We tested each lens at its widest and longest focal lengths with the aperture wide open in Aperture Priority mode. The crops are taken from the upper left corner of the chart and presented here at 100%.

To measure and compare the Olympus 12-60mm’s macro performance we photographed a custom chart using it and a number of rival lenses.

Each camera was positioned at a distance and set to a focal length which delivered the maximum possible reproduction.

The dark lines are 10mm apart and the result is not cropped. Smaller areas are preferred in this test. The image left was taken with the Olympus 12-60mm.

Like most DSLR lenses, the greatest macro reproduction was achieved with the lens zoomed-into its longest focal length. There the Olympus 12-60mm captured an area measuring 58x44mm, which is comfortably better than any of the other lenses shown here, although the latest 14-42mm kit zoom comes close. If you want serious macro performance on a Four Thirds body, you should consider the Olympus Zuiko Digital 50mm. This lens can deliver a field measuring 34x26mm. Now let’s move onto our geometric distortion tests.