Olympus ED 12-60mm f2.8-4.0 SWD is a Variable aperture Auto Focus (AF)
Standard Zoom lens with FourThirds max sensor coverage, and it is designed to be used with
Four Thirds cameras.
What type of photography is the Olympus ED 12-60mm f2.8-4.0 SWD lens good for?
The choice of photography type for which you intend to use the Olympus ED 12-60mm f2.8-4.0 SWD is a crucial decision factor. Below, we have assessed its suitability for various photography scenarios:
Reasons to Buy the Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 12-60mm f2.8-4.0 SWD Lens
Here we've included a summary of the advantages and disadvantages of the Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 12-60mm f2.8-4.0 SWD lens in a list form to assist you in determining whether it offers the features you need.
Weather-sealed |
Autofocus |
Distance Scale |
Hood supplied |
Full-time Manual Focusing |
Fast Aperture at Wide end |
Fast Aperture at Tele end |
Minimum focus distance of 0.25m / 9.8 inch |
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Lens Extends while zooming |
Variable Aperture |
Lens Mount
Olympus ED 12-60mm f2.8-4.0 SWD is compatible with cameras that have a Four Thirds lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Four Thirds lenses are Olympus E-5, Olympus E-600 and Olympus E-620.
Size, Weight and Filter Thread
The size and weight are crucial factors to consider when searching for your next lens. Olympus ED 12-60mm f2.8-4.0 SWD has a maximum diameter of 80mm and total length of 99mm when not extended. It weighs 575g / 20.3 oz.
Olympus ED 12-60mm f2.8-4.0 SWD has a filter thread of 72mm. Below are links to the filters that we recommend you to consider for your Olympus ED 12-60mm f2.8-4.0 SWD:
Focal Range
Olympus ED 12-60mm f2.8-4.0 SWD has a focal range of 12-60mm and 5.0X zoom ratio which has a 35mm equivalent focal range of 24-120mm when used on a FourThirds format camera.
Weather Sealings
The Olympus ED 12-60mm f2.8-4.0 SWD is a weather-sealed lens, which provides extra protection to prevent water and dust get inside the lens and camera body under light rain, snow and wind. In order to have effective protection, you have to pair the Olympus ED 12-60mm f2.8-4.0 SWD with a weather-sealed camera body such as the Olympus E-5, Olympus E-3 and Olympus E-1.
Optical Image Stabilization
Olympus ED 12-60mm f2.8-4.0 SWD doesn't have an optical image stabilization system so the only option to stabilize the image taken with this lens is to mount on a camera body with IBIS (sensor based In-body image stabilization).
Alternatively, you can check the Panasonic Leica 14-50mm F3.8-5.6 OIS in Four Thirds mount that have similar focal range but features Optical Image Stabilization.
Lenses Similar to Olympus ED 12-60mm f2.8-4.0 SWD With Optical Image Stabilization
Zoom Method
Olympus ED 12-60mm f2.8-4.0 SWD features Rotary (extending) zoom method where the length of the lens changes as you zoom in or out. This makes it possible to design the lens with a smaller minimum length ( generally when it is zoomed out) compared to internal zoom lenses. The disadvantages of this design are being harder to seal against dust and moisture, weight balance shifting while zooming and zoom creep in certain lenses.
Maximum Magnification Ratio
Olympus ED 12-60mm f2.8-4.0 SWD has a Max Magnification Ratio of 0.28x and has a minimum focusing distance of 0.25m. For a non-macro lens, the 0.28x is considered a high magnification and will come handy for close-up shots.
Below are the 3 Standard Zoom type Four Thirds mount lens alternatives with highest max magnification ratios:
Aperture
Olympus ED 12-60mm f2.8-4.0 SWD is a variable aperture lens with a max aperture of f2.8 and a minimum aperture of f22 at 12mm, and a max aperture of f4 and minimum aperture of f22 at 60mm .
Focal Length |
Max Aperture |
Min Aperture |
12mm
|
F2.8 |
F22 |
60mm
|
F4 |
F22 |
Optical Formula
Olympus ED 12-60mm f2.8-4.0 SWD's optical formula consists of 14 elements in 10 groups . Following special elements are used in this design:
- 1 super ED glass element
- 2 ED glass elements
- 1 aspherical ED glass element 2 aspherical elements
Lens Hood
Olympus ED 12-60mm f2.8-4.0 SWD comes with a removable petal shaped lens hood which is handy to reduce lens flare and glare in your photos. The model number of the hood is LH-75B.
Body Colour
Olympus ED 12-60mm f2.8-4.0 SWD is available in Black color.
Popular Comparisons of Olympus ED 12-60mm f2.8-4.0 SWD
Here are the eight most popular comparisons of the Olympus ED 12-60mm f2.8-4.0 SWD amongst Camera Decision readers.
Top Alternatives of Olympus ED 12-60mm f2.8-4.0 SWD Lens
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