I tested this lens subsequently used my E-M5 and am pleasantly surprised. My skepticism was gone after 20-30 photos. There again, that laboratory and test reports from magazines photo are part of the story, the practical test to another. Function, features, feel and image results leave up to the light intensity and the lack Gegenlichtblende miss anything. Price-performance is really top, given the weatherproof design and the focal length range. It should in no slight MFT travel camera missing equipment. The optical image results already from open aperture are at least not worse than the Kit Standard Zoom 3.5-5.6 / 14-42mm IIR (which is also really good, especially in wide angle is very good) and as the new Panasonic Lumix 3.5-5.6 / 14-42mm II (which is also consistently really good and is beautifully small). The 12-50 ranges very close to the Oly FT 2.8-3.5 / 14-54 mm (but that is better corrected and brighter) zoom, but with somewhat stronger edge waste in resolution and contrast. But that is often not at all on, because these are observed usually only strong enlargements. Rand waste does not necessarily also a visible drop in sharpness, because the actual resolution and contrast are still very high. So it all depends on the playback format and the resolution of the output media. In the illustration on the Full HD screen, photo-books and print / includes prints to A4 only something will be seen in the order given by anything up to a minimum. Dimmed however, it is really very passable. Especially with my frequently used travel photo-shutter 8 is wonderfully sharp. However, at the telephoto end, the MFT is 12-50 visibly weaker and softer and is not there on my Zuiko Pro Zoom and also not to the MFT Zuiko 4,0-5,6 / 40-150 mm II zoom The motor zoom works especially for filming really Good. The macro function is nice, but can not be a serious alternative to the Zuiko`s FT 2.8-4.0 / 12-60mm SWD, 2.0 / 50mm Macro and 3.5 / 35 mm Macro. Even the MFT Zuiko 3.5-5.6 / 40-150 mm II conjures as better close down, but at the other focal length (at 40- 100 mm is excellent) and with significantly greater working distance. The 12-50er has only a fixed Macro setting at 43mm and aperture 6 and can sometimes produce violent Ca`s depending on lighting conditions. Absolute Cream is extremely safe and fast AF, faster even than the 14-42er IIR MFT. From me again a big recommendation for a really good Oly-standard zoom. One has the impression that the E-M5 have been developed together with the 12-50 mm and coordinated. It is a winning combination. AZ
