Olympus has announced the new M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-200mm F3.5-6.3 super telephoto zoom lens for Micro Four Thirds cameras. That’s quite a focal range, equivalent to 24-400mm on 35mm.
If you could only bring one lens on a shoot, you would be covered from wide to telephoto, and with current cameras performing well at higher ISOs, you could balance out the smaller aperture the further you zoom in.
The lens features a dustproof and splashproof construction, ZERO (Zuiko Extra-low Reflection Optical) coating to reduce ghosts and flares while producing high-contrast images and weighs 455grams (1 lbs). It has a 7-blade aperture and uses 16 elements in 11 groups (3 Aspherical lenses, 2 Super ED lenses, 2 ED lenses, 1 Super HR lenses, 2 HR lens).
For video shooting, the lens has an MSC (Movie and Still Compatible) mechanism, for fast, smooth, quiet and accurate auto-focusing. Olympus claims this produces short shooting time lag, for less missed photo opportunities due to the autofocus missing or not keeping up with a subject. This most likely means the lens is also fly-by-wire.
The lens will retail for $899.99 USD and will be available late March.
Optional Accessories
LC-72C Lens Cap ($14.99 USD): Equipped with a 72mm filter diameter that can be attached and removed without the need to remove the lens hood.
LH-76B Lens Hood ($49.99 USD): Protects the lens and reduces unnecessary light entering the lens when shooting in backlit conditions.
LSC-0914 Lens Case ($31.99 USD): A pouch-style lens case that protects lenses with three-layer construction. Lenses can be stored with the lens cap, protection filter and lens hoot (stored) attached.
ZUIKO PRF-ZD72 PRO Protection Filter ($79.99 USD): A lens filter equipped with ZERO coating and blackened glass edges, used to suppress flares and ghosting caused by reflections. The frame consists of a satin finish black aluminum. This filter is also compatible with other lenses of a 72mm filter diameter
