The OM System 50-200mm F2.8 really is a superb lens. Image credit: Andy Westlake
If you’re looking for the best Micro Four Thirds lenses, you have an have an amazingly broad range to choose from. The oldest mirrorless system still running, Micro Four Thirds (MFT) is built on an alliance between Panasonic and OM System (formerly Olympus). The two firms produce lightweight cameras and lenses using the same lens mount, meaning that if you’re using one best Olympus/OM Systems cameras, you can freely make use of Panasonic Lumix G lenses, and vice versa.
As such, our guide contains plenty of lenses from both manufacturers, as well as some third-party options. Since there are so many, we’ve been fairly brutal with selection, and have only included lenses that have scored very, very highly in our review process – 4.5 stars out of 5 at the minimum.
For more on how to choose an MFT lens, there is a quick explainer section of key specs at the bottom of this page, where we’ve included some answers to frequently asked questions about the system. If you’re still shopping for your MFT camera then you can also take a look at our guide to the best Panasonic cameras (though remember that just the Lumix G models are Micro Four Thirds).
Best Micro Four Thirds lenses – quick list
Looking for the best deal on Micro Four Thirds lenses? Not only will you find the bestlenses for Micro Four Thirds cameras , but also some of the Canon EF lens deals, as our ‘Buy now’ buttons are set up 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 find the right deal for you.
Best standard zoom lens: Olympus M.Zuiko 12-45mm f/4 PRO – buy now
Best superzoom lens: Olympus M.Zuiko ED 12-100mm f/4 IS Pro – buy now
Best ultra-wide zoom: Olympus M.Zuiko ED 8-25mm f/4 PRO – buy now
Best telephoto zoom: OM System M.Zuiko ED 50-200mm F2.8 IS Pro – buy now
Best compact telephoto zoom: OM System 40-150mm F4.0 PRO – buy now
Best macro lens: OM System 90mm F3.5 Macro IS PRO – buy now
Best ultra-wide prime: Leica DG Summilux 9mm f/1.7 ASPH – buy now
Best premium wideangle lens: Leica DG Summilux 12mm f/1.4 – buy now
Best compact pancake prime:Panasonic Lumix G 20mm f1.7 II ASPH – buy now
Best budget standard lens: Panasonic Lumix G 25mm f/1.7 – buy now
Best standard lens: Olympus M.Zuiko 25mm F1.2 PRO – buy now
Best portrait lens: Leica DG Nocticron 42.5mm f/1.2 ASPH OIS – buy now
Best budget portrait lens: Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN – buy now
Best ultra-telephoto zoom: Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm f/4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO – buy now
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Best standard zoom
Best Micro Four Thirds standard zoom: Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-45mm f/4 PRO
The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-45mm f/4 PRO on test. Photo credit: Andy Westlake
Amateur Photographer verdict
With the 12-45mm f/4, Olympus has made a stunning small, lightweight standard zoom that’s a more affordable, but equally fine alternative to the 12-40mm f/2.8 and 12-40mm f/2.8 II
Pros
Weather sealed build
Excellent for close-ups
Lightweight and portable
Cons
Susceptible to flare
At a glance:
Filter thread:
85mm
Minimum focus distance:
0.12m
Weight:
254g
Price:
$600 / £599
The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-45mm f/4 PRO lens is designed to be a compact but high-quality zoom lens, giving a useful 24-90mm equivalent. It weighs in at just 254g and measures just 7cm – smaller than the 12-40mm f/2.8 lens, whilst also offering slightly more telephoto reach. As a PRO lens, it is weather-sealed, making it suitable for shooting in poor weather conditions.
We found the lens delivered the goods when we took it out for a full review, with its excellent optics producing terrific images in just about all conditions. Its particular party trick is close-up shooting, which it does at ridiculously close distances throughout the entirety of its zoom range – so close in fact that it’s easy to get in the way of your own light if you aren’t careful. Still, the quality can’t be faulted, and the aesthetic background blur you can create is delicious.
Best for: all-in-one standard zoom, with weather-sealing
Best Micro Four Thirds superzoom: Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-100mm f/4 IS Pro
The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-100mm f/4 IS PRO boasts stand-out stabilisation. Photo credit: Andy Westlake
Amateur Photographer verdict
Quite simply, this lens brings an unparalleled combination of high image quality, compositional versatility, robust construction and near-magical image stabilisation.
Pros
High quality throughout zoom range
Excellent stabilisation system
Cons
f/4 max aperture
At a glance:
Filter thread:
72mm
Minimum focus distance:
0.15m
Weight:
561g
Price:
$1,200 / £1,199
A five-star superzoom? You’d better believe it – the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-100mm f/4 IS Pro is a belter of a lens. With an equivalent range of 24-200mm, it truly covers the gamut between wide and telephoto focal lengths, and manages to do so without the compromise in image quality that normally comes with such a broad zoom range. What really sets it apart though is the image stabilisation – we managed to use it with shutter speeds as slow as four seconds and we still got usable results.
All this makes the M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-100mm f/4 IS Pro pretty much unparalleled in terms of shooting flexibility. It’s able to handle all manner of compositions and lighting conditions, and do so extremely well. The only real sticking point is the cost; many photographers might balk at paying four figures for a superzoom. Understandable – but they’re missing out on a truly special lens.
Best Micro Four Thirds ultra-wide zoom: Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 8-25mm f/4 PRO
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 8-25mm F4 Pro attached to an Olympus body. Photo credit: Andy Westlake
Amateur Photographer verdict
With its superb optics, the 8-25mm f/4 Pro also stands also shoulder to shoulder with the other MFT wide zooms.
Pros
Great quality throughout zoom range
Snappy, silent autofocus
Generally excellent build quality
Cons
On the heavy side for MFT
At a glance:
Filter thread:
72mm
Minimum focus distance:
0.23m
Weight:
411g
Price:
$1,000 / £839, £625 used
With an equivalent range of 16-50mm, the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 8-25mm f/4 PRO lens is a very useful wide-angle walk-around lens. As we noted in our review, it delivers the goods optically throughout its zoom range – it really is sharper than sharp – and Olympus’s ‘PRO’ designation means that build quality is also premium. It’s a lens that feels good to hold and use.
It is a little on the heavy side for an MFT walk-around lens – not ruinously so, but slightly more than you’d expect. However, its close-up capabilities are very impressive indeed, letting you get as close to your subject as 23cm, adding another string to an already stacked bow. Autofocus is nice and rapid too, which you’ll appreciate if you use the longer end of the zoom for street photography.
Best telephoto zoom: OM System M.Zuiko ED 50-200mm F2.8 IS Pro
OM System 50-200mm F2.8 IS Pro. Image credit: Andy Westlake
Amateur Photographer verdict
While it costs a fair whack, the OM System M.Zuiko ED 50-200mm F2.8 IS Pro is one of the best telezooms we’ve ever tested for Micro Four Thirds, offering superb image quality and handling.
Pros
Robustly built
Superior image quality
Compatible with teleconverters
Cons
Relatively large for MFT
Pricey
At a glance:
Filter thread:
72mm
Minimum focus distance:
0.78m
Weight
1075g; 1250g with tripod ring
Price:
$3,699 / £2,999
At the top of its range, OM System produces some truly excellent lenses. Case in point, the OM System M.Zuiko ED 50-200mm F2.8 IS Pro, a powerful telephoto zoom that performs brilliantly on every level. As we found in our review, it gives you excellent handling, reliably snappy autofocus, highly effective stabilisation, and of course, dazzling optical performance. And if that weren’t enough, it’s also compatible with teleconverters, allowing you to push that already considerable telephoto reach still further, turning a 100-400mm equivalent lens into a 150-600mm or even a 200-800mm.
As well as completing our own review, we also put this lens in the hands of professional wildlife photographer Andrew Fusek Peters. While he noted the considerable asking price of this lens, he also pointed out that its impressive telephoto range in such a small package does a lot to add value. ‘In size and weight and price, it’s a lot cheaper than any 400 f/2.8 lenses out there,’ he said. ‘In my mind you get a hell of a lot for your money and for serious wildlife photographers I would say this is quite the game changer.’
Our technical editor Andy Westlake concurs – this really is quite a special lens, and well worth snapping up for wildlife photographers on Micro Four Thirds.
Best for: pro and serious enthusiast wildlife photographers
Best compact telephoto for Micro Four Thirds: OM System M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F4.0 PRO
OM System M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F4.0 PRO
Amateur Photographer verdict
The OM System M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f/4 PRO delivers nicely on its promise by producing lovely crisp images from a small, lightweight package.
Pros
IP53-rated weather-sealing
Excellent optical quality
Super-fast autofocus
Cons
Lacking some physical controls
Background blur can be messy
At a glance:
Filter thread:
62mm
Minimum focus distance:
0.7m
Weight:
382g
Price:
$700 / £749
Announced alongside the flagship OM-1 camera, the M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F4.0 PRO is its second all-new optic under the OM System brand, after the M.Zuiko Digital ED 20mm F1.4 PRO. It’s a compact, weather-sealed telephoto zoom than 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 can also be used on Panasonic Lumix G-series MFT bodies.
Of course, anyone can make claims about a lens’s image quality – but how does this zoom stack up in the real world? Well, we tested it out and found that sharpness-wise, it’s pretty hard to fault the OM System M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F4.0 PRO. There’s loads of detail from corner to corner, even at the widest aperture setting. With f/4 you won’t get the kind of clean and attractive background you get from faster lenses, but as long as you’re aware of this limitation, the M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F4.0 PRO is a super lens.
Best Micro Four Thirds macro lens: OM System M.Zuiko ED 90mm F3.5 Macro IS PRO
OM System M.Zuiko ED 90mm F3.5 Macro IS PRO mounted on OM-1 front view. Photo credit: Amy Davies.
Amateur Photographer verdict
The M.Zuiko ED 90mm F3.5 Macro IS Pro is a superb lens for what it does – and those who enjoy macro shooting will find that there’s an enormous amount to love about it.
Pros
Super close focusing
2x magnification
Compatible with extenders
Manual focusing clutch
Cons
High price
At a glance:
Filter thread:
62mm
Minimum focus distance:
0.250m / 0.224m (S-MACRO)
Weight:
453g
Price:
$1,300 / £1,299
If you want to get extreme close-up images, this is a hell of a lens to do it with. The equivalent focal length of 180mm and the 2x macro magnification make it exceptionally powerful for filling the frame with tiny subjects. To get something anywhere approaching that in a full-frame system, you’d require a much heavier, and significantly more expensive lens.
If this isn’t enough close-up capability for you, it’s possible to couple the lens with either the 1.4x or 2x converter, which will up the magnification to 1.41x/2.83x and 2x/4x respectively. Also, the seven stops on stabilisation on the OM System M.Zuiko ED 90mm F3.5 Macro IS PRO makes hand-held close-ups a viable option. You may still prefer to lock it off on a tripod for ultra-sharpness, but it’s definitely good to have that flexibility.
The lens also offers weather-sealing, making it a great combination for use with the Olympus OM-1, as well as the OM System OM-5 – both weather-sealed cameras. For the macro photographer, this lens is ideal.
Best for: Close-up macro work, even in poor weather
This 9mm lens is a great addition to the kit bag of any Micro Four Thirds photographer, especially if you’re somebody with a penchant for landscapes, cityscapes, architecture, and more.
Pros
Near-unique in MFT system
Very small and light
AF is quiet and fast
Cons
No aperture ring
At a glance:
Filter thread:
55mm
Minimum focus distance:
0.095m
Weight:
130g
Price:
$448 / £440
This wide-angle prime, a recent effort from Panasonic, is a solid addition to the kit bag of any landscape photographer using Micro Four Thirds. It impressed across the board in our testing, delivering sharp results in most shooting scenarios that we subjected it to. It’s also worth noting that this is an autofocus lens, which somewhat sets it apart in the MFT system – generally, for something this wide (18mm equivalent), your options are manual focus only.
The Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 9mm f/1.7 ASPH. is a unique lens that plugs a genuine gap in the MFT system, and its excellent across-the-board sharpness is a winner. Distortion is kept to a minimum, and it’s only once you stop down to around f/16 that you start to see pronounced softness – and for a lens this light and this well-priced, something had to give. This is an ideal walk-around lens for the Micro Four Thirds user.
Best for: Landscapes and ultra-wide street shooting
Best premium wide-angle for Micro Four Thirds: Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 12mm f/1.4 ASPH
Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 12mm f/1.4 ASPH
Amateur Photographer verdict
The Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 12mm f/1.4 Asph is a fine lens that’s not going to disappoint, but it comes at a price.
Pros
Great for low light
Splashproof construction
Cons
Quite expensive
Aperture ring won’t work with Olympus
At a glance:
Filter thread:
62mm
Minimum focus distance:
0.2m
Weight:
335g
Price:
$1,198 / £1,099
The Leica DG Summilux 12mm f/1.4 ASPH lens is a premium lens with the Leica branding, and the wide-angle lens gives a 24mm equivalent. You’ll find an aperture ring on the lens, and can also control the aperture with the camera. There’s also a solid build quality, thanks to a metal construction, and you’ll benefit from weather-sealing. Perhaps more importantly, the lens also delivers excellent image quality, with plenty of fine detail, even when shooting wide-open.
We really rated this as a landscape lens when we came to review it, especially given that robustly weatherproof construction that keeps the rain out. It’s also a solid do-it-all documentary lens, with fast and silent autofocus that can be relied upon to nail the shot in varying conditions. We weren’t huge fans of either the manual focusing ring or the aperture ring, the former being too slippery, the latter being incompatible with Olympus. A pity that the high price tag of this lens probably precludes it for MFT shooters who aren’t using Panasonic.
Best for: shooting wide-open landscapes with high image quality
Best compact pancake prime: Panasonic Lumix G 20mm f1.7 II ASPH
The Panasonic Lumix G 20mm f1.7 II lens on the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III. Photo credit: Joshua Waller
Amateur Photographer verdict
The Panasonic Lumix G 20mm f/1.7 II Asph. give you a more compact camera system, but it also opens up additional low-light performance
Pros
Feather-light, metallic build
Opens up to f/1.7
Impressive quality even wide open
Cons
Focus is slow
No optical stabilisation
At a glance:
Filter thread:
46mm
Minimum focus distance:
0.2m
Weight:
87g
Price:
$268 / £279
This entry in the feather-weight category of Micro Four Thirds lenses has been around a good while, but we re-tested it recently to see how it holds up and found ourselves summarily impressed. The Panasonic Lumix G 20mm f1.7 II, which somehow weighs about the same as a couple of boxes of matches, is a crisp, fast and punchy lens that makes for an excellent day-to-day shooter. Its equivalent focal length of 40mm makes it a natural choice for general, all-purpose photography, providing a similarly naturalistic perspective to a nifty-fifty but getting that little bit more of the scene in the frame.
Autofocus is certainly not the fastest, no matter whether you use a Panasonic or Olympus camera. The mechanism is also audible, and the front of the lens moves noticeably when hunting – and it will hunt. However, the real test of a lens is of course the image quality, and for a lens this small and this affordable, the Panasonic Lumix G 20mm f1.7 II ASPH really stacks up. We found sharpness to be excellent, with the lens capable of producing crisp and detailed images even at its generous maximum aperture of f/1.7.
Best budget standard lens: Panasonic Lumix G 25mm f/1.7 ASPH.
Panasonic Lumix G 25mm f/1.7 ASPH.
Amateur Photographer verdict
The Panasonic Lumix G 25mm f/1.7 Asph is amazing value for money.
Pros
Super-affordable
Useful standard focal length
Cons
Lots of credible alternatives
At a glance:
Filter thread:
46mm
Minimum focus distance:
0.25m
Weight:
125g
Price:
$248 / £149
The Panasonic Lumix G 25mm f/1.7 ASPH lens is an entry-level, and very affordable bright prime lens. Since it gives a 50mm equivalent field of view, you can think of this lens as the “Nifty Fifty” to get for your Micro Four Thirds camera. Being roughly half the price of an Olympus 25mm f/1.8 lens, this Panasonic lens is hard to beat.
We were very impressed with the lens in our review – once again, Panasonic shows an ability to listen to its community and produces a genuinely useful and affordable lens. The Lumix G 25mm f/1.7 ASPH handles well, focuses fast and delivers decent sharpness. For the price, it’s an absolute bargain.
Best standard Micro Four Thirds lens: Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 25mm F1.2 PRO
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 25mm F1.2 PRO
Amateur Photographer verdict
There’s little doubt that the Olympus 25mm F1.2 is the best option available at this focal length.
Pros
Fast maximum aperture
Gorgeous bokeh
Weather sealing
Cons
Quite hefty
Pricier than alternatives
At a glance:
Filter thread:
62mm
Minimum focus distance:
0.3m
Weight:
410g
Price:
$1,400 / £1,099
The smaller sensor size of Micro Four Thirds doesn’t naturally lend itself to shooting shallow depth of field – unless you happen to have a beautiful lens like the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 25mm F1.2 PRO to hand. With an effective focal length of 50mm, it provides a fairly naturalistic perspective that’s great for environmental portraiture and street shooting. Aware that the lens would never provide the same level of background blur as a full-frame f/1.2, Olympus simply resolved to make that blur as pretty as possible. As we discovered in our review, this mission proved a success.
If you’ve never encountered the phrase ‘feathered bokeh’, this lens is a good way to get acquainted with it. Backgrounds melt away beautifully, resulting in images full of character. But the technical stuff is taken care of too, with optical aberrations well controlled-for and vignetting particularly low, even when the lens is used wide open.
Best for: portraits and bokeh, with a 50mm equivalent view
Best Micro Four Thirds portrait lens: Leica DG Nocticron 42.5mm f/1.2 ASPH Power OIS
Leica DG Nocticron 42.5mm f/1.2 ASPH Power OIS
Amateur Photographer verdict
The attraction of this lens is the extreme shallow depth of field – the way we can pick out an eye from a face, a head from the background – and create an atmosphere like no other can achieve
Pros
Razor-thin depth of field
Fast focusing
Cons
Not the sharpest lens in the box
Aperture ring sometimes doesn’t work on Olympus
At a glance:
Filter thread:
67mm
Minimum focus distance:
0.5m
Weight:
425g
Price:
$1,298 / £1,149
For portrait photography on Micro Four Thirds, really the first and last word is the Leica DG Nocticron 42.5mm f/1.2 ASPH Power OIS. It gives you the style and glamour of an 85mm f/1.2 portrait lens and pairs it with the lightweight handling of a 50mm prime. The ability to shoot with extremely shallow depths of field at the maximum aperture allows you to create images with dreamlike bokeh – achieving a quality that lenses with narrower apertures just cannot match.
In our review we also noted just how enjoyable a lens this is to use. Sure, it’s not the absolute sharpest on the block, but you don’t shoot at f/1.2 for absolute sharpness – you do it for creativity and atmospheric effect, both of which this lens provides by the bucketload. The stabilisation is also highly effective, and the completely circular aperture gives the bokeh the rounded quality so many photographers crave.
It is undeniably a expensive lens, though it costs less than you’d pay to get the equivalent on a Canon, Nikon or Sony full-frame camera. For shooting portraits on an MFT camera, it’s pretty much a no-brainer to save your pennies for the Leica DG Nocticron 42.5mm f/1.2 ASPH Power OIS, with one note of caution. In our review, we found that on some Olympus cameras, the lens’ aperture ring refused to work. While body-aperture controls worked as normal, meaning it was perfectly useable, it did make the lens less enjoyable to handle.
Best budget portrait lens for Micro Four Thirds: Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN
Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN is an all-purpose prime that impresses. Photo credit: Michael Topham
Amateur Photographer verdict
With the 56mm f/1.4 DC DN C, Sigma has produced a very appealing compact prime lens for users of a host of camera brands
Pros
Excellent value for money
Solid construction
Good physical size for MFT
Cons
No AF/MF switch
At a glance:
Filter thread:
55mm
Minimum focus distance:
0.5m
Weight:
280g
Price:
$519 / £749
The Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN is part of a range of compact prime lenses designed for APS-C and Micro Four Thirds mirrorless cameras. With a bright f/1.4 aperture, this is a great portrait lens, giving a 112mm equivalent on Micro Four Thirds cameras. It’s also relatively compact, and would make a great choice for anyone needing to shoot in low-light conditions, or for portrait photography.
In our review, we especially appreciated how the smaller size of this prime lens means it’s doesn’t dwarf or overbalance even the smaller mirrorless cameras. Also, the sheer value for money here is really quite impressive – getting an effective little telephoto prime for an MFT camera at this price really can’t be sniffed at, especially with that aforementioned generous maximum aperture.
Best for: longer telephoto portraits with pleasing bokeh
Best MFT ultra-telephoto: Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm f/4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm f/4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO
Amateur Photographer verdict
The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm f/4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO is an amazing wildlife lens that takes the 1.4x and 2x teleconverters, and is both compact and lightweight.
Pros
Useful built-in 1.25x converter
Versatile zoom range
Weather sealed
Cons
Very pricey
Bird AF slower than rivals
At a glance:
Filter thread:
95mm
Minimum focus distance:
1.3m
Weight:
1,875g
Price:
$7,500 / £6,695
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-M1X it’s also said to be able to give up to 8 stops of image stabilisation! It’s also considerably lighter than full-frame equivalents. For even more reach, it’s compatible with the Olympus MC-14 (1.4x) and MC-20 (2.0x) teleconverters.
We put this lens in the hands of professional photographer Andrew Fusek Peters for a full field test, and he came away very impressed indeed. Sharpness remained consistently good throughout the zoom range, and when light levels were just so, the images the lens produced were nothing short of sublime.
Best for: professional quality telephoto zoom with maximum reach
Image Stabilisation – IS, Power OIS, or Mega OIS? If you’re using a Micro Four Thirds camera without In-Body Image Stabilisation (IBIS), then having optical image stabilisation in the lens is going to be of particular interest, it’s also worth looking out for it when looking at longer telephoto lenses. Panasonic lenses with optical image stabilisation come with “Power” or “Mega” OIS, whilst Olympus lenses with optical image stabilisation simply have “IS” in the name.
Manual focus or autofocus – The majority of Micro Four Thirds lenses are autofocus, but some, from companies like Laowa, Meike, and Samyang / Rokinon, are manual focus only. If manual focus isn’t for you, then make sure to check first.
Crop factor – The Micro Four Thirds system has a 2x crop factor, so that means a 50mm lens used on a Micro Four Thirds camera, will actually give a 2x cropped view, giving the equivalent to a 100mm lens (in 35mm equivalent terms).
Weather-sealing – If you’re likely to be shooting street or landscape photography and don’t want to stop due to poor weather conditions, then look out for a lens that is weather-sealed, as this will help protect your lens, as well as your camera.
Micro Four Thirds lenses: frequently asked questions
FAQ: Does Micro Four Thirds have a future?
Micro Four Thirds is the oldest mirrorless system, having been around for more than 15 years at this point. The original advantages of the system included the portable dimensions of its cameras and lenses. They stood in stark contrast to the DSLRs that were popular at the time – however, these days, with mirrorless systems in their ascendancy, the difference is less clear-cut. A full-frame Sony setup or an APS-C Fujifilm setup won’t be all that much bigger and heavier than a Micro Four Thirds setup using top-end Panasonic or OM-System kit.
There are certainly some who think the format’s day in the sun is coming to an end. Earlier this year, Sigma announced it would no longer be developing Micro Four Thirds lenses, stating that its future priority would be full-frame lenses.
However, rumours of the death of Micro Four Thirds are greatly exaggerated. The reinvention of Olympus as OM-System has breathed new life into the format, resulting in a raft of weather-proof cameras and lenses. Panasonic, meanwhile, still has a hugely popular video range in the form of its Lumix GH cameras, including the Panasonic Lumix GH6. More recently, the release of the Panasonic Lumix G9 II has confirmed that Panasonic is committed to the MFT system in the long-term.
Recent Micro Four Thirds releases have leant into computational features such as LiveND, hi-res multi-shot in-camera, focus stacking and live bulb / live composite modes. Also, while the weight advantage of the system isn’t what it once was, it’s still definitely a factor, and if you’re looking to build a lightweight travel-friendly setup with a camera and multiple lenses, Micro Four Thirds will give you something no other system can.
We can expect to see more Micro Four Thirds cameras and lenses in the future, including likely an OM-System OM-10. It’s safe to say the format has a future for now.
FAQ: Will Olympus Micro Four Thirds lenses fit Panasonic?
Yes, Olympus and OM-System Micro Four Thirds lenses will fit Panasonic Micro Four Thirds cameras, and perform with full functionality of electronic features such as autofocus. Stabilisation is a slightly more complex thing – generally if you want the most powerful stabilisation effect, it’s best to use cameras and lenses from the same brand as they are calibrated to work together. Otherwise, you can feel free to swap between makers at your discretion.
One important thing to note, though, is that only Panasonic Lumix G cameras and lenses are Micro Four Thirds-compatible. Panasonic has also introduced a full-frame range, the Lumix S series, and these cameras and lenses use the L-mount, which was jointly developed by Panasonic, Leica and Sigma. A completely different system, L-mount lenses will not work with Micro Four Thirds cameras, and vice versa. So when shopping for Panasonic Micro Four Thirds optics, double-check you’re getting a ‘G’ lens, not an ‘S’ lens.
FAQ: Which Micro Four Thirds lenses are weather-sealed?
This is something you have to check on a case-by-case basis, as it varies from lens to lens in the MFT system. That said, if you want a weather-sealed Micro Four Thirds lens then it’s worth looking at newer OM-System lenses, as these usually feature class-leading IP53 weather sealing. On Olympus-branded lenses, look for the ‘PRO’ designation, as this denotes the top-end lenses in the range, which are generally weather-sealed. Panasonic doesn’t have a letter designation for weather-sealed lenses, though as a rule of thumb, expensive lenses tend to be weather-sealed, while cheap ones tend not.
FAQ: What is the full-frame equivalent of Micro Four Thirds lenses?
The smaller sensor size of the Micro Four Thirds camera sensors incurs what’s called a crop factor. This refers to the ratio of the sensor size to a full-size full-frame sensor – a sensor with a smaller imaging area incurs a smaller field of view where the edges of the image appear to be chopped off, or cropped. In turn, this causes lenses to provide a narrower field of view than they otherwise would.
You work out a lens’ full-frame equivalent focal length by multiplying the crop factor by the actual focal length. With Micro Four Thirds, the crop factor is 2, so working it out is quite easy – simply double the stated focal length. A 35mm lens mounted to a Micro Four Thirds camera will provide an effective field of view of 35×2, which is 70mm.
While many photographers turn their noses up at small sensors, a significant crop factor like this can actually be a considerable advantage. It enables photographers to shoot at telephoto focal lengths while wielding much smaller lenses than they would be if they were working with a full-frame sensor. This can be a boon for disciplines like wildlife photography, where you need a significant amount of telephoto reach, but don’t necessarily want to be carrying a lot of heavy kit.
How we test lenses
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
February 2026: List dramatically shortened to include only the top Micro Four Thirds lenses we have reviewed, removing all 4-star lenses and keeping only 5-star and 4.5-star lenses. OM System M.Zuiko ED 50-200mm F2.8 IS Pro added as the best telephoto zoom for MFT.
Text by Joshua Waller, with contributions from Jon Stapley.
Joshua Waller has been reviewing cameras since 2004, originally setting up an online review site DigiCamReview. Following this he joined ePHOTOzine in 2011 as Technical Editor where he was in charge of reviews, and setting up a detailed test system. Josh joined Amateur Photographer in 2021, and as Online Editor, is responsible for bringing great content to the site, as well as reviewing cameras, lenses, smartphones and more.
