One Lens To Rule Them All - The Olympus M.Zuiko 12-100mm F/4 Pro

[@jonbarnard7186]

I love this lens too. I bought the OM-1 mainly because I needed a camera to mount the 12-100 on. It's my favorite lens and I've owned a lot of lenses over the years. I shoot it wide open most of the time. I've got very shaky hands and this combination serves me well. It makes a great travel lens.

[@LeighWPhotos]

I've been using the 40-150 this weekend and I really miss how stable the 12-100 is with Sync-IS! Such an amazing lens though - still seems to find it's way back into the camera as soon as it's able to for me!

[@robwilson4952]

Inspiring video Leigh. Thanks. I have the em5 mk iii & the 12-100 f4. Fabulous combo. Your shots are motivating me to do more walking-about-with-the-camera time.

[@LeighWPhotos]

Thanks Rob! Tracy uses that combo too and loves it too. Time out with the camera is definitely time well spent though!

[@3dtrip870]

Great pics at the end!

[@LeighWPhotos]

Thank you!

[@everydaygrandad5642]

Totally agree not used 12-40 since purchasing 👍

[@LeighWPhotos]

It's a bit of a gem of a lens isn't it?

[@21upbowls]

Some beautiful images Lee

[@LeighWPhotos]

Thank you!

[@DavidL5star]

I got the 12-100 at the Photo Show in Birmingham at a ridiculous price. It’s now my go to travel lens for general holiday pix. One body, one lens in a small bag and ideal for travel. I have the 12-40 and the 40-150 as well, but I use those for different things. Nice video.

[@LeighWPhotos]

It really is a jack of all trades and master of most of them isn't it? Mines rarely off the camera too!

[@CHfondue]

I just ordered the 12-100mm f4 and the OM-5. Great weather-sealed combo with fantastic stabilisation.

[@LeighWPhotos]

You're going to love that combo!

[@eeviewonders]

That handheld 15 sec shot is amazing 👍👍

[@LeighWPhotos]

Thanks Steve! If it wasn't for being nearly dark and the boat slightly bobbing in the wind it actually might have come off nicely as a shot but just the fact it managed it at all stunned me!

[@philmclean2323]

Evening Leigh. I have the em5 mkii & thought about upgrading to em1 mkii but decided to spend on a lens so got the 12-100 new & a used grip. Fell in love with the lens, a real Swiss army that never left me wanting anything more. Eventually got the em1 mkii & felt it a better combination & enjoyed the journey again with a new toy. While chatting to a couple one windy day atop a hill my tripod blew over leaving the camera a few yards away from its base still attached to the tripod, a horrible realisation that I had hurt my camera, felt awful. I fixed it, in a manner, but never trusted my fix on the tripod so bought a used em1x which had triggered my curiosity & was a cheaper option to the new OM1. It feels so good ergonomically & the 12-100 fits it perfectly & best of all the journey starts again. Cheers Phil.

[@LeighWPhotos]

It's definitely a great set up isn't it? It's been a fantastic 12 months with micro four-thirds for me and I'm looking forward to many years more with the system too - with the 12-100 always in the bag!

[@brianlaunchbury4491]

It's a remarkable lens. I loaned mine to my daughter, now I need to get another one!

[@LeighWPhotos]

One of those loans that you kind of wish came with a payment clause right? ;)

[@hangfire6368]

I'm considering an EM-1 III with a 12-100mm and maybe the Panasonic 9mm f/1.7. I'm currently using older Canon EF gear which I'll likely keep. Being able to capture everything with one camera and one lens is very appealing as an EDC rig. I'd also like to try some of the composite features with lunar through an adapted spotting scope at 800mm (1600mm equivalent).

[@LeighWPhotos]

What you've mentioned there is a fantastic combo - the Lumix 9mm is a gem of a lens and compliments the 12-100 perfectly! The E-M1 MK3 is a fantastic camera too with a lot of features that the MK2 didn't have.

[@ridealongwithrandy]

You are right ... This lens is glued on my second EM1X, Cheers!

[@LeighWPhotos]

Definitely punches well above it's weight doesn't it?

[@ViktorGartner]

I already had the 12-40 and 40-150 2.8 Pro (+1.4 TC) and only bought the 12-100 because I found it at a fantastic price used. I travelled Malaysia for three months and almost exclusively used the 12-100, its such as joy to use and the lens + body IBIS is great (although my hands are too shaky for seconds long exposures). I am seriously considering selling the other two PRO lenses and just getting a 17mm 1.8 and 45mm 1.8 prime to go along the 12-100

[@LeighWPhotos]

It really is that good isn't it? It's definitely a lens that gets stuck to my camera more than any other!

[@DavidL5star]

Just got the 12-100, not had time to use it yet. But I can see it pairing well with my 140-400 for most needs.

[@LeighWPhotos]

Mine is my go to lens most of the time now, between that and my 300 it covers almost all of the photography I do these days. I do have other lenses for using every now and then, but the 12-100 always goes back on after a shoot!

[@JeffreyJohnsonC]

12-100 f4 pro is possibly the best 24-200 equivalent lens of any brand.

[@LeighWPhotos]

Couldn't agree more! It's my go to lens every time I go out for anything remotely landscape these days!

[@abnerlu8798]

what editing app you used?

[@LeighWPhotos]

I use ART (Another Raw Therapee) for all my edits.

[@v3rshrik]

Hi Leigh thanks for sharing ur thoughts on the 12-100 I actually bought mine 2nd hand for a reasonable price mint and I’ve never used it would u believe had it for ages and about to use it for first time soon in landscape so very excited I will run it on a LUMIX G9 - I actually thought that was a so so lens so it looks like I will be proved wrong

[@LeighWPhotos]

Thanks William! The lens is definitely a gem, especially when paired with an Olympus camera as the Sync-IS really opens up some astounding opportunities!

[@colinwilkinson8383]

thought about the 12-100 but went for the 12-45 and 40-150 f4 both sharp liked the extra reach of the 40-150 especially when out on the hills ,the 12-45 is a good general purpose lens easy to carry

[@LeighWPhotos]

I was tempted by the 40-150 f/4 due to it's size but wanted to be able to use the teleconverters with the lens so had to opt for the f/2.8 version. The 12-45/40-150 combo is a great set up though!

[@alanneilson6811]

I got mine second hand last year mainly for travel and not wanting to carry a lot of lenses I have the 2.8 zooms and will keep them all. The 12_40 if want something a bit smaller faster. Probably don't use as much as I should. Thanks for the video 👍

[@LeighWPhotos]

Cheers Alan!

[@JohnOpie]

Truly amazing lens. Add to it the 7-14 and the 100-400 and you have the perfect travel combo. FF 14mm to 800mm and it all packs into a small package. That is what m4/3 is all about...

[@LeighWPhotos]

That's exactly it John! The full frame bodies may have shrunk in size but the lenses are still huge in comparison to M4/3 and that's still it's main advantage 👍

[@JohnOpie]

@@LeighWPhotos When you look at lenses like the 9mm f1.7 or the 75mm f1.8, let alone the 17mm f1.2, nothing compares.

[@formermpc10]

The Olympus 12-100 is very good, for m43.

[@LeighWPhotos]

My definite go to lens!

[@cliveturner6702]

Hi Leigh. I have had my 12-100 for a while now, but apart from a few test shots in the garden I've not been able to get out for some proper shooting as family life always seems to get in the way at the moment. I am looking forward to being able to get out in the near future, and your videos and images are a real inspiration to do so 👍

[@LeighWPhotos]

Thanks Clive! Hopefully you'll get the chance to get out more with the lens soon - I'm certain you're going to enjoy the experience!

[@LarryFasnacht]

You’re experience exactly mirrors my own, with one exception. I’m coming from Nikon.

[@LeighWPhotos]

It's a revelation isn't it?

[@tremaincheerful4189]

Great and informative review! However, I wish you had included exposure settings, focal length, etc. for the shots at the end of the video. That can be very educational as well as demonstrating what can be expected of the lens, regarding bokeh, etc. at different combinations. Thank you.

[@LeighWPhotos]

Thank you! I stopped sharing the exif data a while back as it adds so much time to producing the videos (like double!) and it makes producing them a pain so more time at the computer and less out shooting. I now just give general info as to what I'm shooting in the video to save myself time and get more time out with the camera on the weekend's when I get the chance...

[@maxzhang8996]

Hey Leigh! Nice video. I currently use the combo of OM-1 and the 60mm macro lens. Usually, I only keep one lens and your video made me feel like maybe I should sell the 60mm macro and buy the 12-100mm instead. I mainly shoot macro photography and use it to shoot some clips while traveling. Seems like the 12-100mm can also cover my macro needs. I even considered replacing the combo with the sony a6700 before watching your video LOL. Any suggestion? Thanks!

[@LeighWPhotos]

Hi! The 12-100 can do macro style of shots but for true macro you do need a lens like the 60mm which is fantastic at what it does! But, on the OM-1 the 12-100 is an astonishing set up and one I'd recommend anyone getting. But I'd still keep the 60mm macro for special occasions 😉

[@maxzhang8996]

Thank you so much Leigh! :-) Have a good day!@@LeighWPhotos

[@LeighWPhotos]

@@maxzhang8996you too Max!

[@davidcoote8395]

Love mine, its only off the camera when I go birding and I use the 40-150 f2.8 or 300 F4. It is a bit heavy, but as a travel and general purpose lenses I think it’s unbeatable.

[@LeighWPhotos]

Same for me - it's only if I'm doing something a little different like wildlife or close macro that it comes off!

[@smkunder1]

Really enjoying your videos, I also shoot Nikon full frame, but I am trying to transition more to M43. Seeing your work has been inspiring me to perfect my M43 skills

[@LeighWPhotos]

Thank you Steve! I have to admit I wasn't sure when I first started playing with M43 but the quality of the Olympus kit swayed me and when the OM1 was released it was the push I needed to ditch full frame completely!

[@Afriqueleblanq]

Great to hear a reviewer pronounce Nikon properly, and not like some inept "experts" from the far west.

[@LeighWPhotos]

😉😁

[@joshuaspop8865]

Fairly certain us yanks have earned our own dialect.

[@Afriqueleblanq]

​​@@joshuaspop8865It isn't about a dialect. It is about not changing names, and names have meaning. Respect others if you want them to respect you. You can always choose to appear as another dumb Murican, the choice is in your attitude.

[@garybrown9719]

Nice

[@LeighWPhotos]

Thanks Gary!

[@klackon1]

This video came out just at the right time for me. I'm replacing my 60mm f2.8 macro, 40 - 150mm f4 pro and 14 - 150mm f4 - f5.6 II with the new 90mm f3.5 macro and a secondhand 12 - 100mm f4 Pro in excellent condition. The 12 - 100mm f4 is compatible with 50fps, whereas the 40 - 150mm f4 Pro is restricted to 25fps. looking at my shots of butterflies/dragonflies/damselflies taking off/landing, the 50fps will be an advantage. The 12 - 100mm f4 will also take over party duties from my 14 - 150mm.

[@LeighWPhotos]

Definitely a great combo you'll have there! That 90mm macro looks like an absolute gem!

[@klackon1]

@@LeighWPhotos. Five months on and the 90mm f3.5 is my favourite macro lens of all time. I am also using my 12 - 100mm f4 with 10mm and 16mm extension tubes (at the same time) to compliment my 90mm macro (I own two OM1 bodies). It works well with my Meike 320P flash and KR90 diffuser. I use my 90mm for HiRes shots and in camera focus stacking.

[@Paul_anderson_creative]

Be nice to see the focal length of those shots... Cheers 👍

[@LeighWPhotos]

If I get time this week I'll upload them to my website with the exif data so you can see 👍

[@robertbester]

I only have a fixed lens bridge camera. Doesn't have manual focussing. Sorry. 😥

[@LeighWPhotos]

Nothing wrong with that at all Robert! You make great images with your camera and that's what's important!

[@matthiasschluter3060]

The 12-100 is a great lens "for nearly all situations", but I use also the olympus 12-40, ....it's sharper !

[@LeighWPhotos]

The 12-40 definitely has the performance sharpness wise I will admit, but for the sort of photography I tend to do I find the 12-100 suits my needs better which is why I sold mine.

[@mawavoy]

That lens with a 2x converter would be a killer!

[@LeighWPhotos]

I do wish it was compatible - would be an amazing range then!

[@lp67O]

Buy 12-200 instead. 24-200/8 is nonsense. The main idea of 12-100 is not to detach lenses every time.

[@mawavoy]

@@lp67O , I would agree except for the fact, the 12-200 is not a “pro” lens. The 12-100 has that designation .

[@OutRAjious]

but i don’t understand … M43 F4 is ff F8….. and that’s a no bokeh right? how can that be a great thing ? It can’t be good for portraits?

[@LeighWPhotos]

You'd be surprised at what it can achieve! M43 gets a lot more than you'd think, even at f/4¡

[@NakuIsHere]

f8 in terms of depth of field but not light gathering abilities

[@dirkvanhoorn2105]

Light gathering with this lens is excellent. Due ti ISsync you can shoot with long shuttertimes out of hand with excellent results I use this lens approx 3 years as my favourite lens and i never had a shortage of light. ​@@NakuIsHere

[@garybrown9719]

Thinking of selling my 12-100mm I like 12-60mm so going to get the 12-40mm

[@LeighWPhotos]

12-40 is a great walk around lens!

[@garybrown9719]

Makes me want to get out

[@LeighWPhotos]

Do it! You won't regret it!

[@RamblingTog]

It's too heavy especially for hill walking and you can't see your feet when descending

[@LeighWPhotos]

Never found the weight and issue with it - still lighter than my full frame gear was too!

[@RamblingTog]

@@LeighWPhotos I flogged mine and went back to the 12-40