Product Description

Its 3.2x zoom covers the zoom range most frequently used in everyday photography, and with 12 elements in 10 groups and a weight of just 9.98 oz / 285g (approx.) it makes for a portable versatile zoom lens. A newly developed 'floating' mechanism is incorporated into the focusing system to ensure exceptionally smooth action across the entire focusing range. Close-ups as near as 15 in/38cm are possible throughout the zoom range. The lens also incorporates a new multi-coating process, which minimizes ghosting and flaring as well as a reliable metal lens mount. Dimensions - 2.8 D x 3.41 L

Product Details

• Brand: Olympus
• Model: 261052
• Dimensions: 4.30" h x 4.50" w x 6.20" l, 4.00 pounds

Features

• 14-45 millimeter f3.5-5.6 zoom lens for digital cameras (equivalent to 28-90 millimeter in 35 millimeter photography)
• Compatible with Olympus E1 and Evolt E300 cameras
• Designed to perfectly match the imager so light strikes the sensor directly, ensuring rich, accurate colors
• Constructed with 12 elements in 10 groups and a weight of just 9.98 ounces
• Reinforced by a new multi-coating process and new, reliable metal lens mount

From the Manufacturer
The Olympus 14-45 millimeter Zuiko Digital Zoom Lens expands the power of the E-System, the world's first 100 percent all-digital interchangeable lens SLR system, delivering higher resolutions and superior image quality. Developed specifically for digital capture with smart technology, Zuiko digital specific lenses deliver edge-to-edge sharpness with reduced distortion and shading. The lenses are designed to perfectly match the imager, so light strikes the sensor directly, ensuring rich, accurate colors, sharp contrasts, and bright images even at the edges.

The Zuiko Digital 14-45 millimeter f3.5-5.6 (equivalent to 28-90 millimeters in 35 millimeter photography) has a 3.2x zoom that covers the zoom range most frequently used in everyday photography. Constructed with 12 elements in 10 groups and a weight of just 9.98 ounces, it offers users an extremely dynamic, portable everyday-use zoom.

A newly developed "floating" mechanism is incorporated into the focusing system to ensure exceptionally smooth action across the entire focusing range. Close-ups as near as 15 inches/38 centimeters are possible throughout the zoom range. The lens also boasts a new multi-coating process, which minimizes ghosting and flaring as well as a reliable metal lens mount, which is designed for ruggedness that ensures confidence in any situation.

The Zuiko digital specific lenses are based on the FourThirds System, an open standard for digital SLR cameras and interchangeable lens systems that utilize a 4/3-type image sensor. The FourThirds System is designed to achieve an optimal balance between image quality, camera and lens size, and system expandability. The system maximizes the performance of image sensors and lenses with a 100 percent digital-from-the-ground-up design.

Customer Reviews

Good place to start and stay
This is one of three lenses I own and it's one heck of a lens. It can do landscapes, portraits, and has decent close-up (not macro) abilities. As many reviewers mentioned it's slow on the long end, but for what I do most shallow depth of field isn't a requirement. In fact I shoot with this lens mostly between f/5.6 and f/11 anyways. It's at it's sharpest in my opinion between these f-stops.

It's not weather sealed nor does it have a depth of field scale, but neither of these are showstoppers for me. You have to use high ISOs for night shots which can be a problem above ISO 400 for the E-300 due to excessive noise. Perhaps the new bodies fare better? I also own the EX-25 and it only works at 45mm with this lens and you must be extremely close to the subject.

This lens came as part of a two lens E-300 outfit and the money saved has allowed me to buy ancillary gear i.e. vertical grip, extra batteries, CF cards, a real tripod, studio gear, and much more. It's tempting to keep up with the technology in the digital age, but I simply haven't found a reason to replace this lens.

Zuiko Lens
I love the lens. It is very nice and works great. I'm an armature the lens is very easy to work with. This was a good investment.

Great Value Lens
I've been using this lens for nearly two years now and am still very impressed. The 14-45mm range is wide enough for excellent landscape shots and provides enough zoom for most situations (although you'll want more for capturing wildlife). There is some chromatic aberration in high contrast situations and some barrel distortion (only noticeable if you're photographing a brick wall or other strong grid), but given the price of this lens I think it's acceptable. Although it isn't weather/dust sealed it does have a high quality feel to it with smooth rotation.

Overall this is a compact, inexpensive lens that delivers excellent results in the majority of situations. There are better lenses out there but for beginner/intermediate photographers you're better to save some money on the lens and invest in good books on technique, composure, etc.