Product Description

In combination with the E3 Digital SLR Camera, this 12-60mm F2.8-4.0 SWD lens delivers fast autofocus speeds. It covers a zoom range equivalent to 24mm to 120mm on a 35mm camera lens. This lens also boasts impressive close-up shooting capability, allowing users to shoot from as close as 25cm throughout the zoom range. The extraordinary autofocus drive provides both high speed and high precision while operating with extremely low noise. Designed to meet the needs of the professional photographer, Zuiko Digital lenses were born of an uncompromising commitment to performance. The lens features high resolving power, to get the most out of the imaging element. Zuiko Digital lenses allow light to strike the image sensor at a near-perpendicular angle, minimizing degradation and light loss. This large, award-winning lens is perfectly matched to work exclusively with digital cameras so every pixel is properly exposed.

Product Details

• Brand: Olympus
• Model: 261014
• Released on: 2007-11-05
• Dimensions: 64.80" h x 75.60" w x 61.20" l, 4.00 pounds

Features

• 12-60 millimeter f2.8-4.0 zoom lens for digital cameras (equivalent to 24-120 millimeter in 35 millimeter photography)
• Features Supersonic Wave Drive (SWD) technology inside to provide quiet, ultra-fast autofocus speed
• In combination with the Olympus E-3 DLSR, delivers the fastest autofocus speed in the world
• 100-percent digital design ensures high-definition performance
• Features special optical glass elements to correct various types of aberrations

Manufacturer Description

The Zuiko Digital ED 12-60mm f2.8-4.0 SWD lens is a high-performance standard zoom lens that covers a zoom range equivalent to 24 to 120mm on a 35mm camera lens. Special optical glass elements are used to correct various types of aberrations, while the 100 percent digital design ensures high-definition performance with clear, crisp images from edge to edge. This lens also boasts impressive close-up shooting capability, allowing users to shoot from as close as 25cm throughout the zoom range.

The lens’ autofocus is powered by Olympus’ breakthrough SWD. Designed to be the world’s fastest AF system, this extraordinary autofocus drive provides both high speed and high precision while operating with lower noise than ever. Optimized for use with the new E-3, this lens enables the camera to demonstrate the full power of its high-speed capability, providing the fastest autofocus available in the world using a standard zoom lens.

About Supersonic Wave Drive Technology Olympus-proprietary SWD technology has enabled an ultra-fast, whisper-quiet, high-precision AF system. Two compact, high-powered Supersonic Wave Drive devices power autofocus at an ultra-high speed by exciting unique elliptical oscillations, while an ultra-compact 5.3mm x 4.3mm optical encoder detects and controls the lens drive position using direct rotation detection without reduction gear. This enables it to achieve a level of precision that’s accurate to 5 microns (5/1000 mm). When used in combination with the new E-3, which offers improved AF computation and lens-body communication rates, the SWD motors provide the fastest focusing speed of approximately 170 ms (0.17 seconds).

Customer Reviews

Wonderful lens
I bought this lens to reduce the number of lenses I carry when traveling. I left three lenses home and used this lens exclusively on a recent trip.

The wide end let me take more photos in confined areas and the long end was long enough to get decent magnification on short telephoto shots. It also did a nice job on closeups, although I didn't really spend a lot of time thinking about that use.

I use an E-510 camera body and found that focusing was much faster and more precise with this lens than the the kit lenses. That was a major improvement.

I won't try to add to prior reviews that discuss more technical aspects of this lens, but I love it and think it was $780 well spent.

Excellent lens with some issues
I have owned and used this lens for about 4 months now and I must say I am very pleased with the lens. For starters, this lens would fall in the same category as the 14-54mm lens which was the kit lens for the E-1, I used this to replace my 14-54mm lens on the E-510. Initially I was a little disappointed with the large size and weight of the lens when compared to the 14-54mm, but then it made sense as I was getting an additional 8mm in focal length range as well as ED glass to prevent CA.

The lens is very well built and seems very solid in feel. The zoom action isn't as smooth as the 14-54mm, in fact it feels a little sticky. This will be very noticeable to any long time 14-54mm user, however you tend to get used to it with time.

The lens exhibits noticeable distortion at the wide end, so if you're shooting straight lines (architecture) or trying to fit a big group of people into a frame while shooting in a small room, the lines and faces at the edges will be visibly distorted and although lines can be corrected, faces cannot, so beware!

The lens also exhibits quite a bit of flaring, which was never an issue with the 14-54mm lens, in fact the lens exhibits flare even when shooting indoors with a small light source on the side. This can be very annoying and does spoil a lot of pictures.

Overall though, the lens has an extremely usable focal range which pretty much eliminates the need for any other lens if you're a casual shooter. The AF fast and silent even on the E-510. Contrast and colors are excellent and will never disappoint.

So if you can get over the bulk, mild wide-angle distortion and occasional flaring, this lens is for you!

The best lens for your E system camera
If you are looking to replace the kit lens of your E system camera, look no further, the 12-60 mm Zuiko is the best lens out there on the market.
Amazing clarity, ultra fast focussing, very good wide lens features all in one amazing peice of hardware.
The SWD on this lens provides u with a never vefore seen speed in auto focussing in any light conditions. This lens will allow you to shoot amazing portraits with its large aperture and also capture breath taking panoramas with its 84 degree field of view.
In a nutshell, its going to be the best companion for your Olympus e system camera and I never leave my house without it.
Yes it is a little pricey, but its worth it for the amazing build quality and crystal clear images you will get with it..