Olympus 9-18mm f/4-5.6 Review

Image © Olympus America

Background

Wide angle options can be very slim for a smaller sensor camera.  Micro four thirds has a few zooms, the O9-18/4-5.6, P7-14/4 and the new PRO designated O7-14/2.8.  This discussion leaves out the fisheye lens options.

Today we are going to explore the O9-18 and why we chose and love this wide angle option.

1/1250, f/8, ISO 200 @ 9mm
Olympus PEN-F

Handling/Weight/Size

Out of the three wide zooms, the O9-18 won out.  After many hours of research, the IQ difference between the 9-18 and the Panasonic 7-14 were not that great.  The Olympus was much smaller, and I only see this as an occasional use lens.  There for, the less room it needs, the more likely I am to bring it, "just in case".

The zoom and focus ring are ready to get to and find.  The one little niggle that she might have is that the lens has a zoom lock on it.  This needs to be unlocked when not in stored mode.  There is a small switch on the side of the lens, you push forward and twist the barrel.  I don't find it an issue as I just knock it and me it unlocked until I plan on putting the lens away in the bag for a while. 

It's a personal preference thing. 

The lens weighs next to nothing, and is very first pocketable or can be slipped into a small belt pouch.

The field of view(FOV) of this 9-18 will be equivalent to 18-36mm.  A great wide side, plus going down to 35mm FOV can make for an alternative option for street shooting in tight quarters.  

1/200, f/8, ISO 200 @ 18mm
Olympus PEN-F

1/1250, f/5.6, ISO 200 @ 18mm
Olympus PEN-F

Image Quality
Don't let the small size fool you.  While the aprrture range does not make this a first wide angle choice for low light, it is plenty capable and very sharp indeed.  The images have good contrast, and distortion is well controlled, with only minor post processing need for what is not handled in camera (for Olympus users).

I'll let the images speak for themselves.

Olympus PEN-F High-Res Mode

1/100, f/4, ISO 1250 @ 9mm
Olympus PEN-F

1/60, f/6.3, ISO 800 @ 18mm
Olympus PEN-F

Auto Focus

As to be expected with modern Olympus built micro four thirds lenses, this is a quick focusing lens.  You'll have no complaints from me on its S-AF performance.  Also consider that at f4-5.6 and 9-18mm focal lengths, your duty of for will be large anyway.

1/60, f/4, ISO 400 @ 9mm
Olympus PEN-F

1/60, f/4.8, ISO 800 @ 13mm
Olympus PEN-F

Bottom Line:
If you need a holy Trinity of Olympus lens, you'll want the 7-14, 12-40, 40-150 f/2.8 lenses.  That wood be a great so for me, but I rarely need the very wide end, so convenience and cost are more important than pixel peeping sharpness and weather sealing. 

After you factor this into the equation, a used O9-18 was the best choice and as you can see, is capable of making some great images.

Tamron 20-40mm f/2.7-3.5 Review

Background

I'm trying to get a full, yet functional set of lenses for my camera systems.  At the moment, I'm looking at getting a pro use setup as well as an everyday or casual use setup.   To that end, I really did not have a wide angle option for my Nikon kit.     The widest option I have is 24mm.  While wide, sometimes when shooting indoors or large vistas, 24mm may not be enough.  I looked at wider options but cost can be high for a rectilinear option wider than 24mm.

After doing much research I found a great deal online for a Tamron 20-40mm f/2.7-3.5.  Used it was delivered for $99.

Before pulling the trigger, I did quite a lot of research on the lens and while the reviews out there are few, thye are mostly good.

When I looked at that price against, say the price for a used Nikkor 20mm f/2.8 prime, or the Nikon 20-35/2.8 zoom...$99 is an outright steal....if the lens performs.    Let's see if it does.

Handling/Weight/Size

On the size front, it is not really that big of a lens.  It definitely is heavier than it looks, though.    It is an older design, so there is no manual focus override just by turning the focus ring.   Flip those manual focus switches people!!   lol

The zoom ring is smooth, but is tighter than any of my other f-mount lenses.   Not sure if this is normal for this lens or not as I have no frame of reference.  It is not a deal breaker, but something that you have to be mindful of when using it.

Image Quality

This is the big thing...does the lens deliver enough to make it a keeper?  Yes.  There are caveats, but for the most part, the lens is very good optically.

Wide open at f/2.7 it can be a little fuzzy.  Stopped down to f/4 the blur goes away and from there to f/11 the lens is very, very sharp for its AGE.

*** UPDATE ***
Jan. 7, 2017
I performed an auto us fine tune on this lens at 20mm @ f/2.7 on the Nikon DF.
Turns out a +12 fixed a lot of the haze this lens was exhibiting.  Lesson being, I will always make sure to calibrate all my lenses prior to doing any further reviews on them.

Nikon Df, 1/125, f/11, ISO 4500 @ 40mm

Nikon Df, 1/125, f/11, ISO 2500 @ 20mm

Auto Focus

This is not a blazing fast focuser, but for what I want it doesn't need to be.   It works adequately and is accurate.

Bottom Line:
The lens is definitely worth the price I paid.  It provides the wide angle that I was looking for at a price that was worth the risk.