The crops are taken from the original images, saved as High Quality JPEGs in Photoshop CS2 and presented here at 100%. Each number represents 100 lines per picture height (lpph), so a figure of 20 means a resolution of 2000 lpph.

Fitted on an Olympus E-420 and zoomed-into 25mm, the 12-60mm delivers 2175 and 2200 lpph of horizontal and vertical resolution respectively; we expect this result to be identical to what you’d get with the E-520.

Mounted on the flagship E-3 the lens squeezed out a fraction more horizontal resolution, delivering 2200 lpph for it and the vertical figure. Clearly the 10 Megapixel resolution of each camera is the limiting factor here and the 12-60mm potentially has greater resolving power when – or should – a higher resolution Four Thirds body arrive. Now let’s see how the lens performs in our corner sharpness test under the same studio conditions.