Alongside with the Olympus E-P1 hybrid digital camera, Olympus launched 2 new Micro 4/3 lenses that will ship in a kit with the camera - one of two lenses. The lenses’ full names are: M. ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-42mm 1:3.5-5.6 and M. ZUIKO DIGITAL 17mm 1:2.8 Pancake.

Both new lenses feature an exterior design that complements the E-P1 digital PEN camera body. With the 17mm F2.8 pancake lens attached the E-P1 really is very small; the E-P1 and 14-42mm combination is also compact when collapsed, and feels well balanced in use.

The 28-84mm equivalent zoom range of the 14-42mm 1:3.5-5.6 lens makes it the perfect all purpose kit lens, though it’s a little slow at the long end (F5.6).

These lenses are interchangeable lenses compliant with the Micro Four Thirds System standard announced in August 2008. Micro Four Thirds (MFT) is an extension of the Four Thirds standard that Olympus, Leica and Panasonic have used for their recent DSLRs.

These new lenses will be available in July, the 17mm pancake lens in silver, the 14-42mm zoom lens in silver and black.

M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 17mm f2.8 - Features:

• Focal Length Equivalent: 34mm
• Retrofocus type configuration
• Concave lens element
• Wide angle of view at a focal length of 17mm
• Double-sided aspherical lens element
• Brightness of f2.8
• Close-up shooting at a minimum distance of around 15cm
• Multi-coated lens surfaces to reduce ghosts and flares
• Circular aperture diaphragm
• Intuitive Manual Focusing
• Dignified Exterior Design
• Total length of 22mm

M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 – Features:

• Focal Length Equivalent: 28-84mm
• Dramatic size reduction by retractable mechanism
• Total length is just 43.5mm.
• ED (Extra-low Dispersion) lens
• HR (High Refractive index) lens
• Two double-sided aspherical lenses
• Close-up shooting at a minimum distance of 15cmIt
• Max. Image Magnification of 0.24x (0.48x: 35mm equivalent)
• Multi-coated lens surfaces to reduce ghosts and flares.
• Circular aperture diaphragm
• Fast Auto Focusing
• Intuitive Manual Focusing

Official Information: olympusamerica.com.

The Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 14-35mm f/2 SWD is one of only two SLR zoom lenses in the world to boast a maximum aperture of f/2 throughout the focal length range. The other such lens is Zuiko Digital ED 35-100mm f/2.

It belongs to Olympus’ Super High Grade line of lenses (there are also Standard, High Grade and Super High Grade). Such lenses have a fast and constant maximum aperture and a dust/drip-proof construction, and are the manufacturer’s most expensive products.

The SWD abbreviation in the name of the lens stands for Supersonic Wave Drive and means the lens has its own focus motor to move the glass elements for focusing. This results in quick and quiet AF operation.

The  lens features 2.5x zoom, and indeed, at 35mm (70mm eq.) it is a bit short for portraits, e.g. Fortunately, the 14-35mm f2 SWD is compatible with both the EC-14 and the EC-20 teleconverters, with both auto-focus and auto-aperture control.

The mount is made of stainless steel, and the outer shell of the lens barrel is mainly high-grade plastic. The zoom and the focusing rings are both mechanically coupled, rubberised and textured. There are no depth-of-field markings.

Lens Reviews:

Photographyblog.com:
“The Zuiko Digital ED 14-35mm f/2 SWD is doubtlessly one of the finest zoom lenses ever made. The consistency of sharpness across the frame is remarkable at every focal length and aperture, with the edges being basically as sharp as the centre. Lateral chromatic aberrations are were practically a non-issue with this lens. Close-up performance is poor; this lens clearly won’t double as a macro.”

Sample Photo Galleries: photographyblog.com (mounted on Olympus E-520 and an E-3).

Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 14-35mm f/2 SWD – Specifications:

• Focal Length: 14-35mm
• Focal Length Equivalent 28-70mm
• Lens construction: 18 Elements in 17 Groups, 2 ED lenses, Aspherical ED lens and Aspherical lens
• Dust & Drip Proof
• Floating & Internal Focusing System
• Angle of View: 75-34 Degree
• Closest Focusing Distance: 0.35m
• Maximum Image Magnification: 0.12x
• 35mm equivalent Max. Image Magnification 0.24x
• Minimum Field Size: 149×111mm
• Number of Blades: 9 (Circular Aperture Diaphragm)
• Maximum Aperture: f 2
• Minimum Aperture: f 22
• Filter Size: Diameter 77mm
• Weight: 900g
• Compatibility: Tele Converter EC-14, Tele Converter EC-20
• Olline Price: 2,599$

Official Information: olympus-global.com.

Olympus Digital 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 ED is an affordable, general-purpose standard zoom lens for an entry-level Olympus DSLR. It is usually supplied with the company’s DSLR cameras as a compact standard wide angle zoom lens covering focal lengths equivalent to 28-84mm in 35mm format.

Olympus claims this lens offers ‘class-leading’ performance in its price range at maximum apertures.

The 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 ED consists of 10 elements in 8 groups, it includes one ED (extra-low dispersion) element plus two aspherical elements to provide edge-to-edge sharpness and minimise chromatic aberrations. Internal focusing supports use of angle-critical attachments like polarisers and graduate filters.

A close-focusing distance of 25 cm allows this lens to be used for close-up photography - although 1:1 macro focusing is not supported.

This lens is largely made from plastic.The focusing ring is a 10 mm wide band that is part of the outer lens barrel and rotates through 360 degrees. There’s no distance scale, no depth-of-field indicator and no markings for infrared focus correction. Also no zoom lock is provided.

Lens Reviews:

Photoreview.com.au:
“Significant edge softening is seen at all focal lengths particularly with wider apertures. Both purple and green fringing could seen when outdoor shots taken under contrasty lighting were enlarged to 100%. Lateral chromatic aberration ranged from low to moderate across all focal length settings. Barrel distortion was evident at the 14mm and 18mm focal lengths but by 25mm it had disappeared. Backlighting was generally well handled and flare was surprisingly low.”

Olympus Digital 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 ED – Specifications:

• Picture angle: 75 - 29 degrees
• Maximum aperture: f/3.5 (wide), f/5.6 (tele)
• Minimum aperture: f/22
• Lens construction: 10 elements in 8 groups, including ED Lens Element and 2 Aspherical Lens Elements
• Lens mount: Four Thirds System
• Diaphragm Blades: 7 (Circular aperture diaphragm)
• Minimum focus: 25 cm
• Maximum magnification: 0.19x
• Filter size: 58 mm
• Dimensions (Diameter x L): 65.5 x 61 mm
• Weight: 190 grams