Photography News | Issue 34 | absolutephoto.com
34
Review
Lens special
Olympus We speak to Olympus’s marketing manager Georgina Pavelin and Olympus user Robert Pugh to find out more about the Olympus Micro Four Thirds and Four Thirds lenses
Words by Jemma Dodd
The Olympus lens range boasts more than 70 Micro Four Thirds and Four Thirds lenses, which includes the Premium and Pro lens range for Pen and OM-D systems. Olympus lenses are known for their compact and lightweight designs while still offering top-grade optical performance. Marketing manager Georgina Pavelin named Olympus’s most popular lenses as the ultra wide- angle zoom and macro lenses. “It is apparent in photographers’ images that the lenses are proving to be very popular at the moment, as people are becoming more confident in them,” says Georgina. “It very much depends on what people are shooting but the importance of portability is definitely reflected,” she tells us. When it comes to lens technology Olympus lenses offer an advanced ZERO (Zuiko Extra-Low Reflection Optical) coating and a high-grade construction with solid metal or metal-like finish. “This coating cuts the reflectance of wavelengths between 450 and 650nm in half to ensure clear imaging performance even under unfavourable conditions, such as when shooting against the light.
“The ZERO coating is an application of the thin film control technology that Olympus originally developed for the multilayer film deposition technology for microscopes. As well as offering clear images, this technology also helps maintain the lens’s low reflectivity by preventing scratches anddegradationdue to the enhanced strength and durability made possible by vacuum deposition. “There are more great features and technology built into the lenses; from their robust construction though to quiet AF, but for me, it’s how such complexities can be housed so compactly. Weight is crucial, especially when travelling and shooting for longer periods – I love the freedom and flexibility our M.Zuiko lenses bring without compromising on performance and power. The edge-to-edge sharpness you get with M.Zuiko lenses is also a key factor,” says Georgina. The most recent lens launch was the M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm f/4 IS Pro, which offers a 35mm equivalent focal length of 600mm and it seems it’s gone down a storm with Olympus users. “It was extremely well received – so much so that it is still on back order!”
Images Olympus user Robert Pugh is a great fan of the classy prime lenses available for Olympus Micro Four Thirds cameras.
I love the freedom and flexibility our M.Zuiko lenses bring without compromising on performance
“Several of our photographers have tested the 300mm and the results are fantastic, we also try to arrange to make it available for events so that customers can test it out – you really do need to see it in the flesh to appreciate just how compact it is and the quality of the shots it can achieve. It really emphasises the portability demand and supports the Micro Four Thirds system,” Georgina tells us. When asked what type of lenses Olympus users are calling out for, Georgina tells us it’s fast prime
lenses and fixed aperture zooms that are top of the list. “Olympus listens to its users and we hope that the series of lenses currently available demonstrates this. Technology and demand is ever evolving and our aim is to meet the needs of our customers. There is a focal length for any situation, photographers can get to know what’s available via our events or even try a selection with our Test & Wow campaign.”
Featured lens
M.ZuikoDigital 45mmf/1.8 £179 Stylishly designed at an affordable price, this high‑power prime lens is ideal for capturing portrait shots with nice background blur and vivid contrast, thanks shooting top‑quality video with extremely fast focus capability, it is packed in a compact body featuring a metal‑like finish and interchangeable decorative rings to perfectly fit your camera. to its fast aperture. Apart from being compatible for
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