This by far is the most versatile workhorse in my stable of several SWD and Standard Zuiko lenses. For a professional wedding photographer this fast focusing lens with its wide focal range combined with a closeup distance down to 24cm at all focal lengths and low light ability is capable of covering...

A standard zoom lens for Four Thirds format SLRs with a silent focusing motor covering a range equivalent to 24-120mm on a 35mm camera.

Excellent build quality; Good optical performance; Fast focusing; Useful minimum focus distance

Barrel distortion at 12mm

Great lens. If you need one all-rounder, this is it! 12@24 mm is great for wide end and 60@120 gives you a bit more edge compared to other basic-zooms. If you are running on tight budget, you should consider 14-54 f2.8-3.5 if the extra millimeters aren't your thing.

Great focal length IQ and contrast/color handling is well balanced with the focal length, but compared to 50-200, it feels a bit lame; Amazing all-rounder Weather sealing Well balanced with E-3 and E-5 Works almost as a macro lens, focuses almost to the front lens in 60mm Fast focusing Haven't...

A bit dark in the tele end A bit expensive Would need a bit more contrast/color capabilities compared to 50-200

Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Consistent Output; Durable; Fast / accurate auto-focus; Rugged; Weather-resistant

Heavy

Very highly recommended but price might be a little steep for some

The resolution isn't very high; solid build; lightweight; fast focussing and quite versatile

Slight but hardly noticeable distortion at the widest angle

The 12-60mm is an awesome lens. Very comparable to the 14-54mm. It is heavy and weather sealed. It looks, feels and performs like a pro lens. As far as focus well what can I say. It is fast and accurate, faster than the 14-54mm. Maybe but if so not by much.

Tough, Sharp, Fast, Weather sealed; Great range of focal length, A perfect walk around lens, splendid in low light

None that I see; If you don't want a heavy lens then maybe that could be a weakness

Boasting a 5x zoom range and an f/2.8 maximum aperture the 12-60mm zoom looks impressive with its extra-low dispersion (ED) glass and responsive, fast-focusing Sonic-Wave Drive...

Lovely feel; useful 5x zoom range; great image quality

Low CA does not always mean high resolution

Handling and features Gary Wolstenholme takes a close look at this standard zoom for Four thirds SLRs from Olympus. This 12-60mm lens offers a field of view equivalent to a 24-120mm lens on a 35mm camera, with a relatively bright maximum aperture of f/2.8-4.

Excellent build quality; Good optical performance; Fast focusing; Useful minimum focus distance

Barrel distortion at 12mm

I bought this to replace my 14-54 because I wanted a wider lens with more reach. It was the only lens I took on an 18 day European trip and never missed any of my other lenses. If I could only have one lens, this would be it, without any doubt!

Excellent focal range; pretty fast (light); fast focus (especially on the E-3 or E-30)

Price; but it's worth it

The build quality of the lens is exceptional. It is based on a combination of metal and high quality plastic parts. Typical for its lens class the Olympus lens extends when zooming towards the long end of the zoom range. As expected the lens suffers an only very marginal wobbling of inner lens tube.