In this guide, we’re going to be rounding up the best Micro Four Thirds lenses you can buy right now. Based on our extensive review experience, we’ve rounded up all the best lenses available for the Micro Four Thirds system. Lenses need four stars and above to make the cut – so this is a pretty exclusive club!
The Micro Four Thirds (MFT) system allows for the interchangeable use of Olympus, OM System and Panasonic lenses and cameras. An MFT lens will work just as well on the Panasonic Lumix GX9 as it will on the OM-Systems OM-1 or the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV.
As you can imagine, this gives you a lot of choice. It can be a little overwhelming to know where to start when you’re looking at lenses not just from Olympus and Panasonic, but also third-party manufacturers like Sigma, Samyang, Tamron and Laowa. The MFT system has been going since around 2008, so there’s a big catalogue available.
We’ve divided up this guide into sections. First we’ve got the lenses that received the full five stars in our reviews – these are the best of the best! Next, we’ve grouped the lenses that received 4.5 stars, then lenses that got a still-impressive four stars. Lastly, we’ve included a couple of lenses we reviewed but didn’t give a full star rating to. We’ve included lenses for a broad range of budgets, at all different focal lengths, so whatever you shoot, there should be something for you.
Here’s a little help choosing the right lens for your MFT camera.
How to choose the Best Micro Four Thirds lens:
Image Stabilisation – IS, Power OIS, Mega OIS – If you’re using a Micro Four Thirds camera without In-Body Image Stabilisation (IBIS), then having optical image stabilisation in the lens is going to be of particular interest, it’s also worth looking out for it when looking at longer telephoto lenses. Panasonic lenses with optical image stabilisation come with “Power” or “Mega” OIS, whilst Olympus lenses with optical image stabilisation simply have “IS” in the name.
Manual Focus or Autofocus – The majority of Micro Four Thirds lenses are autofocus, but some, from companies like Laowa, and Samyang, are manual focus only. If manual focus isn’t for you, then make sure to check first.
Crop factor – The Micro Four Thirds system has a 2x crop factor, so that means that a 50mm lens used on a Micro Four Thirds camera, will actually give a 2x cropped view, giving the equivalent to a 100mm lens (in 35mm equivalent terms).
Weather-sealing – If you’re likely to be shooting street or landscape photography and don’t want to stop due to poor weather conditions, then look out for a lens that is weather-sealed, as this will help protect your lens, as well as your camera.
So without further delay, here are the Best Micro Four Thirds Lenses, starting with the best of the best:
5 Star rated lenses: (Gold award)
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 8-25mm f/4 PRO – £899 / $1099
The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 8-25mm f/4 PRO lens gives you a great wide-angle range, from ultra-wide 16mm to 50mm equivalent. It offers superb optical quality, as well as impressive close-up performance. With it being a PRO model, you’ll find that it’s also got excellent build quality and handling.
Best for: All round use, including wide-angle
Pros
- Great quality throughout zoom range
- Snappy, silent autofocus
- Generally excellent build quality
Cons
- On the heavy side for MFT
Read the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 8-25mm f/4 PRO review
Leica DG Nocticron 42.5mm f/1.2 ASPH Power OIS – £1149 / $1397
The Leica DG Nocticron 42.5mm f/1.2 ASPH Power OIS lens gives you an impressive short telephoto portrait lens, with autofocus, optical image stabilisation, and impressive image quality, this is a high quality lens with a lot to love. However, it does come at a price, being roughly £1149 new, or around £730 used.
Best for: portraits and bokeh
Pros
- Razor-thin depth of field
- Fast focusing
Cons
- Not the sharpest lens in the box
Read the Leica DG Nocticron 42.5mm f/1.2 ASPH Power OIS review
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 25mm F1.2 PRO – £863 / $1299
The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 25mm F1.2 PRO lens gives a fast F1.2 aperture, a manual focus ring, and beautiful bokeh, but it comes at a price, at roughly £1000. For those that want the extra brightness, and low-light abilities, this lens is well worth looking at, but for many, the price will be a concern.
Best for: portraits and bokeh, with a 50mm equivalent view
Pros
- Fast maximum aperture
- Gorgeous bokeh
- Weather sealing
Cons
- Quite hefty
- Pricier than alternatives
Read our Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 25mm F1.2 PRO review
Samyang 21mm f/1.4 ED AS UMC CS
This is a manual focus lens available for a range of APS-C and Micro Four Thirds lens mounts, it’s also been released as a CINE T1.5 version of the lens for use with video creation. The lens gives direct aperture control, and manual focus. You may struggle to find this lens, so keep an eye out for the CINE version, or have a look to see if it’s available used.
Best for: manual controls, and manual focus
Pros
- Affordable
- Images look good throughout aperture range
Cons
- Spotty availability
- Manual focus only
Read the Samyang 21mm f/1.4 ED AS UMC CS review
Samyang 50mm f/1.2 UMC CS – £373
The Samyang 50mm f/1.2 UMC CS lens is a manual focus lens, that is available in a number of different lens mounts, including Micro Four Thirds. The lens offers a large f/1.2 aperture, making it one of the “brightest” lenses available in this list, but it’s also excellent value for money, being available for around £300. If manual focus isn’t for you, then have a look at the Leica 42.5mm f/1.2 lens above. You’ll find it’s also available as a CINE version, with T1.3 aperture, and gearing designed for video creation.
Best for: manual controls, with bright f1.2 aperture
Pros
- Great sharpness at wide apertures
- Very good value
Cons
- No autofocus
Read the Samyang 50mm f/1.2 UMC CS review
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-45mm f/4 PRO – £599 / $699
Olympus 12-45mm F4 Pro on E-M5 III
The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-45mm f/4 PRO lens is designed to be a compact, but high-quality zoom lens, giving a useful 24-90mm equivalent. It weighs in at just 254g, making this very light, and at 7cm long, it’s also compact. It’s smaller than the 12-40mm f/2.8 lens, whilst also offering slightly more telephoto reach. As a PRO lens it is weather-sealed, making it suitable for shooting in poor weather conditions. Image quality is excellent, and the lens also offers excellent close-up performance.
Best for: all-in-one wide-zoom, with weather-sealing
Pros
- Weather sealed build
- Excellent for close-ups
- Lightweight and portable
Cons
- Susceptible to flare
Read the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-45mm f/4 PRO review
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-100mm f/4 IS Pro – £1199 / $1399
The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-100mm f/4 IS PRO lens offers an impressive zoom range, equivalent to 24-200mm, giving a versatile all-in-one zoom lens. It’s also been designed to give high image quality, and the lens doesn’t disappoint, scoring 5 stars in our review.
Best for: all-in-one super zoom
Pros
- High quality throughout zoom range
- Excellent stabilisation system
Cons
- f/4 max aperture
Read our Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-100mm f/4 IS PRO review
4.5 star rated lenses:
OM-System M.Zuiko Digital ED 20mm f/1.4 PRO – £649 / $799
OM System M.Zuiko Digital ED 20mm F1.4 Pro review
The first lens from OM Digital Solutions, the OM-System M.Zuiko Digital ED 20mm f/1.4 PRO lens lives up to the PRO name and like other Olympus M.Zuiko lenses, delivers great optical performance. Andy Westlake reviews the lens, and finds that it gives a great balance between size and weight, whilst offering a bright f/1.4 aperture. It’s also a more affordable option when compared to the f/1.2 lenses available.
Pros
- Portable for an f/1,4 lens
- Smooth, attractive out-of-focus blur
- Quick, quiet autofocus
Cons
- No focus clutch mechanism
Best for: high-image quality, and 40mm view
Read our OM System M.Zuiko Digital ED 20mm f/1.4 PRO Review
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 7-14mm f/2.8 PRO – £1059 / $1399
The 7-14mm, right, is very similar in size and design to the 12-40mm f/2.8
The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 7-14mm f/2.8 PRO is a lens that gives an ultra-wide angle zoom range of 14-28mm (in 35mm equivalent terms), and with a fixed f/2.8 aperture available the lens can give better low light performance than other ultra-wide-angle zooms available for Micro Four Thirds. If you’re in the market for an ultra-wide zoom, then this is definitely up there with the best.
Best for: ultra-wide zoom with f2.8 aperture, landscapes
Pros
- Excellent handling
- Compact build
Cons
- Some corner softness at wide angles
Read the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 7-14mm f/2.8 PRO review
OM System M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F4.0 PRO – £799 / $899
OM System 40-150mm F4
Announced alongside the flagship OM-1 camera, the M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F4.0 PRO is its second all-new optic under the OM System brand, after the M.Zuiko Digital ED 20mm F1.4 PRO. It’s a compact, weather-sealed telephoto zoom than employs a space-saving retractable design and promises premium optics. With a zoom range equivalent to 80-300mm on full-frame, it’s designed for use with Olympus and OM System cameras but can also be used on Panasonic Lumix G-series MFT bodies.
Best for: Telephoto zoom, in a compact lens
Pros
- IP53-rated weather-sealing
- Excellent optical quality
- Super-fast autofocus
Cons
- Lacking some physical controls
Read the OM System M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F4.0 PRO review
Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN – £379 / $475
The Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN is part of a range of compact prime lenses designed for APS-C and Micro Four Thirds mirrorless cameras. With a bright f/1.4 aperture, this lens is a great portrait lens giving a 112mm equivalent on Micro Four Thirds cameras. It’s also relatively compact, and would make a great choice for anyone needing to shoot in low-light conditions.
Best for: longer telephoto portraits with pleasing bokeh
Pros
- Excellent value for money
- Solid construction
- Good physical size for MFT
Cons
- No AF/MF switch
Read the Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN review
Panasonic Leica DG Summulix 12mm f/1.4 ASPH. – £1049 / $1297
The Leica DG Summilux 12mm f/1.4 ASPH lens is a premium lens with the Leica branding, and the wide-angle lens gives a 24mm equivalent. You’ll find an aperture ring on the lens, but you can also control the aperture with the camera. There’s also a solid build quality, thanks to a metal construction, and you’ll also benefit from weather-sealing. Perhaps more importantly, the lens also delivers excellent image quality, with plenty of fine detail, even when shooting wide-open.
Best for: shooting wide-open landscapes with high image quality
Pros
- Great for low light
- Splashproof construction
Cons
- Quite expensive
- Aperture ring won’t work with Olympus
Read the Leica DG Summilux 12mm f/1.4 ASPH review
Panasonic Lumix G 25mm f/1.7 ASPH. – £149 / $247
The Panasonic Lumix G 25mm f/1.7 ASPH lens is an entry-level, and very afforable bright prime lens, giving a 50mm equivalent you can think of this lens as the “Nifty Fifty” to get for your Micro Four Thirds camera. Being roughly half the price of an Olympus 25mm f/1.8 lens, this Panasonic lens is hard to beat.
Best for: great value, portraits, compact lens
Pros
- Super-affordable
- Useful standard focal length
Cons
- Lots of credible alternatives
Read the Panasonic Lumix G 25mm f/1.7 ASPH review
Laowa MFT 10mm F2.0 C&D Dreamer – £399
The diminutive Laowa 10mm f/2 is for Micro Four Thirds cameras, offering a 20mm equivalent wideangle view
Priced at £399, this manual focus Micro Four Thirds lens offers a 20mm equivalent angle of view, and is just 125g in weight. Being only 41mm long, it’s a tiny little lens that will suit those people looking for a compact, portable lens. This lens may be manual focus, but it has electronic contacts, and the aperture is controlled by the camera. The lens has been designed to give minimal distortion, and for those looking for a wide-angle lens, this is a great choice, scoring 4.5 stars in our review.
Best for: wide-angle shooting with manual focus
Pros
- Small, super lightweight
- Good sharpness at narrow apertures
Cons
- Vignetting at f/2
- No autofocus
Read our Laowa MFT 10mm F2.0 C&D Dreamer Review.
4 star rated lenses:
Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN – £269 / $339
The Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN is part of a range of bright f/1.4 lenses designed for APS-C and Micro Four Thirds mirrorless cameras, along with the 56mm f/1.4, there’s also a 16mm f/1.4 lens available. The Sigma 30mm f/1.4 gives a 60mm equivalent field of view, making it slightly longer than the “standard” 50mm lens. With an f/1.4 aperture, it’s also a good choice if you need to shoot in low-light conditions.
Best for: low-light and portraits
Pros
- Edge-to-edge sharpness
- Useful optical coatings
- Performs great wide-open
Cons
- Focus is quiet, not silent
Read the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN review
Laowa 7.5mm f/2 MFT – £529 / $549
The Laowa 7.5mm f/2 MFT is a manual focus lens with direct aperture control, with no electrical contact to the camera. The lens is available in silver or black, and gives an ultra-wide 15mm equivalent. Being made for Micro Four Thirds only, it’s extremely compact, and lightweight making it easy to take with you wherever you go.
Best for: ultra-wide view and manual focus
Pros
- Excellent centre sharpness
- Small, lightweight
Cons
- No autofocus
Read the Laowa 7.5mm f/2 MFT review
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 8mm f/1.8 Fisheye PRO – £699 / $1002
The 8mm is long and slim for a fisheye lens
If you’re looking for a fisheye lens, then the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 8mm f/1.8 PRO is a fisheye lens with autofocus (AF), and weather sealing. It’s got a fast maximum aperture, making it suitable for low-light use, and delivers impressive image quality.
Best for: fisheye, creative landscapes / architecture
Pros
- Robust and splashproof
- Fast, silent autofocus
- Generally good optical quality
Cons
- Expensive for a fisheye
- On the bulky side
Read the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 8mm f/1.8 Fisheye PRO review
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 100-400mm f/5-6.3 IS – £1299 / $1499
The lens comes with a deep bowl-shaped plastic hood
The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 100-400mm f/5-6.3 IS lens is a mid-range telephoto zoom that gives a 200-800mm equivalent, although with a relatively slow aperture, you do need bright sunny conditions to get the best out of the lens and camera. It’s also compatible with the Olympus MC-14 and MC-20 teleconverters if you want even more reach.
Best for: impressive telephoto reach
Pros
- Excellent sharpness
- Close focusing distance
- Robust and weather-sealed
Cons
- Somewhat bulky
- f/5-6.3 is restricting
Read the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 100-400mm f/5-6.3 IS review
Panasonic Lumix G Vario 12-60mm f/3.5-5.6 ASPH Power OIS – £349 / $497
The 12-60mm lens gives a useful zoom range from 24-120mm equivalent, with optical image stabilisation, and a more affordable price tag compared to some lenses. Focus is snappy, and image quality is respectable, making is a great upgrade option for those who have a 14-42mm kit lens.
Best for: all-in-one zoom with good value for money
Pros
- Very portable
- Silent autofocus and aperture mechanisms
- 25cm close focusing distance
Cons
- Image quality more good than great
Read the Panasonic Lumix G Vario 12-60mm f/3.5-5.6 ASPH Power OIS review
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-200mm f/3.5-6.3 – £799 / $899
The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-200mm f/3.5-6.3 all-in-one “super zoom” lens offers a somewhat incredible 24-400mm equivalent zoom range. The lens benefits from a weather-resistant construction, but due to the lack of optical image stabilisation, it’s not recommended for use on cameras that don’t feature in-body image stabilisation (IBIS), as it could be tricky to get sharp shots when using more of the telephoto zoom. It’s also not as sharp as other lenses, particularly at the telephoto end of the lens, however, this is often the case with super zoom lenses.
Best for: all-in-one super zoom with plenty of reach
Pros
- Huge zoom range
- Weather-resistant
- Good close-focusing distance
Cons
- Middling sharpness
- Autofocus struggles in low light
Read the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-200mm f/3.5-6.3 review
Tamron 14-150mm f/3.5-5.8 Di III – £390
The Tamron 14-150mm f/3.5-5.8 Di III offers an alternative to the Olympus 14-150mm f/4.0-5.6 II, and Panasonic 14-140mm f/3.5-5.6 II super zoom lenses, with slightly more telephoto reach than the Panasonic, and being slightly brighter at the wide-angle end than the Olympus. The lens lacks optical image stabilisation, so it is best paired with a camera body that features in-body image stabilisation.
Best for: all-in-one super zoom
Pros
- Cheaper than rivals
- Great size for travel
Cons
- No weatherproofing
- No stabilistion
Read the Tamron 14-150mm f/3.5-5.8 Di III review
More Micro Four Thirds lens to consider:
Whilst we haven’t rated these lenses, we have given them a thorough test, and you can find out what we think of them, as well as view sample photos from these lenses to see if they’re what you’re looking for.
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm f/4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO – £6499 / $7499
With its teleconverter engaged, the lens provides 1000mm-equivalent reach
For the professional sports or wildlife photographer, this lens offers a 300-800mm equivalent range, which can be extended to 375-1000mm (at f/5.6) using the built-in 1.25x teleconverter! When used with the Olympus OM-D E-M1X it’s also said to be able to give up to 8 stops of image stabilisation! It’s also considerably lighter than full-frame equivalents. It’s also compatible with the Olympus MC-14 and MC-20 teleconverters if you want even more reach.
Best for: professional quality telephoto zoom with maximum reach
Pros
- Useful built-in 1.2x converter
- Versatile zoom range
- Weather sealed
Cons
- Very pricey
- Bird AF slower than rivals
Read the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm f/4.5 TC 1.25x IS PRO review
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO – £1299 / $1499
The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO lens is the go-to lens for those who want high-quality images, and a bright f/2.8 aperture throughout the zoom range. It’s well matched to the Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO lens, as the zoom range follows on from this, giving an 80-300mm equivalent zoom range. It’s also weather-sealed, and has an internal zoom mechanism so that the lens doesn’t change length when you zoom.
Best for: telephoto zoom with bright aperture, ideal for sports
Pros
- Broad, useful zoom range
- Smooth, satisfying handling
- Good detail resolving
Cons
- Built-in hood can interfere with zoom ring
Read the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO preview
More reading
If you’re looking for more zoom lens options, then have a look at our round-up of the Best Zoom Lenses for Micro Four Thirds, or have a look at our latest lens reviews.
