Let our guide to the best zoom lenses for Micro Four Thirds help you kit out your Panasonic or Olympus camera, with picks for all budgets.

Micro Four Thirds is the longest-running mirrorless system that’s still in popular use today. Its cameras use a smaller sensor standard than the APS-C and full-frame chips favoured by the likes of Canon, Nikon, Sony and Fujifilm, which allows for all sorts of creative advantages. MFT bodies and lenses tend to be smaller and lighter than their larger-sensor rivals, for one thing, making for a lightweight setup that really deliver the goods when it comes to image quality.

One of the real aces in the hold for the MFT system though is its cross-compatibility. Cameras made by Panasonic and Olympus / OM-System use the exact same lens mount, meaning that all Panasonic lenses can be used on Olympus / OM-System cameras, and vice versa. This gives any MFT photographer real flexibility when crafting their setup, and gives you a huge amount of choice when picking lenses.

That’s why, even though we’ve already got a full guide to the best Micro Four Thirds lenses, we also wanted a dedicated run-through of the best Micro Four Thirds zoom lenses – because there’s just so much choice! In this guide, we’ve exclusively picked out fantastic lenses made by Panasonic, Olympus and OM-System – and if you’re using a Micro Four Thirds camera, you have your pick of the lot.

If you’re still finding your feet with the system, don’t worry – first, let’s run through the key criteria you’ll want to consider when picking a Micro Four Thirds zoom lens.

What to consider with the best Micro Four Thirds zoom lenses

The main thing to think about is which class of zoom lens you want to use. For this guide, we’ve separated them into standard, all-in-one (or superzoom), and telephoto zoom lenses.

Standard zooms are great options as ‘everyday’ or ‘walk around’ choices. They give you a good degree of flexibility for a range of different situations, such as landscape, travel and even portraiture. They also provide quite a naturalistic perspective, similar to that of the human eye, which is great for documentary-style shooting.

All-in-one or superzoom lenses cover a very  broad focal range, and let you do a bit of everything. They’re also useful as everyday walkaround lenses, allowing you to zoom way in or way out at a moment’s notice. They also tend to be relatively inexpensive as they aren’t often used by professionals – the reason being that the big zoom range generally requires some compromises in optical quality.

Telephoto zoom lenses are more suited to specific types of photography, such as wildlife, sports or action. Anything that requires you to get closer to the action is a good candidate for a telephoto zoom.

Still picking your Micro Four Thirds setup? Check out our guides to the best Olympus cameras and the best Panasonic cameras for plenty of great options.

Remember too, that some excellent new cameras have come out from OM System recently – check out our in-depth reviews of the OM System OM-5 and the OM-1.


The best zoom lenses for Micro Four thirds: quick list

Want to get right to it? Here is a quick-reference list of all the excellent lenses we’ve picked for Micro Four Thirds users, along with links for where to get the best prices.

Best standard zooms for Micro Four Thirds:

  • Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-45mm F4.0 PRO – Buy now
  • Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 8-25mm F4.0 PRO – Buy now
  • Panasonic LUMIX G X Vario 12-35mm f/2.8 II Asph. Power O.I.S. – Buy now
  • Panasonic LUMIX G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60mm f/2.8-4 Asph. Power O.I.S. – Buy now
  • Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO II – Buy now

Best all-in-one zoom lenses for Micro Four Thirds:

  • Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-100mm F4.0 IS PRO – Buy now
  • Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-200mm F3.5-6.3 – Buy now

Best telephoto zoom lenses for Micro Four Thirds

  • Panasonic LUMIX G X Vario 35-100mm f/2.8 II Power O.I.S. – Buy now
  • Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F2.8 PRO – Buy now
  • OM System M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F4.0 PRO – Buy now
  • Panasonic LUMIX G Vario 45-200mm f/4-5.6 II Power O.I.S. – Buy now
  • Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 75-300mm F4.8-6.7 II – Buy now
  • Panasonic LUMIX Leica 100-400mm f/4-6.3 Asph. Power O.I.S. – Buy now
  • Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS – Buy now
  • Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO – Buy now

Read on for full details on each of these lenses, including the results of full lens reviews by our technical team…


Best standard zooms for Micro Four Thirds

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-45mm F4.0 PRO

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-45mm
The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-45mm F4.0 PRO mounted to an Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III. Photo credit: Andy Westlake

Amateur Photographer verdict

This lens provides a rare combination of ruggedness, portability, and superb image quality, particularly when used in combination with the OM-D E-M5 Mark III
Pros
  • Superb optics
  • Weather-sealed construction
  • Impressive close-up capability
Cons
  • Can be susceptible to flare

At a glance:

  • Equivalent focal length: 24-90mm
  • Street price: $500 / £599

Released in 2020 before Olympus went through its sale and phoenix-like rebirth into OM-System, the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-45mm f/4 Pro is a little wonder of a lens. It’s a 24-90mm equivalent stunner that plays to the strengths of the Micro Four Thirds system, delivering absolutely stellar image quality while only weighing 254g.

This lens particularly excels at close-up shooting, with a minimum focus distance so short at the wide end that you might end up getting in your own light. Even with the aperture of f/4, you can shoot wide open and still get some really attractive background blur. There’s some flare when you shoot into the light, but not enough to be a serious problem. At this price, the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-45mm is a lens that pretty much any Micro Four Thirds owner should consider picking up.

Read our Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-45mm F4 PRO review.


Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 8-25mm F4.0 PRO

A 72mm thread surrounds the front element, making the 8-25mm a better choice for filter users than the 7-14mm f/2.8.
A 72mm thread surrounds the front element, making the 8-25mm a better choice for filter users than the 7-14mm f/2.8.

Amateur Photographer verdict

With near-faultless optical quality, this lens is a useful, everyday walk-around lens
Pros
  • Superb optical quality
  • Incredibly useful 16-50mm equivalent range
  • Impressive close-up capability
  • Excellent build quality and handling
  • Rapid, silent autofocus
Cons
  • Slightly large and heavy for a Micro Four Thirds lens

At a glance:

  • Equivalent focal length: 16-50mm
  • Street price: $899 / £949

Now, an 8-16mm lens may sound a little wide for our standard zooms section. But remember that 2x crop factor, which transforms the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 8-25mm F4.0 PRO into a 16-50mm lens for MFT cameras. This puts it firmly in the realm of a useful, everyday walk-around lens, just one that can also zoom out to an ultra-wide perspective. And, what’s more, it’s an absolutely excellent lens. In our review, we found the optical quality to be near faultless at all positions on the focal range. Normally you expect some sharpness drop-off towards the telephoto end of a lens, but the M.Zuiko 8-25mm F4.0 Pro really does hold its detail well.

Read our Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 8-25mm F4.0 PRO review.


Panasonic LUMIX G X Vario 12-35mm f/2.8 II Asph. Power O.I.S

Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 II LUMIX G Vario ASPH Power OIS
The Panasonic LUMIX G X Vario 12-35mm f/2.8 II Asph. Power O.I.S is compact and ideal for travel photography.

Amateur Photographer verdict

This makes for an excellent walk-around lens suitable for many photography genres, from landscapes to portraiture and street
Pros
  • Equivalent focal length of 24-70mm which is favoured among full-frame photographers
  • Nice constant f/2.8 aperture
  • Great for a variety of photography genres

At a glance:

  • Equivalent focal length: 24-70mm
  • Street price: $998 / £439

This standard zoom lens is equivalent to the classic focal length of 24-70mm which is favoured by many full-frame shooters. It’s also got a nice wide constant f/2.8 aperture. It’s suited well to larger cameras such as the Panasonic GH5, and makes for an excellent walk around lens. At its widest, it’s ideal for landscapes and travel, while the tele end is great for portraiture and street work. You can use it in low light conditions, using the widest aperture of f/2.8. It’s also great for throwing the background out of focus for shallow depth of field effects. Support is available for the Power OIS (optical image stabilisation) as well as in-camera 5-axis Dual IS 2 when used with certain cameras such as the GH5, GH5 II and G80.


Panasonic LUMIX G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60mm f/2.8-4 Asph. Power O.I.S.

Panasonic LEICA 12-60mm f2.8-4.0 DG VARIO-ELMARIT POWER OIS 
Panasonic LUMIX G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60mm f/2.8-4 Asph. Power O.I.S. is splash- and dust-proof so will suited to outdoor shooting in poor weather.

Amateur Photographer verdict

This standard zoom lens, created in partnership with Leica, is ideal for all kinds of outdoor work
Pros
  • Offers more in terms of reach than 12-35mm lens
  • Splash and dust-proof
Cons
  • F/4 aperture at the telephoto end of the lens

At a glance:

  • Equivalent focal length: 24-120mm
  • Street price: $798 / £800

Panasonic has a great working relationship with Leica, which it has teamed up with in order to create this standard zoom lens. Offering more reach than the 12-35mm lens, as a trade off, you have to settle for an f/4 aperture at the telephoto end of the lens. Again, due to its reasonably large size, it is best used with larger cameras, or those with body designs that resemble DSLRs, such as the Lumix GH6. This lens is also splash-proof and dust-proof, making it ideal for all kinds of outdoor work.


Olympus M.ZUIKO Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO II

Olympus M.ZUIKO Digital ED 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO
Olympus M.ZUIKO Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO II.

Amateur Photographer verdict

With a focal range equivalent of 24-80mm and constant maximum aperture of f/2.8, this is an extremely versatile lens in a wide range of situations – including low light
Pros
  • Amazing image quality
  • Weather resistant and splash proof
  • Solidly-built
  • A great choice for cameras such as the OM-D E-M1 Mark III
Cons
  • Relatively large and weighty lens

At a glance:

  • Equivalent focal length: 24-80mm
  • Street price: $900 / £900

A classic ‘walk around’ focal length for Olympus users, this lens gives a touch extra reach than the Panasonic 12-35mm equivalent, while offering the same f/2.8 constant aperture. A great choice for cameras such as the OM-D E-M1 Mark III, it’s a versatile option for lots of different subjects ranging from landscapes to portraits. It is also weatherproof, which makes it ideal for outdoor work.

Discover more about the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO


Best all-in-one zoom lenses for Micro Four Thirds

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-100mm F4.0 IS PRO

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-100mm f/4 IS PRO
The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-100mm F4.0 IS PRO on test. Photo credit: Andy Westlake

Amateur Photographer verdict

This lens is an outdoor photographer’s dream – if you want to shoot a wide range of subjects without changing lenses, from sweeping landscapes to close-ups, it can do all of these with remarkable ease
Pros
  • High image quality
  • Near-magical image stabilisation
  • Robust construction
  • Impressive zoom range
Cons
  • Pricey
  • Not one to choose for shallow depth of field

At a glance:

  • Equivalent focal length: 24-200mm
  • Street price: $1,200 / £1,200

The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-100mm F4 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 an impressive 5 stars in our review.

Read our Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-100mm F4.0 IS PRO review


Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-200mm F3.5-6.3

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-200mm f/3.5-6.3
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-200mm F3.5-6.3 tested by AP’s review team. Photo credit: Andy Westlake

Amateur Photographer verdict

This all-in one ‘super zoom’ lens may not be the sharpest but it performs reasonably well and is decent value for money
Pros
  • Huge 24-400mm equivalent range offers huge compositional flexibility
  • Good for close-ups, with 50cm minimum focus at 200mm
  • Weather-resistant construction
  • Fast, silent and accurate AF (at least in good light)
Cons
  • Not particularly sharp, especially at telephoto
  • Autofocus can be hesitant in low light
  • Unsuitable for use on Panasonic Lumix G bodies that lack in-body stabilisation

At a glance:

  • Equivalent focal length: 24-400mm
  • Street price: $900 / £557

The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-200mm F3.5-6.3 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.

Read our Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-200mm F3.5-6.3 review


Best telephoto zoom lenses for Micro Four Thirds

Panasonic LUMIX G X Vario 35-100mm f/2.8 II Power O.I.S.

Panasonic 35-100mm f/2.8 II LUMIX G X VARIO POWER OIS
Panasonic LUMIX G X Vario 35-100mm f/2.8 II Power O.I.S.

Amateur Photographer verdict

This lens is pricy for Micro Four Thirds, but offers versatility and a classic focal length enjoyed by traditional full-frame photographers
Pros
  • Ideal for a lot of subjects – including in low light
  • Maximum wide aperture of f/2.8 is constant
Cons
  • Is among the pricier options for Micro Four Thirds

At a glance:

  • Equivalent focal length: 70-200mm
  • Street price: $999 / £799

A classic focal length enjoyed by traditional full-frame photographers, the equivalent focal length of this lens is 70-200mm. The maximum wide aperture of f/2.8 is constant, making it ideal for lots of subjects, including portraiture, as well as being great in low light. This lens is one of the pricier options for Micro Four Thirds, so if you want to save some cash, take a look at the 35-100mm f/4-5.6 option.


Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F2.8 PRO

Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO M.ZUIKO Digital
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F2.8 PRO.

Amateur Photographer verdict

This versatile optic from Olympus is ideal for quite a few different subjects, including portraiture and wildlife
Pros
  • f/2.8 constant maximum aperture makes it useful in low light
  • Focusing is near silent
  • Dust, splash and freezeproof construction
Cons
  • Pricey

At a glance:

  • Equivalent focal length: 80-300mm
  • Street price: $1,299 / £634

This versatile optic from Olympus is ideal for quite a few different subjects, including portraiture and wildlife. It features an f/2.8 constant maximum aperture, which makes it useful in low light. For those who spend a lot of time outdoors, the splash, dust and freeze proof construction of the lens will surely be appreciated.

Focusing is also near silent, and if the 300mm (equivalent) isn’t enough, you can purchase an extra 1.4x teleconverter to extend it to an equivalent of 420mm. If your budget doesn’t quite stretch to the high asking price of this lens, there’s also a 40-150mm f/4-5.6 offering available.

Read our Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 40-150mm F2.8 Hands On review


OM System M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F4.0 PRO

OM System Olympus 40-150mm F4 in use
The OM System 40-150mm f/4 is a fine little lens that gives consistently sharp images

Amateur Photographer verdict

This compact, weather-sealed telephoto zoom is a fine little lens that is a good match for compact Micro Four Thirds bodies such as the E-M5 Mark III
Pros
  • Small and lightweight
  • Gives sharp, detailed images
  • IP53-rated weather-sealing
  • Fast, silent autofocus
Cons
  • No manual focus clutch (or switch)
  • No L-Fn button
  • C-AF performance not quite as good as f/2.8 version

At a glance:

  • Equivalent focal length: 80-300mm
  • Street price: $700 / £499

Announced alongside the flagship OM-1 camera, the M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F4.0 PRO was the second all-new optic under the OM System brand. It’s a compact, weather-sealed telephoto zoom that 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, of course, it can also be used on Panasonic Lumix G-series MFT bodies.

In our review we said, ‘the 40-150mm f/4 is a fine little lens that neatly fills a gap in the M.Zuiko line-up between the entry-level and f/2.8 Pro zooms that cover the same range. It’s a particularly good match for compact Micro Four Thirds bodies such as the E-M5 Mark III, but is just as good a choice for E-M1/OM-1 users looking to travel light. It would make an excellent companion for either the 12-40mm f/2.8 or 12-45mm f/4.5 standard zooms.’

Read our OM System M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F4.0 PRO review


Panasonic LUMIX G Vario 45-200mm f/4-5.6 II Power O.I.S.

Panasonic LUMIX G VARIO 45-200mm f4-5.6 II POWER OIS
Suited to outdoor photography of all genres, the Panasonic LUMIX G Vario 45-200mm f/4-5.6 II Power O.I.S. is top value.

Amateur Photographer verdict

If your main concern is extra reach, but you don’t have a large budget to match, this 45-200mm lens from Panasonic could be the ideal choice
Pros
  • Great value for money
  • Splash-proof and dust-proof
  • Ideal for subjects such as wildlife and outdoor photography
Cons
  • Not particularly wide at f/4-5.6

At a glance:

  • Equivalent focal length: 90-400mm
  • Street price: $448 / £241

If your main concern is extra reach, but you don’t have a large budget to match, this 45-200mm lens from Panasonic could be the ideal choice. The maximum aperture isn’t particularly wide at f/4-5.6, but you can get very close to the subject. It’s also splash-proof and dust-proof, making it ideal for subjects such as wildlife and outdoor photography.


Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 75-300mm F4.8-6.7 II

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 75-300mm f/4.8-6.7 II
The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 75-300mm F4.8-6.7 II is great value for money.

Amateur Photographer verdict

This extraordinarily good value lens gets you super close to the action, offering one of the longest focal lengths available for Micro Four Thirds
Pros
  • Great value for money
  • Super fast autofocusing
  • Well-suited to sports, wildlife and action

At a glance:

  • Equivalent focal length: 150-600mm
  • Street price: $549 / £450

This extraordinarily good value lens gets you super close to the action, offering one of the longest focal lengths available for Micro Four Thirds. It boasts super fast autofocusing, which makes it well-suited to subjects such as sports, wildlife and action. You could also use it for some other subjects, such as events and weddings, where you need to get close to the subject.


Panasonic LUMIX Leica 100-400mm f/4-6.3 Asph. Power O.I.S.

Panasonic Lumix 100-400mm f/4-6.3 Power OIS
The Panasonic LUMIX Leica 100-400mm f/4-6.3 Asph. Power O.I.S. is a powerful long zoom with fine handling.

Amateur Photographer verdict

This beast of a lens gives you incredible reach and is great for a variety of subjects
Pros
  • Gives you amazing reach – being an equivalent of 800mm at its furthest
  • Suitable for a variety of subjects including wildlife, sport and action
  • Dust and splash-proof
  • Zooms silently, making it ideal for video recording
  • Quiet autofocus

At a glance:

  • Equivalent focal length: 200-800mm
  • Street price: $1,598 / £1,200

This beast of a lens gives you incredible reach, being up to an equivalent of 800mm at its furthest. It’s great for a variety of subjects, including wildlife, sport and action and is dust-proof and splash-proof. The lens zooms silently, making it ideal for video recording, while autofocus is also very quiet.


Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 100-400mm f/5-6.3 IS
The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 ISis a powerful telephoto for the money.

Amateur Photographer verdict

This ultra-telephoto zoom handles quite well although there are some niggling points when compared to its Panasonic equivalent
Pros
  • Sharp optics
  • Robust, weather-sealed construction
  • Handy close focus capability
  • Arca swiss compatible tripod mount
Cons
  • Large and heavy compared to its Panasonic equivalent
  • Slow maximum aperture demands use of high ISOs

At a glance:

  • Equivalent focal length: 200-800mm
  • Street price: $1,300 / £1,169

The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 100-400mm F5-6.3 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.

Read our Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 100-400mm F5-6.3 IS review


Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm f/4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO
The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO is a remarkable but very expensive lens.

Amateur Photographer verdict

One for professional sports and wildlife photographers, this big and powerful lens would make a great companion to the OM-1
Pros
  • Versatile 300-800mm equivalent range
  • Relatively lightweight at under 2kg
  • Genuinely useful built-in 1.25x converter
  • Reliable weather-sealing
  • Fast and effective AF
Cons
  • Expensive
  • Bird AF not as fast as Canon EOS R5

At a glance:

  • Equivalent focal length: 300-800mm
  • Street price: $7,500 / £6,799

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-M1 X it’s also said to be able to give up to eight stops of image stabilisation! At 1.875kg 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.

This is a big and powerful lens that would make a great companion the current OM System flagship, the OM-1.

Read our Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC 1.25x IS PRO Review


Discover more…

For more Micro Four Thirds lens options just click through to have a look at our guide to the Best Micro Four Thirds lenses. Or to find the best camera for your lens, have a look at our guide to the best Olympus / OM System cameras, and the best Panasonic cameras.


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