The long-awaited new lens is finally here from Olympus: M.Zuiko 8-25mm f/4 Pro is ready for all-weather adventure
(Image credit: OM Digital Solutions)
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.
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.
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(Image credit: OM Digital Solutions)
(Image credit: OM Digital Solutions)
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.
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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.
The editor of Digital Camera World, James has 21 years experience as a journalist and started working in the photographic industry in 2014 (as an assistant to Damian McGillicuddy, who succeeded David Bailey as Principal Photographer for Olympus). In this time he shot for clients like Aston Martin Racing, Elinchrom and L'Oréal, in addition to shooting campaigns and product testing for Olympus, and providing training for professionals. This has led him to being a go-to expert for camera and lens reviews, photo and lighting tutorials, as well as industry news, rumors and analysis for publications like Digital Camera Magazine, PhotoPlus: The Canon Magazine, N-Photo: The Nikon Magazine, Digital Photographer and Professional Imagemaker, as well as hosting workshops and talks at The Photography Show. He also serves as a judge for the Red Bull Illume Photo Contest. An Olympus and Canon shooter, he has a wealth of knowledge on cameras of all makes – and a fondness for vintage lenses and instant cameras.
