Olympus Zuiko Digital 12-60mm 1:2.8-4

Olympus ZD 12-60mm resolution, tested with Olympus E-3 and E-420


Olympus ZD 12-60mm results continued…

Outdoor / Resolution / Corner sharpness / Fringe and macro / Geometry / Vignetting

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  To measure and compare the Olympus 12-60mm’s resolving power we photographed the Enhanced Digital Camera Resolution Chart with it and a number of lens / camera combinations, each using their best quality JPEG and default image tone and sharpening settings. Each lens was tested at every aperture and the sharpest result selected. We tested the ZD 12-60mm with an Olympus E-3 and E-420, the latter sharing the same sensor as the E-520.

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.

Olympus ZD 12-60mm with E-3
Olympus ZD 12-60mm with E-420
2200 lpph, ZD 12-60mm at 25mm, f8, 100 ISO
2175 lpph, ZD 12-60mm at 25mm, f8, 100 ISO
Olympus ZD 14-42mm with E-410
 
Leica 14-50mm with E-400
2150 lpph, 14-42mm at 25mm, f8, 100 ISO
2100 lpph, 14-50mm at 25mm, f8, 100 ISO
Olympus ZD 12-60mm with E-3
Olympus ZD 12-60mm with E-420
2200 lpph, ZD 12-60mm at 25mm, f8, 100 ISO
2200 lpph, ZD 12-60mm at 25mm, f8, 100 ISO
Olympus ZD 14-42mm with E-410
 
Leica 14-50mm with E-400
2150 lpph, 14-42mm at 25mm, f8, 100 ISO
2100 lpph, 14-50mm at 25mm, f8, 100 ISO
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