Let our guide to the best zoom lenses for Micro Four Thirds help you kit out your Panasonic or Olympus camera, with picks for all budgets.
Micro Four Thirds is the longest-running mirrorless system that’s still in popular use today. Its cameras use a smaller sensor standard than the APS-C and full-frame chips favoured by the likes of Canon, Nikon, Sony and Fujifilm, which allows for all sorts of creative advantages. MFT bodies and lenses tend to be smaller and lighter than their larger-sensor rivals, for one thing, making for a lightweight setup that really deliver the goods when it comes to image quality.
A big advantage of the MFT system is its cross-compatibility. Cameras made by Panasonic and Olympus / OM-System use the exact same lens mount, meaning that all Panasonic lenses can be used on Olympus / OM-System cameras, and vice versa. This gives any MFT photographer real flexibility in crafting their setup, and a huge amount of choice of lenses.
We already have a full guide to the best Micro Four Thirds lenses, yet the sheer amount of choice of Micro Four Thirds zoom lenses demands a dedicated one for them. Here we’ve selected fantastic lenses made by Panasonic, Olympus and OM-System – those using a Micro Four Thirds camera have their pick of the lot.
If you’re still finding your feet with the system, don’t worry – first, let’s run through the key criteria for choosing a Micro Four Thirds zoom lens.
What to consider with the best Micro Four Thirds zoom lenses
The main thing to think about is which class of zoom lens you want to use. We’ve separated them into standard, all-in-one (or superzoom), and telephoto zoom lenses.
Standard zooms are great options as ‘everyday’ or ‘walk around’ choices. They give a good degree of flexibility for a range of situations, such as landscape, travel and even portraiture. They also provide quite a naturalistic perspective, similar to that of the human eye, which is great for documentary-style shooting.
All-in-one or superzoom lenses cover a very broad focal range, and let you do a bit of everything. They’re also useful as everyday walk-around lenses, allowing you to zoom way in or way out at a moment’s notice. They also tend to be relatively inexpensive as they aren’t often used by professionals – the reason being that the big zoom range generally compromises some optical quality.
Telephoto zoom lenses are more suited to specific types of photography, such as wildlife, sports or action. Anything that requires you to get closer to the action is a good candidate for a telephoto zoom.
Still assembling your Micro Four Thirds setup? Check out our guides to the best Olympus cameras and the best Panasonic cameras for plenty of great options. Our in-depth reviews of the OM System OM-5 and the OM-1 are well worth reading, too.
The best zoom lenses for Micro Four thirds: quick list
Looking for the best deal on Micro Four thirds zooms lenses? Not only will you find the best lenses, but also some of the best deals, as our ‘Buy now’ buttons are set to automatically take you to the best prices from trusted retailers. You’ll also find a list of other retailers below each lens, so you can locate the right deal for you.
Best standard zooms for Micro Four Thirds:
- Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-45mm F4.0 PRO – Buy now
- Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 8-25mm F4.0 PRO – Buy now
- Panasonic LUMIX G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60mm f/2.8-4 Asph. Power O.I.S. – Buy now
- Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO II – Buy now
Best all-in-one zoom lenses for Micro Four Thirds:
- Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-100mm F4.0 IS PRO – Buy now
- Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-200mm F3.5-6.3 – Buy now
Best telephoto zoom lenses for Micro Four Thirds
- Panasonic LUMIX G X Vario 35-100mm f/2.8 II Power O.I.S. – Buy now
- Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F2.8 PRO – Buy now
- OM System M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F4.0 PRO – Buy now
- Panasonic LUMIX G Vario 45-200mm f/4-5.6 II Power O.I.S. – Buy now
- Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO – Buy now
- OM System M.Zuiko ED 50-200mm F2.8 IS Pro – Buy now
- OM System 150-600mm F5.0-6.3 IS – Buy now
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Best standard zooms for Micro Four Thirds
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-45mm F4.0 PRO
Amateur Photographer verdict
This lens provides a rare combination of ruggedness, portability, and superb image quality, particularly when used in combination with the OM-D E-M5 Mark III
- Superb optics
- Weather-sealed construction
- Impressive close-up capability
- Can be susceptible to flare
At a glance:
| Equivalent focal length | 24-90mm |
| Street price | $500 / £370 |
Released in 2020 before Olympus went through its sale and phoenix-like rebirth into OM-System, the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-45mm f/4 Pro is a little wonder of a lens. It’s a 24-90mm equivalent stunner that plays to the strengths of the Micro Four Thirds system, delivering absolutely stellar image quality while only weighing 254g.
This lens particularly excels at close-up shooting, with a minimum focus distance so short at the wide end that you might end up getting in your own light. Even with the aperture of f/4, you can shoot wide open and still get some really attractive background blur. There’s some flare when you shoot into the light, but not enough to be a serious problem. At this price, the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-45mm is a lens that pretty much any Micro Four Thirds owner should consider picking up.
Read our Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-45mm F4 PRO review.
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 8-25mm F4.0 PRO
Amateur Photographer verdict
With near-faultless optical quality, this lens is a useful, everyday walk-around lens
- Superb optical quality
- Incredibly useful 16-50mm equivalent range
- Impressive close-up capability
- Excellent build quality and handling
- Rapid, silent autofocus
- Slightly large and heavy for a Micro Four Thirds lens
At a glance:
| Equivalent focal length | 16-50mm |
| Street price | $700 / £685 |
Now, an 8-16mm lens may sound a little wide for a standard zooms section. But remember that 2x crop factor, which transforms the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 8-25mm F4.0 PRO into a 16-50mm lens for MFT cameras. This puts it firmly in the realm of a useful, everyday walk-around lens, just one that can also zoom out to an ultra-wide perspective. And, what’s more, it’s an absolutely excellent lens. In our review, we found the optical quality to be near faultless at all positions on the focal range. Normally you expect some sharpness drop-off towards the telephoto end of a lens, but the M.Zuiko 8-25mm F4.0 Pro really does hold its detail well.
Read our Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 8-25mm F4.0 PRO review.
Panasonic LUMIX G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60mm f/2.8-4 Asph. Power O.I.S.
Amateur Photographer verdict
This standard zoom lens, created in partnership with Leica, is ideal for all kinds of outdoor work
- Offers more in terms of reach than 12-35mm lens
- Splash and dust-proof
- F/4 aperture at the telephoto end of the lens
At a glance:
| Equivalent focal length | 24-120mm |
| Street price | $770 / £590 |
Panasonic has a great working relationship with Leica, which it has teamed up with in order to create this standard zoom lens. Offering more reach than the 12-35mm lens, as a trade off, you have to settle for an f/4 aperture at the telephoto end of the lens. Again, due to its reasonably large size, it is best used with larger cameras, or those with body designs that resemble DSLRs, such as the Lumix GH6. This lens is also splash-proof and dust-proof, making it ideal for all kinds of outdoor work.
Olympus M.ZUIKO Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO II
Amateur Photographer verdict
With a focal range equivalent of 24-80mm and constant maximum aperture of f/2.8, this is an extremely versatile lens in a wide range of situations – including low light
- Amazing image quality
- Weather resistant and splash proof
- Solidly-built
- A great choice for cameras such as the OM-D E-M1 Mark III
- Relatively large and weighty lens
At a glance:
| Equivalent focal length | 24-80mm |
| Street price | £500 – £900 |
A classic ‘walk around’ focal length for Olympus users, this lens gives a touch extra reach than the Panasonic 12-35mm equivalent, while offering the same f/2.8 constant aperture. A great choice for cameras such as the OM-D E-M1 Mark III, it’s a versatile option for lots of different subjects ranging from landscapes to portraits. It is also weatherproof, which makes it ideal for outdoor work.
Discover more about the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO
Best all-in-one zoom lenses for Micro Four Thirds
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-100mm F4.0 IS PRO
Amateur Photographer verdict
This lens is an outdoor photographer’s dream – if you want to shoot a wide range of subjects without changing lenses, from sweeping landscapes to close-ups, it can do all of these with remarkable ease
- High image quality
- Near-magical image stabilisation
- Robust construction
- Impressive zoom range
- Pricey
- Not one to choose for shallow depth of field
At a glance:
| Equivalent focal length | 24-200mm |
| Street price | $1,000 / £880 |
The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-100mm F4 IS PRO lens offers an impressive zoom range, equivalent to 24-200mm, giving a versatile all-in-one zoom lens. It’s also been designed to give high image quality, and the lens doesn’t disappoint, scoring an impressive 5 stars in our review.
Read our Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-100mm F4.0 IS PRO review
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-200mm F3.5-6.3
Amateur Photographer verdict
This all-in one ‘super zoom’ lens may not be the sharpest but it performs reasonably well and is decent value for money
- Huge 24-400mm equivalent range offers huge compositional flexibility
- Good for close-ups, with 50cm minimum focus at 200mm
- Weather-resistant construction
- Fast, silent and accurate AF (at least in good light)
- Not particularly sharp, especially at telephoto
- Autofocus can be hesitant in low light
- Unsuitable for use on Panasonic Lumix G bodies that lack in-body stabilisation
At a glance:
| Equivalent focal length | 24-400mm |
| Street price | $900 / £670 |
The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-200mm F3.5-6.3 all-in-one ‘super zoom’ lens offers a somewhat incredible 24-400mm equivalent zoom range. The lens benefits from a weather-resistant construction, but due to the lack of optical image stabilisation, it’s not recommended for use on cameras that don’t feature in-body image stabilisation (IBIS), as it could be tricky to get sharp shots when using more of the telephoto zoom. It’s also not as sharp as other lenses, particularly at the telephoto end of the lens, however, this is often the case with super zoom lenses.
Read our Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-200mm F3.5-6.3 review
Best telephoto zoom lenses for Micro Four Thirds
Panasonic LUMIX G X Vario 35-100mm f/2.8 II Power O.I.S.
Amateur Photographer verdict
This lens is pricy for Micro Four Thirds, but offers versatility and a classic focal length enjoyed by traditional full-frame photographers
- Ideal for a lot of subjects – including in low light
- Maximum wide aperture of f/2.8 is constant
- Is among the pricier options for Micro Four Thirds
At a glance:
| Equivalent focal length | 70-200mm |
| Street price | $745 / £550 |
A classic focal length enjoyed by traditional full-frame photographers, the equivalent focal length of this lens is 70-200mm. The maximum wide aperture of f/2.8 is constant, making it ideal for lots of subjects, including portraiture, as well as being great in low light. This lens is one of the pricier options for Micro Four Thirds, so if you want to save some cash, take a look at the 35-100mm f/4-5.6 option.
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F2.8 PRO
Amateur Photographer verdict
This versatile optic from Olympus is ideal for quite a few different subjects, including portraiture and wildlife
- f/2.8 constant maximum aperture makes it useful in low light
- Focusing is near silent
- Dust, splash and freezeproof construction
- Pricey
At a glance:
| Equivalent focal length | 80-300mm |
| Street price | around £800 |
This versatile optic from Olympus is ideal for quite a few different subjects, including portraiture and wildlife. It features an f/2.8 constant maximum aperture, which makes it useful in low light. For those who spend a lot of time outdoors, the splash, dust and freeze proof construction of the lens will surely be appreciated.
Focusing is also near silent, and if the 300mm (equivalent) isn’t enough, you can purchase an extra 1.4x teleconverter to extend it to an equivalent of 420mm. If your budget doesn’t quite stretch to the high asking price of this lens, there’s also a 40-150mm f/4-5.6 offering available.
Read our Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 40-150mm F2.8 Hands On review
OM System M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F4.0 PRO
Amateur Photographer verdict
This compact, weather-sealed telephoto zoom is a fine little lens that is a good match for compact Micro Four Thirds bodies such as the E-M5 Mark III
- Small and lightweight
- Gives sharp, detailed images
- IP53-rated weather-sealing
- Fast, silent autofocus
- No manual focus clutch (or switch)
- No L-Fn button
- C-AF performance not quite as good as f/2.8 version
At a glance:
| Equivalent focal length | 80-300mm |
| Street price | $600 / £665 |
Announced alongside the flagship OM-1 camera, the M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F4.0 PRO was the second all-new optic under the OM System brand. It’s a compact, weather-sealed telephoto zoom that employs a space-saving retractable design and promises premium optics. With a zoom range equivalent to 80-300mm on full-frame, it’s designed for use with Olympus and OM System cameras but, of course, it can also be used on Panasonic Lumix G-series MFT bodies.
In our review we said, ‘the 40-150mm f/4 is a fine little lens that neatly fills a gap in the M.Zuiko line-up between the entry-level and f/2.8 Pro zooms that cover the same range. It’s a particularly good match for compact Micro Four Thirds bodies such as the E-M5 Mark III, but is just as good a choice for E-M1/OM-1 users looking to travel light. It would make an excellent companion for either the 12-40mm f/2.8 or 12-45mm f/4.5 standard zooms.’
Read our OM System M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F4.0 PRO review
Panasonic LUMIX G Vario 45-200mm f/4-5.6 II Power O.I.S.
Amateur Photographer verdict
If your main concern is extra reach, but you don’t have a large budget to match, this 45-200mm lens from Panasonic could be the ideal choice
- Great value for money
- Splash-proof and dust-proof
- Ideal for subjects such as wildlife and outdoor photography
- Not particularly wide at f/4-5.6
At a glance:
| Equivalent focal length | 90-400mm |
| Street price | from $200 / £110 |
If your main concern is extra reach, but you don’t have a large budget to match, this 45-200mm lens from Panasonic could be the ideal choice. The maximum aperture isn’t particularly wide at f/4-5.6, but you can get very close to the subject. It’s also splash-proof and dust-proof, making it ideal for subjects such as wildlife and outdoor photography.
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO
Amateur Photographer verdict
One for professional sports and wildlife photographers, this big and powerful lens would make a great companion to the OM-1
- Versatile 300-800mm equivalent range
- Relatively lightweight at under 2kg
- Genuinely useful built-in 1.25x converter
- Reliable weather-sealing
- Fast and effective AF
- Expensive
- Bird AF not as fast as Canon EOS R5
At a glance:
| Equivalent focal length | 300-800mm |
| Street price | $7,500 / £6,700 |
For the professional sports or wildlife photographer, this lens offers a 300-800mm equivalent range, which can be extended to 375-1000mm (at f/5.6) using the built-in 1.25x teleconverter! When used with the Olympus OM-D E-M1 X it’s also said to be able to give up to eight stops of image stabilisation! At 1.875kg it’s also considerably lighter than full-frame equivalents. It’s also compatible with the Olympus MC-14 and MC-20 teleconverters if you want even more reach.
This is a big and powerful lens that would make a great companion the current OM System flagship, the OM-1.
Read our Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC 1.25x IS PRO Review
OM System M.Zuiko ED 50-200mm F2.8 IS Pro
Amateur Photographer verdict
This lens is a real triumph from OM, filling a very important gap in their lineup and providing a very attractive lens for wildlife photographers
- Sharp and quick to focus and track small objects
- incredibly light and well-balanced in the hand
- Great value for money
- 15fps leaves one wanting for more
At a glance:
| Equivalent focal length | 100-400mm |
| Street price | $3699 / £2999 |
OM lenses are renowned for their quality, and this is no exception. Feature-wise, this lens is arguably three lenses in one. The extra reach compared to the previous OM System 40-150mm f/2.8 means it could be perfect for insect close-ups and insects in flight, while not getting too close to disturb. Secondly, as a full frame equivalent of a 100-400mm (and up to 800mm with teleconverters), it means it could also work with birds. And thirdly, with the crazy minimum focus distance (giving 1:1 magnification with the 2x teleconverter), it could add macro abilities to its portfolio.
Is it worth it? Its pricing seems steep, but it is the full-frame equivalent of a 100-400 f/2.8. In size and weight and price, it’s a lot cheaper than any 400 f/2.8 lenses out there. You get a hell of a lot for your money and for serious wildlife photographers this could be quite the game changer.
Read our OM System M.Zuiko ED 50-200mm F2.8 IS Pro review.
OM System 150-600mm F5.0-6.3 IS
Amateur Photographer verdict
With its huge 300-1200mm equivalent range, the OM System 150-600mm F5.0-6.3 IS provides remarkable telephoto reach in a portable design. It’s a great option for subjects such as sports and wildlife.
- Entirely usable hand-held
- Weather-sealed construction
- Effective autofocus and image stabilisation
- Teleconverter compatibility
- Still quite large and heavy
- Expensive
At a glance:
| Equivalent focal length | 300-1200mm |
| Street price | 2699 / £2499 |
Due to its hefty size, this lens is without doubt best suited for use on larger SLR-shaped cameras with nice big handgrips. Overall, though, in our review, we found the 150-600mm to be perfectly usable for hand-held shooting, which feels like a crazy thing to say about a 1200mm equivalent lens.
The 150-600mm is designed to be dust, splash, and freeze-proof to -10°C.That super-long reach makes the lens ideal for small or distant subjects and should therefore be particularly attractive to photographers who shoot such things as outdoor field sports, airshows, and wildlife.
Our favourite feature of this lens is its zoom mechanism. Large, extending designs like this can often be slow and awkward to use, due to the sheer weight of glass that you’re moving back and forth. The 150-600mm gets around this by offering two very different friction settings, one for using the conventional zoom ring, and the other allowing much quicker push-pull zooming for hand-held shooting. This system is controlled by a 3-way switch with positions marked L, T and S.
Where this lens shines is for wildlife photographers who want the longest possible focal length in a portable package. It could be a great choice for photographing birds, in particular, where you can never have too much reach. It’s not a lens for everyone, but if you know exactly why you might need it, it’ll deliver the goods.
Read our OM System 150-600mm f/5.0-6.3 review.
How we test zoom lenses for Micro Four Thirds
We review lenses from the perspective of choosing one for its photography and video performance, so we test every lens for all aspects of image quality: sharpness, contrast, background blur and bokeh, as well as other image qualities pertinent to assessing a lens type. We look for optical flaws such as chromatic aberration and distortion. We test focus performance for both accuracy and speed (in different lighting conditions), as well as how the lens delivers or renders images. This is tested in a range of shooting scenarios designed to expose lens characteristics, but we also examine how it performs in real world use in diverse shooting situations.
Beyond the pure optical performance of the lens, we assess the lens’ physical qualities, such as its design, build quality, ease of handling, and whether it offers any unique or interesting features worth mention. Beyond image quality certain lenses can be assessed for how they make you feel, or how they may affect a camera system set-up for portability, compactness, weight etc.
Recent updates
- March 2026: Near duplicate lenses Panasonic 12-35mm F2.8 II, Olympus 75-300mm and OM System/Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 100-400mm f/5-6.3 IS trimmed and newer lenses, the OM System M.Zuiko ED 50-200mm F2.8 IS Pro and OM System 150-600mm F5.0-6.3 IS were added
Discover more…
For more Micro Four Thirds lens options just click through to have a look at our guide to the Best Micro Four Thirds lenses. Or to find the best camera for your lens, have a look at our guide to the best Olympus / OM System cameras, and the best Panasonic cameras.
