New Olympus 7-14 Pro lens, 8mm f/1.8 Pro lens, and Special Edition E-M5 II!

May 12, 2015 Featured, Micro 4/3, Mirrorless, News, Olympus 26

olympusnew

New Olympus 7-14 Pro lens, 8mm f/1.8 Pro lens, and Special Edition E-M5 II!

PRE-ORDER THE 7-14 Pro f/2.8 HERE

PRE-ORDER THE 8mm f/1.8 Fisheye HERE

PRE-ORDER THE E-M5II Titanium SE HERE

Last night Olympus announced some new goodies, two of which I have been waiting for patiently as I am ALL IN on these two (and possibly in on the 3rd as well). We all know that Olympus pro lenses are fantastic, and the new 7-14 is finally here along with the 8mm 1.8 fisheye! Olympus is continuing to lead the way with lenses and we now have a pro level ultra wide for our Micro 4/3 system. YES, there has always been the Panasonic 7-14 f/4 from many years ago, one of the first M 4/3 lenses, but now we have a new Olympus PRO 7-14 that will give us a 14-28mm equivalent and a faster f/2.8 aperture. Below see the 7-14 on the E-M5II (see my E-M5II Review). It’s a chunky beast of a lens but I am confident it will be flat-out AMAZING in performance as all Olympus glass is these days. You can pre-order the 7-14 at B&H Photo, PopFlash.com or Amazon. Amazon says it will not ship until August 1st, B&H is saying end of June. I say June as that is what Olympus says,  but either way, you are not charged until it ships so pre-ordering is always a good idea if you REALLY want an item as you can cancel anytime before it ships with no penalty or charge but pre-ordering secure’s your place in line, and this lens will be popular as all get out. Watch and see. At $1299 it is not cheap, but this is a pro lens, weather sealed and up to the Olympus pro standards, which is about as good as it gets.

I am also looking forward to the new 8mm f/1.8 Fisheye as I love a good Fisheye lens. The previous premium fish for the Micro 4/3 system is/was the Panasonic 8mm fisheye (my review of that lens here) but this Olympus will be even better with a fast 1.8 aperture vs the f/3.5 of the Panasonic. That speed is not really needed for a fisheye lens but still way cool to have in ANY lens..SPEED is KING. It also has a minimum focus distance of just 2.5cm. See the 8mm below on the E-M5II… The cost of the PRO Fisheye, which will be weather sealed and up to PRO standards will be $999. It will also be called “mine”. Get it HERE at B&H Photo, or at Amazon, or at PopFlash.com. Ships end of June 2015.

Below, The 7-14 Pro f/2.8 Ultra Wide

Olympus has also announced a limited run edition of the new E-M5 II in a new and unique “Titanium” E-M5 II, limited to 7,000 units worldwide. This is not real Titanium of course but just the color to be reminiscent of the old Olympus OM-3 Ti from 1994. It will come with a special leather strap, a leather card case, and a numbered owners card showing your cameras #. The price? $1,199. Me like. Very much! Looks much more classy than the standard silver or black IMO. This sounds like a Leica special edition with the strap, card case, and numbered card 😉 You can order the SE E-M5II at Amazon HERE and it will be released August 1st. My pre-order is in for this and the two lenses above! Ships end of June 2015.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE FROM OLYMPUS:

OLYMPUS M.ZUIKO® DIGITAL ED 7-14MM F2.8 AND 8MM F1.8 FISHEYE PRO LENSES FOR COMPACT EXPLORING

Excellent Optical Performance, Ultra-Wide, Compact and Lightweight for Ultimate Mobility, Dustproof and Splashproof Construction, Underwater Accessory Compatibility

CENTER VALLEY, Pa., May 12, 2015 — Today, Olympus is pleased to announce the availability of two new premium M.ZUIKO DIGITAL PRO lenses. The M.ZUIKO Digital ED 7-14mm f2.8 PRO is an ultra-wide-angle zoom lens with a 35mm equivalent focal length of 14-28mm, while the M.ZUIKO Digital ED 8mm Fisheye PRO, the world’s first with an f/1.8 aperture, features a minimum working distance of just 2.5cm and offers excellent bokeh with wide-angle macro shots. Both lenses are equipped with Olympus’ legendary weather sealing, providing peace-of-mind while shooting in extreme weather conditions with an OM-D® camera.

The M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 7-14mm f2.8 PRO is the ideal lens for wide-angle shooting needs in any condition. This premium lens includes weather sealing in 11 locations, enabling use in rain and snow, or even on the beach, where other lenses may not be able to withstand ocean spray or dust penetration. At 534 grams, or just under 19 ounces, the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 7-14mm f2.8 PRO is about 45 percent lighter than similar competitor products, eliminating heavy equipment that may slow the user down.

The lens also includes premium close-up shooting capabilities, thanks to the minimum working distance of just 7.5cm, offering extremely sharp capture capability, even at the very edges of an image. Three Super ED lenses, one ED lens and two EDA lenses help to minimize peripheral chromatic aberration, while the ZERO (Zuiko Extra-Low Reflective Optical) Coating aids in minimizing ghosting. The lens also boasts an L-Fn button with 27 assignable functions and a Manual Focus Clutch with built-in Focus Distance Meter. The M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 7-14mm f2.8 PRO lens comes with a fixed lens hood and pinch-style lens cap LC-79 for added protection.

Hobbyists, photo enthusiasts and professionals alike will be captivated by the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 8mm f1.8 PRO Fisheye lens’ 180-degree diagonal angle of view. Like the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 7-14mm f2.8 PRO, this lens includes dustproof and splashproof construction, for unlimited wide-angle adventure. The lens is also compatible with a custom dome port for use with an Olympus underwater housing.

The M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 8mm f1.8 PRO Fisheye lens is constructed of 17 elements in 15 groups and can capture high resolution at the very edges of an image, even at the maximum aperture of f1.8. ZERO Coating minimizes optical flares and ghosting. The lens also comes with a fixed lens hood and a pinch-style lens cap LC-62.

Both of the lenses’ compact size, brightness and weight reflect Olympus’ mastery of precision engineering. When used in conjunction with core OM-D technologies, like 5-axis image stabilization, the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 7-14mm f2.8 PRO and M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 8mm f1.8 PRO Fisheye open the user up to new possibilities for long exposure hand-held shooting.

Underwater Lens Port, PPO-EP02

The PPO-EP02 glass dome lens port is a great accessory to the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 8mm f1.8 PRO Fisheye lens, enabling the user to capture the widest shot possible underwater with the OM-D E-M5 or OM-D E-M1 underwater housings. The PPO-EP02 is 15 percent smaller and 30 percent lighter than Olympus’ previous lens port model, the PPO-E04, allowing for more compact and lightweight underwater shooting. Also, the hood section can be removed to reduce waves for over-under shots. (Rear Cover (PRPC-EP02) and Front Cover (PBC-EP02) are bundled).
U.S. Pricing and Availability

The M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 7-14mm f2.8 PRO lens will be available in June 2015 (black) for an estimated street price of $1,299.99 (US) and $1,599.99 (Canada).

The M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 8mm f1.8 Fisheye PRO lens will be available in June 2015 (black) for an estimated street price of $999.99 (US) and $1,249.99 (Canada).

To find out more about the Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 7-14mm f2.8 PRO and M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 8mm f1.8 Fisheye PRO lenses, and for a complete list of specifications, visit the Olympus website at
http://www.getolympus.com/us/en/lenses/pen-omd.html.

Related Articles

26 Comments

  1. whoah this bloog is greeat i like reading your articles.
    Keepp up tthe good work! You recognize, a loot of people are searching
    around forr this information, yoou can help them greatly.

  2. I have the trifecta of Oly Lenses, 7-14, 12-40 & 40-150. All Pro 2.8. I love them. I currently shoot with an E-M1, but I’ve ordered a Pen-F also. I’m very happy with the Olympus offerings.

  3. Its not worth the price as one can pic up the nice Panasonic 7-14 for less than 700$ online, I don’t think it’s so much better and also I find Olympus glass to be somewhat cold and impersonal even if I am a EM-5 shooter. I prefer Panasonic lenses specially the ones made together with Leica.

    • I’m the opposite with the exception of the Nocticron. I find most Panasonic lenses a tad cold and hard compared to the Oly lenses. We all have different tastes. I used to own the old Panasonic 7-14 f/4. No contest. The new Oly is built better, has better performance, has f/2.8 and is the better lens without question. It’s quite special really for those who shoot M 4/3 and love ultra wide. It leaves you wanting nothing more in a UWA lens.

  4. While these lenses complete the Olympus zoom lineup and are a vital addition to the m43rds system, what I’d like is PRO line primes with a sensible balance between size, weight, and aperture. The Panasonic 15mm 1.8 can be improved upon, from what I’ve seen and read. I would like Olympus to add aperture rings, though (there’s always the A position, and the ring could be reconfigurable too). In the meantime, I’m spending money on all kinds of stuff I want much less than an Olympus Zuiko 17.5mm 1:1.4 PRO.

  6. I preordered the 7-14mm Pro until I saw the quality difference on the 8mm Pro. I would most likely only shoot it completely zoomed out. Steve, any comments on the radial smearing on the 7-14mm? I know it’s not going to be a concern for most landscape people out there but I’m just wondering on your personal take on it compared to other WA zooms and primes.

  7. I’ve got my preorder in for the E-M5 II! Couldn’t pass it up for that price. (I was going to be getting myself an E-M5 II anyhow; might as well jump for the limited edition!)

  8. in terms of WA lens what I really would like is a 7-7,5 mm NON fish-eye with a high optical quality.
    In terms of aperture, I would prefer a darker but smaller lens (give me f3.5 f4 f5,6) to a low light giant such as the zoom in this article. I mean one of the positives of m43 are the dimension, a zoom like this of course is appreciated but is not the main lens (high quality primes) that in my mind are the perfect match for a m43 camera.

  10. Can you use EM1 lenses on a EM5, are they the same mount? What is the difference between the cameras?

    • Indeed, all OMD, PEN and Lumix micro four thirds (m4/3) cameras belong to the same system and thus share the same mount. This is the only interchangeable lens system with this many manufacturers backing up its mount, besides Olympus and Panasonic lenses m4/3 also enjoys the support from Leica (through panasonic), Voightlander, Sigma, Tamron, Rokinon, SLR magic, Mitakon and many others. There’re no ¨EM1 lenses¨ or ¨EM5 lenses¨, they’re all the same mount, same goes for dedicated m4/3 lenses from the above companies. The difference in the EM1 and EM5 (mkII) is that, officially, the former is the current flagship PRO camera and the latter is their mid-high-range Enthusiast model, so in the end it depends more on the user and what camera (S)he is looking for. There’s also the E-M10 which is their entry level OMD camera and of course there’s the PEN range of cameras if you preffer modularity and a sleeker profile.

  11. Agreed Carlos. Olympus EM5II ‘Titanium’ 7-14 Pro lens and Macbook in Space Gray. Yummy.
    But Steve, why is it just a color? Why couldn’t it be real titanium? If Nikon could do it with The F series Titan… waaaay back when.

    • If it were real Titanium price would have been much higher. No one uses real titanium today. Last time was a Leica M9 Titanium, and that was what? $20k?

  12. Hi Steve
    The link to pre-order the titanium Olympus goes to pop flash not amazon

  13. Just ordered the 7-14mm, can’t wait. If its anything like the other 2 from the PRO range it’ll be great, hopefully Steve you can get hold of a test copy before August and give us a hands on review.

  14. I wish Olympus would continue to do what they do right right now, as it’s the only brand in the market that does combine great tools and optics for the art of photography, not for retro-conformity like fuji or big balls show off like sony.

    • Ive been using Sony for 5 years, Olympus for 7, Leica for 10…I love them all. The E-M1 and E-M5II are some of the best cameras made today, all depends on your needs and wants as all are much different from each other.

  16. I’ve been looking forward to Olly’s m4/3rds version of the 7-14mm, because I’ve owned the 4/3rds version since 2006, which becomes quite a ‘monster’ weight and size-wise when fitted via the adaptor, onto my E-M1! Of course I could have bought the Lumix version, but it’s not as well constructed. Obviously it’s a bit faster, (f2.8 vs f4.o) so I’d want to see if this version f4 onwards, is actually better corrected as a consequence of almost a decade’s-worth of advances in optical design. If it isn’t I’ll just stick with what I’ve got. On the other hand, this new lens, won’t overload my neck and shoulder muscles as much!

    No doubt the Canon and Nikon fan-boys will slag it off, but that, probably has more to do with sour grapes because until recently, neither of these manufacturers, produced a comparable lens.

    • “…because until recently, neither of these manufacturers, produced a comparable lens.”

      Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 has been on the market for years.

    • I’m a camera fanboy rather than any particular brand; I use(d) Olympus, Sony, Canon, Nikon, Ricoh, Fuji and Panasonic. I wouldn’t slag this lens off, I welcome it, but the ‘criticism’ if that’s the right word is the choice of FL, for me. My favourite FLs are (in 35mm terms) 16mm, 24mm, 28mm and 35mm.

      So my Canon 16-35/2.8 L USM MK II is one of my favourite lenses because it offers all these FLs in a single lens. The quality is quite a full replacement for a ‘bunch of primes’, but it’s close enough, and It’s one of only two lenses I kept when selling all my Canon gear.

      So I’d have been much much happier if Oly had made a len of this quality as a 16-35 equivalent rather than 14-28.

  17. I wish Olympus would release a Pro 300mm f4 with 1.4 converter for those of us who like to use the system for wildlife photography.

    • Oly have long since publicly announced such a lens is in its pipeline. Not launched, trud, but wiml be!
      The 1.4 converter is already available, and will work with the upcoming 300/4 PRO lens.

Comments are closed.