Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC 1.25x IS PRO

Micro Four Thirds (MFT/M43)

Review

The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC 1.25x IS PRO lens is a high-end telephoto zoom lens for Micro Four Thirds cameras. With a focal length range of 150-400mm (equivalent to 300-800mm on a full-frame camera), this lens is ideal for sports, wildlife, and other long-range photography.

Autofocus

The lens features fast and accurate autofocus, making it easy to capture sharp images of fast-moving subjects.

Image Stabilization

The lens also includes optical image stabilization, which helps to reduce camera shake and produce sharper images, particularly when shooting handheld.

Design and Build Quality

The lens is built to a high standard of quality, with a dust- and splash-proof design that makes it suitable for use in challenging weather conditions.

Other Features

The lens includes a built-in 1.25x teleconverter, which extends the focal length to a maximum of 500mm (equivalent to 1000mm on a full-frame camera). It also has a minimum focus distance of 130cm, allowing for close-up photography of subjects that are farther away.

Benefits

With a focal length range of 150-400mm, this lens is suitable for a wide range of photography genres, including sports, wildlife, and landscape. Fittingly, it is built to withstand tough shooting conditions, with dust, splash, and freeze-resistant construction and the built-in image stabilization compensates for camera shake up to 5.5 stops, allowing you to shoot handheld in low light conditions. The lens has 28 elements in 18 groups, including several high-quality elements such as ED, HR, and Super ED elements, to produce sharp and clear images with minimal distortion and chromatic aberration. Furthermore, the built-in 1.25x teleconverter extends the focal length to 500mm while maintaining a relatively fast maximum aperture of f/5.6.

Drawbacks

The main drawback of this lens is its weight. At 1875 grams, it is quite heavy, which may make it challenging to use for extended periods of time or when traveling.

Conclusion

Overall, the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC 1.25x IS PRO lens is an excellent choice for photographers who need a high-quality telephoto zoom lens for their Micro Four Thirds camera. While it is quite heavy, its fast autofocus, image stabilization, and built-in teleconverter make it a versatile and powerful tool for capturing stunning images of distant subjects.