The hidden advantage of the M.Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8 lens is its completely acceptable infrared (IR) capability, especially when combined with a suitable Olympus camera body. Actual performance using a customary IR filter shows no "hotspot," which is a problem actually with other M.Zuiko lenses, and no substantial loss of contrast or ghosting, which also is often encountered. Unfortunately, the usual IR lens database (often cited online) is erroneous concerning several Olympus lenses and also fails to list this particular lens. Two online tutorials both demonstrate the IR capability of the M.Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8 lens but do not point out that not all M.Zuiko lenses are IR-capable.

Couldn’t ask for more ! Bought this lens for a month long trip to Italy. I thought it would be useful but as it turned out it never came off my Pen-f. I was worried it would be too big for my trusty Pen-f but it felt perfect in my hands. The zoom range and fast 2.8 aperture were made for travel photography. The build of this lens is awesome. The manual focus clutch paired with auto magnify gives you the most accurate focusing you could ask for. Oh, and the pictures, they are just beautiful straight out of the camera with detail and contrast to die for. I’ve been shooting for 40 years and this my be my favorite lens ever. Coupled with my Pen-f, to this old film shooter, it’s like a magic machine.