Olympus today announced the M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-50mm f/3.5-6.3 EZ lens. The new lens will be available separately and as a kit lens with the E-PM1, E-PL3, and E-P3. Targeted partly at videographers, the 12-50mm presents a wide mid-range zoom option (24-100mm in 35mm angle of view terms) that has near-silent focus and zoom. While Olympus labels the product as "Macro," it really is only a quasi-macro ability, as maximum magnification is just a little under one-third size.
While some m4/3 users complain about the "overlap" of this lens with existing offerings, it is the first of the m4/3 mid-range zooms to include 24mm, which a lot of serious photographers value. The fast focusing motor and near silent power zooming are nice additions to a kit lens, as well. Most of the complaints really are centered on one thing: no one has yet produced a zoom with a fast aperture (f/2, f/2.8) for m4/3.
Full details on the lens are now in the Lenses section of the site.
