OM System M.Zuiko 25mm f/1.8 II review: The must-have "nifty fifty" finally gets weather sealing

It took 17 years, but the OM System M.Zuiko 25mm f/1.8 II has finally righted one of the great injustices of the Micro Four Thirds lens ecosystem: its predecessor wasn't weather-sealed and didn't come with a lens hood.

The OM System M.Zuiko 25mm f/1.8 II rights both wrongs, and cements itself as the perfect "nifty fifty" for MFT cameras (this being a 50mm equivalent, in full frame terms). However, aside from adding the sealing and including a hood in the box, nothing else has changed from the original Olympus M.Zuiko 25mm f/1.8 launched in 2012.

The optical formula, and thus performance, is identical to its predecessor – though the OM System M.Zuiko 25mm f/1.8 II is incrementally larger and heavier (but it really is imperceptible in the hand or on your camera).

This is one of my three truly essential lenses for the MFT system, which I use a lot both for my professional work and my personal shooting. I will certainly be upgrading my old Olympus 25mm, because I'd love to be able to shoot in inclement weather. However, if you already own the old lens and you don't care about the sealing, be aware that this is otherwise the same thing with the OM logo replacing the Oly one.

OM System M.Zuiko 25mm f/1.8 II: Price & availability

The OM System M.Zuiko 25mm f/1.8 II goes on sale February 27, carrying a price tag of $499.99 / £399.00 / AU$599.00.

For comparison, the original Olympus M.Zuiko 25mm f/1.8 can currently be picked up new for $288 / £270 / AU$469. Again, the key difference is that the old lens is not weather sealed and does not come with a lens hood, but optically the lenses are identical.

OM System M.Zuiko 25mm f/1.8 II: Specifications

OM System M.Zuiko 25mm f/1.8 II: Build & handling

Obviously the big new headline feature is the fact that the OM System M.Zuiko 25mm f/1.8 II is weather-sealed to the IPX1 standard, adding five individual seals within the lens body to protect it from water and dust.

In terms of build quality, this was the only trick that the original Olympus-branded 25mm lens was missing. While the new lens is ever so slightly bigger and heavier – I'm talking 1.4mm wider and 20g heftier – it offers the same premium metal build and finish as its predecessor, complete with ZERO (Zuiko Extra-low Reflection Optical) coating to control ghosting and flaring.

The manual focus is fly-by-wire, which isn't to everyone's taste, but the ring is smooth and offers plenty of granularity for fine focusing should you want to take control.

The other key difference is the inclusion of a lens hood in the box – something that make longtime Olympus users do a well-overdue jig. It's compact and lightweight and clips onto the lens backwards for easy storage – though I've spent a decade and a half shooting without one, so I left mine in the box most of the time.

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OM System M.Zuiko 25mm f/1.8 II: Performance

Optically the lens is identical to the Olympus 25mm f/1.8, and so is the performance. Which is to say, it's simply superb – and the OM System M.Zuiko 25mm f/1.8 II, like its predecessor, has earned its place as a lens that never leaves my camera bag.

This lens is sharp. Really sharp. Like, sharp enough to cut glass. Across the whole frame, from coast to coast. The original was one of the best Olympus lenses ever, with optimum optical performance, and the OM version doesn't let its legacy down.

Its supremely small size makes this the perfect companion for cameras like the OM System OM-3 or OM-5, giving you a 50mm equivalent lens that's sensational for street shooting, travel photography, full- and half-length portraiture, and everyday snapping.

Autofocus is extremely reactive and snappy, particularly with OM's new AF algorithms. And while depth of field can be more challenging to achieve on Micro Four Thirds cameras, the fast f/1.8 aperture enables you to create a pleasing amount of subject separation – and also makes this a great performer when shooting in low light situations.

All of which makes the 25mm f/1.8 II a good option for video, too, so if you're looking for a standard prime to complement wide-angle glass for content creation then this is a great addition to your arsenal.

OM System M.Zuiko 25mm f/1.8 II: Sample photos

OM System M.Zuiko 25mm f/1.8 II: Verdict

There's a reason that the original was the first truly essential mirrorless lens for Micro Four Thirds: it's bloody brilliant. And the OM System M.Zuiko 25mm f/1.8 II offers two big improvements, adding weather sealing as well as a lens hood.

Super sharp images, super fast focusing, super fast aperture – all in lens that, at just 57.6 x 37.6mm, is also super small. If you own an OM, Olympus, Panasonic or any other MFT camera, this is an absolutely must-have optic… but the issue is, because it's so good, you might already own the original.

If you do, you need to determine how much you'll make use of that weather sealing – because optically, this is otherwise an identical lens. Likewise, if you don't already own it, consider whether you need the sealing and the lens hood. If you don't, you can find the Olympus-branded original much cheaper.

Personally, I'll be upgrading to the new one as soon as possible. Because for me, the OM System M.Zuiko 25mm f/1.8 II is a lens that simply must be owned.