Which Used Olympus Camera Lenses Should You Buy?
- Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-200mm F/3.5-6.3
- Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 8-25mm F/4 Pro
- Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F/2.8 Pro
- Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 17mm F/1.8
- Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 45mm F/1.8
photo by Arndt_Vladimir via iStock
With so many remarkable used Olympus camera lenses out there today, I know it can be difficult to decide which one is right for you. Thankfully, I’ve created this ultimate buyer's guide to help you make the right decision.
One cool thing to keep in mind is that all Olympus camera lenses are built for Micro Four Thirds camera systems and will also work on Panasonic Micro Four Thirds cameras. Additionally, many of them are cheaper than their Panasonic equivalents.
In this article, I highlight my favorite standard zoom lens, wide-angle lens, telephoto lens, and prime lens. Then, I share a long list of other fantastic Olympus camera lenses that you can browse through.
If you are on the fence about buying a used lens, don’t be! There are tons of amazing resources out there that sell camera gear in excellent condition, and many of them even offer warranties.
One of those places is MPB.com. They have unbeatable prices and always have a giant selection of used Olympus camera lenses for sale. More on that in a bit…
Best Used Standard Zoom Olympus Camera Lenses
For fans of wide-angle lenses, the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 9-18mm F/4-5.6 is without a doubt one of the premier options. First hitting the shelves in 2008, this ultrawide lens is an oldie but a goodie! It’s a testament to just how spectacular it is that even after all these years, it’s still one of the most popular and sought-after Olympus camera lenses.
With an equivalent focal range of 18-36mm, this is an ideal lens for landscape photographers, real estate photographers, and astrophotographers alike. Moreover, weighing in at only 155 grams, it’s an incredibly lightweight and compact lens perfect for tossing into your travel kit.
One of the only slight knocks on this lens compared to newer Olympus camera lenses is the maximum f/4-5.6 maximum aperture. Depending on how you like to shoot, it can sometimes be a bit limiting, especially when there’s less light. This is by no means a deal-breaker, though, and an easy solution is to throw it onto a sturdy tripod.
Other drool-worthy features include responsive and silent autofocus, an easy-to-use manual focus ring, and extraordinarily sharp image quality. Lastly, since it’s an older lens, you can normally find ones for sale dirt cheap on websites like MPB.com.
However, not all used gear websites offer such detailed grades for the gear they sell, nor do all used gear websites offer six-month warranties. When you buy used gear, you want to do so with peace of mind, and for me, that’s precisely what MPB offers!
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Best Used Telephoto Olympus Camera Lenses
The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 100-400mm F/5.0-6.3 IS was designed specifically for those who want a lightweight and compact telephoto lens with unrivaled reach. It came out in August of 2020 and is a super affordable option compared to other similar quality/length telephoto lenses.
The 200-800mm effective focal length it delivers is absolutely out of this world and helps capture shots that would be impossible with nearly any other lens. If, for some absurd reason, that is still not long enough for you, you can pair it with the Olympus MC 2.0x Teleconverter or the Olympus 1.4x M.Zuiko Teleconverter MC-14 (shown below) to get even closer to your subjects.
Furthermore, this is one of the only Olympus camera lenses that uses built-in image stabilization technology. While most Olympus camera bodies are equipped with stabilization, when shooting at extremely far distances, you will be happy you have it in the lens as well to help combat camera shake.
More phenomenal features of this lens are that it has a dust and weather-sealed body, it uses three different types of high-quality glass to produce crisp images, and it works great for video. If you are a wildlife, sport, or action photographer, this is definitely one of the best Olympus camera lenses, and it will help take your photography to the next level.
Best Used Prime Olympus Camera Lenses
Far and away, my favorite Olympus prime lens is the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 25mm F/1.8. It’s a pocket-sized lens that delivers stunningly sharp images and can be purchased at unbelievably low prices.
This lens is Olympus’s version of a nifty fifty and gives users the attractive effective focal length of 50mm. If you want to document life as the human eye sees it, or if you are a street photographer, this is an absolute must-add to your kit.
Additionally, the f/1.8 maximum aperture is one of the lowest found on Olympus camera lenses and makes this lens a great choice for early morning or late afternoon situations when there isn't a ton of light. Also, it creates a shallow depth of field and is perfect for shooting portraits.
Other things to note are that it has a minimum focus distance of 0.25 meters, it’s crazy light at only 136 grams, it has excellent autofocus, and it comes in two different colors (black and silver). For beginners or photographers on a budget, this is an awesome choice!
More Fantastic Used Olympus Camera Lenses
While those are my favorite Olympus camera lenses, they are definitely not the only ones out there. Here are some more sensational Olympus camera lenses to check out:
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