Olympus has announced an update to the popular M.Zuiko Digital 75-300mm telephoto zoom lens that features professional-grade multi-coating and a re-styled exterior to match the OM-D camera.
Side view of the new M.Zuiko Digital 75-300mm MkII f/4.8-6.7 lens. (Source: Olympus.)
Providing a long zoom range, equivalent to 150-600mm in 35mm format, the M.Zuiko 75-300mm lens has been popular with sports and wildlife photographers. The new M.Zuiko Digital 75-300mm MkII is marginally lighter than its predecessor, although it features a similar optical design with professional-grade optics. Among the 18 elements in 13 groups are a Super ED (Extra-low Dispersion) lens element, and two ED lenses to eliminate chromatic aberrations plus three HR (High-refractive) lenses to maintain a compact physical size and further reduce optical aberrations. ZERO Coating (Zuiko Extra-Low Reflection Optical Coating) on all glass surfaces minimises the effects of flare and ghosting.
The optical design of the M.Zuiko Digital 75-300mm MkII f/4.8-6.7 lens showing the positions of the exotic elements. (Source: Olympus.)
The Olympus MSC (Movie & Still Compatible) lens drive system is used to provide very fast and silent autofocusing as well as smooth AF tracking for movie recording. The internal focusing lens elements are driven directly by a metallic shaft and feed screw, which are engineered to submicrometric accuracies.
The new lens can focus to 90 cm at the 150mm setting or 1.5 metres at 300mm. A light weight of 423 grams and a closed length of only 11.65 cm makes this lens easy to carry. The redesigned exterior complements the clean design of the Olympus OM-D camera. With a combined weight of only 848 grams, the OM-D and the M.Zuiko 75-300mm MkII is ideal for travel and field photography.
Two views of the M.Zuiko Digital 75-300mm MkII f/4.8-6.7 lens on the OM-D camera. (Source: Olympus.)
The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 75-300mm MkII will be available in black and is scheduled to go on sale in March 2013. Its recommended retail price is to be announced.
Specs:
Picture angle: 16 degrees to 4.1 degrees
Minimum aperture: f/22
Lens construction: 18 elements in 13 groups (including one Super ED element, two ED elements and three HR elements)
Lens mounts: Micro Four Thirds
Diaphragm Blades: 7 (circular aperture diaphragm)
Focus drive: High Speed Imager AF (MSC)
Stabilisation: no (Olympus cameras have body-integrated stabilisation)
Minimum focus: 90 cm at 75mm, 1.5 metres at all other focal lengths
Maximum magnification: 0.18x
Filter size: 58 mm
Dimensions (Diameter x L): 70 x 116 mm
Weight: 425 grams
