Let’s talk about gear!
Like most of you already know I’m currently switching from Canon to Olympus. Mainly for weight and size reasons.
A few months back I heard about the development of a M.Zuiko 40-150mm f/2.8 lens and soon after about the x1.4 Tele Converter. This news and knowing the size and weight would play an important role in the development of the lens made my decision to drop my Canon surf photography kit very easy. I was lugging around 18kg of gear and had (and still have) ambitious long term travel plans and the thought of halving the weight without losing quality took more and more shape.
Then there was the news of a M.Zuiko 300mm f/4 lens (equivalent of 600mm on a full frame) being in development for 2015.
Perfect. I was sold.
Today I attended an Olympus Specialist Event in Sydney. Olympus talked about the new features of the 2.0 firmware, updated the software on my E-M1 for me and I also got the opportunity to test the 40-150mm f/2.8 and the same lens in combination with the x1.4 Teleconverter. Effectively making the 40-150mm a 56-210mm f/4 lens.
Testing the 40-150mm f/2.8 (without the TC) showed me what I already expected. This lens is FAST and incredibly sharp. It is in fact the sharpest M.Zuiko PRO lens available at this moment.
Olympus provided us with a great model and a simple 1 light octo box setup. Perfect for some first testing.
All images are unedited and straight 100% converted from the RAW files.
Olympus OM-D E-M1 & M.Zuiko 40-150mm f/2.8: 1/250sec, f/9.0, ISO200 @ 150mm
Olympus OM-D E-M1 & M.Zuiko 40-150mm f/2.8: 1/250sec, f/9.0, ISO200 @ 70mm
Olympus OM-D E-M1 & M.Zuiko 40-150mm f/2.8: 1/250sec, f/9.0, ISO200 @ 150mm
Olympus OM-D E-M1 & M.Zuiko 40-150mm f/2.8: 1/250sec, f/9.0, ISO200 @ 150mm
I then attached the M.Zuiko x1.4 Converter and did some focus speed testing and was surprised how fast it was focussing. Even from a close up distant subject (minimum 60cm from the sensor) over to a subject 10m away it was instantaneous. This was in a rather under-lit environment.
I then turned the camera towards the model and shot a couple more photos. After checking them in Lightroom later on I must say the sharpness is amazing! See for yourself below:
Olympus OM-D E-M1 & M.Zuiko 40-150mm f/2.8 & M.Zuiko x1.4 TC: 1/250sec, f/9.0, ISO200 @ 60mm
Olympus OM-D E-M1 & M.Zuiko 40-150mm f/2.8 & M.Zuiko x1.4 TC: 1/250sec, f/9.0, ISO200 @ 210mm
This is a 100% crop of the above shot.
Both images are taken from approximately the same spot (I might have stepped forward one or two steps for the close-up shot). The first one is at 60mm and the second one at 210mm. (click on the images to see them in full size on flickr)
Olympus confirmed that the M.Zuiko x1.4 tele converter compatible with the 40-150mm f/2.8 and will also work with the (still to be announced) 300mm f/4, making this lens a 420mm f/5.6 – equivalent to a 840mm in full frame terms. Very impressive!
I really like where Olympus is heading with the PRO series lenses. With a 7-14mm f/2.8 and a 300mm f/4 nicely adding to the range of the 12-40mm f/2.8 and now the 40-150mm f/2.8.
Check out this great website they put together with all the fact you should know about the lenses: M.Zuiko PRO lenses.
A great Thank You to the guys at Olympus AU for putting up the presentation and letting me have a play with their new lens.
Olympus’ flagship camera, the E-M1 is getting what it deserves: A solid range of weather proof, super sharp lenses. I won’t be surprised to see more and more professional photographers making the switch.
And finally I will have a tele lens to shoot surf with.
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**UPDATE**
As requested by many of you I added 2 shots I got with the same lens setup. But this time at f/2.8. Like previously mentioned: the light conditions where less than ideal and in order to get a properly exposed image I needed to go up to ISO1000. Non the less it shows how incredibly sharp this lens is and how very low-light capable it is. Focussing was no problem at all.
Be advised that the shutter speed on these 2 shots is at 1/40 of a second and I was handholding a 210mm (420mm full frame equivalent) lens. Which shows us how impressive the 5-axis stabilisation on the E-M1 is simple incredible!
All images are direct full sized JPGs converted from the RAW image.
Enjoy.
Olympus OM-D E-M1 & M.Zuiko 40-150mm f/2.8 & M.Zuiko x1.4 TC: 1/40sec, f/4.0, ISO1000 @ 210mm
Olympus OM-D E-M1 & M.Zuiko 40-150mm f/2.8 & M.Zuiko x1.4 TC: 1/40sec, f/4.0, ISO1000 @ 210mm
A 100% crop of the above image.
For all Australians:
Pre-Order the M.Zuiko 40-150mm (or the kit with the M.Zuiko x1.4 Tele Converter) at the links below. Unbeatable prices!
Pre Order M.Zuiko 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO lens
Pre Order M.Zuiko 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO lens with the x1.4 TC
How did you get a 40-150mm a 60-210mm? Micro Four Thirds is 2x crop factor. Should be 80-300mm….
Yes you are right. But the 40-150mm with the x1.4 tele converter becomes 56-210mm (sorry I rounded it up to 60mm – my fault. I’ve fixed it in the article)
Chris
Thanks for the review. I’d love to have a hands on with it!
However, the whole point of a constant f2.8 aperture lens is to be able to use it at f2.8! All your examples appear to be at f9 – My Panasonic 45-200 lens is as good as that at f9! (It’s pretty good at f4-f5.6 too!)
Mike
Agreed Mike.
This was a studio test and there was no point in shooting at 2.8. I would have loved to test it more at f/2.8 too – but this was an Olympus Specialist Event and I wasn’t going to change the light setup they put out for everyone… I hope you understand.
I will be getting my 40-150mm + x1.4 TC soon and I believe taking it out to the beach and shooting some serious surf (at f/2.8 or f/4 with the TC) with it will show how good it really is at what it really is intended for: sports, action and outdoors.
Focus tracking, image bursts and the outdoor environment will show it’s real face.
Be sure to come back for another review soon.
Chris
Nice images from an impressive lens. However, I wish you had taken and posted these shots at a lower f-number. Obviously, f/9 is going to be well beyond the “sweet spot” for a m4/3 lens. On the other hand, the f/9 samples show that diffraction isn’t obvious at that aperture, which is impressive in its own way.
Excellent lens takes exceptional pictures. But honestly, with such a model, the lens really does not matter…