Olympus has added to its F1.2 PRO lens range, introducing the M.Zuiko Digital ED 17mm f/1.2 PRO and 45mm f/1.2 PRO lenses, price tag £1,299.99 and £1,199.99, respectively.
The duo of new Olympus lenses are all about bokeh and boast a lightweight, dust-proof, splash-proof and freeze-proof design.
M.Zuiko Digital ED 17mm F1.2 PRO
The M.Zuiko 17mm f/1.2 PRO (34mm equivalent) is aimed at landscape and documentary photographers. It employs aspherical lens elements and includes newly developed ED-DSA (Extra-low Dispersion Dual Super Aspherical) lenses, which Olympus says it is the first manufacturer to successfully mass produce.
ED-DSA lens elements allow a reduction in the number of lenses used and make it possible to manufacture lighter optics with a similar overall length to the M.Zuiko Digital ED 25mm F1.2 PRO, Olympus says.
They also help reduce aberrations common to wide-angle optics, such as chromatic aberration, distortion and colour bleeding.
The M.Zuiko Digital ED 17mm F1.2 PRO has a closest focusing distance of 20cm and a maximum image magnification of 0.15x.
Key Specs
- Maximum aperture ratio: F1.2
- Minimum aperture ratio: F16
- Lens construction: 15 elements in 11 groups
- Z Coating Nano technology
- Dustproof, splashproof and freezeproof (-10°C).
- Angle of view: 65 degrees
- Closest focusing distance: 0.2m
- Maximum image magnification: 0.15x, (35mm equivalent approx. 0.3x)
- Minimum shooting range: 115.3×86.7mm
- Number of aperture blades: 9 (circular aperture diaphragm)
- Dimensions: Diameter 68.2 × 87mm
- Weight: 390g
- Filter size Diameter: 62mm
M.Zuiko Digital ED 45mm F1.2 PRO
The 90mm equivalent M.Zuiko Digital ED 45mm f/1.2 PRO is a medium telephoto lens aimed at professionals and again Olympus has placed the lens elements to allow for a more lightweight design and keep aberrations at bay.
The M.Zuiko Digital ED 45mm F1.2 PRO has a closest focusing distance of 50cm and a maximum image magnification of 0.1x.
Key Specs
- Maximum aperture ratio: F1.2
- Minimum aperture ratio: F16
- Lens construction: 14 elements in 10 groups
- Z Coating Nano technology
- Dustproof, splashproof and freezeproof (-10°C).
- Angle of view: 27 degrees
- Closest focusing distance: 0.5m
- Maximum image magnification: 0.1x (35mm equivalent approx. 0.2x)
- Minimum shooting range:
- 173 x 130mm
- Number of aperture blades: 9 (circular aperture diaphragm)
- Dimensions: Diameter 70 × 84.9mm
- Weight: 410g
- Filter size Diameter: 62mm
Design-wise, Olympus has placed the focusing ring on both lenses (and all its F1.2 PRO optics) at the front of the lens to make focusing easier.
And an MF Clutch mechanism allows photographers to instantly switch between auto and manual focusing mode by pulling the focusing ring towards them.
Both the Olympus 17mm f/1.2 PRO release date will be March 2018, while the 45mm f/1.2 PRO release date will be December 2017.