FIRST LOOK: Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO Lens

In summary

Size- and weight-wise this lens is a better match for Olympus’s OM-D cameras than the PEN models, thanks to its mainly metal construction, which feels very solid. It is much more substantial than the mainly plastic 40-150mm f/4.0-5.6 R lens, which is roughly one quarter of the anticipated price of the PRO lens.  

The 35mm equivalent focal length range of 80-300mm is popular for shooting sports action as well as nature and wildlife photography. It is also suitable some types of portraiture, including candid shooting. The minimum focus of 70 cm at all focal lengths makes it suitable for capturing close-ups of small animals and flowers, while the constant f/2.8 maximum aperture provides scope for blurring distracting backgrounds and shooting with the camera hand-held in poorly-lit situations.

Being dustproof, splashproof and freeze-resistant, the new lens is an excellent choice for outdoor photographers and its focusing and zoom rings are designed for easy use when wearing gloves.  The Manual Focus Clutch mechanism, which was developed for the 12mm and 17mm prime lenses, allows quick switching between auto and manual focusing in situations where precise focusing is critical. It also makes the lens more usable with gloved hands.

Full review

The M.Zuiko Digital 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO lens was first announced at the same time as the OM-D E-M1 camera, when Olympus revealed it was developing two new high-performance lenses and establishing the M.Zuiko PRO lens category. The first PRO lens, the  M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO, was released at the same time as the E-M1 and reviewed in October 2013. It took another year to bring the 40-150mm to market.

The new M.Zuiko Digital 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO lens, shown with the tripod collar fitted but without the lens hood. (Source: Olympus.)
 

Olympus aims to cover focal lengths from 7mm through to 300mm with four fast PRO lenses. The 7-14mm f/2.8 and 300mm f/4 lenses are still in development but the 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO lens expands the middle section of the range to cover from 12 mm to 150mm with just two lenses that boast constant f/2.8 maximum apertures. That will be a significant achievement.

The 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO lens has been designed to combine compact size and light weight with imaging performance that exceeds that of the popular Four Thirds System Super High Grade lens. Its optical design contains16 elements in 10 groups and includes one Super ED, three ED, one EDA, one HD and two aspherical glass lens elements. ZERO (Zuiko Extra-low Reflection Optical) coating (introduced with the 60mm f/2.8 macro lens) has been applied to the optical surfaces to minimise ghosting and flare and improve performance with backlit subjects.

Build and Ergonomics
 Although large when compared with most other M4/3 lenses, the 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO lens is relatively small when compared with constant f/2.8 zoom lenses, which are pretty thin on the ground (and non-existent for some brands). It’s an elegant ““ and very comfortable to hold ““ partner for the OM-D E-M1 and almost as good on the E-M5 and E-M10 bodies.      

Build quality is similar to the current 12-40mm PRO lens with a substantial amount of lightweight metal alloy used in the barrel plus ribbed aperture and zoom rings. This lens is also sealed to prevent the entry of dust and water splashes from entering and meets the same dustproof and splashproof standards as the OM-D E-M1 as well as being freeze-resistant.

The programmable (from the camera) Function (Fn) button on the side of the barrel serves the same purpose on both lenses. Another shared feature is the manual focus clutch mechanism, which was first introduced on the 12mm f/2 and 17mm f/2.8 prime lenses.
 
Who’s it For?
 Size- and weight-wise this lens is a better match for Olympus’s OM-D cameras than the PEN models, thanks to its mainly metal construction, which feels very solid. It is much more substantial than the mainly plastic 40-150mm f/4.0-5.6 R lens, which is roughly one quarter of the anticipated price of the PRO lens.  

The 35mm equivalent focal length range of 80-300mm is popular for shooting sports action as well as nature and wildlife photography. It is also suitable some types of portraiture, including candid shooting. The minimum focus of 70 cm at all focal lengths makes it suitable for capturing close-ups of small animals and flowers, while the constant f/2.8 maximum aperture provides scope for blurring distracting backgrounds and shooting with the camera hand-held in poorly-lit situations.

Being dustproof, splashproof and freeze-resistant, the new lens is an excellent choice for outdoor photographers and its focusing and zoom rings are designed for easy use when wearing gloves.  The Manual Focus Clutch mechanism, which was developed for the 12mm and 17mm prime lenses, allows quick switching between auto and manual focusing in situations where precise focusing is critical. It also makes the lens more usable with gloved hands.

Features
 A key feature of the new lens is its Dual VCM focusing system, which is a development of the Olympus original Movie and Still Compatible (MSC) mechanism. Paired voice coil motors drive two groups of miniaturised floating elements within the lens to deliver very fast autofocusing with no loss of image quality. Olympus claims the focusing speed of this lens is ‘on a par with’ the M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO lens, which is widely recognised as a top performer.

Essentially, the main advantages of the new lens over the existing ““ and also highly regarded ““ 40-150mm f/4.0-5.6 R lens lie in the areas of lens speed and build quality. Readers wondering whether the PRO lens will provide significant advantages for their requirements can view the differences between them in the table below.

The 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO lens comes with a detachable tripod mounting collar that swivels through 90 degrees for vertical and horizontal framing of shots. It can be removed from the lens when not required.
 

The new M.Zuiko Digital 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO lens, shown with supplied lens hood attached. (Source: Olympus.)

The supplied lens hood is also retractable and detachable. It can be slid up and down the lens barrel  in a similar way to the optional LH-49 hood for the 60mm macro lens. The means it can be left in position and slid forward only when you need it. Sliding it back down the barrel saves otherwise useful storage space and makes it much faster to fit the hood than is otherwise possible with a hood that reverses over the lens barrel.

Matched Teleconverter
 Released concurrently with the M.Zuiko Digital 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO lens is the M.Zuiko Digital 1.4x Teleconverter MC-14. Designed specifically for the new 40-150mm f/2.8 lens it extends the focal length range to the equivalent of 112mm to 420mm in 35mm format with a reduction in light of approximately one f-stop.

This lens is the first rear-fitted teleconverter lens to be produced for Compact System Cameras. It will also be usable with the M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm f/4 PRO lens, which   is currently in development.

Its optical design consists of six elements in three groups and includes one HR element. These are contained within a thin (14.7mm) metallic barrel and the entire assembly is dust-, splash- and freeze-proof to match the PRO lenses. The entire assembly weighs approximately 105 grams.

Interestingly, when the teleconverter is used, the closest focusing distance remains unchanged at 70 cm. But the maximum magnification increases to 0.3x. The M.Zuiko Digital 1.4x Teleconverter MC-14 is supplied with front and rear caps, a soft lens case (LSC-0603), instruction manual and warranty card.

Other Accessories
 Also available at the same time will be the first protection filter to carry the ‘Zuiko’ brand. The Zuiko PRF-ZD72 PRO filter features the same proprietary ZERO coatings as the PRO series lenses. A black coating on glass edge and matte black alumite on the barrel are added to further suppress flare and ghosting from internal reflections.

A second PRO filter, the Zuiko PRF-ZD62 PRO, which is matched to the filter diameter of the M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO lens, will go on sale at the same time, along with a series of lightweight lens cases. Featuring a drawstring bag-style and three-layer construction these new cases will be available in four sizes:
 – LSC-1120, which can accommodate the new M.Zuiko Digital 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO lens with tripod mount, lens hood, lens cap, protection filter and teleconverter attached.
 – LSC-0603 for storing the teleconverter MC-14.
 – LSC-0811 and LSC-0914 in different sizes to suit other lenses.

 The M.Zuiko Digital 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO lens and associated accessories are scheduled for local release in late October/early November. We hope to have review units as soon as they are available.  

SPECS

 Picture angle: 30 degrees to 8.2 degrees
 Minimum aperture: f/22
Lens construction: 16 elements in 10 groups (including 1 Super ED, 3 ED, 1 EDA, 1 HD and 2 aspherical lens elements)
Lens mounts: Micro Four Thirds
Diaphragm Blades: 9 (circular aperture)
Focus drive: Dual VCM
Stabilisation: No (Olympus cameras have built-in stabilisation)
Minimum focus: 70 cm
Maximum magnification: 0.21x
Filter size:   72 mm
Dimensions (Diameter x L): 79.4 x 160 mm
Weight:  750 grams (without tripod collar)
Standard Accessories: LC-72C and LR-2 lens caps, LH-76   lens hood, LSC-1120 lens case, instruction manual, warranty card

RRP  TBC  

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