Meet the first new-era lens from Olympus: the M.Zuiko 8-25mm f/4 Pro, which is the inaugural optic released under the OM Digital Solutions banner.
Announced way back in July last year, the long-awaited Olympus M.Zuiko 8-25mm f/4 Pro comes hot on the heels of the launch of the Olympus PEN E-P7 – but the new glass is primarily designed with the OM-D line of cameras in mind.
• Read more: Best Micro Four Thirds lenses
As a Pro series lens, this weather-sealed optic is designed to pair with all-weather cameras like the flagship Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III, Olympus OM-D E-M1X and Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III.
Thanks to the 2x crop factor of the Micro Four Thirds format, the 8-25mm focal range is an effective 16-50mm in full-frame (35mm) terms, making this an extreme wide-angle to standard focal length with a constant f/4 aperture – and should lend itself ideally to landscape, nature, travel and architectural photography.
According to OM Digital, "This is the first lens in the M.Zuiko Pro series to feature a retracting mechanism to ensure a compact size on the go," measuring 88.5 x 77mm and weighing 411g.
This makes is a larger lens than the M.Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro, which comes in at 84 x 69.9mm and 382g – and nowhere is this more noticeable than the filter size, as the new 8-25mm has a 72mm thread compared to the 62mm of the 12-40mm. Like other Pro lenses, it boasts the Manual Focus Clutch to click between auto and manual focus.
Its optical formula features 16 elements in 10 groups, including a variety of exotic elements like extra-low dispersion, extra-low dispersion aspherical and dual super aspherical lenses.
An impressive feat is that the lens features a 0.42x magnification for half-macro shooting, with a 0.23m minimum focusing distance across the zoom range. OM Digital notes that, "This lens also supports Focus Stacking," which makes it an even more compelling option for close-up shooters using E-M1 and E-M5 bodies.
The M.Zuiko Digital ED 8-25 mm f/4.0 Pro will be available from the beginning of July at a retail price of $1099 / £899 (approximately AU$1,644) which includes the LH-76E lens hood.
Pre-order the M.Zuiko 8-25mm f/4 Pro at Adorama (US)
Pre-order the M.Zuiko 8-25mm f/4 Pro at B&H (US)
Pre-order the M.Zuiko 8-25mm f/4 Pro at Park (UK)
Pre-order the M.Zuiko 8-25mm f/4 Pro at Wex (UK)
Read more:
Best Olympus cameras
Olympus PEN E-P7 review
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III review
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III review
Olympus OM-D E-M1X review
