Today in our test studio very unusual lens. This Olympus lens review M. ED 12-50mm f / 3.5-6.3 EZ. If you are used to assess the capabilities of the lens on the formal characteristics that are encrypted in the title, I do not recommend you to the preliminary findings of the model without having read all of our test. In M. Zuiko Digital 12-50mm a few trump cards in his pocket.
Frankly, looking at the parameters of intensity and range of focal lengths, I almost did not take this M. Zuiko Digital 12-50mm for the usual “kit” – an inexpensive lens with compromise image quality and low price, which is usually equipped with entry-level cameras. But the unusual appearance and high for “whale” price clearly indicated: there is some kind of trick.
Olympus lens review M. ED 12-50mm f / 3.5-6.3 EZ
So, the first unusual feature Olympus lens review M. ED 12-50mm f / 3.5-6.3 EZ – Motorized zoom, as indicated by the letters in the name of EZ. This is a very handy feature for videographers. Zooming in the recording mode can be done very smoothly, and though completely silent. Responsible for managing the servo … that’s right, the zoom ring! In the position of E-ZOOM is converted into an electronic selector. Enough to slightly move it to the right or to the left to the motor inside the lens began zooming. Zoom speed depends on the displacement of the ring. At the time of the zoom autofocus does not work, but after re instantly finds sharpness.
Electronic zoom is certainly convenient when shooting video, but may be totally inapplicable in the photo. It also took into account the developers. Costs just pull the ring on his own and that’s with a little click, it goes to position M-ZOOM – manual zoom. By the way, neither during zooming or when focusing the lens dimensions do not change any part of it is not nominated and do not rotate.
But that’s not all the secrets that are hidden in this lens. Fans of Olympus certainly noted a resemblance Olympus lens review M. ED 12-50mm f / 3.5-6.3 EZ with the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 60mm F / 2.8 Macro. It is not a coincidence! The hero of our today’s test is almost a macro lens.
To start shooting macro, you must first turn on the macro mode on the lens. Press the appropriate button on the body and translate the zoom ring to the maximum of his own. A moment within the housing servos move the lens, and this is our macro lens ready to shoot! Its focal length – 43 mm and the minimum focusing distance – about 7 inches from the front of the lens, or about 17 cm from the plane of the array.
Of course, he was not available to shoot in the scale of 1: 1. To do this, the system has a special macro lens. However, using the M. Zuiko Digital 12-50mm can get the same size of the plan, as a real macro lens on a full frame DSLR, but the depth of field will be more (in the context of the macro is the undisputed advantage). You can shoot as colors and objects, as well as bugs. Zoom shooting enough.
But to return to the normal shooting by disabling the macro mode. Olympus lens review M. ED 12-50mm f / 3.5-6.3 EZ has a convenient focal range suitable for most creative tasks. But with the aperture, things are not so good. If the wide angle is relatively high, the tele its value is only f / 6,3, which is not so much by the standards of modern optics. So a strong background blur have to forget. You can get it only in macro mode or taking off from a very short distance.
On the sharpness of any problems with this lens is not. At wide-angle already on the aperture it provides excellent detail in the center of the frame and only slightly lower edge sharpness. Iris on stage allows you to make the corners and edges of the frame noticeably sharper.
In telephoto situation is similar: already on the sharpness of the lens aperture is high by the standards of zoom. It’s nice that even in difficult subjects lens is not prone to the appearance of chromatic aberration (color fringes on the borders of contrast, for example, around the branches of trees). This image has a high contrast.
Backlight lens also keeps well, while maintaining a high contrast and preventing flare. However, the chance to catch the glare still persists. So try to avoid contact with the sun in the corner of the frame.
In this paper, Olympus lens review M. ED 12-50mm f / 3.5-6.3 EZ very pleasant. Autofocus, as the absolute majority of lenses, quick and quiet. And it concerns including macro mode. If the majority of DSLRs, I still prefer the manual focus, then Olympus M. ED 12-50mm f / 3.5-6.3 EZ comfortable to work in the AF mode.
An important detail: the lens barrel, though mostly made of plastic, has a dust and moisture, allowing you to use it safely, even in the most adverse conditions. Of course, Mokau it in water is not necessary. But the morning mist and rain day he will survive easily.
The main body of the lens except the Macro is also programmable button L-Fn. By default, it is responsible for the focus lock mode servo AF. But the camera menu it is possible to assign one of the many alternative functions. For example, often shooting macro, I have appointed this button repeater function of the diaphragm.
CONCLUSIONS – Olympus lens review M. ED 12-50mm
Olympus lens review M. ED 12-50mm f / 3.5-6.3 EZ – this lens for all occasions, which is always on hand and always ready to shoot in any genre. That this is his greatest asset. Let’s start with the focal length range: it is equally convenient for landscape shots, and for photographing close-ups. Macro for it is not a problem. Reproduction ratio is sufficient for photographing flowers as well as bugs, and fast and accurate autofocus lets you capture beautiful images quickly and easily. Amateur video recording will appreciate a smooth zoom with variable speed by using the E-Zoom, almost like a camcorder. Add the pluses model protection against dust and moisture: you can shoot even in the worst weather! Within two weeks of testing this “universal soldier” I found him only one serious drawback – it is a relatively low luminosity, which may interfere with shooting in low-light and will not allow much to blur the background in the pictures. However, for those who want more, produced a fast lens Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f / 2.8 PRO.
Pros Olympus lens review M. ED 12-50mm:
- Dust and moisture protection;
- No protruding parts;
- motorized zoom;
- ability to manually zoom;
- convenient range of focal lengths;
- macro mode;
- fast autofocus;
- programmable button on the body;
- high for the zoom focus.
Cons Olympus lens review M. ED 12-50mm:
- relatively low luminosity;
- catches glare backlit.
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