It works for what I got it for. I went ahead and got this kit because of it being water and dust sealed so I wouldn't worry about it. Also, I've read it is pretty good at video and so far it's fared pretty well doing that.

All in all, I think it is a fair lens to get with the kit. I'll definitely feel more urge to go beyond it than I did with the 18-55 I got with my D40 back 5 years ago however.

I think that this sums up the 12-50mm for me. I just haven't really found much reason to use it instead of any of my other lenses. If it was my only lens it would do just fine.

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Nic
E-M5, GH1
Flickr Photostream
>> Insert quote here <<

Agreed! Like you said theres no comparison. The price of the Pany 12-35 here costs nearly as much a FF equivalent! For me, thats expensive given the difference in IQ. If the lens was priced sub $1000, I think I would have bought it by now. The 12-50 is a bargain as a kit lens and provides more than its price. With more use, I hope I'll find some value in it for me.

I really hope that at some point in the very near future, there will be excellent fast and medium zooms for the M43 format that we all can fall in love with instantly.

Here's my take on it after thinking a lot about my setup. Coming from an SLR kit, i bought an OM-D kit with the 12-50, and then added the Panasonic/Leica 25 and the Olympus 45. The 12-50 is rarely on my camera, but I do not want to get rid of it because there are times when a zoom is just the all-inclusive, convenient answer as mentioned elsewhere on this thread.

But, the question I started asking myself is that for what I use it for, wouldn't a 14-42 be just as good? If i really care about top-notch IQ, I'm going to be using one of my primes anyway. The zoom is used only for fun snapshots. I've had my eye on the Oly 12/2 for a while, and I'm thinking that if I can somehow trade down to the 14-42 that would make a lot more sense. The only thing that I think I would miss about the 12-50 is the "macro" capability

I'll keep the 12-50 for times when I really need the versatility and convenience. It's not going to go on the camera for any other reason and only when I really have no other choice. As for now I'll be making the most use of the my 12mm, 25mm, 45mm and 75mm primes.

The is what Steve Huff had to say about the 12-50 kit lens, and I tends to agree with his assessment:

The Olympus Micro 4/3 12-50mm Real Use Lens Review – The misunderstood kit zoom. | STEVE HUFF PHOTOS

I first bought an EM5 in May having had an EP3. I bought it to take to New York and just bought the body with a 14mm Panasonic lens as a basic camera for the trip. I sold it when I came home thinking that it wasn't getting used much. The funny thing was that I missed it! So I bought another and this time, after a bit of deliberation, the kit lens too. I'm not disappointed at all. It's small and light, weather sealed and a good lens to have to hand for macro. Much easier than using my 4/3rds Zuiko 50mm with the adapter. Focus is a whole lot faster and it doesn't take up much space in a camera bag.

Really good prime lens line up you have here...I am towards this as well...

Does anyone know of an Adobe Camera RAW lens profile for this lens?

a 12-60 F/4 maybe.

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Kindest,
Dave
www.xdayv.com

GH3 | G3 | GX1 | 7-14 | 12-35 | 35-100 | 20 | 45
Nikon FX | Leica MM