Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 45 mm f/1.2 PRO review - Chromatic and spherical aberration

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Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 45 mm f/1.2 PRO

21 February 2018

Arkadiusz Olech

5. Chromatic and spherical aberration

Chromatic aberration

Photos below show clearly that the Olympus 1.2/45 has noticeable problems with the longitudinal chromatic aberration. Still it is in good company: similar effects we observed in the case of the Panaleica DG Nocticron 42.5 mm f/1.2 Asph. P.O.I.S. or the Fujinon XF 56 mm f/1.2 R. On the other hand some new full frame 1.4/85 lenses are able to correct that aberration much more efficiently.

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 45 mm f/1.2 PRO - Chromatic and spherical aberration

Now let’s check how the lateral chromatic aberration is corrected. An appropriate graph you can find below.

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Here you get almost no problems at all. Near the maximum relative aperture the results are on a level of 0.05% and on stopping down they are actually closer to 0.04%.

Olympus E-M5 II, RAW, f/2.0	Olympus E-M5 II, RAW, f/5.6

Spherical aberration

Spherical aberration is corrected so well that you don’t see any ‘focus shift’ effect in the first photo presented in this chapter. Its slight influence can be noticed when you examine images of out-of-focus light points.

Olympus E-M5 II, f/1.2, in front of	Olympus E-M5 II, f/1.2, behind

In the case of an image in front of the focus the light point has a slightly darker edge; the image behind the focus shows a delicate increase of brightness in the very centre and a slight rim. Fortunately that effect is not especially pronounced so the spherical aberration correction should be considered good. Very similar symptoms we observed in the case of the Panaleica 1.2/42.5.