43 Rumors

This lens is the best way into ultra wide angle shooting for micro four thirds.

Eventually you’ll probably want the 12mm Olympus, the 14mm Panasonic and the 7-14mm Panasonic (probably in that order). But as a first lens to get you out of the kit zoom widths this lens is the business.

The crop factor on M43 means that it’s easier to get long lenses than wide so that’s why this lens is so important for the system. If you’re comparing a new PEN with kit lens to any of the high end point and shoots that go out to 24mm wide then rest assured this lens paired with a kit lens will cover everything you could want in wide angle shooting.

The clicky reverse-twist to extend the lens is a bit weird but you’ll get used to it. The highlight of this lens is the small size, ability to accept filters to protect the lens, and the sensible price.

As for the quality of the images, it’s not a fast prime so don’t go expecting tack sharp images. Even so, you’ll get all the quality you need for printing up to at least A4 size.

I wrote a separate review on how it preforms as a dedicated street photography lens at:

https://londonstreetphoto.wordpress.com/2011/10/20/olympus-9-18-mm/

Visit Peter Thomson - the author of this review

If you got a micro 4/3 camera for its lack of bulk, then the 9-18mm lens is a great addition to the arsenal. While not optically as amazing as the larger Panny 7-14mm, the Oly 9-18mm collapses for easy travel. It’s pretty good for landscape… haven’t tried it for indoor shooting.

Lens feels like it’s mostly plastic construction. At least it takes filters (though, admittedly, I don’t use anything on wide-angles). Price is right.

AF performance is pretty good (note that mostly anything’s in focus in front of an wide-angle lens like this).

Wish it came with the hood, especially since it’s square and sexy. Not sure how effective it actually is though.

I had read about the chromatic aberration problem and quickly tried out one of these lenses, took a few photographs and checked the photos at home to see that the CA was easily corrected in Silkypix.
The thing I love about the lens is the small size. Previously I used a 20mm f4 superwide on my Pentax 35mm slr’s which weighed only 150g and this is the first lightweight and compact superwide zoom I have found.
The resolution and sharpness are very good. The main problem with image quality is the CA, which though not always apparent, will sometimes need to be corrected.
Now I have got used to the collapsible design I find it quite fun to use and I appreciate the compact size in the storage mode.
Construction quality seems good and I consider the price reasonable for an OEM lens, though it is mean to include neither a case nor a hood.
A good versatile lens covering the focal lengths I prefer for landscape photography. Useful also for photographing interiors, but in such circumstances the slow lens speed becomes a disadvantage.
Many people will be making a choice beteen this lens and the 7-14mm Panasonic. For me the lack of ability to attach a filter to the Panasonic lens was an off putting feature.
9mm gives an angle of view of nearly 100 degress on the diagonal (close to 90degrees horizontal) and thus provides a much wider view than the 14mm on the standard lenses. Inevitably there will be some occasions where a wider angle is desirable, but I think these are fairly few.