Have Camera Will Travel - Reviews & Tips HomepageHave Camera Will Travel - Reviews & Tips

David Coleman Photography

  • Reviews & Tips
  • GoPro
  • Lightroom
  • Places
  • Photos
  • Reviews
    • Nikon
    • Sony
    • Fujifilm
    • Cameras
    • Lenses
    • Sample Images
    • Travel Tripods
    • Adventure Cameras
    • 360°
  • Memory Cards
  • GoPro
  • Flash
  • Travel Tripods
  • Books
  • Social Media
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter

How to Switch Between Autofocus (AF) and Manual Focus (MF) on the Olympus M.Zuiko 12-40mm ƒ/2.8 Zoom Lens

Here's how to switch between Autofocus (AF) and Manual Focus (MF) modes on the Olympus M.Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8 zoom lens.

Olympus M.Zuiko 12-40mm ƒ/2.8mm Zoom Lens Front Element

Categories: Lenses
Tags: Olympus, Olympus M.Zuiko 12-40mm f2.8 Zoom Lens
Last updated about 8 months ago // Originally published about 8 months ago

This is something that originally had me stumped. So I thought it worth posting a quick note here in case anyone else ran into the some issue.

I was recently out shooting with the Olympus M.Zuiko 12-40mm ƒ/2.8 lens, and when I took it out my camera bag it was in manual focus mode. And I couldn’t find a way to switch the Olympus 12-40mm lens from manual focus to autofocus. I was looking for buttons or switches on the lens. I looked for menu settings on the camera. I even had to do a web search to confirm that there wasn’t a version of the lens that was manual focus-only. It had me stumped.

The 12-40mm lens doesn’t have a button or switch. Instead, you use the focus ring itself.

To put it in Autofocus mode, slide the focus ring away from the camera body until it clicks in place. Like this:

Olympus M.Zuiko 12-40mm f2.8 Zoom Lens Focus Ring

This is switched to autofocus, with the focus ring clicked forward (away from the camera).

To switch to manual focus, slide that same ring towards the camera body. That will also expose the focus distance ruler printed on the lens barrel’s surface. Like this:

Olympus M.Zuiko 12-40mm f2.8 Zoom Lens Focus Ring

This is switched to manual focus, with the focus ring clicks backwards towards the camera and exposing the focus measure marks.

So it turns out that the solution is very simple. And, when you know about it, it’s actually quite intuitive. But if you don’t know about it, it’s not immediately apparent–at least, not to me–because it’s not the way that most other lenses do it. Not that it matters, because it’s not like there’s another option on this lens, but it’s not my favorite implementation of the toggle because I’ve found it too easy to accidentally toggle as I’m pulling the lens in or out of my bag and there’s no locking mechanism.

Anyway, I hope this saves someone else some temporary confusion!

More Tips & Tricks:

  • 01 2 - Example of the Zoom Range of the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm ƒ/2.8 Pro Zoom Lens
    Example of the Zoom Range of the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm ƒ/2.8 Pro Zoom Lens
  • Olympus 12 40mm zoom lens sample image header - Photos Taken with the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm ƒ/2.8 Pro lens
    Photos Taken with the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm ƒ/2.8 Pro lens
  • Olympus TG-5
    Photos Taken with an Olympus TG-5 Waterproof Camera | Sample Images
  • Sony FE 12-24mm F4 G Wide-Angle Zoom Lens header image
    Sony FE 12-24mm F/4 G Ultra-Wide-Angle Zoom Lens Sample Images
  • Lumix S 24-105mm f/4 zoom range
    Practical Examples of the Zoom Range of the Panasonic Lumix S 24-105mm ƒ/4 Zoom Lens
  • Olympus Fisheye Lens for TG-5
    Adding a Fisheye Lens to the Olympus Tough Waterproof Cameras
By David Coleman
Instagram: @havecamerawilltraveldc

Last updated on April 2, 2019

Categories: Lenses
Tags: Olympus, Olympus M.Zuiko 12-40mm f2.8 Zoom Lens

I may earn a commission for purchases using links on this page. Learn more.

News & Deals

Black Friday & Cyber Monday Deals for Photographers. I’ve started my my 2019 edition of Black Friday & Cyber Monday Photography Deals. It’s a running list, so be sure to check back!

Comments

  1. Volker Scholz says

    October 22, 2019 at 4:58 pm

    Good on ya. Thanks for that. Just got my new 12-40 pro and yep – was getting confused alright. But – all good now! Cheers.

    Reply

Questions & Comments Cancel reply

You have to agree to the comment policy.

About Me

I take photos. I travel. I do it for a living. Seven continents. Dozens of countries. Up mountains. Under water. And a bunch of places in between.

You can find my main site at havecamerawilltravel.com. Or check out what’s in my go-to travel photography kit.

Get in Touch

Newsletter

© 2009–2019 David Coleman · Have Camera Will Travel LLC · all rights reserved


Photos by David Coleman. Please contact me for licensing images.
All images are registered with the U.S. Copyright Office.


Privacy & Disclosure · Cookie Declaration · Disclaimer · Terms of Service · Copyright · Contact


XML Sitemap