Olympus' new street-shooter-friendly prime lens
The company adds a 12mm f1.8 lens to its Micro Four Thirds lineup
Olympus continues its trend of releasing fast, Micro Four Thirds-mount (MFT) prime lenses with the 17mm f1.8 (34mm equivalent). Incorporating the same design as the 12mm f2 -- metallic finish and a pull-down ring for distance-based focusing -- the lens sounds like a solid addition for street-shooting MFT photographers.
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds |
|---|---|
| Focal range | 17mm |
| Aperture range | f1.8 - f22 |
| Aperture blades | 7 |
| Minimum focus distance | 9.8 |
| Angle of view | 65 degrees |
| Elements | 9: 3 aspherical, 1 high-refractive index |
| Filter diameter | 46mm |
| Minimum length | 1.4 inches |
| Maximum length | 1.4 inches |
| Weight | 4.2 (est) |
| MSRP | 499.99 |
| Available | December 2012 |
The lens uses the company's MSC internal focus technology for video-friendly operation, and uses the latest of Olympus' ZERO (ZUIKO Extra-low Reflection Optical Coating) coatings for improved clarity and reduced flare and ghosting.
My one disappointment: the seven-bladed aperture. It's not bad, but it's the minimum you want for out-of-focus highlights that don't appear polygonal.