Why the Olympus 12-100mm f/4 Lens Rarely Leaves My Camera
Except when I’m specifically heading out to photograph birds and wildlife, there’s one lens that goes on every photography trip I take—the Olympus 12-100mm f/4 PRO.
It has traveled with me through deserts, along rugged coastlines, into rain and snow, and across countless national parks. After years of use, it has become the lens I trust more than any other for travel photography.
There are certainly smaller lenses available for the Micro Four Thirds system, and there are faster f/2.8 zooms. Yet whenever I’m packing for a trip, I almost always reach for the 12-100mm f/4 first.
Here’s why it rarely leaves my camera.
Interested in the Olympus 12-100mm f/4 PRO?
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The Focal Length Covers Almost Everything
The Olympus 12-100mm provides a 24-200mm full frame equivalent field of view, making it one of the most versatile lenses available for the Micro Four Thirds system.
That range allows me to photograph:
- Compressed landscape compositions
- Wide landscapes
- Waterfalls
- Architecture
- Historic towns
- Travel portraits
- Close-up subjects
Because the focal length covers so many situations, I rarely find myself wishing for another lens.
More importantly, I rarely have to stop shooting to change lenses.
It Focuses Surprisingly Close
The lens has a minimum focusing distance of just 5.91 inches (15 cm) at the wide end and 17.7 inches (45 cm) at 100mm, making it surprisingly capable for capturing close-up subjects while traveling.
While it won’t replace a dedicated macro lens like the Olympus 90mm or 60mm Macro, it’s more than capable of photographing flowers, mushrooms, butterflies, textures, and other small details I encounter while traveling.
I frequently use it to capture close-up subjects while hiking or exploring a new destination. Instead of stopping to change lenses—or carrying a dedicated macro lens—I can simply move in close and continue shooting.
It’s another reason the 12-100mm has become my favorite one-lens travel solution.
I Avoid Changing Lenses Whenever Possible
Changing lenses isn’t always convenient. Sometimes it’s simply risky. Over the years I’ve photographed in places where exposing the camera sensor for even a few seconds wasn’t something I wanted to do.
Monument Valley
Monument Valley is famous for breathtaking scenery, but it’s also famous for wind and blowing red dust. Fine dust seems to find its way into everything, and changing lenses in those conditions is the last thing I wanted to do.
The 12-100mm let me photograph sweeping vistas and zoom in on distant rock formations without ever removing the lens.
Oregon Coast
The Oregon coast presents a different challenge.
Wind, sea spray, blowing sand, and mist create conditions that aren’t ideal for swapping lenses. Having one lens that handled nearly every composition meant I could keep shooting instead of worrying about exposing my camera to the elements.
Open Door Helicopter Ride Over Oahu
One of the most memorable photography experiences I’ve had was an open-door helicopter flight over Oahu. Once airborne, changing lenses simply wasn’t an option. Everything needed to remain secure.
The 12-100mm gave me the flexibility to photograph dramatic coastlines, waterfalls, and tighter landscape details without ever removing the lens from the camera.
The Image Stabilization Is Incredible
One of the biggest reasons I enjoy using this lens is its outstanding image stabilization.
When paired with a compatible Olympus or OM System camera that supports Sync IS, the camera and lens work together to provide some of the best image stabilization available in any interchangeable lens system.
| Camera | Maximum Sync IS Compensation |
| OM System OM-1 Mark II | Up to 8.5 stops |
| OM System OM-1 | Up to 8 stops |
| OM System OM-3 | Up to 7.5 stops |
| OM System OM-5 Mark II | Up to 7.5 stops |
| Olympus OM-D E-M1X | Up to 7.5 stops |
| Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III | Up to 7.5 stops |
| Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II | Up to 6.5 stops |
I currently use the OM System OM-1 Mark II, and the combination has given me the confidence to leave my tripod behind in many situations where I once considered it essential.
I’m able to handhold images during sunrise and sunset that I once would have needed a tripod to capture. It also allows me to confidently photograph inside forests, historic buildings, and other low-light environments while keeping my ISO lower.
It Makes OM System Computational Photography Even Better
The excellent stabilization also makes several OM System computational photography features much easier to use handheld.
I regularly use the 12-100mm for:
- Handheld exposure bracketing during high-contrast sunrise and sunset scenes
- Handheld focus stacking for close-up subjects and landscapes
- Handheld Live ND when photographing waterfalls and streams
The combination of Sync IS and OM System computational photography has expanded the types of images I can comfortably create handheld.
It Has Proven Exceptionally Durable
Specifications on a manufacturer’s website only tell part of the story. What really matters is how equipment performs after years of travel.
My Olympus 12-100mm has been carried through rain, snow, dust, and high winds. It’s been bounced around in backpacks, hiked through national parks, and even survived being dropped a couple of times.
Despite all of that, it continues to perform flawlessly.
Its weather sealing has given me the confidence to keep photographing when conditions become less than ideal, and that confidence has helped me come home with photographs I might have otherwise missed.
Yes, It’s Larger Than Some Micro Four Thirds Lenses
One criticism you’ll often hear about the Olympus 12-100mm is its size. Compared to compact Micro Four Thirds lenses, that’s certainly true.
However, I think the size is more than justified when you consider what you’re getting.
| Lens | Maximum Aperture | Dimensions (Diameter × Length) | Weight |
| Olympus M.Zuiko 12-45mm f/4 PRO | f/4 | 2.5 × 2.8 in (63.4 × 70 mm) | 8.96 oz (254 g) |
| Olympus M.Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO II | f/2.8 | 2.8 × 3.3 in (69.9 × 84 mm) | 13.5 oz (382 g) |
| Olympus M.Zuiko 12-100mm f/4 IS PRO | f/4 | 3.0 × 4.6 in (77.5 × 116.5 mm) | 19.79 oz (561 g) |
Even mounted on my OM System OM-1 Mark II, the combination still fits inside my BAGSMART camera bag, which I often use as my personal item when traveling alongside my Think Tank rolling camera bag.
For me, carrying one slightly larger lens is preferable to carrying—and constantly changing—two smaller ones.
Ready to add the Olympus 12-100mm f/4 PRO to your camera bag?
Check current availability on Amazon, or if you’re comfortable buying used gear, take a look at KEH. Their inspected used lenses can be a great way to save money without sacrificing quality.
I Rarely Miss f/2.8
Many photographers automatically assume they need an f/2.8 zoom.
I used to think that way too. Over time, I’ve realized that I rarely miss the extra stop of light.
Most of my landscapes are photographed around f/5.6 to f/11 anyway, and the outstanding Sync IS stabilization often allows me to shoot handheld at shutter speeds that easily compensate for the slower aperture.
Would f/2.8 occasionally be nice? Of course. But I’d much rather have the extra reach from 40mm to 100mm than one additional stop of light.
For the way I photograph, that’s a trade-off I’m happy to make.
The Image Quality Has Never Let Me Down
Sharpness charts and laboratory tests only tell part of the story. After years of using this lens, I’ve never looked at one of my favorite photographs and thought the lens was the limiting factor.
Autofocus has been fast and reliable. Image quality has consistently been excellent.
Whether I’m photographing landscapes, travel scenes, waterfalls, or close-up subjects, the results continue to impress me.
Is It Perfect?
No lens is. The Olympus 12-100mm isn’t inexpensive, it’s larger than many Micro Four Thirds zooms, and photographers who frequently shoot indoor sports or portraits may still prefer an f/2.8 lens.
It’s also not the lens I choose when I’m heading out specifically to photograph birds and wildlife. For those trips, my Olympus 150-400mm PRO is usually mounted on the camera.
But for almost everything else, it’s hard to beat.
Final Thoughts
If I could only own one travel lens for the Micro Four Thirds system, the Olympus 12-100mm f/4 PRO would be my choice without hesitation.
Its focal length range, outstanding image stabilization, rugged construction, weather sealing, and consistently excellent image quality have earned it a permanent place in my camera bag.
It has traveled with me to deserts, mountains, forests, and rugged coastlines, while continuing to perform in rain, snow, wind, and blowing dust. I can’t imagine traveling without it.
Sometimes the best camera gear isn’t the newest or the most exciting. It’s the equipment you trust enough to take everywhere.
For me, that’s the Olympus 12-100mm f/4 PRO.
Want to Learn More About OM System Gear?
- OM System Computational Photography: A Beginner’s Guide
- How to Create Multiple Exposures on OM System and Olympus Cameras
- How to Photograph Lightning Using Live Composite on OM System Cameras
One Comment
Carbonman
I’ve had this lens for several years & use it as my EDC on an OM-1.1. It’s a superb all-rounder. I’ve had the 12-40mm f2.8 & 40-150mm f2.8 for over a decade but the 12-100mm f4 gets more use than both of these in most of my photography.