Development of the OM System M.Zuiko Digital ED 90mm f3.5 Macro ISO Pro (wow, what a mouthful!) was announced back in September 2022 in a road map update. The spot was actually allocated a year earlier, in September 2021, in a previous road map update. Until very recently, though, there was no real news on when we might hear an announcement. Then, a couple of weeks ago, that changed.

OM System released a firmware update on January 20th for the E-M1 Mark II, E-M1 Mark III, E-M5 Mark III, E-M1X and OM-5 cameras. This firmware was specifically (and only) to ensure compatibility with the M.Zuiko 90mm f/35 Macro lens. No announcement date was available then, but now OM System has announced an event on February 8, and specs for the new lens have leaked ahead of that announcement.

The lens is already showing up, according to Digicame-info, on overseas retailers’ lists. Of course, this isn’t new. B&H has a listing, although few details and no price have been added to it. Those few specs were revealed during the development announcement. Now, though, we have some more information about its make up and capabilities.

• OM SYSTEM “M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 90mm F3.5 Macro IS PRO” was published in overseas dealers.
• M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 90mm F3.5 Macro IS PRO
  • Lens construction: 18 elements in 13 groups (2 Super ED lenses, 4 ED lenses, 1 Super HR lens, 1 HR lens)
  • Minimum focusing distance: 22.4 cm
  • Maximum magnification: 2.0x (35mm equivalent: 4.0x)
  • Filter diameter: 62mm
  • Size: φ69.8 x 136mm
  • Weight: 453g
  • Image stabilization effect: Up to 6 steps (Lens IS), up to 7 steps (Sync IS)
  • Dustproof, splashproof, and freezeproof performance

At 435g, it’s a heavy one for the Micro Four Thirds camera system, but macro lenses are typically a little heavier. By comparison, the full-frame Nikon 105mm f/2.8D AF Micro-Nikkor weighs 562g. The replacement model for that lens, the Nikon AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED, weighs a very hefty 720g. Canon’s EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro also weighs 625g and their newer RF 100mm f/2.8 Macro just beats out the Nikon Z mount lens at 730g.

That’s a focal length comparison but now let’s look at an equivalent field of view comparison. The M.Zuiko 90mm f/3.5 Macro is going to offer a field of view similar to about 180mm on a full-frame camera. The closest macro lens that springs to mind with that kind of range is the Nikon 200mm f/4D AF Micro-Nikkor. That lens weighs a monstrous 1,190g. So, 435g may sound like a lot if you’re sticking it on a little Panasonic GX80, and it might feel a little front-heavy if you’re going handheld, but in the grand scheme of things, though, it’s not that bad at all.

An announcement for the new lens is expected on February 8th. We’ll keep you posted as we hear more!

[via Digicame-info]