Rugged Portraitist

Fast prime lenses carry the seal of a company’s optical competence, and are currently the hot products if the recent lens launches are any indication. In fact, it was the onslaught of smartphones, that, we think, forced the hands of lens manufacturers to concentrate on their superior optics to woo serious photographers. The M.Zuiko Digital ED 45mm f/1.2 PRO promises a combination of rugged construction, precision optics and unique technology.

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Design and Build Quality

Olympus Pro series lenses are sturdily crafted with strong, but lightweight aluminium alloy, and the new M.Zuiko Digital ED 45mm f/1.2 PRO is no different. The lens is hermetically sealed to make it dustproof, splash-proof and freeze-proof. The customisable L-Fn button on the lens lets you choose a setting directly from the lens. The ED 45mm PRO lens uses a focus clutch mechanism to switch between AF and MF. The lens is threaded to accept 62mm filters. The 45mm lens measures 70mm (Ø) x 84.9 mm and weighs 410g.

Key Features

The M.Zuiko Digital ED 45mm f/1.2 PRO provides a 35mm-equivalent focal length of 90mm. This makes it a compact and lightweight portrait lens for the Micro Four Thirds system. The lens is constructed with 14 elements in 10 groups including an ED (Extra-low Dispersion), four HR (High Refractive index) and one aspherical element. According to Olympus, optimal placement of three cemented ED lenses effectively corrects axial chromatic aberration as well as peripheral colour bleeding.