Best Micro Four Thirds (MFT) Lenses for Olympus and Lumix G Cameras

In August 2008, Olympus and Panasonic released the Micro Four Thirds (MFT) standard for mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras. In more than 10 years, it has grown into one of the most versatile systems in the industry. Current camera models from Olympus include the compact PEN E-P7, the entry-level OM-D E-M10 IV, the enthusiast E-M5 III, the professional E-M1 III and the high-end E-M1X. Models from Panasonic include the compact Lumix GX9, the enthusiast Lumix G90/G95,  the professional Lumix G9, and the video-centric Lumix GH5, GH5 II and GH5S. There are also models from other manufacturers such as the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K.

This page provides an overview of the extensive catalog of MFT lenses. These are mostly autofocus lenses, but selected manual focus lenses may also be included.

For every lens, the following major characteristics are given:

  • Focal length.
  • Maximum aperture. It has a strong influence on the lighting conditions under which the lens can be used, and how shallow the depth of field can be. Fast lenses also tend to be much more expensive. Green labels indicate fast lenses (> f/2), red labels indicate slow lenses (< f/4).
  • Filter size. It serves as a representative of the length, diameter and weight of the lens, which are important features for a system which was designed to be compact and portable. Green labels indicate compact lenses (filter size < 60 mm), red labels indicate big lenses (> 70 mm).
  • Minimum focus distance (MFD). It has a major influence on the magnification that can be achieved, as well as the depth of field.
  • Another important point is of course the price, but it is different in every market and currency. Instead, links to independent reviews are given which will help you to find the best lens for your needs.

The color labels should not be interpreted in a way that a lens like the Summilux 15 mm f/1.7 with two green labels is better than the Vario-Elmar 100-400 mm f/4-6.3 with two red labels. If the Vario-Elmar had the same speed as the Summilux, the diameter of its front element would be at least 235 mm instead of 72 mm, so it is actually a rather compact lens. Color labels are therefore comparable for similar focal lengths only.

Note that additional designations such as ASPH, Aspherical, DC, Digital, ED, EZ, IS, Mega OIS, MSC and Power OIS that are not necessary to identify a lens are omitted. Manual focus lenses are marked by an asterisk (*), manual focus lenses with no digital coupling to the camera are marked by a double asterisk (**).

1 Prime lenses

Lenses with a fixed focal length.

1.1 Fisheye lenses

Ultra wide angle lenses with characteristic distortions.

lens focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
mm mm m
**Laowa MFT Circular Fisheye 4 2.8 n/a 0.08 OL
**Samyang UMC Fish-Eye MFT 7.5 3.5 n/a 0.09
Olympus M.Zuiko Pro Fisheye 8 1.8 n/a 0.12 CL, LT
Panasonic Lumix G Fisheye 8 3.5 n/a 0.10

1.2 Wide angle lenses

lens focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
mm mm m
*Laowa MFT A 7.5 2 46 0.12 (LT), (ML), (OL)
**Laowa Zero-D 9 2.8 49 0.12
*Laowa Zero-D MFT 10 2 46 0.12 OL
**Voigt­länder Nokton 10.5 0.95 72 0.17 LT, ML
Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 12 1.4 62 0.20 CL, LT, ML
Olympus M.Zuiko 12 2 46 0.20 LT, ML, OL
Panasonic Lumix G II 14 2.5 46 0.18
Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 15 1.7 46 0.20 CL, LT, ML
Sigma DC DN | Contem­porary 16 1.4 67 0.25 LT
Olympus M.Zuiko Pro 17 1.2 62 0.20 LT, ML, OL
Olympus M.Zuiko 17 1.8 46 0.25 LT, OL
Olympus M.Zuiko 17 2.8 37 0.20 LT, OL
**Voigt­länder Nokton 17.5 0.95 58 0.15 LT, ML

1.3 Standard lenses

Lenses with a focal length near the image sensor diagonal of 22 mm, offering a natural perspective.

lens focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
mm mm m
Sigma DN | Art 19 2.8 46 0.20
Olympus M.Zuiko Pro 20 1.4
Panasonic Lumix G II 20 1.7 46 0.20
**Voigt­länder Nokton II 25 0.95 52 0.17 (LT), (ML), (OL)
Olympus M.Zuiko Pro 25 1.2 62 0.19 LT, ML
Panasonic Leica DG Summilux II 25 1.4 46 0.30 (CL), (LT), (ML), (OL)
Panasonic Lumix G 25 1.7 46 0.25 DP, LT, ML
Yongnuo YN M 25 1.7 52 0.20
Olympus M.Zuiko 25 1.8 46 0.24 LT, ML, OL
**Voigt­länder Super Nokton 29 0.8 62 0.37
Sigma DC DN | Contem­porary 30 1.4 52 0.30 DP, LT
Sigma DN | Art 30 2.8 46 0.30

1.4 Telephoto lenses

lens focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
mm mm m
**Voigt­länder Nokton 42.5 0.95 58 0.23 LT, ML
Panasonic Leica DG Nocticron 42.5 1.2 67 0.50 CL, LT, ML
Panasonic Lumix G 42.5 1.7 37 0.31 CL, LT, ML, OL
Olympus M.Zuiko Pro 45 1.2 62 0.50 LT, ML, OL
Olympus M.Zuiko 45 1.8 37 0.50 CL, LT, ML, OL
Sigma DC DN | Contem­porary 56 1.4 55 0.50
**Voigt­länder Nokton 60 0.95 77 0.34
Sigma DN | Art 60 2.8 46 0.50 LT
Olympus M.Zuiko 75 1.8 58 0.84 LT, ML, OL
Panasonic Leica DG Elmarit 200 2.8 77 1.15 CL, LT
Olympus M.Zuiko Pro 300 4 77 1.40 LT, ML
*Tokina Reflex 300 6.3 55 0.80

1.5 Macro lenses

Lenses with a magnification of typically 1 : 1 or more.

lens focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
mm mm m
Panasonic Lumix G Macro 30 2.8 46 0.11 CL, LT, ML, OL
Olympus M.Zuiko Macro 30 3.5 46 0.10 LT
Panasonic Leica DG Macro-Elmarit 45 2.8 46 0.15 LT, OL
*Laowa MFT Macro 50 2.8 49 0.135 OL
Olympus M.Zuiko Macro 60 2.8 46 0.19 LT, OL

2 Zoom lenses

Lenses with a variable focal length.

2.1 Wide angle zoom lenses

lens focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
mm mm m
Olympus M.Zuiko Pro 7-14 2.8 n/a 0.20 CL, LT, ML, OL
Panasonic Lumix G 7-14 4 n/a 0.25 CL, OL
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18 2.8-4 67 0.23 CL, LT, OL
Olympus M.Zuiko Pro 8-25 4 72 0.23 CL, DP
Olympus M.Zuiko 9-18 4-5.6 52 0.25 OL
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Summilux 10-25 1.7 77 0.28 CL, LT

2.2 Standard zoom lenses

Zoom range from moderate wide angle to short telephoto.

lens focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
mm mm m
Panasonic Lumix G 12-32 3.5-5.6 37 0.20 OL
Panasonic Lumix G X II 12-35 2.8 58 0.25 (LT), (ML), (OL)
Olympus M.Zuiko Pro 12-40 2.8 62 0.20 LT, ML, OL
Olympus M.Zuiko Pro 12-45 4 58 0.12-0.23 LT, OL
Olympus M.Zuiko 12-50 3.5-6.3 52 0.20 LT, OL
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60 2.8-4 62 0.20 ML, OL
Panasonic Lumix G 12-60 3.5-5.6 58 0.20 LT, ML, OL
Olympus M.Zuiko II R 14-42 3.5-5.6 37 0.25 OL
Panasonic Lumix G II 14-42 3.5-5.6 46 0.20 OL

2.3 Superzoom lenses

Like standard zooms, but with an approximately 10x zoom range.

lens focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
mm mm m
Olympus M.Zuiko Pro 12-100 4 72 0.15 DP, LT, ML, OL
Olympus M.Zuiko 12-200 3.5-6.3 72 0.22-0.70
Panasonic Lumix G II 14-140 3.5-5.6 58 0.30 (ML)
Olympus M.Zuiko II 14-150 4-5.6 58 0.50 ML
Tamron Di III 14-150 3.5-5.8 52 0.50

2.4 Telephoto zoom lenses

lens focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
mm mm m
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Summilux 25-50 1.7 77 0.28-0.31 DP
Panasonic Lumix G X II 35-100 2.8 58 0.85 (LT), (ML), (OL)
Panasonic Lumix G 35-100 4-5.6 46 0.90
Olympus M.Zuiko Pro 40-150 2.8 72 0.70 CL, LT, ML, OL
Olympus M.Zuiko Pro 40-150 4
Olympus M.Zuiko R 40-150 4-5.6 58 0.90 OL
Panasonic Lumix G 45-150 4-5.6 52 0.90 OL
Panasonic Lumix G X 45-175 4-5.6 46 0.90 OL
Panasonic Lumix G II 45-200 4-5.6 52 1.00
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 50-200 2.8-4 67 0.75 CL, LT, OL
Olympus M.Zuiko II 75-300 4.8-6.7 58 0.90
Panasonic Lumix G II 100-300 4-5.6 67 1.50
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmar 100-400 4-6.3 72 1.30 CL, LT, ML, OL
Olympus M.Zuiko 100-400 5-6.3 72 1.30 ML
Olympus M.Zuiko TC1.25x Pro 150-400 4.5 95 1.30 ML

3 Teleconverters

Teleconverters extend the focal length of matching telephoto lenses by a certain factor.

lens focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
Olympus M.Zuiko MC-14 1.4x n/a n/a n/a
Panasonic Lumix TC14 1.4x n/a n/a n/a
Olympus M.Zuiko MC-20 2x n/a n/a n/a
Panasonic Lumix TC20 2x n/a n/a n/a

References

The linked reviews are by CameraLabs (CL), DPReview (DP), LensTip (LT), MirrorLessons (ML) and OpticalLimits (OL, formerly known as PhotoZone). LT and OL focus on laboratory testing, CL, DP and ML on real world photography. Links in brackets refer to tests of earlier models.