Oly 12-100 f4, why so heavy?

I shoot with both Panasonic and Olympus, love both and happily Intermix lenses and bodies.

For general walk around my single go-to lens is the Panasonic 14-140 MK2. It is a very good lens in that it is really light, covers a superb range and it quite sharp.

However it slightly falls short of my ideal requirements. Ideally I would prefer starting at 12mm, a slightly faster long end of the zoom, a constant aperture, and slightly better optics - as although the Panasonic 14-140 MK2 is good, it doesn't quite have the same micro contrast as the pro lenses.

I already have the Panasonic 12-35 & 35-100 f2.8 pro lenses, but do not want a 2 lens system for walk around.

Hence I thought the Olympus 12-100 f4 pro would be ideal

However on checking the weight and size of it against all my other lenses I was horrified

Using the ubiquitous digital kitchen scales and a ruler I was shocked to find that even the Olympus 75-300 was something like 20% lighter and smaller and the Panasonic 35-100 f2.8 was tiny and feather weight in comparison - and it's faster !!!

Why was it necessary for the Olympus 12-100 f4 to be so big and heavy?

I will say up front that it's size and weight has stopped me from even considering it as a walk around lens. Such a shame

... And is that why so many are available seconhand?

I also have wondered about this. My assumption is that it is due to the extra (large) glass needed to deliver the wide end. I look forward to better answers from those more knowledgeable in lens design.

I use 12-40/2.8

+ Sigma 60/2.8 in the bag

Probably the amount of high quality glass needed to make it equally good throughout its focal range.

I use it quite often on a day out with an E-M1 ii, doesnt feel that heavy and replaced my 12-35 and 35-100. I can understand some peoples reluctance to buying it, but it is a really excellent lens and worth it for me

Are there really that many available secondhand? About 75% more 12-40 if you look at the overall market yet that is a highly rated and popular lens.

It is all about the special rendering that only a Pro lens can deliver.

Pro lenses have more puch. Images are dramatic and touching.

This photo of the very same subject was taken with each lens after another.

See for yourself:

Panasonic 14-140:

And Now the very same subject shot with the Olympus Pro 12-100:

Nice one. I laughed out loud!!

Made my day.

Mike

UrbanHobbit wrote:

I also have wondered about this. My assumption is that it is due to the extra (large) glass needed to deliver the wide end. I look forward to better answers from those more knowledgeable in lens design.

There is actually not that much glass in there to explain the weight:

ED glass (blue) is heavy, but there is not that much of it by volume. Also, Oly pro lenses use only metal on the outside rings for good looks. Inside it's plastic. So why so large and heavy, I do not know. Maybe the IS system?

mikero wrote:

Nice one. I laughed out loud!!

Made my day.

Mike

So did I!

Adrian Harris wrote:

I shoot with both Panasonic and Olympus, love both and happily Intermix lenses and bodies.

For general walk around my single go-to lens is the Panasonic 14-140 MK2. It is a very good lens in that it is really light, covers a superb range and it quite sharp.

However it slightly falls short of my ideal requirements. Ideally I would prefer starting at 12mm, a slightly faster long end of the zoom, a constant aperture, and slightly better optics - as although the Panasonic 14-140 MK2 is good, it doesn't quite have the same micro contrast as the pro lenses.

I already have the Panasonic 12-35 & 35-100 f2.8 pro lenses, but do not want a 2 lens system for walk around.

Hence I thought the Olympus 12-100 f4 pro would be ideal

However on checking the weight and size of it against all my other lenses I was horrified

People coming from larger systems older equipment have remarked that weight is acceptable, however most M43 users view this as a heavy lens.

I have this lens, its a really good lens, but not a walkaround lens.

The lenstip review shows that this lens is as sharp as any prime at F4, has very low chromatic and spherical aberation, nice bokeh, low vignetting and and has good rejection of ghosting and flares.

The Olympus 12-200 would be a better walkaround lens, but the performance will be lower.

Using the ubiquitous digital kitchen scales and a ruler I was shocked to find that even the Olympus 75-300 was something like 20% lighter and smaller and the Panasonic 35-100 f2.8 was tiny and feather weight in comparison - and it's faster !!!

Why was it necessary for the Olympus 12-100 f4 to be so big and heavy?

All performance factors are tradeoffs. In this design, it seems the designers focussed on performance andd created an almost perfect zoom lens.  One can be sure they didn't gratuitously add weight.

I will say up front that it's size and weight has stopped me from even considering it as a walk around lens. Such a shame

Olympus 12-200 perhaps?

... And is that why so many are available seconhand?

This absolutely ridiculous

The 14-140 can't even focus properly. Look at all the OOF grass

Franz Weber wrote:

It is all about the special rendering that only a Pro lens can deliver.

Pro lenses have more puch. Images are dramatic and touching.

This photo of the very same subject was taken with each lens after another.

See for yourself:

Panasonic 14-140:

And Now the very same subject shot with the Olympus Pro 12-100:

I agree it is a little heavier than I would like for a walk around lens.   I find it better with the grip on my E-M1s.  However, I still use it much of the time because it gives excellent images throughout its focal length range.  When I want to go somewhat lighter, I use the 8x25 and sacrifice the long end for the 8-11mm range.

Adrian Harris wrote:

Ideally I would prefer starting at 12mm, a slightly faster long end of the zoom, a constant aperture, and slightly better optics - as although the Panasonic 14-140 MK2 is good, it doesn't quite have the same micro contrast as the pro lenses.

Yeah, you are describing the 12-100. 

I already have the Panasonic 12-35 & 35-100 f2.8 pro lenses, but do not want a 2 lens system for walk around.

You want the 12-100!

Hence I thought the Olympus 12-100 f4 pro would be ideal

However on checking the weight and size of it against all my other lenses I was horrified

It's lighter than your two-lens system of 12-35 and 35-100.

I will say up front that it's size and weight has stopped me from even considering it as a walk around lens. Such a shame

Yeah, that's a shame.  You don't know what you're missing.  I think it's a terrific walk-about on my G9, would be even better on your E-M1 II.  Don't you have a 100-400?  How do you manage to lift that if you can't imagine walking around with the 12-100?

I don't regret one minute selling my 14-140 and 35-100 f/2.8 in favor of the 12-100.  Starts at 12, 100 is long enough, constant f/4, great OIS, and superb IQ.  Puttering with rulers and kitchen scales isn't a substitute for trying and getting used to it.

I typically carry it in a holster bag worn sling style.  It's not a problem at all for me to carry it or shoot with it, either on GX8 or G9.