The build quality is excellent. Zoom and focus ring are made of metal, the tube is as the more expensive FT lenses made of high-density thermally unproblematischerem polycarbonate. The filter thread turns of course, not the focus.
The included lens hood feels valuable and snapped a two button. The lens cap is also made more complicated than it knows of the older lenses and it can be thankfully grab from the inside.
Of course you can not expect that the tube does not unload when zooming in to the compact design. At least the zoom is the way in 18mm. The tube has sufficient resistance, ie, the zoom moves while running out not how to know the old by some 50-200.
The unabridged price (in kit costs the lens almost 300 euros less) may seem high given the size. But since the power of Zuiko can easily keep up with considerably more expensive APS-C and KB-zoom, you simply should only be grateful to have a comparable imaging performance hauling less weight. In addition, the performance of this design is realized on a smaller sensor only at a much higher precision than in the larger lenses, which certainly not the production cheaper.
One of my most important purchase criteria was the unconditional Riptide suitability of this zoom. Even with the old FT 12-60 could photograph them relaxed where colleagues frantically pull with D4 and 1D a plastic bag over her professional clippers. The 12-40 is the way to be better sealed than the FT-Toppros, also it is now to be explicitly protected against frost.
I have maxed out the weather suitability of Olympus snapping and lenses often enough. The extension end tube seems to be no problem. The much older FT 50-200 zooms with her outgoing tube, could be relaxed in the pouring rain in and out.
The autofocus is really unbelievable directly and incredibly fast. I have done with the old 12-60 on the E-5 already Mitzieher from close range (2-3m) with extreme speed that KB-colleagues a thought was stupid. But as the larger SWD Zuiko is the little thing with the contrast focus faster than you can swing the clippers when panning.
As you know of a good contrast focus, the focus is more accurate than an SLR-phase focus system. And who has time figured out how much potential lies in the facial recognition would, using no optical viewfinder with phase focus more on events ...
An ingenious feature is the focus ring, the one like the MFT 12mm F2.0 simply pulls back to focus manually. This is not just damn handy when taking pictures, the classical attachment points allow easy use by the way of a follow-focus mechanism while filming.
In addition, this objective is parfocal. That is, with the zoom, the focus point is not moved. For photographers irrelevant, however, when shooting an indispensable feature ...
For depth of field. Who complains about the serious lack of exemption of potential (m) FT-form factor, outs himself as Hobbyknipser. Whoever finds it challenging to place an object in front of a muddy background, which is the medium format recommended.
In fact, in the photographic life outweighs the need for more depth of field. Scan two people and try to bring the times with KB at f1.2 with 85mm in your focus ... As soon as I want to scan more than a solitary object, I need more depth of field. Who scans a group, know that a KB often f8 is necessary to take the second row. And who is among the few who have heard of Scheimpflug not only, but the formula also understood that also knows the only relative noise advantage of larger sensors. To scan the same photo needs a small image sensor two smaller stops. What the Zuiko so sharply defined with F2.8, reached a miniature lens f5.6 therefore only with a dark visor. And since we are currently working on the noise limit, no air will remain for exposing longer, ie the ISO value has up two steps. Sorry, the two stages compensates the noise advantage of larger sensors not currently.
Who photographed Markos, which does not have to tell you that's more fun with a smaller sensor. Because one thing is missing in macro photography certainly not: the fabled exemption potential.
However, if you really want to indemnify aware to answer it simply closer to his motif or use one of the lichstärkeren fixed focal lengths. The Bokeh of 12-40 incidentally pleasantly creamy and trouble-free.
The close range: I was impressed with the initial trials how close 20cm from the sensor. Another argument for the lens, which is the usability extremely beneficial. Finally a zoom with which one really masters almost any photographic situation. This is only possible due to the low Flange the lens, another point per smaller sensor ...
The lens also features a programmable function key.
Those who work professionally, is served amazingly well with this small shard. This thing is so light and compact that I enter into it in my always with you-Survialkit mitschleppe privately every day without a significant compromise with the image quality.
Who whistles on the weight and maximum image quality demands, is better off with the FT-Toppro zoom. Since there is then also the F2.0 the best, Sigma now sold with the new 18-35 f1.8-APS-C-Zoom. In Oly but has then an imaging performance, at best, achieve the APS-C and KB cameras with fixed focal lengths. Incidentally, f1.8 or f2.0 at (m) FT something practicable with regard to the available depth of field.
To impress the customers or for the fight on the red carpet the little thing should be like bigger. As I swing however ohenhin Better a 35-100 (70-200) as a standard zoom. But who has worked with the small push a few times, quickly lose the fun in everyday life to the> 1 kilo standard zooms ...
The performance of 12-40 is more than enough to operate in a professional manner. The power reserves will play for A4-page spreads with FM or hybrid grids. Pays in excess of requirements today anyway almost no intelligent customer marginal resolution advantages, so why produce senseless amounts of data, or buy the useless exclusive KB-prime lenses?
Due to the small size of the E-M1 / 12-40 combo is also perfectly suited to work with two cameras. With two large SLRs, I had a lot more problems. In the near future my SLR is probably also replaced by an Evil-clippers.
Who considered the imaging performance and the extensive facilities must remain silent and buy. The philosophy behind (m) FT is the advanced usability. More focal length with more features with excellent imaging performance. The 12-40 sets this claim continued consistently. The image quality of the extreme zoom FT 14-35 f2.0 Zuiko reached this unequivocally not. With the zoom in the professional sector (KB / APS-C) customary benefits to the little thing, however, can be measured easily. With more features (AF ring, close range, function key, parfocal, really completely Riptide fit ...) scores the 12-40 but confidently against the professional shards of the two top dogs.
