Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 25mm F1.2 PRO evaluate

The defining attribute of Olympus and Panasonic’s Micro 4 Thirds system has all the time been low measurement and weight, due to the usage of a sensor that’s barely greater than half the world of the APS-C format, and 1 / 4 that of full body. However this brings drawbacks with respect to low-light capturing and attaining shallow depth of area with properly blurred backgrounds. Olympus’s response has been to provide three f/1.2 primes in its Professional lens vary, whose ultra-large apertures ought to go some solution to offsetting the smaller sensor measurement. Right here we’re wanting on the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 25mm F1.2 PRO, which nestles between 17mm and 45mm optics on this top-end trio.

Easy optical principle tells us that the Olympus 25mm f/1.2 ought to present the same pictorial impact, when it comes to angle of view and diploma of background blur, to a 33mm f/1.7 lens on APS-C, or a 50mm f/2.4 on full-frame. However whereas we absolutely anticipate to pay a premium for an f/1.2 optic, its present avenue value of  $1199 / £1000 stands in distinction to the Canon EF-M 32mm f/1.4 STM or the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8 S. Each of those promise better background blur on paper, however value much less.

Additionally lurking within the wings is Panasonic’s revamped Leica DG Summilux 25mm F1.4 II Asph, which affords a most aperture that’s only a one-third cease slower than the Olympus for half the worth. So is the 25mm f/1.2 the very best that Micro 4 Thirds customers should buy, or an over-priced trinket?

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 25mm F1.2 PRO Options

It doesn’t take a lot examination of the 25mm F1.2’s specification to know the pricing. Its 19-element, 14-group design is startlingly complicated for a 50mm equal lens, and features a entire slew of particular glass to fight optical aberrations. Two parts are made out of extra-low dispersion (ED) glass, one from Tremendous ED glass, three from excessive refractive-index (HR) glass, and one from Further HR glass, whereas yet one more is aspherical in profile. Lastly, Z Coating Nano is utilized to minimise flare and ghosting. Olympus has all the time been a extremely achieved lens maker, and right here it’s pulling out all of the stops.

Certainly the f/1.2 Professional lenses aren’t simply optimised for sharpness, they’re additionally particularly designed to ship what the corporate calls ‘feathered bokeh’. Whereas this feels like an incomprehensible buzzword, it refers to an impact whereby blur circles in out-of-focus areas of the picture fade in depth in direction of the perimeters, which supplies a very enticing look. Olympus claims to have achieved this impact by cautious management of spherical aberration.

Different options of word embody an internal-focus design, with a minimal focus distance of 30cm. Like the remainder of Olympus’s Professional line-up, the lens additionally advantages from weather-sealed building for capturing open air in robust circumstances. The 62mm filter thread is shared with the opposite F1.2 primes, and surrounded by a bayonet mount for the deep cylindrical LH-66B lens hood.

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 25mm F1.2 PRO Construct and Dealing with

As a part of the Professional vary, the 25mm f/1.2 is constructed to its highest customary of high quality. The all-metal barrel building exudes high quality and precision, and feels prefer it ought to simply face up to some not-so-gentle remedy. It’s designed to be dust-proof, splash-proof and freeze-proof, and I shot with it throughout a heavy autumnal bathe with no ailing impact.

At 70mm in diameter by 87mm in size, and weighing 410g, the 25mm f/1.2 is without doubt one of the largest primes within the Micro 4 Thirds system, except for lengthy telephotos. But it surely nonetheless feels properly balanced on the OM-D E-M1 Mark III, and even the smaller E-M5 Mark III: you simply naturally cradle its weight in your left hand. It’s additionally significantly smaller than most up to date full-frame primes.

Olympus M.Zuiko 25mm F1.2 PRO Focus ring / guide focus clutch and performance button

Other than the guide focus ring, the one exterior management is the L-Fn button on the highest left of the barrel, which like on all of the Professional-series lenses is positioned inside simple attain of your left thumb. By default it briefly disables autofocus, however its operate is programmable from the digicam physique.

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 25mm F1.2 PRO Autofocus

Olympus has designed the 25mm f/1.2 in order that focusing is achieved by driving a single skinny lens component, and the result’s remarkably fast autofocus for a large-aperture lens. The main target mechanism isn’t fully silent, however you’ll solely pay attention to it in a really quiet room. The on-sensor AF system additionally implies that focusing is inherently correct, in distinction to DSLRs, which normally battle to focus such quick primes persistently.

Olympus 25mm F1.2 Pattern photograph, Clifford Circus, Oxford, 1/250s, f/1.2, ISO1600, E-M5 II

Particular point out have to be given to Olympus’s implementation of guide focus. Pulling the main target ring again in direction of the digicam physique reveals a distance scale, and provides an expertise akin to utilizing a standard guide lens. Nonetheless when you go away the main target ring in its ahead place and swap to guide on the digicam physique as an alternative, you will get even larger precision by turning the main target ring slowly.

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 25mm F1.2 PRO Efficiency

So your hard-earned cash buys you a sturdy, quickly focusing lens, however what does it carry when it comes to picture high quality? One thing fairly fascinating, it seems.

Olympus 25mm F1.2 Pattern photograph, Wood face, 1/50s, f/1.2, ISO200, E-M1 II

This isn’t essentially a lens that’s going to excel in sharpness checks, both when pointed at a check chart or a brick wall. It’s completely able to resolving positive element, however the designed-in residual spherical aberration barely reduces the micro-contrast at massive apertures. The sensible upshot is that it is advisable to cease right down to f/2.8 to get actually crisp outcomes when viewing your picture information close-up onscreen. At bigger apertures, cautious use of sharpening controls throughout uncooked processing can assist with teasing out element with out accentuating noise.

Olympus 25mm F1.2 PRO pattern photograph, Sundown, 1/2500s, f/5.6, ISO200, E-M1 II

However as I mentioned earlier, Olympus says this lens is all about out-of-focus blur. And when you perceive what the agency means by ‘feathered bokeh’, you begin to see it in your photographs. And then you definately start to understand its advantages everytime you’re capturing at massive apertures. Backgrounds merely dissolve away onto a fantastic blur, whereas nonetheless being fully recognisable. Olympus clearly appreciates that picture high quality in these conditions is about bokeh simply as a lot as sharpness, and has delivered a finely honed stability between the 2.

M.Zuiko 25mm F1.2 PRO, Coastal cliffs, 1/100s, f5.6, ISO200, E-M1 II

The sorts of optical aberrations that I’d normally anticipate to see with large-aperture lenses are additionally saved nicely below management. Vignetting is especially low, even huge open, and there’s no seen distortion both, due to the combination of software program correction into the Micro 4 Thirds system design. Flare is exceptionally nicely managed when capturing into the sunshine, which might typically be a weak spot of quick primes.

M.Zuiko 25mm F1.2 PRO, Flowers, 1/1000s, f1.2, ISO200, E-M1 II

At small apertures there’s just a little color fringing in direction of the corners of the body as a symptom of lateral chromatic aberration, but it surely’ll normally be robotically processed out in-camera or throughout uncooked processing. Some fringing can also be seen at massive apertures attributable to longitudinal chromatic aberration, being magenta in entrance of the main target airplane and inexperienced behind it, but it surely’s very low for an f/1.2 prime. Total, wanting by means of my picture information shot with the lens, there’s rather a lot to love, and it’s tough to seek out any important flaws.

Decision

Analyzing our MTF50 outcomes, examined on the 20MP E-M1 Mark II, reveals a lens with a particular character. It’s not super-sharp huge open, however cease right down to f/2.8 and it improves significantly, particularly within the centre of the body. As traditional with Micro 4 Thirds, the candy spot for max element is discovered across the f/4 mark and a cease both aspect. Shut the aperture down previous f/8 and diffraction softening turns into marked.

Olympus 25mm F1.2 MTF50 Chart

Shading

Regardless of its massive most aperture, the lens doesn’t present an enormous stage of vignetting, with only a cease of sunshine falloff within the corners at f/1.2. Cease down the aperture and this reduces to about half a cease at f/2, and to negligible ranges at simply f/2.8. It is a attribute benefit of Micro 4 Thirds, due to the smaller sensor.

Olympus 25mm F1.2 Shading at F1.2

Olympus 25mm F1.2 Shading at F2.8

Curvilinear distortion

The Micro 4 Thirds system integrates software program distortion correction into lens design. In consequence our chart check reveals an ideal replica of its grid sample, with primarily no measurable distortion. In apply, customers will see no signal of curvature of straight traces in regular use.

Olympus 25mm F1.2 Shading at F1.2 (SMIA Television = -0.1%)

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 25mm F1.2 PRO Verdict

Whereas Micro 4 Thirds isn’t probably the most logical selection for capturing with shallow depth of area, for customers eager about this type of work there’s little doubt that the Olympus 25mm F1.2 is the most suitable choice obtainable at this focal size. Certainly it’s a major instance of how evaluating lenses on core specs alone doesn’t inform the entire story. It might not ship the identical diploma of background blur as you will get with bigger codecs, but it surely goes some solution to making up for this by rendering that blur in an particularly enticing vogue.

M.Zuiko 25mm F1.2 PRO, low-light, 1/25s, f/2, ISO200, E-M1 II

Given its value, this clearly isn’t a lens for everybody. For almost all of potential consumers, it’s inconceivable to not conclude that the Panasonic Leica 25mm F1.4 represents higher worth for cash. It’s smaller, half the burden and half the worth, whereas the newest model is weather-sealed. However then once more, this has all the time been the way in which with ultra-fast primes. For individuals who can afford it and reap the benefits of its explicit qualities and strengths, the Olympus 25mm F1.2 is a reasonably particular lens.

For extra choices, take a look at our information to the very best Micro 4 Thirds lenses.
Additionally try our evaluations of the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 8-25mm F4 PRO, the OM System M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f/4 PRO and the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 7-14mm f/2.8 PRO

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 25mm F1.2 PRO Specs