the depth of field is extremely shallow and it's easy to blur backgrounds in portraits – and this lens has been designed to produce super-smooth bokeh too. And while Panasonic lenses autofocus as you would expect on OM cameras, they are tuned for Panasonic's own DFD contrast detect AF system – and some notable examples (such as the Panasonic 20mm f/1. If you want a bag that doesn't look like a camera bag or prefer to make your own DIY solutions, they're worth a look. Digital Camera World is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. this being its full, official designation) was first presented at photokina 2010, and hit markets shortly thereafter.

Olympus M.Zuiko 9-18mm f4-5.6 (Micro Four Thirds) Review: Olympus M.Zuiko 9-18mm f4-5.6 (Micro Four Thirds)

If wide-angle is your goal, then this is the lens that would let you do it on a PEN series camera - offering a 14-28mm equivalent field of view. In terms of optical performance, this lens is approximately equal to the much more expensive Panasonic 7-14 mm, as shown by our test.So without further ado (as they say on YouTube), here's our list of the best Olympus / OM System lenses to get right now. Unlike smartphones, the OM System TG-7 is designed to take a licking and keep on ticking, whether on land or underwater. There is some light corner softness, most noticeable at 9mm and 11mm: at the extreme, it's 6 blur units at the top right at 9mm. Most parts of the body are made from plastic, but the material is sturdy and doesn’t feel like it would wear off quickly. The Leica was primarily conceived with advanced amateurs and professional users in mind, which is more than amply reflected in its premium weather-proof construction, faster aperture range of 2.

Olympus 9-18, but: Micro Four Thirds Had decided on the Olympus 9-18, but: Micro Four Thirds

The focusing is internal, and takes a leaf out of Panasonic's book by using a single element for maximum speed; it's also designed to provide silent operation for movie recording. There is some lens extension with this lens - it's at its longest at 9mm, extending an additional 1. It's not perfect of course, with a narrow-ish maximum aperture and a few sharpness issues (all but unavoidable with a lens of this type), but it's a hugely impressive achievement of optical engineering and one that any Micro Four Thirds user will get a great deal of value out of. Note that if you turn the focus ring too slowly on the Leica, the camera doesn’t always register that it’s being turned. Before we begin this comparison, it is important to keep in mind that we are dealing with two very different lenses with equally different target audiences.And since the difference in sharpness/resolution is only really visible for pixel-peepers, the extra stop and the 7-9mm range weren’t enough arguments for me to keep it. While the crop factor of MFT format cameras boosts the telephoto abilities of lenses, it makes the design of ultra-wide optics more of a challenge. This is ideal for panoramic photographers, because you – taking into account sufficient overlap – only need 5 shots to make a 360 degree panorama. Peak Design's newest Camera Cubes allow you to turn any pack or bag into a camera-carrying accessory. Both of these lenses open up to f/4 at their wide ends, but neither can manage much in the way of background blur.

Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 9-18mm f/4 - 5.6: Digital Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 9-18mm f/4 - 5.6: Digital

Occasionally flare can add a fun look to a shot, but with this lens you're likely to get that effect more often than you'd like. is still your best bet if you want a small and light super wide-angle lens for your Micro Four Thirds system that offers you more flexibility than a prime lens such as the M. Chromatic aberration visible at 100% cropping, which you can easily correct afterwards, is the only disadvantage when you evaluate it’s optical performance. The VFA target should give you a good idea of sharpness in the center and corners, as well as some idea of the extent of barrel or pincushion distortion and chromatic aberration, while the Still Life subject may help in judging contrast and color.

The Olympus is approximately half the weight of the Leica and half the height when the lens system is retracted into the body, making it the easier of the two to pack and transport. As with many ultra-wide lenses, however, the hood is built-in so there’s no filter attachment thread. It's not surprising to see a fairly high level of distortion in this wide angle lens, though the distortion is consistently barrel-shaped and easily correctable in post-processing software. With the exception of the metal mount, the Olympus is mostly composed of high-quality plastics and does not claim any sort of weather resistance or lens coating. I use my UWA zoom as my walkabout lens a lot so I've always appreciated having one even if I own an UWA prime (or two, or three.