Why This Is An Awesome Kit Lens - Olympus 12-50mm

[@AlGreenLightThroughGlass]

It has a smooth internal zoom and is beautifully made - I never outgrew it.

[@weldonf4081]

Hi Robin, Have the new Olympus people FINALLY come to their senses and hired you as their ambassador again? I sure hope so. For many years now, you have given us the best reviews of Olympus cameras, lenses and other gear. I sure hope that you are back with Olympus.

[@guygaron1162]

A few weeks back, I wrote to OM-Systems America to specifically make the point on the poor support they gave to Robin. They answered saying they would would forward my complain to their HQ. Hope many followers would do the same!

[@robinwong]

@@guygaron1162 fun fact - OM System America is in charge of "English Speaking" photographers/ambassadors/creators. Go figure, who else are they forwarding the email to?

[@robinwong]

Thanks WeldonF, and no worries, the past is the past and I have got to move forward. More content coming, I am not going anywhere, and I will continue to shoot with my Olympus gear. I want to believe that matters!

[@xavierlaw]

can't agree more 👍

[@Master-tu4kd]

Hello Robin, Thanks for this review. You mention that the other two lenses are optically better better, in dynamic range, no chromatic aberration and so on, however, what makes a good lens is the over all character of the pictures, the colour reproduction, the background blur quality, but above all how the images make one feel in seeing them, the artistic quality in them, which is the result of the lens. I believe this lens produces better results than those other two lenses mentioned.

[@KevinBurns]

Great overview Robin, the 12-50 (weather sealed) kit lens is a great all-rounder paired with 40-150 (plastic fantastic) to keep a travelling bag kit small and light.

[@robinwong]

Very good combo indeed! 12-50mm and 40-150mm, super light and compact, with crazy reach!

[@banaana1234]

My family bought the original OM-D E-M5 back in the day with exactly these lenses (the 40-150 was free as part of some sort of extra deal for those who bought the kit), and it has served us very well as travel combo to this day.

[@jesseespinosa3325]

I have been loving mine for several years now, it also has internal zoom so it doesn't extend when zooming

[@scooby0000]

Good review. Thank you. 👍. Great advantage is the macro ability and it has (imo) ibis. And the optics are great. It has a ED element in it, which is great. But yes, it’s lot bigger than the other small zoom lenses, you mentioned, but they all have no macro ability.

[@johnallen3423]

It is a hidden gem of lens......yes an updated version is a good idea

[@robinwong]

Yeah we need that upgrade

[@irishrose89775]

Love the weather sealing on the lens! Great video Robin.

[@robinwong]

This is the cheapest weather-sealed lens for Micro Four Thirds!

[@JimJonesJr]

This was my first Olympus lens. Loved it!

[@robinwong]

Glad you love it!

[@acrummey85]

I like this lens, I’ve owned it for ten years. I now just use it for my KZbin videos, or when I am out in harsh weather conditions. Great video Robin.

[@bentaylor3984]

I have two of them, and yet you point out features I was not aware of. Thank you Robin.

[@default9740]

Hi Robin, hope you’re doing well. I used this lens and the compact Olympus 75-300 on a 10 week backpacking trip in Europe, on an E-M1. Really practical set up. Just packing for Japan, settled on my GF-7, and 2 primes: 20/1.7 pancake and 45/1.8. Found this 12-50 in a random drawer while looking for something else, attached to an EPL2! In the wee bag it goes, will be great for sightseeing and skiing in the Japanese winter.

[@thomasli2561]

Thank you Robin. I hope OM-D will accept your recommendation and make a new version of this lens

[@robinwong]

Thanks Thomas!

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

Yes this is an awesome lens. Watching now for self validation of an opinion I have had for many years. I think since I first purchased my Em1 Mk1. Some of the things I liked about it is weather sealing. Macro feature, wide to tele zoom and not to terribly slow. Can even get some bokeh at longer end. Also the electronic zoom for video work is handy. I know when I purchased this lens it essentially replaced my E3 kit with the 11-22, 14-54 and 50mm macro lens. That was a lot of weight removed from my lens bag. I am with you on seeing a newer Mk2 version.

[@robinwong]

Oooooo I had the 11-22mm and 50mm macro! Such awesome lenses

[@bentaylor3984]

Hi Robin, so glad you decided to review the 12-50mm, I thought I was the only one who appreciated it? I have two in two different “grab and go” kits. I agree with you that this a very versatile alternate to the kit lens supplied

[@holycrapghosttv]

Yes love this lens I bought it for $130 on eBay been my favorite lense .thanks for your review on this video made me think about purchasing this lens glad I did asome! Keep up the good review.have a great asome day!👍😉

[@aznamo3000]

This lens has been with me on many travels from the time I bought the E-M5 ten years ago. The Lumix 20mm f1.7 accompanies it for low light. Priceless memories came out of this combo. Nowadays the E-M5 Mk.III + 12-45mm f4.0 & 17mm f1.7 combo is my go to travel kit.

[@robinwong]

Glad you found a lot of use with the 12-50mm!

[@clintjohnson2460]

You definitely hit all the highlights on this lens Robin. When I first started picking up a micro four thirds system, I was a little sad because I couldn't afford all my other gear plus buying the 12-40 2.8 So based on David Thorpe's recommendation I bought one of these here in the US for about $100. I'm going to call that the best $100 I've ever spent on photo gear. A few weeks after getting it I went out and shot at some sand dunes and I also had the 12-32 Panasonic. I never even took the the Panasonic out of my bag and it was jammed full of sand and ruined, but the Olympus not only survived the day but return some great photos. I recently picked up the 12-45 compact Pro lens and just for kicks shot pictures side by side versus the 12-50. To my surprise they were remarkably close. I can easily recommend this lens for either Olympus or Panasonic users.

[@robinwong]

Wow, only USD100, that is a great bargain, lucky you! Yes the image quality from the 12-50mm is quite good, but I'd say the PRO lenses are superior of course, but you have got to pixel peep to see the difference. If you don't then they are very identical!

[@alangamble3236]

Hi Robin I got this lens when I purchased an EM5 mkii second hand and knew nothing of the lens.the camera body was sold some time back….replaced with the EM5 mkiii but I kept the lens. I actually find the macro facility easy to focus than the 60mm Oly macro…it must be the way I use it! I have now attached it to the EM1 mk1 …a silver version which I purchased recently and it suits it well. Good to see that you got an ‘apology’ video from Casey. Your knowledge of the Olympus system has been invaluable to me…often revisiting your previous videos. Keep up the great content.

[@robinwong]

Thanks Alan. I am fine with Kasey's video and I did not feel offended at all. No harm done really

[@stephanweiskorn6760]

Excellent video 😮!

[@strokeracer]

MY 14-42 just died ( aperture blades not working ) andI'm about to get a used one of these sweating on my decision! but this video has made feel a bit more confident thanks Robin.

[@nlanca1]

Good to see this lens talked about in 2022. I had one with my original EM5 in 2013, I sold it then bought a s/hand one a couple of years later. Its relatively inexpensive, has a brilliant zoom range, the weather sealing, etc. is all useful. It is large but light so fine on the EM5 or 10 series. What is not to like about it if you usually use primes, but want a low-priced zoom for those days when you only want to carry the one lens that does pretty well everything to a reasonable standard?

[@ToKanaliMou]

Omg. I have this lens for ten years now and shoot with it daily. Hundreds of photos daily. The absolute work horse for me. I have the 12-40, I have the 1.4 Sigma lenses, but nothing compares with this diamond. I work with cars and I'm shooting for hours daily.. Paired with the EM5 mkII I'm able to shoot more, zoom one handed and get the focus right almond all the time. For more professional jobs, of course it stays home. But given the fact that I shot thousands of cars and all where (eventually) sold, I can recommend it with great confidence, for every scenario. As long as there is available light.

[@robinwong]

Thanks George for sharing your experience! Glad to find someone shooting extensively with the 12-50mm

[@ToKanaliMou]

@@robinwong I'm just sharing my experience Robin. Just as everyone says.. the right tool for the right job. This lens, even it's far from perfect, it's the best for my conditions. As for all the camera systems, and Olympus specifically. Find the pros and cons firstly and then find all the workarounds to make the system the best for you. Can't think I'll work with an other system anytime soon, cause I've done what needed to be done to make my Olympus system best for me. Cheers!

[@CarmineTavernaPhotography]

awesome content, thank you sir

[@robinwong]

Thanks Carmine!

[@darleenlee9125]

Hi Robin, you are my go to for camera & photography advise. I dug out this old kit lens after seeing this video and I must say I’ve very happy with the Macro photos I took yesterday! I’ve much to learn so I’m rewatching your videos again! You are so inspirational 🫶🏼

[@thirstly]

This is my favorite lens!!!! What drew me to it was the zoom motors but the image quality and macro capabilities have blown me away! For most of my applications I can’t see a difference in sharpness between this and the 12mm prime

[@robinwong]

The 12-50mm is very sharp at wide end 12mm, and it gets worse as you zoom to telephoto. But I'd say 12mm F2 is still superior!

[@christinecoughlan4699]

Thank you Robin .

[@robinwong]

Thanks Christine, glad I can share

[@gordonmiller4439]

Nice information on the lens, Robin!

[@tonyb4326]

I have this lens, it is a hidden gem, not perfect has you say but it does a lot for the price you pay for it, I highly recommend it for budget conscious photographers in the M 4/3 system.

[@matblack8479]

Great review Robin. I've had this lens for 7 years. My take on it: Pros: -Weather sealing is excellent. I've used in the falling snow, rain and ocean. -Image quality at the wide end is fine, average from 40 up -Macro function is ok for photo & very good for video. -Ezoom is good for video but a bit too fast for my liking. -Very strong build. I dropped it on hard sandstone with no damage at all. Cons: -Image quality is terrible with dark filters/long exposures. -Colours aren't as natural as other lenses and gradation not as good. -I'd prefer a max focal length of 40 or 35mm and improve optical quality, especially given that 40-50mm is covered by other lenses.

[@robinwong]

Thanks for sharing your experience Mat! I did not know the build quality is that good, that is interesting. I guess Olympus tried to differentiate their line of products, of course the secret sauce and great optics all go to the PRO lenses!

[@matblack8479]

@@robinwong Yes it's very well built. I agree with your review. Thanks for uploading it, it's made me appreciate this lens a lot more

[@WoodyDemon6421win]

Robin, love the energy and enthusiasm. I’ve had a few adventures and misadventures with Olympus gear since the original Pen. However persisted as M4/3 is ideal for travel.Compact minimal weight and versatile. Bonus terrific images. Currently own the EM10 mkii l won’t be giving it the H2O test! But… Yes there is some terrific glass ‘available’. Olympus has some very decent kit lenses including the model featured on your video which are affordable. Once you start talking prime lenses the prices become almost exponential particularly the Pro range. The glass ceiling so too speak.

[@DeMorcan]

A Panasonic 12-60 (kit not the Leica) lives on my EM10II. I found it optically better than the 12-50. Mine came with a G9 long ago. Ended up with an EM1II but kept the lens. It does not have the weather sealing, but I use my EM1s in bad weather.

[@chainsov]

Yeah, the 12-60 is awesome, I am surprised how often I use the 60mm,

[@robinwong]

Thanks for sharing DeMorcan, and it is really too bad the Panasonic 12-60mm is not weather-sealed, else it could have been a solid replacement/alternative.

[@stevew179]

I've been using this in my em-10 for a few years, got it 2nd hand for a good price. totally agree with your findings and also think your mk ii suggestions would be just amazing.

[@robinwong]

Thanks Stephen, glad to know you also use one!

[@cvrkku]

Considering getting this one + a 45mm f1.8 as first lenses for an OMD EM1. What do you think?

[@bmiller025]

Thanks for doing this video, Robin. I bought this lens a few years ago primarily for video use, and it works beautifully for that. It also works well for informal use, where image quality is not the priority, and the macro works quite well as well. Soon after I bought it though, it developed ribbon cable failure, and the repair cost more than I paid for the lens. Ah, well. I still have it, and use it regularly. It may be longer than the other kit lenses, but it is very lightweight, and is easy to carry.

[@robinwong]

Yeah the electronic zoom lenses do have chances of failures. I am lucky mine still works fine after all these years of abuse (if you know me you know I am not that gentle with my gear)

[@guzziknight]

This has been my main lens for several years. I love it and all the features you pointed out here. I don’t shoot video, so that’s not a factor for me. The image quality is perfectly fine for what I do. I don’t print big images, the bulk of my photos go online, but when I have printed images, they’ve always turned out great.

[@robinwong]

I think even if you print medium size, within the limitation of the camera pixel count, you can get very decent results!

[@carmenfissenden2530]

There is a place for this lens if looking for an affordable weather prof lens to match em5 or similar . Of course a prime lens is always going to outshine this lens , but for street and monochrome work this is worth having if on a budget or find the pro lenses too expensive or too big for em10 bodies . Robin , this was a helpful review of options open to us when looking for a zoom to consider . Thanks again for an informative introduction to the lens that may lead to them reading a review or two before getting this lens if it appeals .

[@speedboard.]

This is my favorite lens for Burning Man because it has internal zoom to protect against the dust. I bring it with my Leica 8-18 and my Lumix 35-100 which are also internal zoom, and my Voigtländer 17.5 mm f0.95 for night shots.

[@oppimaniac]

Clearly underated. M5 and 12-50. Rugged combo.

[@robinwong]

Indeed, a great combo!

[@xmeda]

Okay, bought one. With EPL-6 for $70 (!!!) equivallent :D Macro function is interesting. Motorized zooming also, although a bit cumbersome as it likes to switch to manual zoom easily. Optically it seems to be about similar to 14-42/3.5-5.6. For that price it is no-brainer. But I cannot imagine paying the full price for new one. So now I have manually extending/zooming 14-42/3.5-5.6, 12-50/3.5-6.3, 14-150/4-5.6 and mighty 12-100/4 :D They all have som advantages and disadvantages. 14-42 kitlens is small and light, but has no sealing and feels very plastic-ky. It also needs to add at least 40-150/4-5.6 into bag to cover longer end. 12-50 is a bit wider which is nice, it might be fine for video outside and some "macro" closeup shots, has WR, but still lacks the long end, so 40-150 should be in bag. It is a bit similar like Sigma 17-70/2.8-4.5 which also is cca 25-105 eq. FOV, but a bit faster. 14-150 is perfect light universal all-in-one lens, but still with compact dimensions and very acceptable weight + has sealing. And finally 12-100/4 is optically superior beast with excellent build quality, but a bit too heavy to take it everywhere. More likely for planned shooting when I go to some event and I want to have good pics. Ideally accompanied with 75-300 in bag.

[@weisserth]

I got this lens with the original E-M5 in a kit. I still have it. It got discontinued by Olympus a good while ago. It’s the only small, weather sealed lens option in the m.Zuiko lens line-up with a generally useful focus range which made it such a great kit lens design for the E-M5. I think Olympus may have discontinued this lens on purpose, so they can sell more 12-40mm Pro (and now the 12-45mm Pro) lenses in kits with E-M5 II and III bodies. I found the 12-50mm to be a decent performer. It’s sharp, there’s noticeable barrel distortion at the wide end, which is correctable in post. Overall I would recommend to get this lens if you don’t intend to sink the money in a short focal range Pro lens, just so you have a weather sealed lens when you don’t want to lug around the 12-100 Pro (which is a MUCH better lens, but that’s besides the point).

[@robinwong]

Oh my the 12-100mm PRO is a different category overall more superior, but it is also like 5 times bigger! And yes for what it is the 12-50mm does its job really well.

[@robertcudlipp3426]

Thanks Robin, must be both a versatile and good I.Q. lens. Major issue is that I have never seen Any advertised in the last 3/4 years, perhaps I have not trawled EBay etc, also, both yourself and Robin Trek have given praise to the 14-42 and I will never be a pixel peeper.

[@1957PLATO]

This lens brings a lot to the table, it seems.

[@markellsworth980]

I could not agree more. I have been shooting this lens for eight years, along with seven others, and I have gotten far more out of it than the unremarkable apertures would have suggested. It came on-camera with OM-D I got in 2014. If I need fast apertures, I use the primes, all of which are faster than the pro zooms. As often, the 12-50mm mZuiko kit lens (silent electric zoom, video friendly, two speeds, weather-sealing, 24mm equivalent angle of view far more useful than 28mm angle, the semi-macro clutch) delivers a remarkable degree of VERSATILITY not available in any other lens. Although the primes are sharper, these Optics do not disappoint for the size of the prints I am after some days. So yeah. It depends. The lens works very well in the space it was designed to fill, well above ordinary kit lenses, that themselves are not actually bad.

[@robinwong]

Thanks Mark, you are right, it is the versatility that makes this lens shine, it does a lot for a kit lens! And I am happy to hear you have had a lot of good results from 12-50mm.

[@ordinosaurs]

Another reason to love this lens is the AF speed. It's incredibly fast to focus at any f/length.

[@dougcooper4917]

Great Video, and Great Review.

[@robinwong]

Thanks Doug!

[@karlrichards]

If you like a 12-60. The Panasonic Leica 12-60 has all those features, weather sealing, close focus and a longer reach.

[@robinwong]

Not true. The 12-60mm is a great lens, I am sure it is better optically than the 12-50mm, but it lacks macro (not even close to what the 12-50mm can do), electronic zoom for video and lens L-Fn button.

[@karlrichards]

@@robinwong Yes it hasn't got the function button or electronic zoom but it gets equally close with a tighter angle of view.

[@hauke3644]

That was my first mft lens and the main lens for some years. In the living room I have a photo printed about a sq. meter that I had taken with it. I was always happy with the image quality on the short end of the range, but beyond 30mm it’s really soft, not only when pixel-peeping. But there we have the 45mm/1.8 and the 40-150mm as budget options to fix this. I really do miss the the macro option on the pro kit lenses which I use currently!

[@robinwong]

Thanks Hauke for sharing your thoughts. Yes the lens is not stellar optically, but it does compensate by trying to do a lot, and having versatile features.

[@AndriiPyndyk]

I've got this lens on stock clearance bundled with EM-5 Mk2 for about 900 dollars. For 4 years, this lens with Pana 25 f/1.7 were my go-to choices - I don't need big 12-100 range (and big price) and don't need telephoto 75-300, 'cause I have two legs. Panasonic 25 covers low-light situations and those times when I need portrait photos, for all else I have 12-50, and it gets much more than I need (for the most part - only photos for Instagram)

[@robinwong]

Thanks for sharing Andrii and glad to know that you have used the 12-50mm extensively!

[@tonigenes5816]

Very interesting review, Robin ! For the price and what it offers, this lens is very nice.

[@robinwong]

Thanks Toni, and yes it is a great kit lens!

[@mickeli7155]

Thats my every day lens, I really like the versatility. IQ is good enugh for me.

[@robinwong]

Yeah this lens is all about versatility!

[@subzerohf]

Very informative and objective review. The comparison between this lens and the other pancake lenses is bang on. However, I think Olympus targeted this a kit lens for advanced beginner photographers. That’s is why it has so many features on it. Weather sealing, built-in macro, programmable function button - are almost unheard of for a kit lens. These features beat out the pancake lenses. For beginners who want to learn the aspects of photography, this lens has it all.

[@hagentrondheim3675]

Nice photos you have taken with it. How does it compare to the Pa 12-60 3.5-6 ?

[@robinwong]

Thanks Hagen. No idea, I don't have that lens.

[@BezelsandCrown]

thank you so much! great work!

[@JimNicholls]

I have that lens and agree that it's very versatile. Your idea of a mark two version is a great one, although of course it's very unlikely to happen.

[@robinwong]

Yeah that is true, now that the new company takes over they probably have different directions.

[@gustavohartel5159]

I will buy one right now!!!!

[@ivanj05]

I bought this lens used when I purchased the Em5 mk2. I wanted the weather sealing to pair with the Em5, and the 12-50 was easily the cheapest weather sealed lens

[@robinwong]

Indeed, now that you have mentioned, this is the cheapest weather-sealed lens!

[@lorenschwiderski]

You found a rare one there --- never heard of it. I am liking my Panasonic 12-60mm. It too become a little less sharp nearing its full range out to 60mm, but mostly usable. If you are up closer, pretty sharp at all the zoomed range. I got the GX-9 for $799, so I consider that I got the lens on the cheap, or the other way around, in that I got a $500 lens and a $300 camera :)). Either way it was a pretty good deal. The controls on that Olympus lens are interesting. Take care, Loren

[@robinwong]

Thanks Loren. I did not find the lens though, I got it together with the original E-M5, which came as a kit.

[@johnherzel718]

I am thinking about this one with an OMD EM5 MK2 or MK3 to have for wet weather walk around, but the 12-40 f2.8 can also be had used for a good price. I'd pair it with the 40-150 f4 most likely. Maybe add the 14mm f1.7 There are some really good deals on this set up if used is ok. But I like this lens, maybe it would make some sense WRT price for a second system

[@robinwong]

If you already have the 12-40mm PRO then it does not make sense to get the 12-50mm, the 12-40mm is a superior lens!

[@stevemarshall5249]

Hi Robin. This was quite a surprise - I'm in Australia and I have never seen this lens mentioned at any of the retailers I use. I switched to M43 in about 2014 with an E-M1 Mk1 and a 12-40mm Pro lens, and absolutely love the M43 system. But I have never heard of this lens. Maybe it never came to Australia for some reason. That would be very weird, but we know that marketing decisions can be weird!

[@leckywoznicki5393]

Thank you.

[@ArnaudSiemons]

Great lens.

[@vainin5335]

Nice review with excellent photos, thank you! I got this lens used even before I bought my first mft camera, the em1 mk2. The manual zoom i a little noisy, but that is maybe because it is used. You did not mention that the speed of the electronic zoom can be chosen from three alternatives, slow, normal, and fast. Many of my best photos were taken with this although I rarely have it attached to my camera. There is perhaps something special in the rendering of this lens, because the results often give me that wow feeling. Sharpness is overrated and in most genres not essential.

[@robinwong]

Thanks for the kind words. My manual zoom is completely silent, something must be wrong with your copy. Yes the electronic zoom speed can be adjusted, as the same for other electronic zoom lenses.

[@jeffk433]

Would you give some examples of best function button uses on the lens for a newer photographer please? So many options with these cameras but knowing some starting spots would help. Thanks!

[@daeuber1]

Agree with your view, Robin! I had the original E-M5 with this lense and used the combo for many years. Finally I replaced the lense with the Lumix 12-60 which is a fine lens, too. Then I got the Leica 12-60 which is even sharper and faster. I feel Olympus should make a 12-60 as versatile as their 12-50 and as light as possible.

[@Retrogamer71]

Do all these other pancake zooms have electronic zoom?

[@ypebanbung-michael8865]

I love my 12-50mm on my em5ii.

[@robinwong]

Awesome!

[@petercameron4380]

The 12-50mm is my go to lens if I’m going out under terrible weather conditions or I need the near macro and don’t want to carry a dedicated macro along with another lens of similar range. I also know I don’t have to worry about it touching the surface of a pond while getting closeups of frogs (a photographer - non-Olympus user) was horrified when he saw my E-M1 in the mud and the 12-50mm resting on the water as I was taking pictures a couple of days ago.

[@robinwong]

Things that we can do that others can't, it is like a superpower!

[@bsuthe]

This lens is my favorite, goes everywhere lens. Your video seemed everywhere unsharp so, from that, I can't tell how relatively sharp or unsharp this lens is compared to others. But, as everything in life is a compromise, the combination of excellent focal range, sharpness, compactness of the lens, and yes, price make this my favorite lens! As I recall, I've seen other comparisons of this lens with some of the more expensive Olympus "pro" lenses and, given the lower quality of You Tube videos, I can see little, if any, differences when "pixel peeking".

[@leendertvanzanten2427]

For years it was always on my camera because off triple benefits The double function of having the 12-50 plus macro is not the only feature. Also the EZ function on the lens is quit useful, especially as when you want to operate the camera from your smartphone. With an eye on the phone, finger zooming from there, easy to zoom the perfect frame. Handy as when there’s no place between a wall and the back of the camera …

[@3dtrip870]

Wow, didn't even know this lens existed!

[@robinwong]

Now you know!

[@Behnam_Moghaddam]

I Gott 3 oft Thema for livestreaming. Needed pz for cameras farther away.... My favorite kit lens is still the lumix G 14-140 M2 Ends a stop brighter while offering way more tele. Thanks for talking about that. Lumix live posted a video, where they asked for the pz-lens wishes... after all, like with bodies, there is just no perfect lens but the right one for the job. Options like a 12-50 mark in would be nice... or maybe a 12-50 pro with constant f4 and a bigger 50-200 f4 both with pz and macro function.... sounds good to me

[@robinwong]

The Panasonic 14-140mm is a great lens, no doubt, but it is not the same lens. A more similar lens to compare to that would be the Olympus 14-150mm lens.

[@AndrewSowerby]

This was my first MFT lens, and while it didn't impress me for landscape photography shots (where it produced slightly soft images), I was pleasantly surprised how well it performed when used for close-up and near-macro shots. Overall, it's a good package, and it weighs so little, it pretty much has a permanent spot in my camera bag, along with the similarly sized 40-150mm kit.

[@robinwong]

Yeah the 12-50mm is not the sharpest lens out there, but it does its job and it offers plenty of useful features. The macro function itself is a win!

[@AndrewSowerby]

@@robinwong definitely

[@mata4r43un]

MZD 12-50mm is a fantastic lens that is often overlooked due to the existence of MZD Pro 12-40mm. But recently, I started to see this as a lighter alternative for daily walking lens or to bring on fieldwork. A Combo of EM1 and MZD Pro 12-40 is fantastic, but it started to feel cumbersome and a bit heavy. So EM1 and MZ 12-50 started to become a much better alternative for me.

[@robinwong]

That is very true, the 12-40mm PRO is just an excellent lens, and released less than a year after the 12-50mm, overshadowing it. 12-50mm is still a great alternative if you want something smaller, yet with weather-sealing.

[@zayn7534]

Does this lens have auto focus feature?

[@vageeshbabuhanur8769]

I only have this paired with 1.2, both purchased pre-owned. No issues in general. Jack of all and Master of none. I miss IBIS and focus stacking functions.

[@robinwong]

What is 1.2? 25mm F1.2? Firmware 1.2?

[@damianip]

My OMD EM5 MK 1 is long gone, but I still have this lens. I love it on my GX8 for a walkaround/street/travel combo. Every time I think about replacing it, I shoot with it and review older images and pass.

[@Mark_James_Hill]

What if I own the 12-50 should I get the 14-42? i am torn. pankake is good but really when I am street shooting when is the camera ever retracted? something to be noted the 12-50 was designed for video I believe.

[@whitebarone]

Quality review, as always! Ps. I recently upgraded to a em1 mk3 +12-100 pro, thanks to a sweet deal here in Europe. I want to add few fast primes, the new PL 9mm for astro and the m.zuiko 20 mm pro. The latter is a new FL for me (normally using 25mm), I hope you are going to review it! Keep up the good work!

[@srp5402]

i have this lens, kit 14-42 mm f/3.5-5.6 II R doing photo more Sharpen.

[@eliaser2246]

Hi Robin, I have the 12-50mm too and i love it for its versatility. However, I do find it slightly too big for my liking. I watched your other video where you reviewed 12-32mm before. In your opinion, hows the image quality of 12-32mm compared to this 12-50mm at 12mm wide ? I am matching with my EP5. Pls advice me if there is an alternative lens you recommed shall i want wide and budget friendly :) Thanks !!!

[@r-k.fotografie2071]

can you do some Photos from the same Objekt with 12-50 and 12 40 for compare ? thank you

[@RobinhoManU10]

Hey Robin, I think I've seen videos of yours explaining what I am going to ask but I've just been curious, which lens do you recommend is best for vlogging with the EM1 MKII ?

[@MM-zm9lh]

Hmmm interesting lens! Never really considered this, for me especially interesting that it's non-pro but weather sealed. But nonetheless I have my eyes right now on the 12-100 F4. Do you think the 12-100 pairs well with an E-M5 body, ergonomic wise? Thanks beforehand for answering!

[@dude-kq4qd]

Can you use it on a lumix camera?

[@miket1291]

Nice review Robin. However I think the 14-150MM F4.0-5.6 II would be the better option. Similar size and weight with much better reach. This is my everyday lens. Keep up the good work.👍

[@robinwong]

14-150mm is an entirely different thing. We are comparing apples to oranges here. Superzooms have their places. And the 14-150mm does not have 1) Macro function 2) function button 3) electronic zoom for video 4) starts longer at 14mm vs 12mm

[@miket1291]

@@robinwong You're absolutely right Robin. I was just considering size, weight and focal length. Since I don't have those additional functions, I don't seem to miss them.

[@Leptospirosi]

I think the 14-150RII has superseded this lens being weather sealed and having a much wider zoom range. Obviously it's more expensive, but unless you bought this as a kitlens with a camera this was not a cheap lens either as a stand alone purchase back in the days.

[@robinwong]

14-150mm is not a same lens. We are comparing apples to oranges here.

[@estraume]

This was my first kit lens with my first original E-M5. However, after I got the 14-150 mk ii, I ended up trading it with the 60mm macro lens.

[@hnahler]

I really regret that I traded this lens in. Yes, the image quality is not the best when compared to the 12-40 PRO (no surprise). However, I do a lot of backpacking and the combination of E-M1 and 12-50 is great for trips in the back country. It’s light, is weather sealed, has great reach and I really loved the ‘macro’ for details in nature.

[@mmd90]

Get 12-45

[@hnahler]

@@mmd90 , agreed if I had unlimited funds. The 12-45mm does what I want with great quality but ... Extra 5mm is negatively offset by f/4.0 and still no macro, also not as light as 12-50. - Yes, I would like to have the 12-45mm but it just doesn't give enough. And trading the 12-40 isn't a very attractive option. For the purpose of backpacking trips, it is more likely to be the 8-25 (which is top on the shopping list) with the 45mm f/1.8 or 60mm Macro in the bag (which I both have). Yes, I know the former isn't weather-sealed but would only come out on rare occasions (low light, reach required).

[@silverlightphotoco]

Wow!!! I've never heard of this one, and I'm so glad you brought it to our attention. There are a lot of features I really like about it, and while the image might have a few issues with coma and optical flaws, I know some people buy "vintage" lenses for this reason and might like (and actually not mind) the "character" of the lens. (I find that some older lenses can work REALLY well with newer sensors that seem to render OVERsharpened images, etc.). I'd love to see the Panasonic 12-60 3.5-5.6 compared to this one also (if you have the time). Thank you again😃! P.S. Would you mind if I link to this video on my website where I'm rating and testing lenses?

[@robinwong]

Go ahead and link to your site, not a problem at all. Also, I don't think I can find a 12-60mm panasonic and it is quite frankly a different lens. The Panasonic will be better optically, but it lacks weather sealing, macro function, electronic zoom and the L-Fn button!

[@silverlightphotoco]

@@robinwong Thank you for your reply...good points!!! I really like the idea of weather sealing and the motorized zoom, and I am going to start looking for and saving for both of these, because what I do is figure out what camera settings make each lens look the most cinematic, specific to each camera I own, and then I publish the settings to my website, etc.

[@acrummey85]

I have one, I like it.

[@robinwong]

Thanks Ira, awesome!

[@holycrapghosttv]

Is this lens compatible with the Lumix G7?

[@gregm6894]

I love this little jewel. I had one, sold it and totally regretted it afterward, so found a very clean used one and will not part with it. The 'Macro' function when used with the DTC (Digital Teleconverter) Function makes for a very good macro set up. Also, if I want to travel very light, I pack this lens, my Panasonic 45-175mm, my Oly 45mm f/1.8, and my 8mm Oly bodycap fisheye, and I have a lens kit that is compact, featherweight, and very good quality optically with a 16-350mm equivalent range.

[@robinwong]

Thanks for sharing your experience and use with the 12-50mm lens, people often miss the point of Micro Four Thirds, and you nailed it! For so few lens we can cover so much!

[@MaurizioCrespi]

It is weather-sealed ONLY if you install a filter on it. If you pour water on it without fitting a filter, you can damage the lens.

[@robinwong]

I have poured water on it a hundred times without filter. The lens is not damaged.

[@robinwong]

@@RyougiVector what what what? That means Fuji is cheating their customers!

[@ILGIOCO872]

This or olimpus 14-42 rii?

[@yithaolee5711]

Nice to see you back with Olympus

[@robinwong]

What do you mean "back with Olympus?" Be more specific please. Just because I quit being an ambassador it does not mean I stop shooting with Olympus and talking about it. I never stopped believing in Micro Four Thirds system. If you mean I'm an ambassador, no I'm not. If you are saying I'm back talking about Olympus again, have I ever stopped?

[@moruzx]

I never loved this lens. I had the 14-150 II instead. I believe the 14-150 II is a better option. Also a kit lens, about same as bright (f4-5.6), similar size and also weather sealed, but longer, and with a good optical performance vs. focal length.

[@robinwong]

Let's not add 14-150mm into the mix. Then there will be 12-200mm... 12-100mm, the list is endless! Those are not really kit lenses, but upgrade to superzoom!

[@moruzx]

12-100 😬😬😬. Best travel zoom lens of all times. But back to the point, it was a kit lens for my m5 ii, at about same price. So this is why I've mentioned it. Keep it up, good work as allways.

[@ronbates1795]

I enjoy most of your videos and this is a favoritye. My wife and I both have this lens, I appreciate the Macro function not on the 14-42 and only see the length as a minor incnvenience. I have not been able to appreciate 14-42 lens and rarely use it. Being non pros the 12-50 photos are quite satisfactory for our purpose.

[@UMS9695]

Did you not say you were done with Olympus?

[@robinwong]

I said "I left/quit Olympus Ambassador program". I did not say "I was done with Olympus".

[@UMS9695]

@@robinwong Thanks for the clarification.

[@frederickwong4390]

I think it is way too big, given its specs. Compare with Panasonic 12-32mm f3.5-5.6. If it were a fast zoom, I would judge it differently.