Olympus 12-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Lens Reviews Roundup

Here are the first reviews for the new Olympus 12-200mm f/3.5-6.3 MFT Lens. The super telephoto zoom boasting a class-leading 16.6x magnification is not a “PRO” but the company claims that it offers the same dustproof and splashproof build quality as those lenses.

Designed for Micro Four Thirds cameras the lens will provide a standard focal range of 24-400mm equiv excellent companion for travels. The MFT system is designed for lightness and compactness, and perhaps one of the best examples of this in recent times is the new Olympus 12-200mm f/3.5-6.3.

The 12-200mm F3.5-6.3 does not offer built-in stabilization, and will rely on camera body IS. The lens uses Olympus’ MSC (Movie and Still Compatible) focusing mechanism and provides quieter operation – particularly useful for shooting video. The company’s ZERO (Zuiko Extra-low Reflection Optical) coating is also employed to reduce flare and ghosting.

The price for the 12-200mm lens is $900 and it’s available at B&H. Check  out the first Olympus 12-200mm f/3.5-6.3 lens reviews.

Most Popular Micro Four Thirds Lenses

Olympus 12-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Lens Reviews

From imaging-resource review:

Overall though, the lens is quite impressive given its size, price and extensive zoom versatility. For all the details, including test results and samples, as well as real-world photos.

Check out our in-depth Olympus 12-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Review and Ming Thein here.

From ePhotozine verdict :

The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 12-200mm f/3.5-6.3 lens is a dream to use, without a doubt. The concept of the all-in-one travel zoom is great, with a long reach and really close focus all built in. There will be many travellers who will take to this lens and produce very memorable images. It isn’t perfect technically, but mega-zooms by their nature are pushing the boundaries and we have to accept that there is some trade-off between quality and convenience. It is also true that many lenses from all the marques may not fare strongly at MTF50 standards, but still have plenty of merit in producing bright, punchy images. The concentration with this lens is weighted towards better performance at wider focal lengths and at the centre of the image field, but the extra reach available will still be appreciated in many situations.

A versatile and easy to use travel lens and, whilst aware of its limitations, recommended.

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 12-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Pros

  • Very good central sharpness
  • Very low central CA
  • Modest vignetting
  • Fantastic, versatile range
  • Very close focusing
  • Fast, silent AF
  • Full Time Manual Focus
  • Dust and moisture resistant
  • Light and compact
  • Very low distortion

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 12-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Cons

  • Sharpness at 200mm suffers
  • No IS
  • Some edge CA
  • Flare with bright light sources

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