My 5 favourite OM System lenses

It is now more than 14 years since the first Micro Four Thirds camera was introduced. The choice of lenses is almost infinite. Unfortunately, both Panasonic and Olympus failed to turn their advantage over Sony, Nikon and Canon into an advantage. Most of the photographers who own or have owned another system have preferred to wait for their own brand to offer a mirrorless system with a corresponding lens range. I am still a very big fan of the Micro Four Thirds format. Therefore, I would like to present my top 5 lenses of the OM system ecosystem.

1. The M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25 IS PRO OM System lens

Also called the white goddess, this OM System lens rightly bears that title. It is the best lens in the entire photographic industry. With a unique focal length range, it is not only small and handy, but also extremely light. The optical quality leaves nothing to be desired and the autofocus speed is more than adequate. I use the lens a lot because it also has an excellent image stabiliser that works perfectly with the one in the camera. This makes it a lens that, despite its long focal length, can be used very well without a tripod. I personally use it 95% of the time without a tripod and am more than satisfied with the results. Using it without a tripod allows me to react quickly to the animals I photograph.

My article “M.Zuiko 150-400mm F4.5 lens, my first experiences” is a small report how the lens felt right at the beginning. In this article you find also a comparison with the less expensive  M.Zuiko Digital ED 100-400 F5-6.3 IS.

2. The M.Zuiko Digital ED 8-25mm F4 PRO OM System lens

Yes, you read correctly. My second favourite OM System lens is the M.Zuiko Digital ED 8-25mm F4 PRO. The other end of the focal length scale. It has some advantages. On the one hand, the focal length range goes up to the so-called normal focal length of 25mm, but on the other hand it also covers the wide-angle range more than adequately with 8mm. In contrast to the M.Zuiko Digital ED 7-14mm F2.8 PRO, it is not only lighter and more compact, but it also has a flat front lens, which makes the use of filters much easier. It is the lens I use for documentary purposes when travelling and can be used very flexibly.

Shortly after the introduction in 2021 I tested the lens. You find my first impressions in my article “M.Zuiko Digital ED 8-25mm F4.0 PRO my experiences“

3. The M.Zuiko Digital ED 75mm F1.8

The M.Zuiko Digital ED 75mm F1.8 lens has been in the Olympus / OM Digitalsolutions portfolio for a very long time. It has been one of my favourite lenses from the beginning. No doubt about the image quality, it is excellent for taking portraits. Especially small children can be photographed in a natural pose with this lens, because the focal length is long enough to shoot at a distance from which you are no longer noticed by the children. With an open aperture of F1.8, it also has excellent cropping capabilities that separate the subject nicely from the background.

4. The M.Zukio Digital ED 40-150mm F2.8 PRO

The second most frequently used lens by me. It is the perfect complement to the M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25 IS PRO. I always use it when I want to get closer to the animals in wildlife photography. The high speed also allows me to work longer with a lower ISO sensitivity, which is good for image quality. This is good for the image quality. Due to its small and handy design, it is not only very portable, but you can also react quickly to changing situations. Besides wildlife photography, it is also excellent for sports photography. The shooting speed leaves nothing to be desired.

5. The M.Zuiko Digital ED 45mm F1.2 PRO

If you want to photograph people from a little less distance, then the M.Zuiko Digital ED 45mm F1.2 PRO is exactly the right lens. The image quality is a little better than that of the 75mm F1.8 and the shorter distance and the slightly larger open aperture make it even easier to crop people. Nevertheless, you have enough distance to your model and they don’t feel so crowded. This is an effect that should not be underestimated, especially when working with amateur models. The focal length of 45mm also flatters the face because the proportions are very harmonious.

Summary

From my perspective, I don’t miss anything in the Micro Four Thirds lens portfolio. In my top 5 are exclusively Olympus / OM Digitalsolutions lenses because they simply work better on their cameras. I simply notice that the communication between body and lens works better than if I were to use a Panasonic lens. The image quality is also a little better.

Which lenses do you use? I look forward to your feedback on why you love them and what you shoot with them.