Olympus M.Zuiko 25mm f/1.2 PRO Review

As of today, there are four 25mm autofocus primes available for the Micro Four Thirds system, the latest of which is the 25mm f/1.2 PRO lens from Olympus. We had the chance to test the lens for a month on the E-M1 and E-M1 II during our Christmas vacation in Italy and France. All our findings have been summarised in the video review posted below.

Main specifications

• Focal length: 25mm (50mm in 35mm terms)
• Lens configuration: 19 elements in 14 groups with 1 SED, 2 ED, 1 E-HR, 3 HR and 1 aspherical elements
• Lens mechanism: Inner focus
• Angle of view: 47°
• Closest focusing distance: 30cm
• Maximum image magnification: 0.11x (Micro Four Thirds) / 0.22x (35mm format)
• Aperture blades: 9 circular aperture diaphragm
• Aperture range: 1.2 to 16
• Coating: ZERO (Zuiko Extra-low Reflection Optical) coating
• Filter diamater: 62mm
• Weather sealing: Yes
• Optical stabilisation: No
• Dimensions: 70mm Ø, 87mm
• Weight: 410g

Video review

Below you can watch our video review of the M.Zuiko 25mm f/1.2 PRO. It contains all the most important information about the lens, including the design, build quality, optical quality, autofocus performance, and some extra considerations.

Table of contents:
0:41 – Design and build quality
1:51 – Optical quality
3:54 – Autofocus / Manual Focus
4:45 – Conclusion

Summary of our findings

• The optical performance is stunning from f/1.2, and for this reason alone, it one of the best primes for the system. Optimal sharpness can be found between f/4 and f/5.6 regardless of your distance from the subject.

• The lens’ bokeh and ability to separate the subject from the background at the fastest apertures is excellent.

• It is the ideal companion for low-light work as it allows you to keep your ISO values lower than with other lenses whose maximum aperture is slower. For example, the highest value I ever had to use with this lens was ISO 800.

• Being one of the larger and heavier primes for the system, it isn’t exactly pocketable. As such, it isn’t a good match for small Micro Four Thirds bodies.

• The round plastic lens hood that does an excellent job of protecting the front element and mitigating flare. We like how it can be reversed over the lens barrel.

• The clutch mechanism of the focus ring is perfect if you often switch between autofocus and manual focus, and the distance scale comes in handy for zone focusing or astrophotography.

• Chromatic aberrations are very well-controlled, especially in comparison to the Panasonic Leica 25mm f/1.4 (see our comparison here).

Our Verdict

All things considered, it is impossible not to recommend the M.Zuiko 25mm f/1.2 to any serious photographer invested in the Micro Four Thirds system. The optical performance is stunning, the autofocus mechanism is quick and the build quality is robust enough that it can stand up to inclement weather conditions. Although it is expensive, the price is justified by the superior quality compared to other primes in the system.

Sample Images