Along with the Olympus OM-1 reveal today, OM Digital solutions unveiled a mildly revised m.Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro and a brand new ultra-compact 40-150mm f/4 Pro.
m.Zuiko 12-40 f/2.8 Pro II
The 12-40 is exactly the same optical and mechanical design but is now certified a step up to IP53 dust and splash-proof resistance matching the same IP53 categorisation of the new OM-1 body. It also gets the most up-to-date ZERO anti-reflection coatings.
m.Zuiko 40-150 f/4 Pro
All-new, the 40-150mm f/4 Pro is ultra compact and also IP53 rated. The design uses a ‘collapsing’ mechanism to reduce the length of the lens when you don’t need to use it. This is achieved by twisting the zoom ring fully. The lens is less than 100mm long when collapsed, just 30mm longer than the 12-40. In ready to use configuration it is 124mm long just 8mm longer than the 12-100 f/4 Pro. Weight is 382g. An inner-zoom design means the lens does not change length according to its zoom setting. Closest focusing is as near as 70cm, throughout the zoom range, matching the same feat of its sibling, the 40-150 f/2.8 Pro.
With ultra compact dimensions and light weight the priority, the 40-150 f/4 Pro does not feature a manual/autofocus clutch ring, which is popular on m.Zuiko Pro lenses. Neither is it compatible with M.Zuiko MC-14 or MC-20 teleconverters. And you won’t find optical image stabilisation (OIS) on this lens, though this hasn’t really held back the 40-150 f/2.8 Pro.
However, we are promised excellent optical performance thanks to its 15 element in 9 groups optics, with two ED and one Super ED element, plus one HR and one aspherical element. Advanced computational shooting modes like focus stacking are supported.
The 40-150 f/4 Pro is priced £799 and the 12-40 f/2.8 Pro is £899.
Join in the discussion about the new lenses at the forum.
Here are two galleries of product images showing internal and external aspects of the design of each lens:
12-40 Pro II
40-150 f/4 Pro
