[ closed ] Olympus Announces its latest Micro4/3 camera and lenses - OM-D

[Oly5050]

There is much more to a lens than weather sealing, though. Are you implying that the 12-50 is optically comparable to Canon L / Nikkor gold-ring / Zuiko SHG glass?

Call me a skeptic but I think most m4/3 lenses rely too much on firmware-level correction to make up for their optical deficiencies. For example, the "premium" M.Zuiko 12mm f/2 ED exhibits 5.6% barrel distortion when uncorrected, an abysmal figure compared to EF 24mm f/2.8L II (1.4%) and Nikkor AF-S 24mm f/2.8 G ED (1.5%). Even the 4/3 Zuiko 12-60mm f/2.8-4 ED SWD, with all its compromises to achieve a 5x zoom range, exhibits only 2.3% at its widest end.

The proof is in the pudding. You can talk about the specs until the cows come home, but at the end of the day, it's the photos that count.

There is also no doubt that Olympus can produce the finest lenses, perhaps only second to Leica. But to produce a12 mm f2 prime with near perfect optics, the lens might be end up being too big, too long, too heavy or too expensive.

As we have all seen, it's how they balance all the features.

 

[As7eroidS]

still prefer the 14-140mm f/4.0-5.8

 

[rhema83]

While m4/3 lenses are interchangeable on Panasonic and Olympus, my understanding is that Oly bodies will not have proper firmware correction for Panny lenses (e.g. the original CA, distortion etc due to the physical lens characteristics will be more obvious) and vice versa. Is this correct?

I'm very interested to know the answer to this as well. Can any experienced seniors enlighten us?

 

[theITguy]

12-50 costs USD499 at BHPhotoVideo. So it is a USD200 discount for bundling? Why not. I am going hiking with this setup while my 7-14, 100-300 will stay in my pouch.

Olympus 12-50mm f/3.5-6.3 ED M.Zuiko EZ Micro 4/3 V314040BU000

 

[esoeij]

Did some internet research to answer my own question...hope it clears things up a bit.

1. It seems that "Panasonic lenses have the data needed to correct both Chromatic and Optical aberrations and the Panasonic camera bodies use that data to correct both when both are available. Olympus lenses have the data needed to correct only Optical aberration. The Olympus' camera bodies can only correct Optical aberration. So Panasonic bodies will correct CA and OA in Panasonic lenses but will correct only OA from Olympus lenses (because the data is missing for CA correction). Olympus bodies will only correct OA from m4/3 lenses even those from Panasonic because their firmware is unable to press the data in Panasonic lenses for CA." (slightly edited for easier reading)

Quoted from Re: Olympus/Panasonic lens compatibility.: Micro Four Thirds Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review.

2. And in DPReview's review of the Panny 14-45, one para says "One curiosity is that, while Panasonic is correcting lateral chromatic aberration in software, Olympus doesn't seem to be following suit. This means that if anyone does choose to use this lens on an Olympus E-P1, they will see this fringing in their shots."

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicGF1/page19.asp

3. So how? This is quite a good read from a forum contributor.
Re: Olympus/Panasonic lens compatibility.: Micro Four Thirds Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

 

[rhema83]

Did some internet research to answer my own question...hope it clears things up a bit.

1. It seems that "Panasonic lenses have the data needed to correct both Chromatic and Optical aberrations and the Panasonic camera bodies use that data to correct both when both are available. Olympus lenses have the data needed to correct only Optical aberration. The Olympus' camera bodies can only correct Optical aberration. So Panasonic bodies will correct CA and OA in Panasonic lenses but will correct only OA from Olympus lenses (because the data is missing for CA correction). Olympus bodies will only correct OA from m4/3 lenses even those from Panasonic because their firmware is unable to press the data in Panasonic lenses for CA." (slightly edited for easier reading)

Quoted from Re: Olympus/Panasonic lens compatibility.: Micro Four Thirds Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review.

2. And in DPReview's review of the Panny 14-45, one para says "One curiosity is that, while Panasonic is correcting lateral chromatic aberration in software, Olympus doesn't seem to be following suit. This means that if anyone does choose to use this lens on an Olympus E-P1, they will see this fringing in their shots."

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicGF1/page19.asp

3. So how? This is quite a good read from a forum contributor.
Re: Olympus/Panasonic lens compatibility.: Micro Four Thirds Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

Good read. Thanks for the links!

To summarise for those too lazy to click the links:

1. Panasonic lens + Panasonic body = Optical + CA correction
2. All other combinations = Optical correction
3. Manual (e.g. Nokton) or non-native lens = No correction

On the stabilisation front:

1. Panasonic OIS lens + Panasonic body = in-lens IS
2. Any other lens + Panasonic body = no IS
3. Any lens + Olympus body = in-body IS

 

[kim1972]

hope the camera can come before 19 April. My Europe trip have been pushed forward from early May to 19 April due to insufficient people to form group for early May trip.

Really want to try out this m4/3 camera. This will be my first M4/3. Been using the E510 since it launched.

 

[MichaelLee]

Good read. Thanks for the links!

To summarise for those too lazy to click the links:

1. Panasonic lens + Panasonic body = Optical + CA correction
2. All other combinations = Optical correction
3. Manual (e.g. Nokton) or non-native lens = No correction

On the stabilisation front:

1. Panasonic OIS lens + Panasonic body = in-lens IS
2. Any other lens + Panasonic body = no IS
3. Any lens + Olympus body = in-body IS

if shot in RAW, no correction. right ?

 

[rhema83]

if shot in RAW, no correction. right ?

It depends on the RAW converter. The bundled RAW converters automatically apply the correction. Adobe Camera RAW also has the ability to apply the auto-correction, although I am not sure if it can be bypassed. Most review sites use less mainstream converters to access the uncorrected RAW so as to evaluate the true optical performance of m4/3 lenses.

From what I know, the 25mm f/1.4, 45mm f/1.8 and 45mm f/2.8 Macro do not depend on auto-correction. The distortion of the uncorrected RAW is only 0.x% worse than the corrected RAW. The Nokton 25mm f/0.95 and upcoming 17mm f/0.95 are fully manual so they can only depend on the glass. Unsurprisingly, these are also some of the most expensive m4/3 glass around!

 

[theRBK]

recent updated versions of Adobe Camera RAW may have, some if not all, auto-corrections worked out by Adobe themselves, or sometimes there might be ones contributed by users... they can be bypassed... DxO Optics Pro also have extensive auto-corrections based on their own testing (and they are pioneers in introducing 3rd party software corrections based on tests of individual pairs of camera and lens)...

 

[esoeij]

Will Lightroom be able to convert the raw files with auto correction?

 

[jenfaith]

Can we order this from Amazon? Has anyone ordered cameras or lenses from Amazon or BH?

 

[twiki]

By Optical Correction, are you referring to lens distortion (aside from CA) correction?

Good read. Thanks for the links!

To summarise for those too lazy to click the links:

1. Panasonic lens + Panasonic body = Optical + CA correction
2. All other combinations = Optical correction
3. Manual (e.g. Nokton) or non-native lens = No correction

On the stabilisation front:

1. Panasonic OIS lens + Panasonic body = in-lens IS
2. Any other lens + Panasonic body = no IS
3. Any lens + Olympus body = in-body IS

 

[rhema83]

By Optical Correction, are you referring to lens distortion (aside from CA) correction?

That's that's what I meant - distortion (barrel and pincushion) correction.

 

[Anthony Lee]

Will Lightroom be able to convert the raw files with auto correction?

My CS5 will, so the current version of LR should.

 

[vainqueur]

That's that's what I meant - distortion (barrel and pincushion) correction.

Just make sure you get the correct lens profile and insert into LR...

 

[esoeij]

Just make sure you get the correct lens profile and insert into LR...

But Lightroom doesn't have lens profiles for m4/3 lenses? Only profiles for m4/3 bodies?

 

[hughden]

The correction data is encoded in the RAW file and Lightroom interprets it automatically; doesn't need separate lens profiles.

 

[esoeij]

That's helpful. Thanks!

The correction data is encoded in the RAW file and Lightroom interprets it automatically; doesn't need separate lens profiles.

 

[vainqueur]

But Lightroom doesn't have lens profiles for m4/3 lenses? Only profiles for m4/3 bodies?

Adobe Lens Profile Downloader...