Is that the old 4/3 ZD 12-60, with an MMF-2 or 3? I used to use a ZD 14-54 Mk II on an E-M1 with an MMF-3. Great IQ, and I'd be tempted to go that route with my E-M1 Mk II, but I don't hike much these days due to foot inflammation. I can bike ride just fine, though, and that combo wouldn't fit in my small bicycle camera bag.
Yes, it’s the old 4/3 12-60 with an MMF-3.
I used that combo on a lot of my hikes back when we lived in Oregon - and it was nice to pick it up again yesterday.
(I briefly thought about taking my Nikon D750 with 24-120mm (because of the contrasty forest light) - but I’m glad I didn’t.
That Nikon combo is just on the wrong side of too heavy - and the Oly EM1.2 feels just nicer in use to me)
I purchased the m43 12-40mm twice but didn’t warm up to it. The images just felt too sharp and contrasty - where the old ZD lenses felt a bit more “gentle” in their sharpness… I don’t know - it’s hard to describe… I’ve seen plenty of wonderful photos by other people taken with the 12-40mm… It just didn’t gel with me
Even down to the size/weight distribution - which didn’t work with my preferred carry bag… or the feel of the PRO lenses’ black metal finish (I prefer the old-school rubberized lenses for some reason
)
I read somewhere that the more recent PRO lenses aren’t quite as bitingly sharp/harsh as the 12-40mm, which sounds intriguing to me.
But I already have all those old 43 zooms (even the weird and wonderful PanaLeica 14-150mm) - so I never could justify the expense for the new ones…
Sorry for the long rambling
Yes, as John suggests, the new m43 12-45mm could be a good option for you.
Or the old 43 14-54mm (which can be had really cheap these days)
(with the old 43 lenses I make sure to manually focus - with focus magnification…)