Updated Olympus lens road map - 8-25mm f4, finally a pro macro, ... does it make you want to stick with Olympus?

[doady]

There's already the f/1.8 8mm Olympus. It's a fish eye that is also an UWA rectilinear ...

Ha, I realized my mistake almost immediately after I posted. I've thought about the fisheye, but I don't want to rely on software corrections too much for rectilinear. 8-25mm along with 12-100mm and 100mm macro would cover all of my needs. The. fisheye or one of those upcoming telephoto zooms seem cool, but maybe 3 Pro lenses is already going way out my league.

 

[swifty]

A 25-150 or 25-200 f/4 OIS smaller than Panasonic’s 50-200 f/2.8-4 would be an extremely interesting companion to an 8-25 f/4 as a 2-lens setup.
I see the 12-100 f/4 as more of a do it all in one type of lens.

 

[RAH]

If you center the horizon in the fisheye photo distortion is minimized and you don't need to de-fish.

I agree up to a point, but as @Hypilein says, the horizon in the middle gets funky. As I mentioned in the post that is linked to, "I took a picture of a fence, so I was pretty much even to the plane of the fence. So I had a flat item going the entire width of the view." Therefore, I did exactly as you mentioned - centered the horizon. Yes, the ends are not distorted much (e.g. that lamppost on the far right is perfectly upright), as you can see in the downsized version of the actual RAW image (converted to jpg, of coures, but not defished or altered in any way):

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

But look at the bulgy middle. The defished jpg out of the camera looks like this:

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

the center no longer bulges (and no finger either!!), and looks like the fence actually looks. But the ends are now blurred by the defish operation, so you take your lumps somewhere. It's just something to be aware of.

If we get a few more mp in the next generation of cameras defishing will be more attractive though.

Be careful with this kind of talk! People will yell at you that you do not need more megapixels! Also, I should have mentioned - after defishing the image (and therefore cropping off the ends), the camera upsizes the image back to 20MP. Most defishing software programs do not do this, I think.

 

[Sleepy Capybara]

8-25, 12-40, 12-45 and 12-100. Range overlap is a thing of beauty that I must resist.

 

[Dave Black]

A 25-150 or 25-200 f/4 OIS smaller than Panasonic’s 50-200 f/2.8-4 would be an extremely interesting companion to an 8-25 f/4 as a 2-lens setup.
I see the 12-100 f/4 as more of a do it all in one type of lens.

A new 40-150 is shown on the lens roadmap. It is grouped with the 8-25/4.0 and the 12-45/4 lenses. So I assume it will be a f4.0 lens and these three lenses will form a f4.0 trinity of lenses where compact size is emphasized.

 

[doady]

Do people usually try to avoid any overlap as much as possible? I've never changed lenses before so I don't even know, lol. I figure it's more important if you're prepared to carry multiple lenses all the time, but sometimes one lens is better, right?

Like, there is a 50-200mm on the map, which I assume will be f2.8, which I think would complement the 12-100mm better than f5-6.3 of 100-400mm, despite the overlap in focal lengths.

There is also a 50-230mm or something grouped with the f4 lenses so that's another possibility for someone with 12-100mm, pairing a constant f4 lens with another constant f4 or f4.5 lens.

 

[PakkyT]

Do people usually try to avoid any overlap as much as possible?

I tend to not buy redundant lenses and also do not tend to hang onto lenses I may not longer use much when I get something new. I wouldn't say I avoid ANY overlap, but two lenses with significant overlap and that do not compliment each other in some way I will own and use one or the other.

For example, I wouldn't own the 12-40 PRO + 12-45 PRO together nor the 12-45 PRO + 12-100 PRO together as I feel I would use one all the time and the other none of the time. But the flip side of that is owning, for example, the 40-150 "R" and the 40-150 PRO at the the same time would be different because the "R" is a fraction of the price, size, and weight of the other and therefore compliments the PRO lens as a "travel alternative". But easier to justify that when the "R" is only $99 usd. I don't think the same can be said for the 12-40/45 PRO lenses comparison, at least for me. Their prices are both high enough that personally I would pick one or the other and not own both as the size difference I don't feel, again for me, is significant enough if that is the compliment feature (bulk and weight) you are trying to achieve.

 

[Holoholo55]

Do people usually try to avoid any overlap as much as possible? I've never changed lenses before so I don't even know, lol. I figure it's more important if you're prepared to carry multiple lenses all the time, but sometimes one lens is better, right?

Like, there is a 50-200mm on the map, which I assume will be f2.8, which I think would complement the 12-100mm better than f5-6.3 of 100-400mm, despite the overlap in focal lengths.

There is also a 50-230mm or something grouped with the f4 lenses so that's another possibility for someone with 12-100mm, pairing a constant f4 lens with another constant f4 or f4.5 lens.

I don't view overlap as a bad thing. After all, if one has a set that exactly matches up, say 12-40 and 40-150, it means that whenever you approach that boundary, you have to decide whether to change lenses or not. If there is some overlap, you could keep on shooting even though it overlaps into the other lens' range. I think it also depends on the situation. If I'm traveling, especially with a group or on a tour, one doesn't always have time to change lenses, so a walkaround lens with a wide range is good. That's why I opted to get a 12-100, which would be my main travel lens. Also, if the weather is iffy or it's windy or dusty, you don't want to be changing lenses. If I need to switch back and forth often or don't want to change lenses, I'll have two bodies with different lenses and grab whichever one fits. Different situations, different strategies.

I have the 40-150 Pro and the MC-14 1.4x teleconverter which yields 56-210 f4 that would pair up nicely with the 12-100 f4. A bit of overlap, but a useful extension out to 210. It would substitute for the 50-200 SWD lens I recently sold to cover a very useful range. I hope Olympus makes a compact 50-200 f4 Pro because I've always found that to be a very useful range, no matter what you pair it with.

 

[ac12]

Do people usually try to avoid any overlap as much as possible?

I used to. But I changed my thinking, and now I have overlap and duplicate focal length lenses.
I built my kit like a mechanic's tool box. Each lens has a specific purpose and reason.
So when I do a shoot, I pick the best lens for the shoot.

Example the 40-150R and 40-150/2.8 are identical focal lengths.

• I carried the 40-150R on vacation simply because it was so light and about the volume of my thick socks. No way was I going to bring the 40-150/2.8 on vacation. For travel, weight and bulk are major factors.
• I use the 40-150/2.8 on the football field at night when I need the extra speed of a f/2.8 lens. I tried the 40-150R, and it was just too slow, at night. In low light, fast glass wins.

Same with the Panasonic-Lumix 12-60 and Olympus 12-40/2.8. Each lens has a purpose and strength that the other does not.
And I have the 35/1.8 for low light.

Yes, doing this costs $$$$.
I am NOT wealthy. When I was working, I saved, scrimped and sacrificed.

• Every day, put $5 for your Starbucks coffee into a jar, and in a year ($5 x 250 = $1,250), you have your new camera/lens. I drank my coffee from the office break room.
• Brown bag your lunch, and you have another camera/lens.
• Cut your beer consumption from two 6-packs a week to one, or one 6-pack for two weeks.
• Give up your vacation to Mexico for a year. This is easy to do now, cuz we can't travel, due to Covid.
• Those of you who are now working from home, how much $$$$ are you saving in just gas, vs. when driving to the office. Gas used to cost me $50+ a week x 50 weeks = $2500. Now I drive so little, that I fill the gas tank about every 5 or 6 weeks. Put that gas $$ into a jar each week.

Set your priorities.

 

[RAH]

Put that gas $$ into a jar each week.

And call it your GAS jar!! 150-400, perhaps?

 

[ac12]

And call it your GAS jar!! 150-400, perhaps?

That's an idea.
But, I reasoned that I just do not shoot long, enough to spend a ton of $$$$ on long lenses. I was tempted by the 100-400. But, for now, the 75-300 seems to be "good enough" for what little stuff I shoot long (tennis, softball and baseball).
On the other hand, I am saving my GAS money for the 8-25/4. But that depends on the final price.
I'm not an ultra-wide shooter, though it may change if I have an ultra-wide lens.

 

[RAH]

That's an idea...
On the other hand, I am saving my GAS money for the 8-25/4. But that depends on the final price.
I'm not an ultra-wide shooter, though it may change if I have an ultra-wide lens.

Yup, I just picked the most expensive splurge in m43-land I could think of. The 40-150 on the roadmap mentioned by @Dave Black above sounds really interesting too, and fits into your excellent description of the 40-150R vs 40-150Gigantis dilemma. I'd really like a relatively light-weight Pro version at that focal length (I also carry the el-cheapo on all my trips).

 

[swifty]

A new 40-150 is shown on the lens roadmap. It is grouped with the 8-25/4.0 and the 12-45/4 lenses. So I assume it will be a f4.0 lens and these three lenses will form a f4.0 trinity of lenses where compact size is emphasized.

Thanks Dave for the reminder. I don’t recall that one for some funny reason.
But I like the idea of the tele starting at 25mm since I really enjoy the normal perspective. So for me something 25-xxx would be a really great so I can have that normal perspective available whichever lens I have on.
I already have the 10-25 f/1.7 which covers me for both low light and ultrawide to normal.

 

[John King]

Thanks Dave for the reminder. I don’t recall that one for some funny reason.
But I like the idea of the tele starting at 25mm since I really enjoy the normal perspective. So for me something 25-xxx would be a really great so I can have that normal perspective available whichever lens I have on.
I already have the 10-25 f/1.7 which covers me for both low light and ultrawide to normal.

On that basis, the 12-100 is possibly ideal for you, Dave?

 

[swifty]

On that basis, the 12-100 is possibly ideal for you, Dave?

Well, I thought about it many times actually. But I think I’m just spoiled by having ultra fast and ultra wide in one in the 10-25mm. So I have to carry 2 lenses for my needs anyways.
If I got the 12-100, I’d add one fast prime to the that mix.
So, many ways of doing it but since traveling’s out of the question in the near future, I’ll just wait and see what pops up. I’m missing a tele option atm in my m43 setup.

 

[John King]

Well, I thought about it many times actually. But I think I’m just spoiled by having ultra fast and ultra wide in one in the 10-25mm. So I have to carry 2 lenses for my needs anyways.
If I got the 12-100, I’d add one fast prime to the that mix.
So, many ways of doing it but since traveling’s out of the question in the near future, I’ll just wait and see what pops up. I’m missing a tele option atm in my m43 setup.

Yes. I sometimes carry my f/1.8 25 for just that reason. My FTs f/2.8-3.5 14-54 MkII is also useful in that respect.

It's the basic reason I have 3 kits. Tiny, small and normal (E-M1 MkII + 12-100).

 

[Holoholo55]

A new 40-150 is shown on the lens roadmap. It is grouped with the 8-25/4.0 and the 12-45/4 lenses. So I assume it will be a f4.0 lens and these three lenses will form a f4.0 trinity of lenses where compact size is emphasized.

That was what Robin Wong thought as well. He saw the 12-45 f4 Pro presaging a trio of f4 compact zooms. The 8-25 would overlap the 12-45, but it'd be interesting to see what OMDS does for the telephoto zoom. I would like to see a 50-200 f4.

 

[Dave Black]

On that basis, the 12-100 is possibly ideal for you, Dave?

I do love my 12-100/4.0. Today on my dogwslking hike my kit was the E-M1X with the 12-100/4.0, 100-400/5.0-6.3, 25/1.2 and the 60/2.8 macro. I was covered for about anything all in a small easy to carry backpack. I ended up only using the 100-400/5.0-6.3 taking photos of a great blue heron.

 

[RS86]

"OM Digital talks about its future: Lens roadmap will be updated this summer. New lenses and cameras (including flagship model) will be announced in 2021.

OM Digital had this Japanese live stream session for the CP+ show. DClife summed up the talk and here is the google translated text from it:

OM Digital Statement of Belief

• Independent from Olympus, but to keep customers picking up attractive products
• With the support of Japan Industrial Partners (JIP), we will develop and sell new products as planned so far.

Micro Four Thirds Declaration

• We promise to continue the Micro Four Thirds System
• The company has changed and the company name has changed, but the underlying development philosophy is inherited.
• The idea of Yoneya, who developed “OM” and “PEN”, has been passed down from film to digital and mirrorless.
• Even if it becomes a new company, we will expand the Micro Four Thirds system based on this idea.

Origin and product composition of OM Digital company name

• Just because the company name has “OM” does not mean that it specializes in “OM-D”.
• “Professional dictation products (medical, legal, financial, government-related software)” will continue, mainly overseas, including “PEN”, “Tough”, and “IC recorder”.
• “OM” is the origin that symbolizes our idea
• “OM” is an attitude of always taking on challenges and creating new things.
• “M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO” is a product that embodies our thoughts and commitment, and I am truly grateful that we received more responses and orders than expected.
• It is a proof that we have supported our ideas and systems with many customers, and we have great confidence.

Roadmap as planned

• It has taken some time before the delivery of “M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO”, but development and manufacturing are proceeding as planned.
• We will continue to introduce attractive lenses and cameras this year along with the lens roadmap updated last summer.

Creating new value

• I talked about the development concept that I inherited from the Olympus era, but I do not simply continue to make the same things as before.
• We will continue our efforts to create new value while maintaining our ideas and attitudes.
• This market is not optimistic, but technology continues to evolve
• The evolution of devices such as sensors and engines, as well as the evolution of control and image processing, will realize new shooting styles.
• New technologies like AI are also important
• We are proud that the powerful IBIS, high-resolution shot, subject recognition AF, etc. are already installed in our compact and lightweight system and contribute to expanding the shooting range of photographers.
• I’m not satisfied with that, and I’m looking ahead to development
• We promise to take over what we will take over for the customers who support us and take on the challenge of new initiatives to further increase the value we provide.

I can’t say forever or forever, but I will use the Olympus logo for the time being.

• For the time being, we will use the Olympus product name with the meaning of the message to our customers who have been using it habitually (the attitude of manufacturing does not change).
• I’m not at the stage where I can talk about such things forever or forever, but I will reassure customers and then change accordingly if a new attitude is needed.
• For the time being, we have received permission to use the name of Olympus, and we plan to use it.

Direction of product manufacturing and technology

• It’s not a technology for technology, but in order to expand the shooting area, I’ve been doing various things until now as to whether I can take pictures that I could not take before.
• If the original image is not good, you cannot take good pictures, so I would like to continue to make “good lenses”, not only good performance but also good lenses that remove restrictions that could not be taken so far.
• I would like to pursue further in the areas of “image processing” and “image recognition”.
• I want to improve my digital technology, rather than computational photography, which makes it easy to take pictures that I couldn’t take without various techniques.
• We are currently doing various preparations to match it, so please look forward to it.
• It is not research for research, but there is an assumed product and we are moving toward it

Independent, free of restrictions, all can be decided by ourselves

• It would be a lie to say that there were no major or minor restrictions in terms of delivering added value.
• There are no restrictions as it is one company from now on
• On the other hand, there are resources that are allowed because it was a large company (Olympus), and of course deficit is not allowed as long as the company becomes independent.
• You can decide for yourself where to spend your budget, where to keep it, and what to offer as a result.
• We are all thinking about whether we can provide new value within the new framework.

I want to utilize the technology in different fields I want to work with various partners

• After having a camera and a lens, there may be something that the manufacturer can offer further.
• Activities that involve photographic culture
• I want to try it because I can decide this area by myself
• We have optical technology, digital technology, and voice technology, and we are interested in a new company that can be diverted to other fields.
• At the time of Olympus, it was difficult to talk about it, but from now on, I can do anything, so I think I can make use of optical technology, digital technology, and voice technology in different fields and genres.
• I would like to work actively with various partners to create new value as needed.
• Previously, Olympus permission was required

M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO About supply shortage

• Not meeting demand does not mean that there is a problem
• The number of products produced per day is limited and cannot be delivered.
• I want to make it clear that there is no quality problem
• There is a high demand for individual parts only for lenses that contain 28 lenses in 18 groups and that support a focal length of up to 1000 mm in the 35 mm equivalent.
• A lens that is extremely severe, such as the optical axis, takes time to make parts, and the adjustment process is strict, and structurally requires extremely high precision.
• It’s a flagship lens so you can’t compromise on quality
• Therefore, the amount of lenses that can be made in a day is limited.
• We are steadily producing the fixed amount, so if you wait, you can be sure to get it, and we can promise to deliver good quality products.
• I can’t increase production right now, so I hope you can wait.

150-400mm Message from the development team

• “M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO” is not only a lens with high specs, but also a lens that the development team is very particular about.
• I’m wondering about 1000mm and the 8-step effect of camera shake correction, but I’m developing it with great attention to operability.
• It’s really adjusted in millimeters, so please pick it up and feel the particularity of that area.

Suggesting multiple new products including flagship models Launched to the extent that there is not too much space

• I can’t talk about the specific time
• It’s not just one, but I want to launch various series, lenses, next flagship models, etc. so that there is not too much space between them.
• I will put out something that people can say that it was really good to use
• This is not only enthusiasm, but there are things that are progressing properly according to the schedule
• Please look forward to it!"

https://www.43rumors.com/om-digital...ing-flagship-model-will-be-announced-in-2021/

 

[Holoholo55]

"OM Digital talks about its future: Lens roadmap will be updated this summer. New lenses and cameras (including flagship model) will be announced in 2021.

OM Digital had this Japanese live stream session for the CP+ show. DClife summed up the talk and here is the google translated text from it:

OM Digital Statement of Belief

• Independent from Olympus, but to keep customers picking up attractive products
• With the support of Japan Industrial Partners (JIP), we will develop and sell new products as planned so far.

Micro Four Thirds Declaration

• We promise to continue the Micro Four Thirds System
• The company has changed and the company name has changed, but the underlying development philosophy is inherited.
• The idea of Yoneya, who developed “OM” and “PEN”, has been passed down from film to digital and mirrorless.
• Even if it becomes a new company, we will expand the Micro Four Thirds system based on this idea.

Origin and product composition of OM Digital company name

• Just because the company name has “OM” does not mean that it specializes in “OM-D”.
• “Professional dictation products (medical, legal, financial, government-related software)” will continue, mainly overseas, including “PEN”, “Tough”, and “IC recorder”.
• “OM” is the origin that symbolizes our idea
• “OM” is an attitude of always taking on challenges and creating new things.
• “M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO” is a product that embodies our thoughts and commitment, and I am truly grateful that we received more responses and orders than expected.
• It is a proof that we have supported our ideas and systems with many customers, and we have great confidence.

Roadmap as planned

• It has taken some time before the delivery of “M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO”, but development and manufacturing are proceeding as planned.
• We will continue to introduce attractive lenses and cameras this year along with the lens roadmap updated last summer.

Creating new value

• I talked about the development concept that I inherited from the Olympus era, but I do not simply continue to make the same things as before.
• We will continue our efforts to create new value while maintaining our ideas and attitudes.
• This market is not optimistic, but technology continues to evolve
• The evolution of devices such as sensors and engines, as well as the evolution of control and image processing, will realize new shooting styles.
• New technologies like AI are also important
• We are proud that the powerful IBIS, high-resolution shot, subject recognition AF, etc. are already installed in our compact and lightweight system and contribute to expanding the shooting range of photographers.
• I’m not satisfied with that, and I’m looking ahead to development
• We promise to take over what we will take over for the customers who support us and take on the challenge of new initiatives to further increase the value we provide.

I can’t say forever or forever, but I will use the Olympus logo for the time being.

• For the time being, we will use the Olympus product name with the meaning of the message to our customers who have been using it habitually (the attitude of manufacturing does not change).
• I’m not at the stage where I can talk about such things forever or forever, but I will reassure customers and then change accordingly if a new attitude is needed.
• For the time being, we have received permission to use the name of Olympus, and we plan to use it.

Direction of product manufacturing and technology

• It’s not a technology for technology, but in order to expand the shooting area, I’ve been doing various things until now as to whether I can take pictures that I could not take before.
• If the original image is not good, you cannot take good pictures, so I would like to continue to make “good lenses”, not only good performance but also good lenses that remove restrictions that could not be taken so far.
• I would like to pursue further in the areas of “image processing” and “image recognition”.
• I want to improve my digital technology, rather than computational photography, which makes it easy to take pictures that I couldn’t take without various techniques.
• We are currently doing various preparations to match it, so please look forward to it.
• It is not research for research, but there is an assumed product and we are moving toward it

Independent, free of restrictions, all can be decided by ourselves

• It would be a lie to say that there were no major or minor restrictions in terms of delivering added value.
• There are no restrictions as it is one company from now on
• On the other hand, there are resources that are allowed because it was a large company (Olympus), and of course deficit is not allowed as long as the company becomes independent.
• You can decide for yourself where to spend your budget, where to keep it, and what to offer as a result.
• We are all thinking about whether we can provide new value within the new framework.

I want to utilize the technology in different fields I want to work with various partners

• After having a camera and a lens, there may be something that the manufacturer can offer further.
• Activities that involve photographic culture
• I want to try it because I can decide this area by myself
• We have optical technology, digital technology, and voice technology, and we are interested in a new company that can be diverted to other fields.
• At the time of Olympus, it was difficult to talk about it, but from now on, I can do anything, so I think I can make use of optical technology, digital technology, and voice technology in different fields and genres.
• I would like to work actively with various partners to create new value as needed.
• Previously, Olympus permission was required

M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO About supply shortage

• Not meeting demand does not mean that there is a problem
• The number of products produced per day is limited and cannot be delivered.
• I want to make it clear that there is no quality problem
• There is a high demand for individual parts only for lenses that contain 28 lenses in 18 groups and that support a focal length of up to 1000 mm in the 35 mm equivalent.
• A lens that is extremely severe, such as the optical axis, takes time to make parts, and the adjustment process is strict, and structurally requires extremely high precision.
• It’s a flagship lens so you can’t compromise on quality
• Therefore, the amount of lenses that can be made in a day is limited.
• We are steadily producing the fixed amount, so if you wait, you can be sure to get it, and we can promise to deliver good quality products.
• I can’t increase production right now, so I hope you can wait.

150-400mm Message from the development team

• “M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO” is not only a lens with high specs, but also a lens that the development team is very particular about.
• I’m wondering about 1000mm and the 8-step effect of camera shake correction, but I’m developing it with great attention to operability.
• It’s really adjusted in millimeters, so please pick it up and feel the particularity of that area.

Suggesting multiple new products including flagship models Launched to the extent that there is not too much space

• I can’t talk about the specific time
• It’s not just one, but I want to launch various series, lenses, next flagship models, etc. so that there is not too much space between them.
• I will put out something that people can say that it was really good to use
• This is not only enthusiasm, but there are things that are progressing properly according to the schedule
• Please look forward to it!"

https://www.43rumors.com/om-digital...ing-flagship-model-will-be-announced-in-2021/

I saw it too and while it was reassuring, I was also disappointed because there was no announcement for the 8-25 f4 Pro. Oh well, gotta be patient.