There's a lot to like about SLR Magic's HyperPrime 12mm lens for Micro Four Thirds cameras, starting with that Back to the Future-esque name. It's manual, it's metal, and it's fast.
12mm converts to 24mm (35mm equivalent) on a Micro Four Thirds body, which makes the maximum aperture of ƒ1.6 even more impressive (on 35mm SLRs, anything this wide is usually ƒ2.x). The body of the lens is all-metal, and it has a 12-blade diaphragm for nice, round out-of-focus highlights.
The HyperPrime is all-manual, which means you'll be setting aperture and focus by turning rings on its body. One nice thing about proper manual lenses is that their focusing rings are nicely damped, and actually stop at their limits. The focus-by-wire MF/AF lenses usually found on Micro Four Thirds cameras are wooly and imprecise when used in manual.
If you're passing through (or living in) Hong Kong, you can pick one up today for US$500. The lens will start worldwide shipping later in November.
HyperPrime Press Release [DP Review]
