Center Valley, PA—Olympus expands its M.Zuiko Pro f/1.2 prime lens line with the M.Zuiko Digital ED 17mm f/1.2 Pro (34mm in 35mm equivalent) and the M.Zuiko Digital ED 45mm f/1.2 Pro (90mm equivalent). These Micro Four Thirds lenses are engineered to deliver resolution and feathered bokeh at a maximum aperture of f/1.2.
Both prime lenses are designed to offer more flexibility in low-light environments as well as shallow depth of field. They are said to help produce “three-dimensional images that represent subjects as they appear in the real world through a combination of feathered bokeh and sharp resolution.”
By focusing not only on the bokeh’s size but also its quality, they produce a feathered bokeh effect that better emphasizes the main subject. This results in an overall softer background, allowing the subject to stand out within the image. The shallower depth of field produced at f/1.2 is especially suited for portrait photographers.
Key M.Zuiko Pro Prime Lens Features
In addition, a newly developed ED-DSA lens is incorporated in the M.Zuiko Digital ED 17mm f/1.2 Pro. ED-DSA elements possess the characteristics of both an ED (extra-low dispersion) lens element and a DSA (dual super aspherical) lens element. The ED-DSA lens compensates for common wide-angle lens issues, including chromatic aberrations, distortion and color bleeding on the periphery. It also reduces the overall weight of the lens and the number of lens elements. The 17mm lens has 15 elements in 11 groups.
Conversely, the M.Zuiko Digital ED 45mm f/1.2 Pro contains three optimally placed and bonded lens elements, including one ED lens. This also compensates for typical problems on wide-aperture lenses, like out-of-focus color bleeding and peripheral color bleeding. In addition, the lens incorporates 14 elements in 10 groups.
Both lenses also use Z Coating Nano technology to reduce ghosts and flares that tend to occur in backlit images. Moreover, like other lenses in the M.Zuiko Pro series, these two new primes boast compact, lightweight construction. They also have a dustproof, splashproof and freezeproof (to 14°F/-10°C) design.
Furthermore, they are equipped with the Olympus MSC (movie & still compatible) autofocus mechanism to provide virtually silent and smooth high-speed focusing performance.
In addition, for close-up shooting, the 17mm f/1.2 Pro has a minimum focusing distance of 8 inches and a maximum magnification of 0.15x (35mm equivalent: 0.3x). The 45mm f/1.2 Pro has a minimum focusing distance of 20 inches and a maximum image magnification of 0.1x (35mm equivalent: 0.2x).
Lens Accessories
Olympus also offers lens accessories for the newly announced prime lenses. They include a bundled lens cap (LC-62F); a purse-string lens case with three-layer construction (LSC-0811); lens hood LH-66C, for M.Zuiko Digital ED 17mm f/1.2 Pro; and lens hood LH-66B for the M.Zuiko Digital ED 25mm f/1.2 Pro and the M.Zuiko Digital ED 45mm f/1.2 Pro lenses.
Another accessory, sold separately, is a protection filter—the PRF-ZD62 Pro. The filter features ZERO coating to cut reflection by approximately one-half compared to conventional multicoating; black-edged glass; and a satin-finished black alumite aluminum frame for a matte surface that suppresses reflections. It will retail for $64.99.
The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 45mm f/1.2 Pro will be available in late November 2017. The M.Zuiko Digital ED 17mm f/1.2 Pro will ship in late January 2018. Both lenses will have a suggested retail price of $1,199.99. olympusamerica.com
