Best Olympus M Zuiko Digital 25mm f / 1.8 Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals & Sales 2020:

This 25mm f / 1.8 belongs to the M.Zuiko Premium range from Olympus. Equivalent to a 50mm, it has a very bright maximum aperture of f / 1.8 provided by a diaphragm with 7 blades. Compact, light and available in two colors (black or silver), this small lens is positioned as the ideal companion for reportage and portrait lovers .

Best Olympus M Zuiko Digital 25mm f / 1.8 Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals & Sales 2020

1. Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 25mm F1.8 Lens, for Micro Four Thirds Cameras (Black)

2. Panasonic Lumix G Lens, 25mm, F1.7 ASPH, Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds, H-H025K (USA Black)

3. Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 8mm F1.8 Fisheye PRO Lens, for Micro Four Thirds Cameras

4. Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 17mm F1.8 Lens, for Micro Four Thirds Cameras (Black)

5. Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 25mm F1.2 PRO Lens, for Micro Four Thirds Cameras

Compact and light!

This Olympus M Zuiko Digital 25mm f / 1.8 is extremely compact and light. On the scale, count 137 g. In terms of dimensions, it measures just over 4 cm long and has a diameter of 5.8 cm. It is therefore perfectly proportioned to the small Micro 4/3 hybrids from Olympus, and obviously also the friend of those from Panasonic.

The lens is available in two color variations (silver and black) to best match your camera. It benefits from an almost all metal construction of the most beautiful effect. Its design is quite successful and, of course, the black version is the most discreet. The lens has a constant footprint design with fixed front and rear lenses. It is a point to prevent the entry of dust or humidity inside. Unfortunately, it has no specific all-weather protection.

The single adjustment ring is dedicated to manual focusing. It is wide and comfortable to use. Fluidity is quite good. Unfortunately, there is no stop mark at the minimum focusing distance and infinity and no focus distance mark. Pity…

Good and consistent

We tested the lens with a Panasonic Lumix GX8 R with a Micro 4/3 20 Mpx sensor with a definition of 5,200 x 3,904 px. Each pixel therefore measures 3.3 µm side. The minimum aperture recommended to avoid diffraction problems is therefore f / 8-f / 11!

The performance of this Olympus M Zuiko Digital 25mm f / 1.8 is quite good! For starters, this lens has good behavior. The sharpness increases as the diaphragm is closed and diffraction appears after f / 8. However, the images made at f / 11 are still quite usable. The level of dive is good, especially in the center and from the widest opening. The level of dive in the center is fairly constant, which is a good point. 

Naturally, the lens suffers from a fairly significant lack of homogeneity, mainly at the largest apertures, between the center, 2/3 and the extreme edges. The gap with these settles fairly quickly by closing the diaphragm. It is at f / 4 and f / 5.6 that the lens delivers the most homogeneous images.

Faced with competition

It is not the only 25mm range at Olympus. There’s also a 25mm f / 1.2 M.Zuiko Pro. At Panasonic (same mount, therefore compatible), there is a 25 mm f / 1.7 and a 25 mm f / 1.4.

Here we mainly compare the 25mm f / 1.2 model that we tested recently on our new test scene with the GX8. The Panasonic models have for their part been tested with a G7 and on our old test scene. We therefore only deliver the results of our Imatest measurements here.

The focal

Here is what you get with the 25mm mounted on the Lumix GX8 equipped with a Micro 4/3 sensor. This focal length is a classic, a kind of Swiss knife capable of making both landscape or portrait as well as street photography. It is a 50 mm equivalent (conversion coefficient of 2x).

The vignetting

The vignetting is present and quite strong. The phenomenon is mainly visible at the largest apertures and particularly at f / 1.8, aperture at which it is very “entering” in the image. The phenomenon fades as you close the diaphragm to become negligible at f / 4.

Bokeh

The possibilities of playing with the depth of field are quite limited on a Micro 4/3 system, in addition with a rather short focal length. Anyway, thanks to the maximum aperture of f / 1.8, it is possible to detach your subject from the background and get a nice bokeh effect. As much as possible, work with a relatively short focus distance and compose so that the background is as far away from the subject as possible.

Verdict

This Olympus M Zuiko Digital 25mm f / 1.8 is an excellent choice to start in the world of fixed focal lengths. Its maximum aperture of f / 1.8 ensures it can tickle the marked depth of field effects, for example in portraits. Its reduced dimensions and light weight guarantee total discretion and undeniable comfort of use. 

He delivers quality images and enjoys consistent behavior. The level of sharpness in the center of the images is completely correct and, above all, already very high at the largest aperture. Shadows in the painting: a fairly marked vignetting and a fairly significant lack of homogeneity between the center, 2/3 and the extreme edges of the images with the largest apertures.

STRONG POINTS

  • Large maximum aperture f / 1.8
  • Very compact and lightweight lens
  • Beautiful behavior
  • Good dive in the center from the largest opening
  • Low distortions

WEAK POINTS

  • No all-weather reinforcement
  • No stop marks on the manual focus ring
  • Lack of homogeneity between the center, 2/3 and the extreme edges of the images with the largest apertures
  • Vignetting marked at the largest openings

CONCLUSION

This Olympus M Zuiko Digital 25mm f / 1.8 is surprising in more ways than one. Firstly by its reduced dimensions and its light weight, but also by its more than respectable optical performance. It delivers quality images (especially in the center), and this from the greatest opening. We regret the marked vignetting and the lack of homogeneity of the dive at the largest openings.

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