OLYMPUS M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 7-14mm F2.8 PRO

[Zoom] Wide-zoom | Standard-zoom | Tele-zoom | High-zoom  
[Fixed-focal] Wide angle | Standard | Telephoto | Macro

This F2.8 constant ultra-wide angle zoom lens works with micro four-thirds system and covers the angle of view between 14mm and 28mm equivalent (to 35mm). It has professional features including robust dust/drop proof construction and expensive glasses such as DSA, Super ED, EDA, and HR lenses. Of course, the image quality is excellent: high sharpness and resolution wide open. The outlines never blur even on magnified outputs and chromatic aberration is almost unnoticeable. If you get close to the subject wide open, you can get good background bokeh. I guess many people would use this lens primarily for landscape photography, but it's also fun to shoot other subjects playing with the strong perspective.

( Photography : T.Takahashi / Text : KIMURAX )

At 5:15AM. Using the wide-end, I shot the fresh chilly air with the morning haze. It clearly defined from the young rice in front to the local houses behind the haze. This high definition of the atmosphere with fine grains of water is impossible if the lens isn't sharp. And, it even traced the outlines of the bird. Because of the micro four-thirds' 4:3 aspect ratio, the wideness isn't over-exaggerated, making it easier to handle.

Within the low zoom ratio, I chose the middle range 11mm (22mm equivalent) to see what it's like. I only stopped down by 1.5 steps, but it's very sharp. The color reproduction is nice and the clarity is pleasingly high. The corners are sharp, as we expect from their PRO series.

The tele-end. By shooting wide open and getting close to the subject, the depth of field becomes very shallow for an ultra-wide angle zoom lens. The natural bokeh has uniform and beautiful shape. The minimum focus distance is 20cm and it's about 7.5cm from the front element. The dust/drop proof design is convenient for shooting in a wet situation like this.

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The wide-end is perfect for encompassing indoor space. The bold curved lines are deformed by the perspective. The minute artificial lines of the structure are resolved precisely.

Thanks to the 5-axis image stabilization of the camera body, I could shoot handheld (I also increased sensitivity). The image quality is perfect from the center to the corners: on the original image, I could see that the coma aberration of the corners is well-corrected and there was no ghost.

Because it clearly resolves the shadow, I shot under to emphasize the luminance difference. The perspective of the stretched shadow is impressive.

Using the wide-end and looking up from the ground level, I could give dynamism to the image. Even though the sun easily enters the frame, the flare and ghost are well-controlled and the image looks piquantly clear.

I only stopped down to F5.6, but it thoroughly defined from near to far. Because of the resolution, the depth and the 3D feeling are beyond what we expect from the sensor size. Even though I'm not a professional, I want this lens!

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For a micro four-thirds lens, the barrel with a projected front element look voluminous and the weight (534g) sounds hefty. However, it's still lighter and smaller than a full frame lens with the same spec. Yet, the resolution and the clarity are amazingly high. And, unlike ordinary ultra-wide angle lenses, the corners are sharp wide open. This lens adds the good spice on your photography and works perfectly with the standard zoom ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO. It's a little expensive, but more than worth the money.

( 01.07.2015 )