OM-D E-M1 Mark II + M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 17mm F1.2 PRO

OM-D E-M1 Mark II + M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 25mm F1.2 PRO

OM-D E-M1 Mark II + M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 45mm F1.2 PRO

M.ZUIKO PROF1.2 Prime Lenses

Delivering the ultimate bokeh.

Feathered Bokeh

The search for the ultimate bokeh effect resulted in the creation of a beautifully defocused "feathered bokeh".

Creating a beautiful, softly blurring bokeh effect while maintaining the high resolution proper to the M.Zuiko PRO lenses: M.Zuiko PRO F1.2 Prime Lenses

Welcome to a new world of bokeh, revolutionising the conventional concept of defocusing.

Professional Perspective

Three professional photographers talk about the impressions they got from the F1.2 series.
Watch the videos to hear what they have to say.

  • Lars Johnson x M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 17mm F1.2 PROLars Johnson x M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 17mm F1.2 PRO
  • Koichi Akagi x M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 25mm F1.2 PROKoichi Akagi x M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 25mm F1.2 PRO
  • Tracie Maglosky x M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 45mm F1.2 PROTracie Maglosky x M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 45mm F1.2 PRO

Design Concept

Prime lenses with large F1.2 aperture are often used in portrait photography. If it were possible to not only enhance the size of the bokeh effect, but also to produce a distinct sense of quality, then the subject could be emphasised in a more impressionistic manner. What we strove to achieve was the ultimate in bokeh quality. The result was feathered bokeh.

Feathered Bokeh
A bokeh style where the bokeh transitions smoothly from the in-focus to the out-of-focus, making the subject stand out by creating a greater sense of space. At Olympus we call this "feathered bokeh".

Olympus F1.2 Prime Lenses provide you with previously unavailable value by creating the feathered bokeh while at the same time delivering the high resolution demanded by users.

Types of Bokeh Quality

1: Image sensor / 2: Focuses on people in the foreground, while blurring the tree in the background.

Ring-shaped Bokeh

This bokeh features a contour with a distinguished ring shape. It is generally regarded as an undesirable effect.

1: Focal position / 2: Image sensor plane / 3: F-number / 4: Outside the lens / 5: Centre / 6: Image of bokeh quality / 7: Distinguished edge producing ring-shaped bokeh

Solid Bokeh

Conventional bokeh effect without gradation may result in a busy-looking background.

1: Focal position / 2: Image sensor plane / 3: F-number / 4: Outside the lens / 5: Centre / 6: Image of bokeh quality

Feathered Bokeh

A graduate bokeh effect created by the F1.2 Prime Lenses, which smoothes the effect so background components blend in with each other.

1: Focal position / 2: Image sensor plane / 3: F-number / 4: Outside the lens / 5: Centre / 6: Image of bokeh quality / 8: Smoothed edge producing feathered bokeh

The Technology Behind Feathered Bokeh

What is an aberration measurement instrument?

Born from our extensive experience in the development of advanced microscope measurement technology, this is an ultra-high precision instrument able to accurately measure aberrations.

Based on advanced technology exclusive to Olympus and derived from our multi-decadal experience in microscopy, the aberration measuring instrument makes it possible to design the lens so that the optimum aberration shape is retained while the rest are virtually eliminated. The result is the F1.2 Prime Lens series which offers both feathered bokeh and high resolution at the same time.

How to read the spherical aberration curve:

Lenses are designed to produce an image at a specific point in the lens. This results in a spherical aberration curve caused by the light gradually bending as it passes through the lens.

1: Light rays / 2: F-number / 3: Focal position / 4: Outside the lens / 5: Centre / 6: Lens side

* What is spherical aberration?

When light rays from a subject with a point light source do not converge into a single focal point on the image sensor but instead are distributed in the focus (optical axis) directions after they have been transmitted through the lens, this results in an aberration referred to as a spherical aberration.

Solid Bokeh vs Feathered Bokeh

To help you appreciate the feathered bokeh created by the F1.2 Prime Lenses, take a look at these comparative examples of solid bokeh and feathered bokeh.

Prime Images by Prime Lenses
The power of prime is not limited to bokeh
– F1.2 series photo gallery –

Here is a selection of photos shot with the M.Zuiko PRO F1.2 series.
From images featuring beautiful bokeh to portraits and documentary photos, explore the amazing and beautiful world created by our unique bokeh effect and superior resolution inherent to the F1.2 series.

M.Zuiko PRO F1.2 and Photographers
Shooting with the F1.2 series
– Photographers share their thoughts and challenges –

Stunning moments of beauty captured by the sharp eyes of eight photographers.
Here you'll find photos featuring beautiful bokeh effects of the F1.2 series, as well as photographs that seem to capture the inner mental landscapes of the photographed subjects.

  • Natsuki YasudaNatsuki Yasuda
  • Lars JohnsonLars Johnson
  • Tracie MagloskyTracie Maglosky
  • HaseoHaseo
  • Takehiko NakafujiTakehiko Nakafuji
  • Lachlan MooreLachlan Moore
  • Tetsuro ShimizuTetsuro Shimizu
  • Xu JiaXu Jia

M.ZUIKO PRO F1.2 Prime Lens Lineup

M.Zuiko Digital ED 17mm F1.2 PRO

(35mm equivalent: 34mm)

  • Beautiful feathered bokeh at maximum F1.2 aperture plus high imaging power with use of the newly developed ED-DSA lens element.
  • Prime lens particularly powerful in landscape and documentary shooting under harsh conditions.

M.Zuiko Digital ED 25mm F1.2 PRO

(35mm equivalent: 50mm)

  • Beautiful feathered bokeh at maximum F1.2 aperture plus high imaging power with extensive use of special lens elements.
  • Prime lens that captures what you see just as you see it.

M.Zuiko Digital ED 45mm F1.2 PRO

(35mm equivalent: 90mm)

  • Beautiful feathered bokeh at maximum F1.2 aperture plus high imaging power with extensive use of special lens elements.
  • Prime lens that seems almost to penetrate to the subject's interior mental landscape.

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