JD750 Loc: SoCal

Back story.
My go-to travel, adventure, hiking and backpacking, and all around every day camera is my OM-1. I also shoot with Nikon. I took my Nikon Z8 on a recent trip, instead of my OM-1. This was a departure from normal for me but I wanted to get to know the Z8. And it worked I got to know it and like it very much. One of my lenses was the Nikkor Z 24-100 F4-6.3 and I found it to be a fabulous lens, good IQ, fast focusing, good handling, and a fabulous focal range for travel. But the lens + body is over 2 kG (measured) and one of my flights had a 7kG limit. I had to throw out much stuff to take my camera, Ok I don't need 5g of suntan lotion I can buy when I get there, I was counting grams, but dammed be hell I was taking that camera. The other downside is it is a big camera, and people notice it. People do not notice my Olympus so much. M43 is still the king for Travel photography.

So I wondered, does Olympus, new name OM System, makes a similar focal length lens? And yes they do! It is their ED 12-100mm f4 IS PRO. I decided "I'm taking that lens on my next trip." So I ordered one.
End of back story.

The Reason for this post.
I received my new OM System ED 12-100mm f4 IS PRO, eagerly opened the package and mounted it on my OM-1 and... it will not autofocus. Disappointed. <snip>...

SO why post here?
Maybe I am missing something. <snip>...

UPDATE:
After all that I resorted to RTFM and it says "slide the focus ring forward to enable autofocus." Ok that was not intuitive to me but the problem is resolved. The lenses auto-focuses as expected.

jmt455 Loc: SE Michigan

Is the Manual Focus clutch engaged?
Move the focus ring forward or backward on the lens to change from Auto to Manual focus.

User ID

Who knew ??!!?!?!? (I never had the manual.)

My small OM primes feature that sliding focus collar and I do use it. But I never assumed my 12-100 had it. Now I know, and I might even use it, as I do on my primes. Acoarst I havent suffered any by not knowing. Will this "elevate my user experience" ?!? (No effect on results.) Will I relish the sheer joy of collar clicking ?!? Anywho, thanks for the headzup ... I guess.

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

You stated your lens as a Z 24-100 f4-6.3. I can't find this lens on the Nikon website. Is it the Z 24-200 f4-6.3?

Dodie

JD750 Loc: SoCal

so sorry for the typo on my part. The Z lens is 24-200mm f4-6.3.

That is the same field of view as 12-100mm on M43 cameras.

User ID

Good catch. Mathmatically that would exactly match the zoom range the OM 12-100/4.0.

Personally, I prefer having f/4.0 available all throughout the zoom range, but for a FF lens that would result in a huge (costly) lens :-(

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

Thank you for confirming the lens. Even though I’m not in the market for a new camera and/or lenses, I do like to check out what’s available and read the opinions and experiences of the people that are using them.

I hope you have many happy adventures with that camera and lens!

Dodie

JD750 Loc: SoCal

LOL I have to use autofocus. Because my camera can see much better than my old eyes. Particularly my R eye which has been getting worse to the point I am using my Left eye now. I have had multiple visits over this issue and they have fancy names but the Doctor basically says “you’re old”. They are experts at collecting the fee and avoiding any kind of treatment that might cost them money. Welcome to health care in the USA in 2024. Sorry for the rant.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

We keep laughing at the faulty ergonomics of Sony too. When you handle equipment designed to be intuitive, natural, you really understand the difference.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Thank you that is the correct solution.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

 😊

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Oh yes agreed on all points and the M43 F4 is actually slightly smaller than the FF F4-6.3.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Thank you Dodie I plan to do just that! :)

JFCoupe Loc: Kent, Washington

Olympus gear is very good. I have been using the 12-100 f4 Pro since early 2017 and it is my everyday, walk around lens.

As mentioned in another post reply, check the focus clutch ring. I have bumped it a number of times and wonder why I am not getting auto-focus before checking the clutch ring.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Thank you for the review ;) and the heads up on bumping the focus ring. I can see myself doing that and having a “what the heck is wrong with my camera episode” so the heads up will help avoid that experience.