New Prime Lenses and Flash for PEN Cameras

July 1, 2011: Concurrent with the launch of its three new PEN cameras, Olympus has unveiled two new high performance prime lenses in the M.Zuiko lens range and a new compact system flash for the Olympus PEN series of compact system cameras.

The M.Zuiko DIGITAL 12mm f/2.0 is a high performance super-wide angle prime lens that covers an angle of view equivalent to 24mm in 35mm format. Olympus claims it has the world’s first depth of field scale in a compact system camera type lens, along with a quick-clutch manual focus ring mechanism. Features include Dual Super Aspherical (DSA), Extra-Low Dispersion (ED) and Super High Refractive index (Super HR) glass elements and an MSC (Movie & Still Compatible) mechanism for fast and quiet autofocusing.

The new M.Zuiko DIGITAL 12mm f/2.0 lens. (Source: Olympus.)
Weighing only 130 grams, with a maximum diameter of 56 mm and an overall length of just 43 mm, this lens has an all-metal barrel and focusing ring and comes with Olympus’s special ZERO (Zuiko Extra-low Reflection Optical) coating, which minimises flare and ghosting without reducing light transmission.
MSC autofocusing is also provided in the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm f/1.8, which is designed primarily for portraiture. With a focal length of 45mm (equivalent to 90mm in 35mm format) its bright f/1.8 maximum aperture provides a shallow depth of field with attractive defocusing. Comprising 8 groups of 9 lens elements, including two E-HR (Extra-High Refractive index) elements, the light weight of 116g makes it a carry-everywhere lens.

The compact M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm f/1.8 lens. (Source: Olympus.)
The FL-300R is a compact, lightweight external flash with a slim profile that matches any PEN camera. Featuring bounce and remote control capabilities, this flash has a GN (Guide Number) of 28 (ISO 200/m) and can be tilted up to 60 degrees upward and 30 degrees downward. It also supports close-up shooting and is 300R is also compatible with Olympus’s wireless remote flash control system. It comes with a built-in wide panel, which can be used to cover angles of view up to the coverage of a 9mm lens (equivalent to 18mm of 35mm cameras).

Olympus’s new FL-300R flash unit. (Source: Olympus.)
Release dates and pricing have yet to be announced. For more information, visit www.olympus.com.au.