papillon_65
Forum Pro
Right, this is going to be a long one, bear with me, there's an interesting story to this lens.
Background
This lens has been around for a few years now, it was originally designed for the 4/3's format and was the only zoom of it's type (10x) available for Olympus and Panasonic users. It also wasn't cheap, retailing at over £500 in the UK ( Your first clue ). Not only that but it pretty much slipped under the radar in terms of reviews, there were a few but none of the lens review sites really picked up on it. Owner reports on it were very much a mixed bag, some really liked it and some hated it, there was never any consensus on whether it was any good or not. The lack of reviews and mixed reports meant it never really sold well and many were put off from buying it. I always wondered about this lens, but like others, never bothered to get one, although the focal length is very useful as an all purpose solution. Now this lens is available for a lot less and there seem to be quite a few good copies available on Ebay, so that coupled with the fact that my newly acquired E-M1 (with phase detect focusing) meant I had to try one. I found one for a great price and stumped up the cash and now have it in my possession. I've taken a load of test shots with it and here's what I found.
Caveats
I tested this lens on an E-M1 so I can only refer to it's performance on that camera and with this particular copy of this lens, so bear that in mind. Also, I have posted some example shots at half size, this is my particular quality test on whether a lens works for me or not. If the shots look sharp at this size I know I can get a very decent sized print. I processed the OOC jpegs (+1 sharpening/natural colour) in Iridient, my personally favoured raw converter when it comes to sharpening. I used the Iridient Reveal sharpening setting, with minor tweaks, nothing heavy. This is what I did, take it or leave it. Take these shots at face value, they are what they are, if you'd like it done differently feel free to obtain your own copy and try it yourself, what I'm reporting is an honest appraisal of what this lens can do for me - that's it.
I have not carried out any tests for video, I'm primarily a stills shooter so if you want an opinion on using it for video you'll need to look elsewhere.
Build Quality
The 18-180mm is a typical standard grade build 4/3's Zuiko (Mark 1). These lenses are composite plastic with metal mounts and are superior to the later versions in terms of build quality IMHO. They are much better quality than most manufacturers lenses of this type. If looked after these lenses will last for a very long time. The lens also has locking switch so zoom creep is not an issue if carried on a Black Rapid strap or similar. When locked the lens is pretty compact and at 435 grams is not light but neither does it feel heavy either, it balances nicely on the E-M1, think small DSLR and kit lens and you're in the ball park. I'll give it an 8/10 here, nothing to worry about whatsoever.
Focusing
Focusing is a mixed bag on the E-M1, if you focused at short range previously and then zoom in and refocus it will make some noise, a high pitched whine, nothing to worry about, I don't shoot in libraries so it doesn't bother me. It will also rack a bit if there is a lack of contrast on the subject. If it is struggling to find focus it will continue to rack in and out, that's your cue to move the point of focus to something that has better contrast, in good light this is less of a problem. That being said it can focus very fast and if it hits focus it will be bang on every time, that's my experience of it anyway. Overall I have no issues with what it does, there is nothing here that is a surprise to me or I can't overcome. If you're a bit focus OCD ( noise/racking averse ) then give it a miss, it's an older design on a modern camera, but it can and often does focus quickly and it's always on when it hits. 7/10
Image Quality
So here's where the rubber hits the road, is it good or bad? Well firstly let me say I now understand why it got such a mixed reception when it came out, so let me explain why.
Olympus 4/3's lenses were generally designed to hit their sweet spot close to wide open. So most Zuiko's are at their best at F4/F5.6, almost without exception. After that they tend to soften up and visible diffraction sets in. There was one exception, the Zuiko 70-300mm, which was actually an older Sigma design rebadged as a Zuiko. This lens got much better when stopped right down to F8 and even beyond, and is in fact a very good performer once you know that. Well the 18-180mm is also rumoured to be a Sigma design, and it performs similarly, almost. At 18mm (36mm Equiv) wide open (F3.5) it's actually very good, it does get better at F5.6+ but it's certainly sharp enough already. Once you start zooming then it benefits significantly by being stopped down. At 180mm (360mm equiv) it's at it's best at F10, where it is very good. The good news is that so far I haven't found a weak focal length, with the caveat that you stop down at least one stop. This is the real beauty of this lens, it's consistent all the way through, which is unusual for a lens of this range. I used to own the Panasonic m4/3's 14-140mm mk1, which was brutally sharp at the wide end but poor at the long end, no matter how much you stopped down. The 18-180mm is not quite as sharp at the wide end but it is sharp all the way through if you stop it down. IMHO this lens is a much more consistent performer and a better lens for it. So here are a few test shots for you to assess. I took these today in very overcast conditions, which is a torture test for a lens like this. Full size is 50% but they will give you a good idea of what this lens can do. Remember you need to double the focal length in the EXIF data to obtain the equivalent focal length on a FF camera. This lens is equivalent in focal length to a 36-360mm lens on FF.
Conclusion
The reason this lens was never very popular in the 4/3's world was for the following reasons
1. It doesn't have stabilisation, so unless you had an Olympus camera with built in IS then it would struggle due to the fact it's at its best stopped down. The older 4/3's camera with in body stabilisation were also not as effective as the modern stabilisation systems. This resulted in more soft and blurry shots.
2. Many people clearly weren't aware that it performed much better stopped down, and even if they were, they probably couldn't obtain the shutter speed necessary to use it where it was best, unless they had a tripod with them, which kind of negates the purpose of a lens like this.
3. The old 4/3's sensors weren't great at higher ISO's, so going higher on the ISO scale either meant noisy soft shots or it wasn't an option.
4. In summary - you needed very good light to get the best out of it because of the limitations stated above, this is not the case now.
Enter the E-M1, it has no AA filter, so sharper results are possible straight away. It has superb image stabilisation, so you can shoot at lower ISO's than was previously possible and it's perfectly possible to shoot in overcast conditions with the lens stopped down, and get sharp images. The E-M1 is much better at higher ISO's so if you do need more shutter speed then that is now a viable option for you.
The Zuiko 18-180mm was never a bad lens, it was just a step too far for the cameras it was designed for. The cameras and sensors have now evolved to make this a very good lens. I have owned and used lenses such as the Panasonic 14-140mm and several copies of the Zuiko and M.Zuiko 40-150, as well as various kit lenses. This lens has a greater range and is better than all of them IMHO. If you can overlook the maximum 36mm at the wide end then on an E-M1 it's a no brainer for wide ranging zoom of this type for stills. The colour and contrast is also very good in decent light (Ignore the shots above, the light was terrible). I have also so far found no problems with CA and I have not noticed any distortion to worry about, even at the wide end. The lens is also optically corrected, always a bonus IMHO. In the UK you can pick them up from anything from £160 (What I paid) to £250. Even at £250 I think they are a very good buy, mine was an absolute steal for what it can do. I think you can see from the shot above at 360mm that this lens is a very good performer and well worth consideration for anyone with an E-M1 looking for versatile zoom with a very good range. It will also focus at full zoom less than a foot from the subject, so with a close up lens it could be very good for insect and flower shots etc. I am most definitely very glad I tried this lens for myself, when I want to travel light this will definitely be the lens I will carry and it would make an excellent pairing with the mzuiko 9-18mm on the E-M1. Because of the price of the lens now, it's type and it's consistent performance I'm giving it 5 stars, I can't think of any other lens like it that is as good IMHO.
--
"In a time of universal deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act".
George Orwell.
http://bit.ly/1BIquIF
Background
This lens has been around for a few years now, it was originally designed for the 4/3's format and was the only zoom of it's type (10x) available for Olympus and Panasonic users. It also wasn't cheap, retailing at over £500 in the UK ( Your first clue ). Not only that but it pretty much slipped under the radar in terms of reviews, there were a few but none of the lens review sites really picked up on it. Owner reports on it were very much a mixed bag, some really liked it and some hated it, there was never any consensus on whether it was any good or not. The lack of reviews and mixed reports meant it never really sold well and many were put off from buying it. I always wondered about this lens, but like others, never bothered to get one, although the focal length is very useful as an all purpose solution. Now this lens is available for a lot less and there seem to be quite a few good copies available on Ebay, so that coupled with the fact that my newly acquired E-M1 (with phase detect focusing) meant I had to try one. I found one for a great price and stumped up the cash and now have it in my possession. I've taken a load of test shots with it and here's what I found.
Caveats
I tested this lens on an E-M1 so I can only refer to it's performance on that camera and with this particular copy of this lens, so bear that in mind. Also, I have posted some example shots at half size, this is my particular quality test on whether a lens works for me or not. If the shots look sharp at this size I know I can get a very decent sized print. I processed the OOC jpegs (+1 sharpening/natural colour) in Iridient, my personally favoured raw converter when it comes to sharpening. I used the Iridient Reveal sharpening setting, with minor tweaks, nothing heavy. This is what I did, take it or leave it. Take these shots at face value, they are what they are, if you'd like it done differently feel free to obtain your own copy and try it yourself, what I'm reporting is an honest appraisal of what this lens can do for me - that's it.
I have not carried out any tests for video, I'm primarily a stills shooter so if you want an opinion on using it for video you'll need to look elsewhere.
Build Quality
The 18-180mm is a typical standard grade build 4/3's Zuiko (Mark 1). These lenses are composite plastic with metal mounts and are superior to the later versions in terms of build quality IMHO. They are much better quality than most manufacturers lenses of this type. If looked after these lenses will last for a very long time. The lens also has locking switch so zoom creep is not an issue if carried on a Black Rapid strap or similar. When locked the lens is pretty compact and at 435 grams is not light but neither does it feel heavy either, it balances nicely on the E-M1, think small DSLR and kit lens and you're in the ball park. I'll give it an 8/10 here, nothing to worry about whatsoever.
Focusing
Focusing is a mixed bag on the E-M1, if you focused at short range previously and then zoom in and refocus it will make some noise, a high pitched whine, nothing to worry about, I don't shoot in libraries so it doesn't bother me. It will also rack a bit if there is a lack of contrast on the subject. If it is struggling to find focus it will continue to rack in and out, that's your cue to move the point of focus to something that has better contrast, in good light this is less of a problem. That being said it can focus very fast and if it hits focus it will be bang on every time, that's my experience of it anyway. Overall I have no issues with what it does, there is nothing here that is a surprise to me or I can't overcome. If you're a bit focus OCD ( noise/racking averse ) then give it a miss, it's an older design on a modern camera, but it can and often does focus quickly and it's always on when it hits. 7/10
Image Quality
So here's where the rubber hits the road, is it good or bad? Well firstly let me say I now understand why it got such a mixed reception when it came out, so let me explain why.
Olympus 4/3's lenses were generally designed to hit their sweet spot close to wide open. So most Zuiko's are at their best at F4/F5.6, almost without exception. After that they tend to soften up and visible diffraction sets in. There was one exception, the Zuiko 70-300mm, which was actually an older Sigma design rebadged as a Zuiko. This lens got much better when stopped right down to F8 and even beyond, and is in fact a very good performer once you know that. Well the 18-180mm is also rumoured to be a Sigma design, and it performs similarly, almost. At 18mm (36mm Equiv) wide open (F3.5) it's actually very good, it does get better at F5.6+ but it's certainly sharp enough already. Once you start zooming then it benefits significantly by being stopped down. At 180mm (360mm equiv) it's at it's best at F10, where it is very good. The good news is that so far I haven't found a weak focal length, with the caveat that you stop down at least one stop. This is the real beauty of this lens, it's consistent all the way through, which is unusual for a lens of this range. I used to own the Panasonic m4/3's 14-140mm mk1, which was brutally sharp at the wide end but poor at the long end, no matter how much you stopped down. The 18-180mm is not quite as sharp at the wide end but it is sharp all the way through if you stop it down. IMHO this lens is a much more consistent performer and a better lens for it. So here are a few test shots for you to assess. I took these today in very overcast conditions, which is a torture test for a lens like this. Full size is 50% but they will give you a good idea of what this lens can do. Remember you need to double the focal length in the EXIF data to obtain the equivalent focal length on a FF camera. This lens is equivalent in focal length to a 36-360mm lens on FF.
Conclusion
The reason this lens was never very popular in the 4/3's world was for the following reasons
1. It doesn't have stabilisation, so unless you had an Olympus camera with built in IS then it would struggle due to the fact it's at its best stopped down. The older 4/3's camera with in body stabilisation were also not as effective as the modern stabilisation systems. This resulted in more soft and blurry shots.
2. Many people clearly weren't aware that it performed much better stopped down, and even if they were, they probably couldn't obtain the shutter speed necessary to use it where it was best, unless they had a tripod with them, which kind of negates the purpose of a lens like this.
3. The old 4/3's sensors weren't great at higher ISO's, so going higher on the ISO scale either meant noisy soft shots or it wasn't an option.
4. In summary - you needed very good light to get the best out of it because of the limitations stated above, this is not the case now.
Enter the E-M1, it has no AA filter, so sharper results are possible straight away. It has superb image stabilisation, so you can shoot at lower ISO's than was previously possible and it's perfectly possible to shoot in overcast conditions with the lens stopped down, and get sharp images. The E-M1 is much better at higher ISO's so if you do need more shutter speed then that is now a viable option for you.
The Zuiko 18-180mm was never a bad lens, it was just a step too far for the cameras it was designed for. The cameras and sensors have now evolved to make this a very good lens. I have owned and used lenses such as the Panasonic 14-140mm and several copies of the Zuiko and M.Zuiko 40-150, as well as various kit lenses. This lens has a greater range and is better than all of them IMHO. If you can overlook the maximum 36mm at the wide end then on an E-M1 it's a no brainer for wide ranging zoom of this type for stills. The colour and contrast is also very good in decent light (Ignore the shots above, the light was terrible). I have also so far found no problems with CA and I have not noticed any distortion to worry about, even at the wide end. The lens is also optically corrected, always a bonus IMHO. In the UK you can pick them up from anything from £160 (What I paid) to £250. Even at £250 I think they are a very good buy, mine was an absolute steal for what it can do. I think you can see from the shot above at 360mm that this lens is a very good performer and well worth consideration for anyone with an E-M1 looking for versatile zoom with a very good range. It will also focus at full zoom less than a foot from the subject, so with a close up lens it could be very good for insect and flower shots etc. I am most definitely very glad I tried this lens for myself, when I want to travel light this will definitely be the lens I will carry and it would make an excellent pairing with the mzuiko 9-18mm on the E-M1. Because of the price of the lens now, it's type and it's consistent performance I'm giving it 5 stars, I can't think of any other lens like it that is as good IMHO.
--
"In a time of universal deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act".
George Orwell.
http://bit.ly/1BIquIF
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