Olympus 12-100mm f/4 Is Pro Lens M.Zuiko Digital Ed

I bought this lens over a year ago specifically for travel. I have the set of zoom f2.8 PRO lenses for my Olympus OMD M-1 Mll but they are heavy and I wanted to reduce my carry by getting one pro zoom lens that would give me almost the same coverage. Despite the lens and camera's fantastic image stabilization capability I knew the f4 probably wouldn't be the best inside buildings and in the dimmer evenings so I also decided to carry the Pan Leica 25mm f1.4. So this was my lens combination for two recent extended European trips. The 12-100mm worked wonderfully in almost all situations. I liked it so much that it has become my normal carry lens even when not traveling. It's sharp end to end, as much as my f2.8 lenses. It focuses fast and has little distortion and ... MoreI bought this lens over a year ago specifically for travel. I have the set of zoom f2.8 PRO lenses for my Olympus OMD M-1 Mll but they are heavy and I wanted to reduce my carry by getting one pro zoom lens that would give me almost the same coverage. Despite the lens and camera's fantastic image stabilization capability I knew the f4 probably wouldn't be the best inside buildings and in the dimmer evenings so I also decided to carry the Pan Leica 25mm f1.4. So this was my lens combination for two recent extended European trips. The 12-100mm worked wonderfully in almost all situations. I liked it so much that it has become my normal carry lens even when not traveling. It's sharp end to end, as much as my f2.8 lenses. It focuses fast and has little distortion and chromatic aberration. It does flare some when pointed in the sun's direction but no more than most lenses. As an added bonus I discovered that it is excellent for close-up or macro shots. It actually focuses closer than any of my many other micro 4/3 and DSLR (Nikon D750) lenses. I can think of nothing bad to say about this lens. It will remain my primary travel lens. (Note: I recently purchased the Olympus Zuiko 17mm f1.2 Pro Lens to take the place of the Pan Leica. So far I like it very, very much but want to use it a bit more before I report on it's performance.) I have purchased almost all of my photo gear through B&H. I've always received excellent service, fast shipment, and appreciate the excellent prices and no shipping costs. You can't go wrong with B&H.

I finally caved on trying this lens as I wanted a all around walk around or travel lens. I'd had such lenses in the past and they were ALWAYS compromises. Usually at the long or wide end with either excessive distortion at the wide end or lack of significant sharpness at the long end. I was quite shocked to find out, after running it through a number of tests I run all my lenses through, that it essentially had NO bad habits. It is sharp across it's entire range. Doesn't have much if any distortion at the 12mm end either. The stability with this lens on an OM-1 is like being on a tripod. The build quality is easily equal to the finest that Sony, Canon and Nikon have to offer. Precision to say the least. It is NOT heavy by any means like some seem to feel. It was a ... MoreI finally caved on trying this lens as I wanted a all around walk around or travel lens. I'd had such lenses in the past and they were ALWAYS compromises. Usually at the long or wide end with either excessive distortion at the wide end or lack of significant sharpness at the long end. I was quite shocked to find out, after running it through a number of tests I run all my lenses through, that it essentially had NO bad habits. It is sharp across it's entire range. Doesn't have much if any distortion at the 12mm end either. The stability with this lens on an OM-1 is like being on a tripod. The build quality is easily equal to the finest that Sony, Canon and Nikon have to offer. Precision to say the least. It is NOT heavy by any means like some seem to feel. It was a bit pricey but it will reap the benefits when I'm out and about and don't wish to carry multiple lenses. The f4 thus far has not presented any issues as the stability for static subjects isn't a problem even in lower light. Highly recommended.

)I shoot wedding video. I rented the Olympus 12-100 multiple times before buying it. I use it for everything outdoors and for indoors by a window, such as bridal prep (I switch to faster primes for darker-lit ceremonies and receptions). I love that it allows me to reframe quickly. I achieve a nice shallow depth of field when using the long end of the lens. The short minimal focal distance makes it great for rings and invitations. The focus clutch and constant aperture are invaluable. I tried the Olympus 12-200, but the variable aperture was too much of a pain in the neck to deal with.