L0n3Gr3yW0lf
Hall of Famer
- Location
- Somerset, UK
- Name
- Ovi
Hi. I've been doing some thought experiments mostly to keep my mind occupied. I have been thinking of having a look at how Olympus changed their idea of how they want to have their lens line-up after changing their system from Four Thirds to Micro Four Thirds.
That's because Olympus has made some stunning and stellar lenses that to this day they have not addressed their lack of presence for similar focal length, fastness and image quality.
Looking at what lenses they decided to release instead shows a mindshift when the possibility of lens design and format has changed with the advent of the mirrorless design.
I hope we can have an interesting and educational conversation around the topic and please take this and everyone else's responses (if they chose to do so) as personal opinions only and be nice to each other ... It is the Xmas season after all. So let's begin:
Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 7-14mm f 4 - an exceptional lens in its own right with very good distortion control design in the optics as well as vignetting.
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 7-14mm f 2.8 PRO - for its succesor Olympus has, mostly, given up on distortion control optically and relying on software correction at the cost of angle of view and sharpness. At the centre the lens is stunning even wide open but the corners do suffer quite a bit and even stopped down it doesn't catch up all that well. It seems that Olympus has traded the design for the f 2.8 aperture and trying to mention as small design as possible.
Panasonic Lumix G Vario 7-14mm f 4 ASPH - Panasonic's answer was more emphasis on size reduction while maintaining the f 4 aperture. It is a sharp lens but not as good in the corners and distortion is again heavily reliant on software correction.
Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 9-18mm f 4-5.6 - an exceptionally small lens for the focal length, it was a very liked lens for travel.
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 9-18mm f 4-5.6 (& Mark II) - Olympus has stayed true to the original intention of the first lens and has managed to make it even smaller. It has traded a bit of sharpness for the size but the ultimate size difference can be argued as a well worth trade for a travel lens.
Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 11-22mm f 2.8-3.5 - seems to be a lens that was meant to be a stop gap until the arrival of the 7-14mm and 9-18mm but Olympus has struggled to make wide angle lenses on the Four Thirds system. The lens is a very good lens for size, image quality and fast aperture and yet neither Panasonic or Olympus have release a lens like this or similar in Micro Four Thirds format, neither in aperture range or in focal range.
Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 12-60mm f 2.8-4 SWD - a very highly reputable lens from Olympus, having a great range and with a great aperture access. The only downsides to the lens is size and a very difficult to correct mustache distortion at 12mm but it gets better distortion control even at 13mm.
Panasonic Leica DG Elmarit 12-60mm f 2.8-4 ASPH Power OIS - Panasonic has stole Olympus's chance to make a successor to this lens and came out first with an excellent lens. It's quite a lot smaller and lighter and very high sharpness especially in the centre. Maybe because of the quality of the Pany Leica lens Olympus saw no reason to try and make a similar lens.
Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 14-35mm f 2 SWD - a legendary lens at least in the crop format communities, way before Sigma came up with their 18-35mm f 1.8 and 50-100mm f 1.8
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Summilux 10-25mm f 1.7 ASPH - again Panasonic stole Olympus's thunder BUT it's not exactly oranges to oranges comparison because of the different focal length and the Pany lens is faster and significantly sharper. Still, at the moment this looks like the closest we will ever get to such fast zooms.
Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 14-54mm f 2.8-3.5 (& Mark II) - considered a very good kit lens back in the day if Olympus E-1, E-3, E-30 it is a very useful focal range and fast aperture gives you more sharpness when stopped down and a bit better ISO in low light.
Panasonic Lumix G Vario 12-60mm f 3.5-5.6 ASPH Power OIS - not exactly a fair comparison because the Pany has more focal range but loses on aperture values BUT it is such an exceptionally shape lens at the wider angle for a kit lens that I think everyone should have this lens if not as their main lens (on the budget) or as a backup lens.
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-50mm f 3.5-6.3 EZ - another lens that does not fit with the original, it is smaller, slower but at least still weather sealed and with a nifty macro trick.
Olympus Zuiko Digital 14-45mm f 3.5-5.6 - one of the first budget kit lens it can be often found with an Olympus DSLR like the e-4xx and e-5xx. The Oly 12-50mm might be a better answer for this lens but Panasonic came out first with:
Panasonic Lumix G Vario 14-45mm f 3.5-4.6 ASPH Mega OIS - it has a reputation for being a very sharp kit zoom even though it was one of the first ever mirrorless lens to come out 16 years ago. It's one of th cheapest M4/3 lenses but the original Pany 14-42mm is cheaper mainly because it's less sharp.
Olympus Zuiko Digital 14-42mm f 3.5-5.6 - a redesigned kit lens to be as small and as light as possible and for a very long time it was the smallest DSLR kit lens.
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 14-42mm f 3.5-5.6 - Olympus managed to make the smallest DSLR kit lens even smaller by making it collapsible.
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 14-42mm f 3.5-5.6 EZ - Can the kit lens be made smaller? Well yes it can be done, though Panasonic came out first with a pancake kit lens and Olympus had to respond with their own version.
Panasonic Lumix G Vario 14-42mm f 3.5-5.6 ASPH Mega OIS (& Mark II) - not the beat of kit lenses but decent starter for anyone (including me). The Mark II is smaller and significantly sharper.
Panasonic Lumix G Vario X 14-42mm f 3.5-5.6 ASPH PZ Power OIS - not the first power zoom for M4/3 but the first pancake zoom, in terms of IQ it is good but not sensational because small size will always demand compromise.
Olympus Zuiko Digital 17.5-45mm f 3.5-5.6 - I do believe this is a leftover relic of the film era when 35-70 or 80 or 90mm was the norm for a kit zoom lens, until 28mm and 24mm be ame the norm on the wide side of the kit lens. Neither Olympus or Panasonic felt the need to recreate such an odd focal length lens these days.
Olympus Zuiko Digital 18-180mm f 3.5-6.3 - an even stranger super zoom. I wonder why Olympus couldn't get more on the wider side and it feels like a lens that would be made by Sigma or Tamron and then ported to other mounts and sensor formats. Panasonic Leica made a more "normal" super zoom at 14-150mm f 3.5-5.6 but I would hazard to guess the Leica branding would make this less unaffordable for most users who would like to buy a super zoom.
Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 35-100mm f 2 - another legendary lens that has not been replicated/upgraded and like the sister lens they still go for a high price in the used market because of this BUT the closest we have as an alternative is:
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Summilux 25-50mm f 1.7 ASPH - the other twin of the f 1.7 zoom from Pany is an amazing lens as well, being very fast and exceptional optically it has the same "limitations" as being designed primarily for video production. It can be used for photography just fine but it is big, heavy and has features that are emphasized for video correction like parafocal, focus breathing corrected, minimised CA as it is more difficult to correct in videos and vignetting us better controlled. Making this duo lens very expensive and big.
Olympus Zuiko Digital 40-150mm f 3.5-4.5 - as one of the original launched lenses for the Four Thirds system it has unusually brighter aperture but the autofocus is not designed or optimised for Contrast Detect Autofocus that the 2nd version of this lens has . You can find them as cheap as peanuts on the used market and often with a Olympus DSLR attached to it. No Micro Fou Thirds lens was designed to offer such an aperture range but there are many with the same focal range though.
Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f 4-5.6 - a "classic" design lens that was upgraded over the years with multiple versions on the M4/3 format, it is very small and light for a telephoto zoom for any DSLR and it had the advantage of having an AF motor that can do Live View CDAF Autofocus.
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f 4-5.6 - there are a couple of versions of this lens and both are the cheapest M4/3 lens you can buy but it is very good optically and even smaller and lighter then the DSLR version.
Panasonic Lumix G Vario 45-150mm f 4-5.6 ASPH Mega OIS (& Mark II) - another lens that was upgraded over the years with a Mark II, it is even smaller then the Olympus version and excellent optically (some say sharpener then the Olympus model too) and very affordable.
Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 50-200mm f 2.8-3.5 (& SWD 2nd model) - a very high quality and extremely versatile lens from it's brighter aperture (compared to the DSLR competition) to very high image quality and very robust built quality. It can take 1.4x and 2x Teleconverters very well and even a Autofocus capable Extension Tube as well. The first version was not designed for CDAF but it can handle it very well and the SWD model is better optimised for CDAF and faster AF motor and quiet good at being adapted to M4/3 system. The 2 major differences between the first and 2nd model (besides the AF motor) is that the 2nd model closes it's aperture down sooner (where the first model is a 50-98mm f 2.8 in its range) and the 2nd model had it's lens hood attachment bayonet and hood redesignedand it's no longer reversible over the lens barrel it a HUGE lens with the hood.
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 50-200mm f 2.8-4 ASPH Powder OIS - Pany stole Olympus's chance to make a succesor to the old but extremely successful DSLR super zoom by releasing a sequel to this lens and kept ALL the excellent features that the DSLR lens had: faster aperture, very small amd lightweight for its range, Teleconverter capable, very robust built quality, reversible lens hood, optically exceptional... It is sharper then the Olympus 40-150mm f 2.8 PRO natively as well as with the Teleconverter attached. Panasonic really knows how to make exceptional lenses.
Panasonic Lumix G Vario 45-200mm f 4-5.6 Mega OIS (& Mark II) - Panasonic even offers a budget version of this lens at the sacrifice of aperture speed and image quality. I never got along with the Mark I of the lens personally but it is a very good budget option to start wildlife photography. The Mark II adds weather resistance to the lens and an exterior redesign look but optically it's the same lens.
Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 70-300mm f 4-5.6 - one of the strongest features of the old DSLR Four Thirds system for wildlife was this reasonably affordable super telephoto lens that had small-ish size, light-ish weight for the focal range and had no competition for the range unless you were to use FF lens on APS-C camera.
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 75-300mm f 4.5-6.7 - Olympus really went in the downscale plan for the succesor, making a incredibly small and lightweight super telephoto lens. They sacrificed aperture speed to make this happen and it can make the lens less suitable for low light environments and situations (forests, winter, after golden hour). Also the lightweight nature with the lack of Optical IS can make the lens for punishing on the user if hand holding techniques are not up to par.
Panasonic Lumix G Vario 100-300mm f 4-5.6 ASPH Mega OIS (& Mark II Power OIS) - Panasonic does offer an alternative to Olympus with brighter aperture and Optical IS to help with stabilisation, some copies of this lens can have great sharpness while others are on par with Olympus model. The Mark II did not change the optical design but added weather resistance and an exteriori redesign. The lens is bigger and heavier then Olympus but not a huge difference.
Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 90-250mm f 2.8 - there are not many zoom lenses that can reach 180mm to 500mm with a constant f 2.8 aperture, making this lens a dream for most wildlife and bird photographers (even sports photographers). It is huge, it is very heavy and it is eye watering expensive. It's not much of a surprised but still a disappointment that Olympus has not made a succesor to this lens ... At least not like this lens specifications.
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm f 4.5 PRO Syn. IS 1.25x TC - this is the closest we have gotten to this "professional" supper zoom. The main thing in common with the original is probably the price. The focal range is longer and the aperture is slower but the IQ is still outstanding and the built quality is flawless.
Olympus Zuiko Digital 8mm f 3.5 Fisheye - being the only wide angle native 1st party prime of Four Thirds this lens is basically as unique to the system as it gets. It's big and heavy and it's ultra wide, I have not seen many of them on the used market because of that.
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 8mm f 1.8 PRO - Olympus has really thought out of the box with the successor, it is incredibly fast fish eye and incredibly well built, IQ is outstanding and it lives up to the uniqueness of the original.
Panasonic Lumix G 8mm f 3.5 Fisheye - Panasonic was the first to come out with a fish eye for the M4/3 system and they stayed closer to the format size philosophy, small and lightweight but still offering very good IQ. If one does not need the WR or the f 1.8 aperture of the Olympus PRO then the Panasonic is more then suitable alternative.
Olympus Zuiko Digital 25mm f 2.8 - the lens that truly shows what the Four Thirds system can achieve in compactness. Extremely small and lightweight but not without competition from the likes of Canon EF 40mm f 2.8 Pancake and SMC Pentax DA 40mm f 2.8 Limited/XS. Oddly enough neither Panasonic or Olympus have come up with a nifty fifty pancake for the M4/3 as they made their pancake primes in forms of 17mm f 2.8 from Olympus and 20mm f 1.7 from Panasonic.
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 25mm f 1.8 - while not quite a pancake lens it is almost as small because of the advantages of the M4/3 flange distance BUT Olympus decided to go with a faster f 1.8 aperture which made it a bit bigger and the IQ is better for it too.
Panasonic Lumix G 25mm f 1.7 ASPH - much the same as Olympus but Panasonic emphasizes on lower cost making this prime the cheapest prime lens you can buy for M4/3.
Olympus Zuiko Digital 35mm f 3.5 Macro - the only native 1:1 macro for the 4/3 format BUT also one of th cheapest primes you can get for the system, it has amazing IQ for its size and price but that shouldn't be surprising from a macro lens, sharpness is always an expection.
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 30mm f 3.5 Macro 1.25x - one of the few direct successors from 4/3 to M4/3 it has the small size and lightweight in its design, it is one of the cheapest primes in the system, it is very sharp and has similar aperture speed with the extra nifty trick of 1.5:1 macro capability.
Panasonic Lumix G 30mm f 2.8 Macro - Panasonic made a slight different direction and added a bit more aperture speed and the resulting IQ is greater sharpness both at the centre and at the corners and stop down. But it is still very small and lightweight lens and comes with a standard 1:1 magnification instead.
Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 50mm f 2 Macro - a outstanding lens that has a reputation for micro contrast. It had double duty role as a portrait lens and as a macro lens BUT it sacrificed the native macro capability to 1:2 magnification for the faster aperture. That's why Olympus came out with the EX-25 extension tube with autofocus so they can have a 1:1 telephoto macro lens ... And the lens works very well with the Teleconverters as well. This is such a unique lens for 4/3 and M4/3 systems that Olympus and Panasonic really never did try to replicate this lens in this way, fast, macro and Teleconverter compatible. Both brand separated the macro to macro lenses and the portrait to fast primes and non of them officially accepts Teleconverters.
Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 150mm f 2 - another lens that Olympus and Panasonic never really came up with a succesor for. Sure there are the Olympus 75mm f 1.8 but that's half the focal range and Panasonic came out with the Pany Leica 200mm f 2.8 which has more range but also slower aperture. And it's only the Pany prime that supports Teleconverters as well for the extra versatility.
Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 300mm f 2.8 - a monster of a prime lens with a monster of specifications too. Huge, heavy, very fast and incredibly expensive. And they are very rare as well making the used prices hard to justify of buying one BUT that's also because there is no real succesor to it.
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm f 4 PRO Sync IS - the closest we have right now to the original. Similar reach but one stop slower aperture. But on the bright side of things this does make the lens smaller, lighter and cheaper (though hardly affordable). It does accept and handle Teleconverters quite well BUT it is not as good as Panasonic Leica DG Elmarit 200mm f 2.8 Power OIS natively and with the Teleconverters on.
So far, I think Olympus has gone with more specialised specifications from the Four Thirds era. They put more emphasis on small and lightweight or aperture or purpose of original intent (fish eye, macro, portrait). Olympus has still made very versatile lenses from focal range (8-25mm, 14-150mm, 12-200mm, 12-40mm. 40-150mm, 100-400mm, 150-600mm) to aperture per focal range. But there are still gaps in price range and feature sets that they haven't covered BUT it is covered by Panasonic instead. So OMDS are losing a paying costumer but still gain a system user.
Panasonic has found it's way into the system by offering both direct competitive options to Olympus offers (7-14mm f 4, 14-42mm, 45-150mm, 100-300mm, 100-400mm to name a few) as well as alternative options within the gaps of Olympus offers (9mm f 1.7, 15mm f 1.7, 20mm f 1.7, 200mm f 2.8 to name a few). But Panasonic did steal Olympus's chance to offer direct successors to its original lenses like Leica 12-60mm f 2.8-4 and 50-200mm f 2.8-4 as well as the Leica 10-25mm f 1.7 and 25-50mm f 1.7 lenses even though they are specifically designed for video work but not outright cinema made.
Right now the Micro Four Thirds system is a lot longer running then the original Four Thirds, from the release in 2008 to today that's 16 years running compared to 2003 to 2008 as the last Four Thirds lens releases. The lens offerings are, of course, more varied but that doesn't mean that all that could be made has been made and there are certain lenses that should be updated by now with at least improved feature set if not IQ (like the f 1.8 prime set from Olympus and the f 1.2 Nocticron from Panasonic?)
That's because Olympus has made some stunning and stellar lenses that to this day they have not addressed their lack of presence for similar focal length, fastness and image quality.
Looking at what lenses they decided to release instead shows a mindshift when the possibility of lens design and format has changed with the advent of the mirrorless design.
I hope we can have an interesting and educational conversation around the topic and please take this and everyone else's responses (if they chose to do so) as personal opinions only and be nice to each other ... It is the Xmas season after all. So let's begin:
Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 7-14mm f 4 - an exceptional lens in its own right with very good distortion control design in the optics as well as vignetting.
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 7-14mm f 2.8 PRO - for its succesor Olympus has, mostly, given up on distortion control optically and relying on software correction at the cost of angle of view and sharpness. At the centre the lens is stunning even wide open but the corners do suffer quite a bit and even stopped down it doesn't catch up all that well. It seems that Olympus has traded the design for the f 2.8 aperture and trying to mention as small design as possible.
Panasonic Lumix G Vario 7-14mm f 4 ASPH - Panasonic's answer was more emphasis on size reduction while maintaining the f 4 aperture. It is a sharp lens but not as good in the corners and distortion is again heavily reliant on software correction.
Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 9-18mm f 4-5.6 - an exceptionally small lens for the focal length, it was a very liked lens for travel.
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 9-18mm f 4-5.6 (& Mark II) - Olympus has stayed true to the original intention of the first lens and has managed to make it even smaller. It has traded a bit of sharpness for the size but the ultimate size difference can be argued as a well worth trade for a travel lens.
Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 11-22mm f 2.8-3.5 - seems to be a lens that was meant to be a stop gap until the arrival of the 7-14mm and 9-18mm but Olympus has struggled to make wide angle lenses on the Four Thirds system. The lens is a very good lens for size, image quality and fast aperture and yet neither Panasonic or Olympus have release a lens like this or similar in Micro Four Thirds format, neither in aperture range or in focal range.
Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 12-60mm f 2.8-4 SWD - a very highly reputable lens from Olympus, having a great range and with a great aperture access. The only downsides to the lens is size and a very difficult to correct mustache distortion at 12mm but it gets better distortion control even at 13mm.
Panasonic Leica DG Elmarit 12-60mm f 2.8-4 ASPH Power OIS - Panasonic has stole Olympus's chance to make a successor to this lens and came out first with an excellent lens. It's quite a lot smaller and lighter and very high sharpness especially in the centre. Maybe because of the quality of the Pany Leica lens Olympus saw no reason to try and make a similar lens.
Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 14-35mm f 2 SWD - a legendary lens at least in the crop format communities, way before Sigma came up with their 18-35mm f 1.8 and 50-100mm f 1.8
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Summilux 10-25mm f 1.7 ASPH - again Panasonic stole Olympus's thunder BUT it's not exactly oranges to oranges comparison because of the different focal length and the Pany lens is faster and significantly sharper. Still, at the moment this looks like the closest we will ever get to such fast zooms.
Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 14-54mm f 2.8-3.5 (& Mark II) - considered a very good kit lens back in the day if Olympus E-1, E-3, E-30 it is a very useful focal range and fast aperture gives you more sharpness when stopped down and a bit better ISO in low light.
Panasonic Lumix G Vario 12-60mm f 3.5-5.6 ASPH Power OIS - not exactly a fair comparison because the Pany has more focal range but loses on aperture values BUT it is such an exceptionally shape lens at the wider angle for a kit lens that I think everyone should have this lens if not as their main lens (on the budget) or as a backup lens.
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-50mm f 3.5-6.3 EZ - another lens that does not fit with the original, it is smaller, slower but at least still weather sealed and with a nifty macro trick.
Olympus Zuiko Digital 14-45mm f 3.5-5.6 - one of the first budget kit lens it can be often found with an Olympus DSLR like the e-4xx and e-5xx. The Oly 12-50mm might be a better answer for this lens but Panasonic came out first with:
Panasonic Lumix G Vario 14-45mm f 3.5-4.6 ASPH Mega OIS - it has a reputation for being a very sharp kit zoom even though it was one of the first ever mirrorless lens to come out 16 years ago. It's one of th cheapest M4/3 lenses but the original Pany 14-42mm is cheaper mainly because it's less sharp.
Olympus Zuiko Digital 14-42mm f 3.5-5.6 - a redesigned kit lens to be as small and as light as possible and for a very long time it was the smallest DSLR kit lens.
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 14-42mm f 3.5-5.6 - Olympus managed to make the smallest DSLR kit lens even smaller by making it collapsible.
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 14-42mm f 3.5-5.6 EZ - Can the kit lens be made smaller? Well yes it can be done, though Panasonic came out first with a pancake kit lens and Olympus had to respond with their own version.
Panasonic Lumix G Vario 14-42mm f 3.5-5.6 ASPH Mega OIS (& Mark II) - not the beat of kit lenses but decent starter for anyone (including me). The Mark II is smaller and significantly sharper.
Panasonic Lumix G Vario X 14-42mm f 3.5-5.6 ASPH PZ Power OIS - not the first power zoom for M4/3 but the first pancake zoom, in terms of IQ it is good but not sensational because small size will always demand compromise.
Olympus Zuiko Digital 17.5-45mm f 3.5-5.6 - I do believe this is a leftover relic of the film era when 35-70 or 80 or 90mm was the norm for a kit zoom lens, until 28mm and 24mm be ame the norm on the wide side of the kit lens. Neither Olympus or Panasonic felt the need to recreate such an odd focal length lens these days.
Olympus Zuiko Digital 18-180mm f 3.5-6.3 - an even stranger super zoom. I wonder why Olympus couldn't get more on the wider side and it feels like a lens that would be made by Sigma or Tamron and then ported to other mounts and sensor formats. Panasonic Leica made a more "normal" super zoom at 14-150mm f 3.5-5.6 but I would hazard to guess the Leica branding would make this less unaffordable for most users who would like to buy a super zoom.
Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 35-100mm f 2 - another legendary lens that has not been replicated/upgraded and like the sister lens they still go for a high price in the used market because of this BUT the closest we have as an alternative is:
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Summilux 25-50mm f 1.7 ASPH - the other twin of the f 1.7 zoom from Pany is an amazing lens as well, being very fast and exceptional optically it has the same "limitations" as being designed primarily for video production. It can be used for photography just fine but it is big, heavy and has features that are emphasized for video correction like parafocal, focus breathing corrected, minimised CA as it is more difficult to correct in videos and vignetting us better controlled. Making this duo lens very expensive and big.
Olympus Zuiko Digital 40-150mm f 3.5-4.5 - as one of the original launched lenses for the Four Thirds system it has unusually brighter aperture but the autofocus is not designed or optimised for Contrast Detect Autofocus that the 2nd version of this lens has . You can find them as cheap as peanuts on the used market and often with a Olympus DSLR attached to it. No Micro Fou Thirds lens was designed to offer such an aperture range but there are many with the same focal range though.
Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f 4-5.6 - a "classic" design lens that was upgraded over the years with multiple versions on the M4/3 format, it is very small and light for a telephoto zoom for any DSLR and it had the advantage of having an AF motor that can do Live View CDAF Autofocus.
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f 4-5.6 - there are a couple of versions of this lens and both are the cheapest M4/3 lens you can buy but it is very good optically and even smaller and lighter then the DSLR version.
Panasonic Lumix G Vario 45-150mm f 4-5.6 ASPH Mega OIS (& Mark II) - another lens that was upgraded over the years with a Mark II, it is even smaller then the Olympus version and excellent optically (some say sharpener then the Olympus model too) and very affordable.
Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 50-200mm f 2.8-3.5 (& SWD 2nd model) - a very high quality and extremely versatile lens from it's brighter aperture (compared to the DSLR competition) to very high image quality and very robust built quality. It can take 1.4x and 2x Teleconverters very well and even a Autofocus capable Extension Tube as well. The first version was not designed for CDAF but it can handle it very well and the SWD model is better optimised for CDAF and faster AF motor and quiet good at being adapted to M4/3 system. The 2 major differences between the first and 2nd model (besides the AF motor) is that the 2nd model closes it's aperture down sooner (where the first model is a 50-98mm f 2.8 in its range) and the 2nd model had it's lens hood attachment bayonet and hood redesigned
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 50-200mm f 2.8-4 ASPH Powder OIS - Pany stole Olympus's chance to make a succesor to the old but extremely successful DSLR super zoom by releasing a sequel to this lens and kept ALL the excellent features that the DSLR lens had: faster aperture, very small amd lightweight for its range, Teleconverter capable, very robust built quality, reversible lens hood, optically exceptional... It is sharper then the Olympus 40-150mm f 2.8 PRO natively as well as with the Teleconverter attached. Panasonic really knows how to make exceptional lenses.
Panasonic Lumix G Vario 45-200mm f 4-5.6 Mega OIS (& Mark II) - Panasonic even offers a budget version of this lens at the sacrifice of aperture speed and image quality. I never got along with the Mark I of the lens personally but it is a very good budget option to start wildlife photography. The Mark II adds weather resistance to the lens and an exterior redesign look but optically it's the same lens.
Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 70-300mm f 4-5.6 - one of the strongest features of the old DSLR Four Thirds system for wildlife was this reasonably affordable super telephoto lens that had small-ish size, light-ish weight for the focal range and had no competition for the range unless you were to use FF lens on APS-C camera.
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 75-300mm f 4.5-6.7 - Olympus really went in the downscale plan for the succesor, making a incredibly small and lightweight super telephoto lens. They sacrificed aperture speed to make this happen and it can make the lens less suitable for low light environments and situations (forests, winter, after golden hour). Also the lightweight nature with the lack of Optical IS can make the lens for punishing on the user if hand holding techniques are not up to par.
Panasonic Lumix G Vario 100-300mm f 4-5.6 ASPH Mega OIS (& Mark II Power OIS) - Panasonic does offer an alternative to Olympus with brighter aperture and Optical IS to help with stabilisation, some copies of this lens can have great sharpness while others are on par with Olympus model. The Mark II did not change the optical design but added weather resistance and an exteriori redesign. The lens is bigger and heavier then Olympus but not a huge difference.
Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 90-250mm f 2.8 - there are not many zoom lenses that can reach 180mm to 500mm with a constant f 2.8 aperture, making this lens a dream for most wildlife and bird photographers (even sports photographers). It is huge, it is very heavy and it is eye watering expensive. It's not much of a surprised but still a disappointment that Olympus has not made a succesor to this lens ... At least not like this lens specifications.
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm f 4.5 PRO Syn. IS 1.25x TC - this is the closest we have gotten to this "professional" supper zoom. The main thing in common with the original is probably the price. The focal range is longer and the aperture is slower but the IQ is still outstanding and the built quality is flawless.
Olympus Zuiko Digital 8mm f 3.5 Fisheye - being the only wide angle native 1st party prime of Four Thirds this lens is basically as unique to the system as it gets. It's big and heavy and it's ultra wide, I have not seen many of them on the used market because of that.
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 8mm f 1.8 PRO - Olympus has really thought out of the box with the successor, it is incredibly fast fish eye and incredibly well built, IQ is outstanding and it lives up to the uniqueness of the original.
Panasonic Lumix G 8mm f 3.5 Fisheye - Panasonic was the first to come out with a fish eye for the M4/3 system and they stayed closer to the format size philosophy, small and lightweight but still offering very good IQ. If one does not need the WR or the f 1.8 aperture of the Olympus PRO then the Panasonic is more then suitable alternative.
Olympus Zuiko Digital 25mm f 2.8 - the lens that truly shows what the Four Thirds system can achieve in compactness. Extremely small and lightweight but not without competition from the likes of Canon EF 40mm f 2.8 Pancake and SMC Pentax DA 40mm f 2.8 Limited/XS. Oddly enough neither Panasonic or Olympus have come up with a nifty fifty pancake for the M4/3 as they made their pancake primes in forms of 17mm f 2.8 from Olympus and 20mm f 1.7 from Panasonic.
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 25mm f 1.8 - while not quite a pancake lens it is almost as small because of the advantages of the M4/3 flange distance BUT Olympus decided to go with a faster f 1.8 aperture which made it a bit bigger and the IQ is better for it too.
Panasonic Lumix G 25mm f 1.7 ASPH - much the same as Olympus but Panasonic emphasizes on lower cost making this prime the cheapest prime lens you can buy for M4/3.
Olympus Zuiko Digital 35mm f 3.5 Macro - the only native 1:1 macro for the 4/3 format BUT also one of th cheapest primes you can get for the system, it has amazing IQ for its size and price but that shouldn't be surprising from a macro lens, sharpness is always an expection.
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 30mm f 3.5 Macro 1.25x - one of the few direct successors from 4/3 to M4/3 it has the small size and lightweight in its design, it is one of the cheapest primes in the system, it is very sharp and has similar aperture speed with the extra nifty trick of 1.5:1 macro capability.
Panasonic Lumix G 30mm f 2.8 Macro - Panasonic made a slight different direction and added a bit more aperture speed and the resulting IQ is greater sharpness both at the centre and at the corners and stop down. But it is still very small and lightweight lens and comes with a standard 1:1 magnification instead.
Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 50mm f 2 Macro - a outstanding lens that has a reputation for micro contrast. It had double duty role as a portrait lens and as a macro lens BUT it sacrificed the native macro capability to 1:2 magnification for the faster aperture. That's why Olympus came out with the EX-25 extension tube with autofocus so they can have a 1:1 telephoto macro lens ... And the lens works very well with the Teleconverters as well. This is such a unique lens for 4/3 and M4/3 systems that Olympus and Panasonic really never did try to replicate this lens in this way, fast, macro and Teleconverter compatible. Both brand separated the macro to macro lenses and the portrait to fast primes and non of them officially accepts Teleconverters.
Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 150mm f 2 - another lens that Olympus and Panasonic never really came up with a succesor for. Sure there are the Olympus 75mm f 1.8 but that's half the focal range and Panasonic came out with the Pany Leica 200mm f 2.8 which has more range but also slower aperture. And it's only the Pany prime that supports Teleconverters as well for the extra versatility.
Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 300mm f 2.8 - a monster of a prime lens with a monster of specifications too. Huge, heavy, very fast and incredibly expensive. And they are very rare as well making the used prices hard to justify of buying one BUT that's also because there is no real succesor to it.
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm f 4 PRO Sync IS - the closest we have right now to the original. Similar reach but one stop slower aperture. But on the bright side of things this does make the lens smaller, lighter and cheaper (though hardly affordable). It does accept and handle Teleconverters quite well BUT it is not as good as Panasonic Leica DG Elmarit 200mm f 2.8 Power OIS natively and with the Teleconverters on.
So far, I think Olympus has gone with more specialised specifications from the Four Thirds era. They put more emphasis on small and lightweight or aperture or purpose of original intent (fish eye, macro, portrait). Olympus has still made very versatile lenses from focal range (8-25mm, 14-150mm, 12-200mm, 12-40mm. 40-150mm, 100-400mm, 150-600mm) to aperture per focal range. But there are still gaps in price range and feature sets that they haven't covered BUT it is covered by Panasonic instead. So OMDS are losing a paying costumer but still gain a system user.
Panasonic has found it's way into the system by offering both direct competitive options to Olympus offers (7-14mm f 4, 14-42mm, 45-150mm, 100-300mm, 100-400mm to name a few) as well as alternative options within the gaps of Olympus offers (9mm f 1.7, 15mm f 1.7, 20mm f 1.7, 200mm f 2.8 to name a few). But Panasonic did steal Olympus's chance to offer direct successors to its original lenses like Leica 12-60mm f 2.8-4 and 50-200mm f 2.8-4 as well as the Leica 10-25mm f 1.7 and 25-50mm f 1.7 lenses even though they are specifically designed for video work but not outright cinema made.
Right now the Micro Four Thirds system is a lot longer running then the original Four Thirds, from the release in 2008 to today that's 16 years running compared to 2003 to 2008 as the last Four Thirds lens releases. The lens offerings are, of course, more varied but that doesn't mean that all that could be made has been made and there are certain lenses that should be updated by now with at least improved feature set if not IQ (like the f 1.8 prime set from Olympus and the f 1.2 Nocticron from Panasonic?)
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