Conclusion

Given the broad focal range it offers – equivalent to a whopping 24mm to 400mm in 35mm film terms thanks to the unique properties of the Olympus Four Thirds system and the shortened distance between lens mount and sensor – the Olympus M.Zuiko ED 12-200mm F3.5-6.3 lens is impressively lightweight and compact, while being sufficiently solid of construction to reassure us it’s worth the money being asked.

OK, so it’s not particularly fast/bright with a maximum aperture of f/3.5 at its widest setting, but, given the creative flexibility possible here, thanks to us being able to find a successful focal range for any given subject, it’s hardly a deal breaker.

And, in truth that is what this lens is all about – versatility as opposed to razor sharp image quality at each and every setting. All being said, sharpness is certainly very good indeed, and any lack of wouldn’t be a deal breaker for us.

In short, if you’ve just purchased a Four Thirds system camera and want one lens to extend the reach of the 14-42mm optic that probably came bundled with it, if your budget allows then the Olympus M.Zuiko ED 12-200mm F3.5-6.3 would undoubtedly be a very desirable next step, allowing you to squeeze most if not all subjects into shot without having the inconvenience of taking a step forward or back.

It’s sufficiently weighty without being prohibitively so, and the balance between OM-D body and lens feels absolutely correct. So while, yes, a dedicated prime lens for each key focal range may achieve more even more pin sharp results, here you get the equivalent of a whole bag full of them via just the one optic.

Now that’s got to make the Olympus M.Zuiko ED 12-200mm F3.5-6.3 zoom literally worth looking into.

Ratings (out of 5)
Design	4
Features	4
Ease-of-use	4.5
Image quality	3.5
Value for money	4.5