What Digital Camera were recently given the opportunity to use and try out Olympus's M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 75mm 1:1:8 lens. Read our initial thoughts from our brief hands on

Late last week What Digital Camera had the opportunity to try out Olympus’s latest prime lens to be added to the Micro FourThirds range – the Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 75mm 1:1.8.

Designed as a specialist portrait lens for Micro FourThirds users with its bright f/1.8 maximum aperture, the lens is equivalent to 150mm in film terms, features a construction of 10 elements in 9 groups, uses a 58mm filter thread and weighs 305g.

With an all-metal construction and desirable silver finish, the lens slots into Olympus’s lens lineup above the M.ZUIKO Digital 45mm f/1.8. While the latter may be considered by many as a preferred focal length for portraits with its equivalent focal length of 90mm, the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 75mm 1:1.8 is likely to appeal to users who’d like to gain some extra distance between themselves and their subject, whilst fulfilling the frame.

First impressions of the lens coupled to Olympus’s O-MD EM-5 were very excellent. Silent in operation and both solid and robust in terms of its build, it compliments the retro appearance of the O-MD very well. On a couple of occasions we found the focal length caught us out and in confined spaces, so if you’re going to be working in tight areas like the M.ZUIKO Digital 45mm f/1.8 is a good alternative, but in the short time we laid hands on the lens we found little to fault.

To accompany our hands on look at Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 75mm 1:1:8 we’ve uploaded a few of our test images which can be viewed by clicking here.

More information about the Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 75mm 1:1:8 can be found by clicking here.

Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 75mm 1:1:8 Specification

Focal Length: 75mm
Focal Length (35mm Equivalent): 150mm
Lens Construction: 10 lenses/9 groups
ED lens elements: 3
HR elements: 2
Lens mechanism: Inner focus with screw drive mechanism
Angle of view: 16
Closest focusing distance: 0.84m
Maximum image magnification: 0.1x (Micro Four Thirds) / 0.2 x (35mm format)
Number of aperture blades: 9
Maximum aperture: f/1.8
Minimum aperture: f/22
Filter diameter: 58mm
Dimensions: 64mm x 69mm
Weight: 305g