No really, of any Olympus lens that we tested, this one’s hit rate was amongst the highest. To be clear, we usually test our lenses by manually selecting a focusing point after framing a scene, then focusing and releasing the shutter. Stopping the lens down makes it marginally sharper, but there really isn’t any point once again. At f4 you start to see diffraction due to the Micro Four Thirds size sensor. Color Rendition This Olympus lens has been long-awaited by the Micro 4/3 community, and I am pleased to say that Olympus delivered the goods. We expect most folks to autofocus with this lens and manually select the focusing point though. Build Quality Wide open, this lens is a complete stunner. After my first day of shooting in natural light, I concluded that there really isn’t any point in stopping the lens down. When a strobe was mixed in, I stopped it down or tried to get the light to output at f1.8 at ISO 200.

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 25 mm F1.8 Lens, Fast Fixed Focal

See the full size files below from each lens at apertures from 1.4 to 1.8 to 5.6..the Panasonic does not appear to be any sharper than the Olympus here: Like many other Olympus Micro Four Thirds prime lenses, the new 25mm ƒ/1.8 lens is very small and lightweight (about 2 inches long and only 136g). However, there is a nice solidness and a bit of heft, which gives it an enjoyable, high-quality and well-built feel. Despite its ultra wide-angle design, the M.Zuiko Digital ED 8-25mm F4.0 PRO lens is 72mm filter-compatible, allowing the use of PL or ND filters. This provides more versatility, potentially minimizing glare and reflections, and enhancing the final look of an image. Other Features Less color fringing than the Panasonic even when both are shot on a Panasonic body (I tested both on my GX7 as well as E-M1)

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While in line with this thinking, one can then make a logical conclusion that it’s tougher to get something out of focus with a Micro Four Thirds camera than it is with a full frame or APS-C offering–and they’d be completely correct.

Olympus 25mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko Digital - Digital Cameras, Digital

Olympus OMD EM5– Most folks own the EM5, and believe us when we say that you won’t want to take the lens off the camera. Please Support The Phoblographer The lens design includes 9 lens elements in 7 groups and has 2 aspherical glass elements to prevent aberration. You will not encounter lateral chromatic aberration, red and blue edges at sharp contrast transitions, with the Olympus 25 mm f/1.8 – not in the jpg files from the camera and not in RAW files that you open in Lightroom or Photoshop. In both cases, any chromatic aberration is corrected by the camera. But in this case, that’s not needed. This is a good lens design, because if we remove the software correction for chromatic aberration we still don’t find any lateral chromatic aberration. The problem with your present lens, from a product photography standpoint (besides not being true macro), is diffraction. In 35mm film, we thought of f8 as the sweet spot for most lenses. In m4/3, that tends to be around f4 (I find the 12-40mm f2.8 Pro lens works best wide open). f5.6 usually works OK, but things get noticeably softer above f8. So your 14-42mm lens's maximum aperture already is near the diffraction limit for the m4/3 format. It's just a matter of physics.As is typically the case, I was thoroughly pleased to have the weather-sealed construction. Not only did it offer some protection and peace of mind as I photographed nearby a local waterfall, but it also fended off an unexpected rainstorm with ease. The fluorine coating on the front element also came in handy, as I could easily wipe away water spray from the waterfall.

Review: Olympus M.Zuiko 25mm f/1.8 - Admiring Light Review: Olympus M.Zuiko 25mm f/1.8 - Admiring Light

Sharp wide open throughout most of the frame with both near and far targets. Overall sharper than the Panasonic Leica 25mm f/1.4 (which I will compare to on several points below) when you consider edge performance.On the very end of the lens, Olympus has included a bayonet-style cover ring, or "decoration ring" in Olympus lingo, that's designed to cover the grooves for attaching a lens hood. This is just for a bit of added style, but if you use a lens hood (which is also included in the box) I can see this item getting lost quite easily. Olympus OMD EM1– The company’s current flagship OMD camera is also the one that it will focus fastest with as well have the best image quality with.