The first post-Olympus camera product from OM System is the M.Zuiko 20mm f/1.4 Pro lens
(Image credit: OM System)
It's officially time to stop calling it "Olympus" kit – the first ever product to be launched under the new OM System brand is the M.Zuiko 20mm f/1.4 Pro lens.
First announced in September, the Olympus OM System M.Zuiko 20mm f/1.4 Pro is the manufacturer's first ever f/1.4 lens, bridging the gap between its ultra-compact line of f/1.8 Premium primes and the ultra-fast line of f/1.2 Pro glass.
At 63.4 x 61.7mm and 247g, the OM System M.Zuiko 20mm f/1.4 Pro is considerably smaller and lighter than the 17mm f/1.2 and 25mm f/1.2 Pro lenses – and it's even smaller than the Olympus M.Zuiko 12-45mm f/4 Pro (which the manufacturer infamously pointed out weighs about as much as a large apple), and shares the same 58mm filter thread.
Watch video: M.Zuiko 20mm f/1.4 Pro
A 40mm equivalent lens in full-frame / 35mm terms, the 20mm f/1.4 sits comfortably between existing the 17mm (35mm equivalent) and 25mm (50mm) options in the M.Zuiko lineup.
With a closest focusing distance of 0.25m, it's a great all-purpose optic for travel, street photography, landscapes and everyday shooting – especially with its IPX1 weather sealing.
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Its optical formula features 11 high-quality elements in 10 groups including 1 Super ED (extra-low dispersion) lens, 3 ED lenses, 2 Super HR (high refractive) lenses and 2 Aspherical lenses).
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Feels strange seeing "OM System" instead of "Olympus" on the side!(Image credit: OM System)
(Image credit: OM System)
(Image credit: OM System)
(Image credit: OM System)
With 9 blades delivering a circular diaphragm, combined with the fast f/1.4 aperture, the lens achieves OM System's enviable "feathered" bokeh and background blur (with an equivalent f/2.8 depth of field).
Its compact form factor makes the 20mm f/1.4 an ideal companion for the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III, which was arguably a little on the small side for the larger f/1.2 lenses. As you can see in the video above, though, the 20mm f/1.4 looks to balance perfectly on smaller OM-D bodies.
The OM System M.Zuiko 20mm f/1.4 Pro will be available from the end of November priced $799 / £649 (approximately AU$1,465).
James has 22 years experience as a journalist, serving as editor of Digital Camera World for 6 of them. He started working in the photography industry in 2014, product testing and shooting ad campaigns for Olympus, as well as clients like Aston Martin Racing, Elinchrom and L'Oréal. An Olympus / OM System, Canon and Hasselblad shooter, he has a wealth of knowledge on cameras of all makes – and he loves instant cameras, too.
