Olympus introduces M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 'Pro' zoom
Olympus has unveiled a high-end standard zoom to match the E-M1, the M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm 1:2.8 PRO. It offers a 24-80mm equivalent range, is dust-, splash- and freeze-proof, and uses a manual focus clutch design similar to the 12mm F2 and 17mm F1.8 primes. A minimum focus distance of 0.2m offers 0.3x magnification, and the lens has a L.Fn button whose function can be customised from the camera. The 14 element / 9 group design is packed full of exotic glass, and includes two aspheric elements. Minor ergonomic improvements include a locking lens hood and centre-pinch lens cap.
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| Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO, with focus ring snapped back to reveal distance scale |
Olympus has also announced the development of a matching M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F2.8 PRO telezoom, which is scheduled to be released by the end of 2014. It's given few further details, but the press images show it'll be a substantially larger lens than Panasonic's Lumix G X Vario 35-100mm F2.8 OIS (as you'd expect). After that, Olympus plans to release a wideangle zoom and super-telephoto prime in this nascent Micro Four Thirds 'PRO' range. It seems that these are unlikely to be direct Micro Four Thirds equivalents of the existing Four Thirds Zuiko Digital ED 7-14mm F4 and Zuiko Digital 300mm F2.8, but instead offer different headline specs.
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| The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F2.8 PRO is scheduled for release by the end of 2014 |
From now on Olympus's Micro Four Thirds lens line will be divided up into three segments, similar to how the company organised its Four Thirds lenses into 'Standard', 'High Grade' and 'Super High Grade' (the latter two known as 'Pro' and 'Top Pro' in some markets). Alongside the new top end 'PRO' line, there'll also be a 'Premium' range, which we're led to believe will include current primes such as the M.Zuiko Digital ED 75mm F1.8, M.Zuiko Digital 17mm F1.8 and M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm F2.
Finally the company has quietly revealed a new lens hood for the M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-50mm F3.5-6.3 EZ, which until now has made do with sharing the rectangular LH55B originally designed for the collapsible M.Zuiko Digital ED 9-18mm F4.0-5.6 wideangle zoom. The LH55C is a petal-shaped hood that should be more effective at reducing flare from stray light. See below for an image.
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Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO specifications
| Principal specifications |
|---|
| Lens type | Zoom lens |
|---|
| Max Format size | FourThirds |
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| Focal length | 12–40 mm |
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| Image stabilization | No |
|---|
| Lens mount | Micro Four Thirds |
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| Aperture |
|---|
| Maximum aperture | F2.8 |
|---|
| Minimum aperture | F22 |
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| Number of diaphragm blades | 7 |
|---|
| Aperture notes | Circular diaphragm |
|---|
| Optics |
|---|
| Elements | 14 |
|---|
| Groups | 9 |
|---|
| Special elements / coatings | 1 aspherical element, 1 dual-sided aspherical element, 2 ED glass elements, 2 HR glass elements, 1 EDA glass element, 1 HD glass element |
|---|
| Focus |
|---|
| Minimum focus | 0.20 m (7.87″) |
|---|
| Maximum magnification | 0.3× |
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| Autofocus | Yes |
|---|
| Motor type | Stepper motor |
|---|
| Full time manual | Yes |
|---|
| Focus method | Internal |
|---|
| Focus notes | Manual Focus Clutch mechanism |
|---|
| Distance scale | Yes |
|---|
| DoF scale | No |
|---|
| Physical |
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| Weight | 382 g (0.84 lb) |
|---|
| Diameter | 70 mm (2.75″) |
|---|
| Length | 84 mm (3.31″) |
|---|
| Sealing | Yes |
|---|
| Zoom method | Rotary (extending) |
|---|
| Filter thread | 62 mm |
|---|
| Filter notes | Does not rotate on focusing |
|---|
| Hood supplied | Yes |
|---|
| Hood product code | LH66 |
|---|
Additional images
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| 12-40mm F2.8 cutaway showing optical design |
The 12-40mm is dust- and water-resistant |
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| 12-40mm F2.8 on OM-D E-M1 |
12-40mm F2.8 on OM-D E-M1, with hood |
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| Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO |
The LH66 hood has locking buttons on either side |
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| Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F2.8 PRO |
LH55C hood for M.ZD 12-50mm F3.5-6.3 EZ |
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