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 include the Olympus OM-D E-M1X, E-M1 III, E-M5 III, E-M10 IV, PEN-F and PEN E-PL10, as well as the Panasonic Lumix GH5, GH5S, G9, G90/G95, G100 and GX9. There are also cameras 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 light conditions in 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 interesting 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 very compact lens. Color labels are therefore comparable for similar focal lengths only.

1 Prime lenses

Lenses with a fixed focal length.

1.1 Fisheye lenses

Ultra wide angle lenses with purposeful strong 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** 7.5 2 46 0.12 LT, ML, OL
Laowa Zero-D** 9 2.8 49 0.12
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 similar to the image sensor diagonal of 22 mm. The images created with these lenses are perceived as “natural” by a human observer.

lens focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
mm mm m
Sigma DN | Art 19 2.8 46 0.20
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 LT, ML
Olympus M.Zuiko 25 1.8 46 0.24 LT, ML, OL

1.4 Telephoto lenses

lens focal length max aper­ture filter size MFD rvws
mm mm m
Sigma DC DN | Contem­porary 30 1.4 52 0.30 LT
Sigma DN | Art 30 2.8 46 0.30
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 high magnification.

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 tbd tbd
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 moderate 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
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 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 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 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
Olympus M.Zuiko Pro 150-400 4.5 tbd tbd

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

Additional designations such as ASPH, DC, Digital, ED, EZ, IS, Mega OIS, MSC and Power OIS are omitted.

*Manual focus lens with digital coupling between lens and camera.

**Manual focus lens without digital coupling between lens and camera.

References

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