Panasonic’s 12-35mm f/2.8 Micro Four Thirds lens launching June 21st for $1,580

Panasonic is announcing that its 12–35mm f/2.8 lens for the Micro Four Thirds system will be arriving in Japan on June 21st for a healthy price of ¥124,950 (about $1,580). The lens is the world’s first Micro Four Thirds zoom with an f/2.8 aperture across its entire focal range, which at 12-35 millimeters is the equivalent of 24–70 millimeters on a 35mm film camera or full frame DSLR like Nikon’s D4 or Canon’s 5D Mark III. The lens features 14 lens elements (4 aspherical) in 9 groups and a 7-bladed circular diaphragm, measures 67.6mm x 73.8mm (2.66 inches by 2.9 inches), and weighs 305 grams (10.8 ounces) — about a third of Nikon’s well-regarded 900-gram 24-70. If you’re intrigued by the possibility of a “pro” mid-range zoom for your OM-D E-M5 you might be waiting a while — the lens won’t be coming to North America until some time in August.