-Fn will disable the AF when kept pressed. The metal MFT mount is of the highest quality and bayonets onto the camera smoothly, without any play once fitted.  

A conventional 50mm f/1.2 lens for 35mm-format might be expected to have around 7 elements in 6 groups, but this 25mm f/1.2 for MFT format has a highly complex 19 elements in 14 groups, including 2 ED (Extra Low Dispersion), 1 Super ED, 3 HR (High Refractive Index), 1 Extra-HR and 1 Aspherical element. Z-Nano coatings complete the picture of a highly corrected and professional optic.

In use, apart from the possibility of accidentally switching from AF to MF and vice-versa, there is very little to go wrong. The bright f/1.2 aperture ensures a crisp point of focus and the AF system snaps into focus with speed. Using the Lumix G6 though, it was evident that the AF is not quite precise enough to make the best of the f/1.2 aperture and manual focus with focusing aids actually is more accurate. However, it takes time, so for normal use, probably stopped down anyway, AF performs well enough.

Olympus M.Zuiko 25mm f/1.2 PRO Performance

Sharpness measurements probably do not do the lens full justice as the images shot at normal distances are very sharp, centre and edge. Generally, an f/1.2 lens such as this would not be expected to perform as well up close and on flat subjects such as lens testing charts.

Despite the above, at the centre sharpness is excellent from the f/1.2 open aperture and remains so right through to f/11. At f2, f/2.8 and f/4 it is pushing towards being described as outstanding. It is only at f/16 that diffraction takes its toll, but even here results are very good.

The edges do not fare quite so well in the test results, being fair at f/1.2, good at f/2 and f/2.8, but rising to very good sharpness between f/4 and f/11. It is still good at f/16 as it tails off due to diffraction.

In the field, the normal distance images show excellent sharpness centre and edge. This is a lens for real life shooting, not for fitting to extension tubes and other close up work. This is just the nature of the beast and probably inevitable in such a fast, bright lens.

CA (Chromatic Aberration) is very highly corrected in the centre of the field and is virtually zero. At the edges control is still very good and for most purposes good enough not to be noticed. There will be times, such as branches against bright sky, where some fringing becomes visible, but this can easily be corrected in software.

Flare resistance is virtually perfect and it is not possible to even see any significant loss of contrast against the light.

Barrel distortion would be expected for an f/1.2 standard lens, and is present, but measures as a very low value of -0.312%. This is not significant, but in extreme circumstances could be corrected in software anyway.

The 9 bladed rounded diaphragm, coupled with the wide, bright apertures available, offers the potential for some wonderfully smooth bokeh, and that is exactly what is delivered. The overall “look” of the lens is very impressive.

Olympus M. Zuiko 25mm f/1.2 PRO Other sample images

Value For Money

The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 25mm f/1.2 PRO Lens is priced at £1099.

For MFT, there are various 25mm f/0.95 manual focus lenses. Choices included the Meike 25mm f/0.95 (£455), the Voigtlander 25mm f/0.95 II (£742) and the SLR-Magic 25mm T0.95 Cine lens (£579).

To put the DSLR marques in context, Nikon has the MF 50mm f/1.2 AIS (£699) and Canon offer the 50mm f/1.2L USM (£1369).

It seems that adding AF to the 25mm f/1.2 adds quite a bit to the price, but considering the complexity of the lens construction and the quality of the results, it remains fairly pitched and good VFM. For more options have a look at the Top 33 Best Micro Four Thirds Lenses.

Olympus M.Zuiko 25mm f/1.2 PRO Verdict

The market for f/1.2 standard lenses gives very limited choice, especially if AF is required. However, we have here in the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 25mm f/1.2 PRO lens more than just a bright maximum aperture. It is a very fine lens in its own right, with excellent sharpness that borders on outstanding, low CA, no flare and a very pleasing bokeh. Add to that the low light potential and we have a very attractive proposition indeed.

The Olympus M.Zuiko 25mm f/1.2 PRO is a lovely lens with beautiful bokeh and ultra-bright f/1.2 aperture.

Olympus M. Zuiko 25mm f/1.2 PRO Specifications

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