» Olympus Zuiko Digital 25mm lens review
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 The Olympus Zuiko Digital 25mm 1:2.8 was announced in March 2008, alongside the Olympus E-420 DSLR. It’s a standard Four Thirds lens which means it will work on any Four Thirds body, including those from Olympus, Panasonic and Leica, although it’s physically best-matched to the smaller models like the Olympus E-4xx and E-5xx series.
Affectionately known as a pancake lens, the Zuiko Digital 25mm is very thin: indeed it’s just 23.5mm thick and weighs only 95g. When fitted to a smaller DSLR like the Olympus E-420, the result is a highly portable kit that’ll squeeze into larger pockets and has a total operating weight including battery of 521g.
With the Four Thirds field-reduction of 2x, the Zuiko Digital 25mm offers an equivalent coverage of 50mm. In full-frame and 35mm film terms, this makes it a ‘standard’ lens for general purpose use. In the past, 50mm lenses were the standard used by all 35mm film SLRs and while most modern photographers have become used to zoom lenses, it’s surprising how flexible a 50mm can be in practice. It’s just about wide enough to grab a decent landscape or interior shot, while long enough to attempt respectable portraits. Read the whole article here. You can buy the lens here
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» Olympus Zuiko Digital 14-42mm 1:3.5-5.6 ED review
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The Zuiko Digital 14-42mm 1:3.5-5.6 ED is the standard kit lens which Olympus supply with their lower-tier DSLRs, including the E-420 and E-510. Announced in September 2006 to accompany the launch of the E-400, it shares that camera's defining characteristic, being remarkably compact in size. Indeed it takes advantage of the relatively small size of the Four Thirds sensor to be comfortably the smallest and lightest DSLR zoom lens currently available, great for those users who wish their camera systems to be as portable as possible.
However despite its diminutive size, the 14-42mm still packs in some fairly exotic optics to deal with aberrations, in the shape of one extra-low dispersion (ED) glass element and two aspheric elements. It also incorporates a circular aperture diaphragm, which Olympus claim should provide 'beautiful rendition' of defocused areas of the image, and indeed consider to be one of the big advantages of this lens. The icing on the cake is an internal focusing system with a proper manual focus ring and a non-rotating front element, always a positive point for those photographers who like to use filters. Read the whole review here.
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» Olympus Zuiko Digital 12-60mm 1:2.8-4.0 review
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The Digital Zuiko ED 12-60mm 1:2.8-4.0 SWD is Olympus's latest upmarket standard zoom, announced to accompany its E-3 flagship DSLR in October 2007. Firmly placed in what Olympus refers to as its 'Pro' lens lineup, this lens offers a near-ideal focal length range for a standard zoom (24mm to 120mm in 35mm-equivalent terms), combining a useful wideangle for landscapes and architecture with a telephoto extending nicely into the classic 'portrait' range. Hopefully this 5x zoom range isn't so ambitious as to introduce unacceptable optical compromises. The optical configuration is sufficiently exotic to offer great hopes in this regard; the lens boasts no fewer than three extra-low dispersion (ED) glass elements, one of which is aspherical, coupled with two further aspherical elements, and as the icing on the cake one Super ED glass element. Clearly Olympus has adopted a "no holds barred" approach to lens design here, which can only be applauded. Read the whole article here. You can buy the lens here
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» Olympus Zuiko Digital 25mm 1:2.8 Lens
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 The Olympus ZUIKO DIGITAL 25mm 1:2.8 is a tiny new Four Thirds lens equivalent to a focal length of 50mm. Measuring 23.5mm long and weighing in at a tiny 95g, the combination of Olympus’ 25mm lens and the new E-420 DSLR camera is a a meagre 76.5mm, the most compact camera body and lens combination available. The ZUIKO DIGITAL 25mm 1:2.8 lens will be available from April 2008 at a recommended price of GBP189.99. Read the whole article here
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» Olympus 35mm f/3.5 Zuiko Digital Macro
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 The Olympus lens lineup has two macro lenses: the 35mm and the 50mm. The 35mm ƒ/3.5 is listed in the ''Standard'' lineup, developed for cost performance and portability. Available for $200.
Since Olympus digital SLR cameras employ the four-thirds imaging sensor, any lens attached to the body will have an effective focal length (in 35mm terms) of double the listed length. Thus, for this particular lens, it will exhibit an effective focal length of 70mm. The lens takes 52mm filters, but does not come with a lens hood (nor does Olympus make one for this lens). Read the whole test here
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» Olympus 50mm f/2 Zuiko Digital Macro lens review
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 The Olympus lens lineup has two macro lenses: the 35mm and the 50mm. The 50mm ƒ/2 is listed in the ''High Quality'' lineup, developed for high performance in sharpness, brightness and close-up shooting capability. It's also listed as being dust and splash-proof, to allow usage in harsh conditions. Available for $425.
Since Olympus digital SLR cameras employ the four-thirds imaging sensor, any lens attached to the body will have an effective focal length (in 35mm terms) of double the listed length. Thus, for this particular lens, it will exhibit an effective focal length of 100mm. The lens takes 52mm filters, and comes with a bowl-style lens hood. Read the whole article here
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» Olympus 50-200mm f/2.8-3.5 Zuiko Digital lens test
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The Olympus 50-200mm ƒ/2.8-3.5 Zuiko digital lens forms part of Olympus' ''High Grade'' lineup of lenses, developed for the top level brightness, close-up shooting capability and sharpness. The lens is built with ''Dust and splash-proof construction'' which allow the lens to be used even in harsh conditions. Available for around $900.
Since Olympus digital SLR cameras employ the four-thirds imaging sensor, any lens attached to the body will have an effective focal length (in 35mm terms) of double the listed length. Thus, for this particular lens, it will exhibit an effective focal length of 100-400mm. The lens takes 67mm filters, and comes with several accessories: a bowl-style lens hood, a lens carrying case and a lens-collar tripod mount. Read the whole test here
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» Olympus 150mm f/2 Zuiko Digital lens test
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At three and a half pounds, this lens is very large: in practice, you end up attaching the camera body to the lens, rather than attaching the lens to the camera body. The 150mm ƒ/2 is listed in the "Super High Quality" lineup, developed for more advanced optical/precision technology and exquisite picture quality. It's also listed as being dust and splash-proof, to allow usage in harsh conditions. The lens itself is comprised of 11 elements in 9 groups, with one ED ("extra-low dispersion") lens element and one Super-ED Available to offer sharper, higher-contrast imaging performance. Available for around $2,200. Read the whole test here
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» Olympus 50mm f/2 Zuiko Digital Macro lens test
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The Olympus lens lineup has two macro lenses: the 35mm and the 50mm. The 50mm ƒ/2 is listed in the ''High Quality'' lineup, developed for high performance in sharpness, brightness and close-up shooting capability. It's also listed as being dust and splash-proof, to allow usage in harsh conditions. Available for $425.
Since Olympus digital SLR cameras employ the four-thirds imaging sensor, any lens attached to the body will have an effective focal length (in 35mm terms) of double the listed length. Thus, for this particular lens, it will exhibit an effective focal length of 100mm. The lens takes 52mm filters, and comes with a bowl-style lens hood. Read the whole test here
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» Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 35-100mm f/2 lens test
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Shooters committed to the Four Thirds System, take note. Here is Serious Glass. This pro-caliber 70-200mm equivalent zoom ($2,200, street) -- the world's fastest in its focal-length range -- packs four elements of ED glass, one element of Super ED glass, and all-metal construction with rubber seals to keep out moisture and dust.
This matte-black behemoth has a rubberized and ribbed focusing collar and knurled zoom ring. The former is smooth-turning; the latter, somewhat stiff and overdamped. Four soft-touch, AF-lock buttons surround the outer lens barrel, and the lens both focuses and zooms internally. There's also a removable tripod collar, and three-way focus-limiting switch: close-up (1.4 to 3 meters), nonclose-up (3 meters to infinity), and full ranges. Read the whole review here
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» Olympus Outlines the Next Chapter of its Professional DSLR and Family of Lenses
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Olympus Imaging Corporation (President: Masaharu Okubo) is pleased to announce the plans to significantly expand the Olympus E-System, its industry-leading lineup of interchangeable-lens digital SLRs compliant with the Four Thirds System standard. Two new cameras are being announced today — the E-410, an ultra-compact, ultra-lightweight go-anywhere camera, and the E-510, a versatile, high-performance camera with advanced functions including new Mechanical Image sensor shift image stabilization A third, the eagerly anticipated successor to the revolutionary E-1 designed for professional use and destined to take over as flagship of the Olympus lineup, will make its debut this year. Read the whole article inside
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