This is more interesting than your average lens introduction. OM Digital Solutions (catchy name), the company that used to be the Olympus camera division, has introduced a new product...the very existence of which reinforces the notion that it's going to remain viable as a producer going forward.
The new lens is a zoom in the high-end "PRO" (catchy name) series (man, I can see why the companies don't like me), an 8–25mm (16–50mm-e) ƒ/4. A rundown of some of its features, which include most everything that's de rigeur in today's top lenses:
- Usable wide open; specifically marketed as appropriate for astrophotography
- Near-macro close focusing
- Standard screw-on filters still usable (not always true on ultrawides)
- Switchable from AF to manual focus on the fly
- Splashproof, freezeproof, dustproof
- Front element has fluorine coating to repel dirt and moisture
- 16 elements in 10 groups, with various alphabet-soup high-performance glass types including a "dual super aspherical" (DSA) element
- Not a feature per se, but note that the front element extends in use
- Reasonably compact and light at 3.5 inches long and 14.5 oz. (411g).
Looks nice. Looks...practical. Perfect candidate for a high-end two-lens zoom kit. Costs $1,100, which isn't crazy by today's rather crazy standards. The new lens is labeled "Olympus," which OM Digital Solutions has said will continue to be the brand name of its photographic products.
Micro 4/3 lives!
Mike
Product of Interest this week:
As Porsche does with the 911, Fujifilm just keeps refining its perfect pocket camera and making it better and better. Also available from Amazon.
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Hmm. As an Olympus user, I'm happy to see evidence that they will both continue to produce Pro lenses, and to use the Olympus branding. But as an Olympus user with the 7-14mm f2.8 Pro lens already in my kit, I do kind of struggle to see the point of this one...
Posted by: Margaret R | Wednesday, 09 June 2021 at 10:17 AM
With the DOF conversion for the format, wide open will give the DOF equivelant of f/8 on full frame. The wide end of this zoom could give really deep near to far focus without going into diffraction.
On the other hand, what is the future of micro four thirds? I thought Olympus was up in the air on continuing this range.
Posted by: Albert Smith | Wednesday, 09 June 2021 at 10:52 AM
Has someone finally been listening to me? I've always found those zooms that go between 24mm equiv. and 70/75mm equiv. to be absolutely useless between 50mm and 70/75mm. I've always wanted a pro zoom that goes between 35mm and 85mm, OR, a wide to 50mm, and then I carry a portrait lens. Now I have to start saving for this!
OK Olympus, now come over and we'll sit down and I'll tell you how to design the camera software for a simplified professional body that leaves off 90% of what you have in your other cameras, and any competent human being can set and forget without reading a manual.
Posted by: Crabby Umbo | Thursday, 10 June 2021 at 07:37 AM
When the sale of the Oly camera operation is announced, you bemoan the death of Olympus camera gear, and the subsequent demise of µ4/3.
When they announce the release of a lens already developed before the sale, you hail it as indication that Olympus gear lives, and thus µ4/3 is saved.
These are UUWAGs*.
Having lived through the LBO of a large company, the reorganization, the re-reorganization, etc., through to the IPO successfully taking the company public again, I can safely say that it's simply impossible from outside to know what's going on inside.
In both cases, you act as if Panasonic's µ4/3 gear is irrelevant, or invisible.
As an active, long term user of µ4/3 gear, I have found Panny's gear at least as important as Oly's. If I were a video guy, that would be even more the case.
Over those years, my gear has moved from almost exclusively Oly to predominantly Panny, strictly based on capabilities for my use.
This lens falls into a busy category:
Lens, Weight, Year, Price
Olympus 7-14mm F2.8 Pro, 534g, 2015, $1,150
Panasonic 7-14mm F4, 300g, 2009, $800
Panasonic Leica 8-18mm F2.8-4.0, 315g, 2017, $1,100
Olympus ED 8-25mm f/4 PRO, 411g, 2021, $1,00
Olympus 9-18mm F4-5.6, 155g 2010, $550
Panasonic Leica 10-25mm F1.7, 690g, 2019, $1,800
You may notice that it's all about compromises among focal range and speed, before even considering size, weight and price.
This new Oly fits nicely in to the mix, longer focal range in return for slower aperture, without being particularly outstanding. Look at the dates, and you see that Panny was first, often by a lot, in most types.
I, for example, have the Panny 7-14, rather than the Oly, for size and weight. I seldom shoot wider than f4. "Pro" labeling and price were not considerations.
*Unsophisticated, Uninformed, Wild-Ass Guesses.
["It's simply impossible from outside to know what's going on inside." Very true. Plus, a lens really tells us nothing about the new company's abilities to develop up-to-date new camera models, as the current models begin to age out.
I really like Panasonic lenses too. --Mike]
Posted by: Moose | Thursday, 10 June 2021 at 05:21 PM
OM also announced a new camera. Looks smart, but doesn't have a viewfinder. You can't add one either. Only available in Japan and Europe.
https://www.43rumors.com/page/2/
Posted by: s.wolters | Saturday, 12 June 2021 at 02:51 AM
Am I the only person finding your sign off "micro 4/3 lives" rather irritating? As a m43 user why sign off with such a condescending tone? I doubt you would do that for so-called "medium format" or APS users, which may well have a smaller user base. As I know you know, m43 has a very large selection of lenses from Olympus and Panasonic. Just because Olympus has changed ownership does not mean m43 is somehow ending. This is wishful thinking for all the FF fanatics who need convincing their format is "best". This new 8-25mm lens makes a great pairing on a hike with, say, the 40-150 mm Olympus lens or the 35-100mm or 50-200mm Panasonic lens. You'd never get that capability in FF without a sore shoulder.
Posted by: Chris | Monday, 14 June 2021 at 03:47 PM