This telephoto Micro Four Thirds lens delivers sharp, distortion-free photos.
Lori Grunin
I've been reviewing hardware and software, devising testing methodology and handed out buying advice for what seems like forever; I'm currently absorbed by computers and gaming hardware, but previously spent many years concentrating on cameras. I've also volunteered with a cat rescue for over 15 years doing adoptions, designing marketing materials, managing volunteers and, of course, photographing cats.
The lens' nine-blade iris delivers lovely, round out-of-focus highlights.
(Olympus E-P3, 1/30 sec, f1.8, ISO 200, spot metering, AWB)
2 of 7Lori Grunin/CNET
Center sharpness
Overall, the lens renders excellent center sharpness from f2.8 to f8 and reasonably good sharpness at f1.8, f2, and f11. It noticeably falls off at f16 and is rather disappointing at f22. Note that the camera's maximum shutter speed at f1.8 wasn't technically high enough for a definitive result.
(Tested with Olympus OM-D E-M5)
3 of 7Lori Grunin/CNET
Edge sharpness and distortion
Overall, while there's similar softness at the corners as in the center, there isn't a substantial amount of distortion, except at f1.8. However, note that the camera's maximum shutter speed at f1.8 wasn't technically high enough for a definitive result.
(Tested with Olympus OM-D E-M5; cropped from upper-left corner)
4 of 7Lori Grunin/CNET
F1.8
The depth of field at f1.8 isn't as shallow on a Micro Four Thirds camera as I'd like, but it's shallow enough for reasonably defocused backgrounds.
(Olympus OM-D E-M5, 1/2000 sec, f1.8, ISO 200, ESP metering, AWB, processed raw in ACR with sharpening set to 10)
5 of 7Lori Grunin/CNET
F2
You can see how nicely resolved the images are with the lens.
(Olympus OM-D E-M5, 1/500 sec, f2, ISO 200, ESP metering, AWB, processed raw in ACR with sharpening set to 10)
6 of 7Lori Grunin/CNET
F4.5
Even city-dirty detergent foam looks nice with this lens.
(Olympus OM-D E-M5, 1/160 sec, f4.5, ISO 400, ESP metering, AWB, processed raw in ACR with sharpening set to 10 and exposure bumped +1.3EV)
7 of 7Lori Grunin/CNET
F8
Photos at f8 resolve well.
(Olympus OM-D E-M5, 1/60 sec, f8, ISO 200, ESP metering, AWB, processed raw in ACR with sharpening set to 10 )
