The Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 Pro Zoom Lens
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- Опубликовано: 11 май 2015
- This is my take on the Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 Pro zoom lens lens for Micro Four Thirds cameras. One of the truly great lenses.
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See my M43 blog at m43blog.dthorpe.net/ 
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This video was in my RUclips feed at the time of the OM1 launch on 2022. David's reviews had a concise style and honesty that have not been matched by any other reviewer. I miss them, and wonder what he would have made of the OM1.
Not just the OM-1, but also the new lenses. The range of f/4 pro zooms are a welcome addition to the MFT lineup. I would have been very interested in David's take on them.
You honestly do THE BEST reviews. Thanks for the time you put into these.
I'm very pleased you think so - thanks for telling me.
Sometimes I repititiously listen to this video as if doing so would cause this lens to spontaneously manifest it self in my bag.
found it online for just over 900$ love the reality of lenses coming down in price over time.. for the vaste majority
That's a bargain price, especially when it essentially replaces 2 lenses in the bag. It is still more than that in £ in the UK.
online to every where sir
Dear David, I'm italian and I would like to thank you for all your reviews about m43 equipment. I started following you because i found the review of the Panasonic 35-100 (the cheap one) and then i discovered all other interesting videos. Your reviews are clear and very well done. My compliments also for the blog which is very interesting to read.
always a joy to watch your reviews
Thanks very much, Jason!
Loving this lens, the retractable lens hood also allows one to make an adjustment to there cpl filter which is another bonus.
sosmannz Never though of that - yes useful.
I really like your well thought out and complete coverage reviews.
Good to hear that, thanks.
Excellent work. U are the clearest and most concise lens reviewer I follow on RUclips. Cheers from Brazil!
Thanks JP - and greeting from (at the moment) sunny London!
Thank you David!
Nice timing, David! I was going to ask if you were planning to review this soon. Thanks so much for the great content. I always enjoy your more casual, real-world review style :)
Sean Cull Thanks, Sean.
I own 6 Olympus Pro lenses and have so say this lens is without a doubt my very favorite to use. So easy to manage size and weight wise. But most importantly built like a Rolls Royce and sharp across it's entire range wide open. instant to focus and so dang sharp. An easy equal to a formerly owned Canon RF70-200 f2.8L IS USM lens used on an R5, higher praise then that I can't give.
Wonderful review. I loved your photos. I've owned this lens for what seems like a long time now. I bought one as soon as I could find one in stock, along with the 1.4x converter. I have to say that while I liked the 35-100 f/2.8 for it's extreme compactness, I really love those extra 50mm. I do find I use this lens less due to its weight, but it's absolutely never a disappointment and every time I take it out I get shots I'm happy I took. Olympus has really outdone itself.
+Andrew Somerville My feeling exactly in every respect too, Andrew. I';d like to have kept the 35-100 but money does get in the way sometimes :-(
Thank you for the great reviews. It is refreshing and rare to find such eloquent narration on RUclips or anywhere on the internet for that matter.
+veniero2010 I started scripting my narration because I got fed up with meandering explanations and _ums_ and _ers_ on some others myself. Nie to know it is appreciated, thanks.
Excellent review! We will miss you David...RIP
This lens resides on my Olympus OM-D E-M1 and aside from the jigsaw puzzle to re-assemble the lens hood and it’s tiny ball bearings a few times, have nothing but the highest praises. When I install the 1.4X dedicated teleconverter, being able to reach out to 420mm (equiv) is pure joy. All in all, no regrets on the silent mode at 11fps mirrorless conversion from my Canon dSLR and L-series glass.
One of THE best reviews I've seen. Thanks.
Thanks very much, Andy. Glad you liked it.
This is an awesome lens, I use this lens 99% of the time when shooting outdoor photos (some indoor photos too!). I agree with shooting it wide open unless I need more DOF.
Vincent Wu Yes and in particular this is one of those lenses that makes you want to use it, it just feels right. In a different way, I felt that with the Panasonic 35-100 f/2.8 too but I do like the one stop solution to long lenses that is this lens.
Now I need one. Congrats on having me spend on another lenses !
Sylvain, I was created by the devil for the sole purpose of emptying people's wallets :-) But look at it this way, once you've bough this, you'll never want to get rid of it - so long term it is cheap!
Gosh, I miss David and his reviews.
Thanks David, great review. I'll put it on my Christmas list.
That'll be a present to relish, Karl.
+Chris Baude Hi Chris - I can't seem to reply to you directly so I hope you see this. I'm using' back button focusing' in the sense of the technique of using C-AF and pressing a button to stop and lock the focus. So, since the L-AF button stops and locks the focus, using C-AF + the L-AF _is_ 'back button focusing'. If using a lens without the L-AF button then it is more literally 'back button focusing'. I could have been clearer about that and I hope this makes sense. If not, try me again!
Yes.
Wonderful review. Clear and concise. Thoughts well presented. I really enjoy watching it.
Isaac Chew Thanks Isaac!
Another great review! Thank you for you wonderful work on these reviews. It has helped me a ton!
+SSEBRD I'm very pleased to hear that - thanks for telling me!
Another brilliant review, David. I just shelled out for a used Oly 75mm 1.8, so it will be some time before I can consider this. Still, it's an intriguing choice... particularly for folks who want the unique look that a lens like this can deliver. Again - thanks for taking the time to put this review together.
Dustinrhoades Thanks! The nice thing about the 75mm as with the 45mm is that they are still worth keeping even if you have this lens.
Great Lens, it's built like a tank too (by lens standards at least) - mine fell from hip hight onto solid pavement with a protective filter on and aside from a broken filter (which is now stuck to the front as the metal had slightly warped) it didn't suffer any damage. Still takes takes beautiful pictures!
I haven't dropped mine....yet! Nice to know they'll take it.
At first i was doubting about the need for this lens, but after quite a bit of usage it's now permanently in my bag and a must-have all around lens. I does replace a few primes by itself and it's one of these zooms where no compromise was made on image quality. It's now a part of my travel kit too for these reasons.
Yes, a lens yiu find yourself using more and more. I use it a lot for the product shots in my videos. I can change framing so easily and at the same time have good control over depth of field. Not its intended use but an example of its all round photographic value.
Event coverage is also spectacular with this zoom, the 40-150mm range is so flexible there's need just for a wide angle 2nd body and there you go. The teleconverter even adds a bit of flexibility for minor inconvenience. I still keep the f/1.2 primes for low light needs (by the way that 17mm f/1.2 is spectacular) otherwise everything is done with that one.
I'm disabled, with very limited mobility, so I use this lens for landscape photography as it can reach places that I cannot. On an E-M1 Mk2, compared to the Canon 5DS R system I changed from because it became far too heavy for me, it is as light as a feather, and the image quality (not even including the 50MP HDR function) is absolutely superb! Another plus is that if the tripod mount is removed (IBIS making a tripod virtually redundant) this lens, plus camera body, 12-40mm f2.8 and 60mm f2.8 macro lenses, and spare batteries, all fit into a Hadley Pro bag. I have only one problem with this lens, and that is that I did not find out about it a whole lot sooner, but that was entirely my fault. ;-)
It's great to hear that John. The 40-150 Pro is unique with its constant f/2.8 and would be impractical in price and size for FF. It's brilliant that MFT can keep you taking pictures in spite of limited mobility. Although I don't have the same limited mibility you do, MFT keeps me taking pictures too. If I still had to lug, an FF outfit around, I'd have given up by now. Great to hear from you, all the best!
Thank you very much for the great review.
***** I appreciate that, thanks Mehrdad!
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Thanks for the great review David, you have made up my mind about this lens. I was going to get the 7-14mm first but as it hasn't made it to Australia yet I and I intend to get both I might as well go ahead with this one now.
Just as a side note for those contemplating which system to go for I think Olympus' excellent live bulb, live view and live composite and Image Share are just about worth the price of admission on their own.
jaxdabomb1 This and the other two pro zooms make a superb outfit ll on on their own. Apart from Live Bulb, Panic have all the attributes you mention but they have 4k and stills from it. There are good reasons to choose either system or better still, have one of each! We'[re lucky to have the choice.
great pictures David! nice review as always.
attentionaddicts Glad you like them. Thanks!
Hi David. Just bought one of these lenses, after watching you review several times, and this was an 18th month process. looking forward to seeing what I can shoot with it. Thanks for the review.
Glad the review was helpful - one of the best zooms in Micro Four Thirds land in my opinion.
THnk you for the video!
I have Sony A7ii that I like, my friend has an OM-D 10 and I'm thinking to buy an Olympus camera too. Just love the small factor camera and lenses.
Great cameras the Sonys but the compact Micro Four Thirds models are just so...handy.
Very intelligent, thoughtful, and convincing review. Thanks
Glad it was helpful, ale.
Great review David! Olympus' current MFT lens lineup is amazing.
Nezer Amo Nazer, please note that I have an introduction fee of $25,000 for people who meet on my channel. PayPal will be fine :-)
Thanks David Thorpe for your awesome micro 4/3 dating channel! The camera reviews are a bonus : )
Lyndon Smith :-)
GREAT REVIEW! Just ordered the 35-100mm then discovered that it suffers from micro jitters and isn't as sharp between 80mm and 100mm. So had to ask the seller to cancel my order. Thankfully I found this Olly 40-150mm F2.8 available second hand so picked that up now. Can't wait to use it on my G9.
Glad you liked the review, thanks. The micro jitters on the 35-100 were cured by a firmware upgrade. I can't say I've ever noticed the 35-100 being anything other than sharp through the range but we all have different expectation on these things. You won't be disappointed with the 40-150 Pro, though. It is less sharp at the long end as all zooms are but you'd need lens charts to see it.
David, Once again, you have published an exceptional review - and even included your mea culpa in it. For anyone evaluating a prospective purchase, your reviews have become as essential as Gordon Laing's work.
I have been using this lens since it first arrived, to shoot sports, portraits, flowers and bees (not birds). It outperforms my old Nikkor and Leica equivalent lenses in sharpness, and focus speed. I now wonder how I managed to work without it, in the past. And the extender does not slow operation down, it just adds range and flexibility to the kits. At the same time, I have not sold my Panasonic 35-100, because there are timew when I value its short length and lighter weight. It becomes a chocolate-or-vanilla choice, and I have kept both lenses because I like them both in the correct situation.
Joel Turrell Thanks for the kind words, Joel. I am at extremes here, the 40-150 f/2.8 on the one hand and the tiny Panasonic 35-100 on the other.
+OnlyOnceOccluded I can't reply to you directly for some reason. What makes the Olympus lens unique is the zoom _range_ for an f/2/8 lens. The Nikon lens has a range of 2,8x, the Olympus 3.75x. That's what makes it unique and it doesn't exist in any other sysytem.
RIP David
Hi David, Thank you very much for the review. I wonder if I can ask a question. I currently have a Panasonic G6 with a Lumix G Vario 45-200mm f/4-5.6 OIS. I use this for shots of Ice Dance - lighting not always great and lots of fast moving (panning) action. I shoot with OIS on 'panning' mode (so vertical only). I tend to find a lot of my shots are at the 150mm ish - I only need 200mm if the skaters are way off the other end of the rink.
Do you think this lens (without stabilisation) on the Panasonic body would give significantly better results than what I have now ? I am really tempted, but it's a lot of money, and I don't know if the extra speed will make up for the lack of OIS ?
Jason Disbrow An new E-M1 as you describe would be all things to all people! It does seem that things are now being done that we were told were impossible which seems to lead to the possibility of a camera they does everything that anyone might want. Then what would we do for an upgrade?
Excellent review, I just picked up this lens for theater photography. As it is replacing an Olympus 4/3 35-100/f2 lens in my bag my perspective on "big and heavy" is quite different!
+Michael Brunk I don't think there could be a better lens for theatre photography. Just looked up the specs of the f/2 you mention. Wow! I see what you mean by your perspective being different. Big and heavy or not, that's a heck of a lens - will you keep it?
Nice review as per usual - I could watch your videos endlessly on repeat. I hope Panasonic and Olympus are paying attention... Your reviews easily sell their products.
studioviper Thanks! I don't think either company pay any attention - I've never had a reply to any of my emails to them!
David Thorpe Really? That's unbelievable. You do a great job with your excellent reviews.
Fred Px Thanks, Fred. But it is true except for one occasion where the Oympus press office replied to me. And then never responded again!
Well, for what it's worth, much of the last few weeks has been spent reading about lenses, then immediately googling the lens + " Thorpe" to see if you reviewed it. You've been an invaluable resource.
Glad to hear that!
Great review!
Vic Román Thank you, Vic!
Well done review!
rbp917 Thanks!
lovely review... a stella job... thanks
Thanks, Gavin, glad you liked it.
David, Good review. I liked your impression regarding sports photography.
OvuOO STUDIO Thanks!
Dear Mr. Thorpe, Thank you for a very well presented review. I'm particularly interested in your application of the [L-Fn], button in conjunction with C-AF AND back button focusing (I'm confused about this last item). I think I understand, but some written clarification would help cement the concept. Thank you....
Another excellent video.
Paul H Thanks Paul!
Top stuff as always David. I have the 12-40 pro and it's awesome. Holding out for the Olympus 300mm f/4.
cardiacade Thanks! I can't wait to see the 300 f/4. It'll be the first top spec auto-focus seriously long lens for MFT. I wonder how much t will be?
David Thorpe
I reckon well over a grand!
I have that lens with a GH4 :) now I understand I need a longer Zoom lens to take pictures of the moon and a wide angle lens to take pictures indoors. this lens taught me a lot :)
+Nelzon Mamani It's all a learning process, Nelzon and what's more, we never know it all. Nice combination to start with, though!
David's take on the G9 II would have been awesome. It's funny that I'm being recommended this video eight years after it was released. I hope his family is doing well.
One more point to 40-150, it can focus much closer than most comparable lenses. So it gives this lens even more flexibility over panasonic. 1.4x TC doesn't change min. focusing distance too, which is nice.
xellzor It's uncanny how close the thing focuses.
+GB Gonzague No reply button on your comment for some reason so I hope you see this. Yes, fully compatible and it'll have blinding fast focusing. All that's missing is stabilzation.
excellent videos and good info
Glad you think so and thanks, Ravi.
I have the 40-150 pro. One of my favorite lens especially for birds👍👍
Loved your explanation and photos!
Thanks, Jerry. Yes, a really unique lens.
Love your reviews David. You are my favourite RUclips subscription. I have the 17mm f2.8, the 12-50 and the 40-150 R which is permanently on my camera. For serious birding I use the ZD 50-200 and despite the weight advantage cannot justify the purchase of the 40-150.
@@catrionathomson8981 Thank you, Catriona! Given that the ZD 50-200 is such a good lens, I agree with you that the advantages of the 40-150 don't justify the outlay.
What are the shutter speeds of the ISO6400 pics, or just how good is that stabilisation? The CA is pretty distracting in the water shots at 6:15, is this type easily dealt with in LR?
I don't buy anything that costs real money in Micro 4/3rds without first seeing what David Thorpe has to say about it. I am about to invest in this lens, and I learned everything I needed to know about it to make a purchase decision in under 10 minutes. I have decided that this lens is a "go" for my new system. I plan to pair it with the excellent Olympus 12-40 f2.8 and a new OM-D EM-1 Mark II body which I see for sale at some good prices these days. If I add anything else in terms of lenses, it might be the 17mm prime if I really want to travel light, but not sure if I'll really need it. Thank you David, well done!
For some the 12-100 is the lens to have, because you don't need to change lenses over the entire 8x zoomrange. I think it's either the 2-lens F2.8 system with the 12-40 + 40-150 or the 12-100 F4. One stop more light and 50mm more range... but more expensive and you have two lenses... or get a single lens, lose 50mm and one stop of light. The answer isn't the same for everyone. (I'll take the stop of light, thank you very much).
Glad I could help, Tom, thank you.
Nicely put, Gerben. There are always choices and to make them on the rational basis you do is the way to do it. No right or wrong!
I just picked up the 40-150 f 2.8. I paired it with my new GH5. So far with only an hour of useage, I'm blown away at this point. super fast, sharp, detailed, and one of the sexiest pieces of kit!
I second that - superb AF and the focus joystick just adds to the experience. Don't they balance out well?
David Thorpe I bought this lens for portrait and sports. Which focus point would you suggest especially in the 300-400 mm range? 225 is not accurate that far. Also, AFF for sports seems the best setting over AFS but has a slight bit of hunting or re- focus so you miss a few frames on burst. Anyy suggestions for a sports setting?
For sports I personally use either Medium Burst/C-AF or single shot/ S-AF depending on how I feel and both with the mechanical shutter. I switch off stabilization, too. The Fn button on the lens is ideal stopping and starting focusing when the subject takes a fixed position as a goalkeeper does. I'm usually at 100-150mm for sports football or rugby. For portraits I use Eye/Face Detection and usually about 50mm with an aperture of f2.8 or f/4. So much depends on the nature of the subject, of course.
12-40 + 40-150 ordered. I have taken note of other reviews but yours got my creative juices flowing to purchase pitch. Great reviews, thanks.
They are rock solid zoom lenses, classic optics, great handling and with 2 lenses you cover 99% of anything you might want to do. It is hard not to be enthusiastic about them! Glad the reviews were useful, thanks Alan.
Fascinating photographers dialect, I'm guessing from extensive practical experience. Great reviews with interesting insights. Question 1.4 x tele converter vs x2 on-board Olympus OM-D E-M10 ii converter.
Yes, I trained 3 years as a press photographer and branched out into all sorts of media photography, studio, occasional wars, you name it. The converters on digital cameras work by cropping the image and then upsampling it to the original size. It's digital sleight of hand which gives the impression of a converter but isn't.
The 'proper' converter acts essentially like a magnifying glass, it enlarges the image as it passes through the rear of the lens. It does affect sharpness but with a very sharp lens it won't be that noticeable. The big advantage is that it uses the full sensor so the noise levels of the image are the same with or without the converter. That's in principle. You lose a stop in lens speed with a 1.4x converter, so if you had to increase the ISO you'd get some of the noise back!
Essentially, the digital converter is just a cropped image. The physical converter actually gives some practical advantage.
Now I'm feeling sufficiently enlightened. I thought it was too good to be true. Thanks for taking the time to reply. I best look at the proper converter for that extra reach (I'm an airshow freak). Do I need the Panasonic 100-400 ?? Nooooo, I just want one. I do have a G80 with a 100-300. I was thinking using it with the Olympus x2 trick, it would beef it up ;-) Ha ho
Unfortunately, the Olympus 1.4x only works with Olympus 40-150 and 300mm Pro lenses.
I've very much fallen in love with the M43 system over the last few months, and do often use it in place of my Nikon kit on pro jobs. I NEVER believed it could possibly give as good results as it does until I dipped my toe in the water and started using it. I don't personally own this lens..... yet(!), but can feel the urge coming on.....
You like it for the same reasons as me, probably, which is that it is a system with many lens and body choices, plenty of accessories and good quality all in a manageable size format. This lens is a great showpiece for the system since for full frame its size and price would make it impractical. The 12-40 f/2.8 is just as remarkable in its way in that its IQ is better than most primes. Great lenses! It's nice to hear another professional agreeing with me.
At one time clients exhibited a lot of equipment snobbery, but that seems to have subsided of late. Maybe people are beginning to realise they're paying for - in my case - forty years experience, rather than the latest nikcan monster!
You wouldn't employ a builder and tell him what tools to use or an engineer and tell him what CAD to use. I think you have a point, I certainly hope you are right. With your experience you have confidence in yourself and I'm sure that transmits to clients. If I found myself wanting to tell a professional I was engaging in any field how to do their job I think I'd get someone else in.
How would you compare it to the PLeica 50-200?
"More elegant than my words." Oh if that was even possible, David ;) Nice review.
Kevin Shull Nice comment - thanks Kevin.
Love your reviews, David. I've watched almost all of them.
I feel the way you originally felt about this lens; with it, I would be going in the wrong direction. I bought the Panasonic 14- 140mm F3.5 - 5.6, after watching your review of course. Light, small, versatile, relatively inexpensive - that is what MFT is all about for me. YMMV.
datapro007 Good to hear you like the reviews and thanks for saying so.One of the best things about MFT is the depth of the lens system. Something there for any needs except maybe in the long lens area. But it's coming, I expect.
The photos you took with this lens for this review are fantastic. Probably the best (at least my favorite) of all the reviews I've seen -- also really liked the ones you got with the Panasonic 25mm f1.7 (bought that one). I'm eventually going to add a good zoom beyond 35mm and would love to have this lens, but that will have to wait until I have the right camera body. I don't think I could be the best out of it with my G7 (no in body stabilization).
Thanks very much, Billy. I prefer to have stabilization with a lens like the 40-140 f/2/8 because it is so versatile and can be used indoors or out. Generally, though, with the f/2.8 aperture (and I tend to use it wide open) you can get a high enough shutter speed not to need stabilization, over 1/250th say. Nonetheless, better to have it.
Yes, I will probably go with the Panny 35-100mm f2.8 for my zoom beyond 35mm (watched your review on that one multiple times) specifically for it's size/weight and stabilization when paired with my G7. But,...this Olympus definitely edges it out overall. Aaah,...maybe some day with the right camera.
Hello :) Love your reviews, quite informative, but also with a touch of "warmth" in the description, really enjoying them :) :) I have a question. How does it fair "against" the 50-200mm f2.8-3.3 Swd? I'm asking cause I am about to buying one, and though "old" etc, it looks quire good (for 800 euros, Mmf3 and T/c 1.4 included). I aim to use it for concert photography, on an Em1 body, and the similar package for the 40-150 is way too costly (no way to gather money anytime soon) Thank you, keep up the Great work David!
When I saw the new upload, I went "AHH!" Great content! [:
3plestrafe Thank you!
Is this better the new Canon EF Full Frame 70-300mm USM II in RP ?
I don't know the Canon but I'd assume it is as good as other Canon lenses. The Olympus is a very good lens too but since they fit different systems, any comparisons aren't really useful. If you have a Canon body, you'll buy the Canon lens and Olympus for the Olympus. Both are as sharp as anyone would require, I'm sure.
As mentioned previously, I am looking forward to (if your Ephotozine collaboration will allow it) to when you review cameras such as the Fuji X-T1 and the various great lenses that Fuji have for their cameras.
+freedriv082000 I stick to MFT cameras because they are the blend of attributes and lenses that I find most useful. It's worth using the system just to gain access to the 40-150mm f/2.8 Olympus zoom in my opinion. But, Fujis are great cameras - a friend of mine swears by them.
Great Review, I will watch and hear this vid for another 1 or 2 times and then I finally , in the end HAS TO BUY IT ;-)
If ever there was a lens that shouts BUY ME! it is this one.
Hi David, great video, looks like a top lens just a pity I can't afford it. I just wanted to ask you see the tripod your camera is sitting on at 8 minutes into the video, what type is it? Also is it a tripod that is optimised more for tripod collars? Thanks. Kenny.
+K Feeney Hi Kenny. The tripod is a little Manfrotto 709B. Basically just a tabletop tripod with a handy little ball head. I have had it years and I don't think they make it any nore but they do have a modern version, the same but more 'designer'. Still cheap, though. Very handy and so tiny you can take it anywhere.
Excellent review. Doe it come with the lens hood? I just bought 'used' but advertised 'as new' and yet there is no lens hood.
I have this lens David. It's marvellous! Not so great on my GH4's for video as there is no stabilisation and the slightest touch I get wobbles. But on the OMD EM1 for stills and video it's superb with image stabilisation. Now for a OMD EM1 Mark 2 with 4K video :) Here's hoping!
Enzo Maisano Hi Enzo, yes everything you say. I think it is unlikely that a new E-M1 would have 4K as it appears to generate heat which cannot be dissipated with the light sensor necessary for Olympus's state of the art IBIS. On the other hand, you know as much or more than I do and I thought that the E-M5II's 77mbps couldn't be done.
Me again :) OK I am getting 40-150 for Christmas so I can use it with either GX8 and GH5. On either camera what focus mode do you use with BIF ... spot or 225 area (GH5), or custom (narrow horizontal) mode?
Pinpoint is too precise and unless the bird is large in the viewfinder 225 area may have trouble finding the spot you want. The Custom Multi default with the cluster in the middle of the screen is probably the best best. You can probably customize that in the light of experience later. But overall, the more closely you tell the camera where it should focus, the faster and more tenacious it will be.
Thank you
Hi David, first of all, thank you very much for taking the time to do all these useful videos. They were essential for me when moving to Panasonic. Here in Argentina I don´t have anywere to check and test the gear with my own hands. My question is the following; I´m in love with the Olympus Pro lens series, I want all of them, but I´m a GH4 owner. How important is to have image stabilization with de 40-150mm? I understand it´s better to count with it, but it is essential when using handheld? I usually work with tripod and I never had such a long lens. Thank you very much and sorry for my poor english.
Francisco Gilges Hi Francisco - your English if good! Firstly, from 40mm through to around 100mm, if you have a steady hand and with a comfortable camera body like the GH4, you probably won't need stabilization. As you say, better to have it than not but manageable without especially since the fast aperture means you can use high shutter speeds. Secondly, any lens at 150mm should really be used on a tripod for best results (which you say you do) and if you mount the lens on a tripod stabilization should be turned off anyway.
Summing up, if your hand is steady then you'll only _need_ stabilization for the long end of this lens. If you use it on a tripod you don't need stabilization at all. One thing is certain, you will only see the true capabilities of this lens with it mounted on a good tripod and stabilzation turned off.
Dear @David Thorpe Great review. Thank you very much. I always enjoy watching your videos. I have Olympus OM-D E-10 Mark 2 body and going to buy 12-40 f2.8 and 40-140 f.28 lenses. Do you think it will look weird with a camera that is even smaller than EM-5 Mark 2 body? It is a shame that I didn't buy EM-5 Mark 2 - with bigger sized glass it would look better, but I love my EM-10 Mark 2 anyway!!! Or I should buy bigger body first? What do you think?
Thanks! I'd buy the lenses and use them with the E-M10 Mk2. The camera may look a bit small but is should handle perfectly well so I don't think that would matter. You can always change the body later on if you want but I doubt you will.
love the review .
cant w8 to see you review on the new M.ZUIKO 300 .
+Mohammed Al Sulami Me too! I'm at the bottom of the feeding chain, though, so I get a look long after everyone else has. I often have to buy the stuff I review and then sell it but in this case, it's just going to be too expensive!
+David Thorpe
i see .
i think they can send one
1- ( your review is one of the best tbh )
2- your photojournalism + +
3- you have big fans ( am 1 of them. ( subscribers ).
i dont know what more they want .
+Mohammed Al Sulami I'll send then that - thanks Mohammed.
What is the strap that appear in the front on the video??
I think this lens is really good for m 4/3 but in dof is equivalent to a 80-300 f 5.6 in a full frame so is quite expensive
sm ml If DoF were the most important thing for me, I'd go back to my Hasselblad equipment. Try a 'blad with a 250mm lens and you'll know what shallow DoF is!
The hasselblad with that lens is amazing, can you tell me the name of the strap that appears in the video??
sm ml It's the very pretty 'official' Olympus leather strap. It came with an the Olympus messenger bag as a freebie with the E-M5II. You can buy them from Olympus for a really silly price.
I would like to see a comparison of this lens with the Olympus 40-150 F4-5.6, if possible! I think this will be a interesting comparison for people with a tight budget!
wahkao1990 I've done a review of the lens but not a comparison. In general day to day photography for the web or prints up to 12x10 you won't see much difference between the two lenses. The f/2.8 outperforms the f/4-5.5 in every way as it should do for the price but that performance advantage only manifests itself when you are pushing the limits a bit. As I say in the video, there are a number of things to consider when deciding on a lens like this. When this lens was introduced, it didn't make older one any less good, though.
hi David, how does this lens balance against the GX80? I'm reluctant to buy it.
Hi Matt - actually it works surprisingly well with a GX80 size body. Your left hand takes the weight of both camera and lens and your right simply operates the camera. It's a better physical match than the 50-200 Panasonic because you can rest the tripod mount in the palm of your hand which feels more natural . The Panasonic lens (no tripod mount) has you spreading the weight between lens and camera which makes the lens feel out of proportion.
hi, this lens with the tele converter has replaced my 75mm 1.8, my 45mm 1.8 and my panny 35-100 2.8, plus i only paid £800 for it so for me it was extremely good value especially as it's the best lens i have ever owned. i just want olly to sort out cont af and then i'll be happy, am using it on the em5 mk2. if they nail the af with the em1 mk 2 then i'll have my dream combo. i also have the panny 12-35 2.8 and olly 25mm 1.8. i do not miss my ff nikons one bit. i wish people would stop going on about dof (especially when most don't own ff cameras!!) shallow dof is easy on mft. cheers grvo tv
Harry Bunn I'm with you on all of that. Harry. I'm not sure about the C-AF, though. It seems a built in difficulty because of the nature of mirrorless cameras. It'll be interesting to see what Olympus and Panasonic come with next because C-AF is the only weaker aspect of the format now. But, who knows, maybe they will nail it with the next model. If they _really_ do, that camera, whoever makes it, will be a big seller.
David Thorpe I have this lens with the E-M1 and the v 3.0 firmware works very well. You should try hiring/borrowing an E-M1 and try the C-AF with this lens. It works a treat!
kb5ql Yes I have done that and yes, it works a treat! I compare the two cameras' C-AF in my review of the Olympus E-M5 mk2 here - ruclips.net/video/bIVQDgr8SQI/видео.html
Harry Bunn I'm sick of the argument too. I get photos my ff friends don't. Mainly because they can never be bothered taking their camera with them. I don't understand why shallow DoF is the measure of a camera to start with...or how f/stops definition has been changed from being an exposure tool to meaning DoF.
Enough about that...I am buying this lens. I hope I am not disappointed.
***** If you're OK with the size and price, there is absolutely nothing to disappoint you. With the DoF thing, I think it has become over-blown. But I'm someone who worked professionally with cameras all my life and when I first heard the word bokeh a few years ago hadn't a clue what it meant. So I asked another grizzled old pro...and he hadn't either. DoF is what it is with any lens or camera, governed by the laws of optics so you work with it. But it shouldn't be a fetish.
review, thanks!
Will Willis Thank you, Will.
Hey David I really liked your review. Concerning the pro lenses by Oly, 7-14, 12-40, 40-150 witch all the reviews I seen absolutely gush over, with your em5 m2, would u say that would be a perfect fit for u, maybe all that u would need because of the quality & the mobility? Would u miss the speed & low light ability of say a 1.8 lens, & are these pro lenses as sharp as the Oly primes? Thanks for another great video.
sski66 Glad you liked the review. In terms of efficiency and performance, the 7-150mm f/2.8 zoom scenario fills the bill. On the other hand, the 17 and 45mm f/1.8s and (I wish I had one) 75mm too have much to offer. Apart from the extra speed, they have the shallower DoF which is good to have in MFT. Also, stopped down to the zoom speed of f/2.8, they do have better edge to edge sharpness. And, of course, they are much smaller.
If I had to make a choice I'd probably choose the primes over the zooms because they are more fun to use and the restrictions they place on me make me think harder. If I were still a day to day pro, it'd have to be the zooms for all round versatility. I'm lucky that I don't have to make that choice!
I’ve got it on approval and am wondering how the plastic 14-150 F4-5.6 compares in image quality….. obvs it’s a lot smaller and lighter …? Thanks
Hi! Nice review! But how about it's lacking IS? Can this be compensated by M1's IBIS alone?
Yes, very effectively. No worries on that score. Panasonic G9 too.
Nice review, very informative!! well done.
Would you by any chance going to review olympus 7-14mm f/2.8?
I would be interested in taking in door low light shot. But its a expensive lens and donno how it perform. Specially not sure how is the barrel distortion. Many thx.
kent vun Hi Kent - yes, i'm hoping to try one but i get no help from Olympus so it's hard to know.
Hi , need help in choosing lens, between 8mm1.8 and 7-14mm2.8. 70%for astrophotography and 30 for landscapes. Does defishing 8mm in lightroom has any issiues? Am I loosing anything by defishing.
Hi Prashanth - I'm afraid de-fishing will lose a lot of edge definition which will be particularly noticeable with tiny points of light like stars. In practise fisheyes aren't that good on edge definition for a start, even before de-fishing. The 7-14mm will be specifically corrected for edge sharpness so would be much your best bet. Superb lens, actually, as are all Olympus's Pro range.
@@DavidThorpeMFT thank you, it helps alot
I own an E-M10 mk ii, so the smallest Olympus MFT camera. Would this lens be horribly unwieldy with it? I plan on getting the E-M5 mk iii whenever it comes out. I know glass is king and where one should primarily invest. Should I go for the Olympus 40-150 for future proofing even if it's too big or just get the reasonably sized Panasonic 35-100?
The ever present dilemma! The big lens doesn't feel right on such a small body but it is perfectly usable with familiarity. And of course there's a tripod collar on the 40--150 so the combo mounted on a tripod feels fine with the lens supporting it. In the end, it comes down to whether you can tolerate the bulk for the extra 50mm zoom. range. If you find it too big, you just won't use it. Given the beautiful small form of the Olympus body, I'd go for the Panasonic lens. You'd likely find yourself wishing you had the 40-150 with you but not having it due to the size. There's no reason to not have the 35-100 with you given the compact size.
Thank you very much for the review. And I have one question which seems nobody gives clear answer. What do you think about sample variations of the lenses? Is it something what we have to take into account, especially when buying not cheap lens like this one?
Since I buy 90% of what I review so owe no allegiance to any maker, I am in a position to give a clear answer. But I can't. I have never had a lens that performed less well than I expected and all I can report on is my own experience. I did have a Panasonic 100-400mm which had a zoom ring stiff enough to impede easy use of the lens and I warned of it in my video.
I can't think of any Panasonic or Olympus Micro Four Thirds lens so cheap that anything less than critical sharpness viewed on a computer monitor or 12x10in print would be acceptable. On the other hand, it has to be accepted a fast ultra-wide zoom lens will never reach the edge and corner standards of a 25 or 45mm prime (though some are getting close). It's a minefield really but I would say that if you bought a lens like the 40-150mm Olympus and were disappointed with its performance the lens is likely to be a bad one. The commonest fault is de-centring and sometimes a bit of uneven performance between one corner and another is unavoidable. But not to the point of showing under everyday conditions.
One caveat: It is no good testing a lens hand held or not accurately aligned to the test surface. I see occasional complaints where the test shot is taken under conditions that no lens would show up well. Some folk do expect a lens to cover up sloppy technique! I wish i could be more specific or helpful, Martin, but that's the best I can do. These lenses are mass produced consumer items and there will always be some variation but it shouldn't be enough to ruin performance. I was speaking to a Hasselblad employee once and remarking on the superb performance of every one of their Zeiss lenses I ever bought. He remarked that you'd always get a good one because they discard the less than perfect ones. So the renowned expense of the lenses was in large part to pay for the ditching of the three imperfect ones!
David Thorpe Thanks for interesting and quick answer. I think you said it well. I haven't bought this lens yet. But if I do, it will be because of your review. You deserve some help from Olympus and Panasonic!
Hello David, thank you for the great reviews! I'm in the market for Panasonic 50-200mm f2.8-f4. I want to get it but I'm worry that I may not like it due to the variable F-stops. What are your thoughts? Will I be disappointed? Thank you David!
Thanks! It's a fine balance, this one. First of all, neither of these lenses will disappoint you. You have a choice based on physical size and weight which favours the Panasonic. But for the extra size the Olympus gives you f/2.8 all the way through the range - though it has a more restricted range. Impossible choice!
I see two ways of deciding - the first being tossing a coin! More seriously, what kind of photography do you do? If you want a lens for out and about work, the Panasonic might be better because its 200mm end does give you a long telephoto for birds, say and those wonderful perspective foreshortening effects. The gradual change from f/2.8 to f4 isn't too bothersome but the reality is that the lens is effectively only f/2.8 at 50mm. I tend to treat it as an f/4 lens, knowing that won't change.
The Olympus really excels for sports, where the f/2.8 aperture may be crucial for indoor games. So, overall, I'd bring it down to this: general purpose or mainly sport/ action - Both will be good for both but will excel in the ways I describe.
How does this lens perform when used for video? (together with a G80) Is it better or worse than the 100-300 II from Panasonic? I guess I'll not have that Power OIS nor the extra reach, but how is the AF motor working?
The AF works as well on the Panasonic as it does on the Olympus bodies, the focusing speed maybe a bit better. I find the stabilization on the G80 good enough that I'm not really bothered about the dual function. My only reservation would be the size and weight of the Olympus lens but that's a matter for individuals, I guess. The sharpness of the Olympus is excellent, noticeably better than the Panasonic as it should be given its price and specs. 1.4x extender would bring it a bit closer to the 100-300, of course. Having said all that, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the Panasonic, just that an extra 2 stops speed is very useful on a long lens.
Thanks for the info, David. The 40-150 f2.8 was sold, and I still have not decided what to get. I have understood that the G80 give a bit more noise than my old E-M10 (not sure why), but it is really noisy at iso1600 (and to be honest, it is quite noisy at iso 200 too). Therefore I wanted a fast telezoom. and Im not sure if the 100-300 or even the 100-400 is good enough when there is not much light available.
If the G80 is noisier than your E-M10, there is something wrong. And if it's noisy at ISO 200, even more so. Have you tried shooting RAW and taking a look at !SO 200? I regularly use the G80 at ISO 3200 in my dimly lit blues club and I have no complaints about noise at all.
You are very welcome, Nina!
Re your comment at 0:42, about most DSLR systems not having a 300mm-equivalent reach - I think you've forgotten APS-C. Stick a 70-200mm f/2.8 on a Nikon DX body (e.g. a D7x00) and you get a 300mm FF-equivalent FoV on the telephoto end; do the same on a crop sensor Canon body (e.g. a 7D) and you get a 320mm equivalent.
Hi David- thanks for the review..would his make a great portrait lens at 150mm f2.8 on a Panasonic gx8 and comparable/better for portraits to Olympus 75mm f1.8 in terms of narrowness of depth of field/creamier bokeh of backgrounds? Thank you
+justinspirational the magnification at 150mm is rather too high for portraiture - it puts you rather a long way away and out of touch with your subject. The 75mm would be better and have shallower depth of field, though really even that is on the long side. Neither lens would be easily used indoors for example, except in a very spacious room.
The ideal lens would be one of the Panasonic 42.5mms, the f/1.2 or f/1.7 or the Olympus 45mm f/1.8.
Interestingly, the focal length of a lens does not directly affect depth of field. It's just that with a longer lens, the background is drawn bigger and _looks_ more out of focus. If you prefer a longer option, the 75mm would be good but the Panasonic f/1.2 best. If not, either of the other two would be excellent with the Panasonic having stabilization - and the Olympus being cheaper.
+David Thorpe thanks David..I have the Olympus 75mm 1.8 and panasonic 42.5mm 1.7 already. .been shooting my 'cinematic' headshots I've spoken to you about before with the Olympus 75mm with great results but the longer focal length for the compressed background and as creamier bokeh as possible is actually preferred based on the tutorial I've been following which optimally is shot on a full frame cam at 200mm and f2.8-3.2 (FF focal length/aperture).. the Olympus 75 mm is like 150mm at f3.6 full frame equivalent..the lens reviewed in this video would be a max of 300mm at f2.8 FF equivalent ... the panasonic 42.5mm f1.2 may have the shallow depth of field (85mm f2.4 FF equivalent) but not have the compressed background look with more distortion of the face (from tutorials I've seen the face looks less distorted and more aesthetically pleasing at the longer focal lengths around the 200mm FF focal length)..also the longer length where you will be further away from the subject may actually be preferable, particularly for people not used to being shot up close and personal/a little nervous about a camera lens in their face with a bigger comfort zone for personal space to make them feel more comfortable about being shot
+justinspirational ps. another option is the manual focus Rokinon 85mm f1.4 for m43 that is only $270
+justinspirational It's your job to make people not nervous :-) It's personalty more than anything else that makes for good portraiture! The zoom at 150mm would be the angle of view of a 300mm lens on full frame, with an aperture of f/5.6 for DoF purposes. I think that you have the best combination for what you want with the 75mm.
Remember that with a longer lens you may have to sit the person closer to the background to get the distance, which means a less blurred background since it is closer. With your 42.5 or 75mm, if you photograph them with a very distant background, the background will be very blurred. I recently had someone ask me how I get the shallow DoF effects I get. The answer is, an 45mm at f/2 and lots of separation from the background. But, overall, I think you are making things very difficult for yourself. A full frame Sony with a 90mm f/2 or 180mm f/2.8 would do what you want very easily. The Rokinon would be useful provided you don't mind the manual focus.
+David Thorpe thanks for your feedback David-as always greatly appreciated!
This lens is totally worth it!
Agreed!
Love your reviews David, do we still had to use uv-haze filter for this oly pro series lens ? Or just a simply clear protector filter will do ? Tq so much David
A clear protector will do fine as I understand that sensors are not sensitive to UV. But sometimes UV filters are cheaper (I'm talking about filters from reputable makers, of course) and they can't do any harm. I've always used filters on my lenses. Some prefer not to but I like to know that any sand, say, that blows onto my lens would scratch a replaceable filter rather than an expensive front element.
+David Thorpe ok, narrower, if i had to get one filter only, which one should i choose between this clear filter (B+W XS-PRO Clear MRC Nano 62mm) and Circular Polarizing Filter (B+W XS-PRO KSM CPL MRC Nano 62mm), which one would you choose ? Some filters reviewer said its better to go with best cpl filter instead of getting uv/clear filter, I would like to know what do you think of this and which one you prefer ?
A polarizing filter is quite a specialized piece of glass so not suitable for protection purposes. I'd prefer a protective filter over a UV, though as I say it doesn't matter very much. Protective filters are often made as thin as possible so that you don't get vignetting with wide angle lenses. I use Hoya and Kenko but any reputable maker like B+H will be ok. Just not a cheapie!
Got it ! Thank you very muchhh David, you are the best !
.plan to buy this and pen f . That will be unbalanced in term of camera size and lens to hold it?
It'll look more unbalanced than it feels. Since the lens is quite big - by Micro Four Thirds standards - that is! - the left hand will grip and take the weight of both the camera and the lens, rather than balance it between the two hand as with a smaller lens. Because you are gripping the lens at what is close to the centre of gravity, it leaves the right hand pleasantly unstressed to operate the camera. I regularly use my 40-150 with a GX9 and prefer it to a bigger camera, actually.
Would you mind identifying the tabletop tripod at 7:59? Thank you.
No problem - you can see details at
kit.com/Bluelemmy/my-personal-working-kit
Manfrotto don't do my model any more but the replacement is the same thing really.
This really does look like a nice lens, but I'm looking for something with just a little more reach, could I use this with a telephoto adapter of some sort and keep the effective low light sensitivity?
And lens based stabilization would be appreciated, so I should probably look for something in the Panasonic line, right? Primarily for video and on a G7.
You can use the Olympus 1.4x converter with it but you lose a stop of speed giving you f/4. You should look at the Panasonic 100-300mm or the rather exotic 100-400mm but they are both slower, as all long lenses will be. No way around that other than something like a Nikkor 300mm with a Metabones adapter giving you a very nice 210mm f/3.2. All manual, though.
I ended up ordering the 100-300mm lens. I'm thinking in the future I might want to invest in the Aputure DEC Lens Regain and some of the canon ef line of lenses. I don't really have the money for that at this point, but it seems going that route would enable much lower light shots and a wide range of useful tools. I like the idea of using the lens regain with its remote focus control with a shoulder harness for shooting videos. Then there's all of those other toys you can add onto it, like the wireless HDMI for live streaming purposes. But the cost keeps adding up. You really could have a lot of fun if you had limitless funds, but who is in that situation?
Mostly bankers but even they are getting a bit short these days :-)
is this lens good for taking to the beach?
I think I'll keep my 50-200 2.8 old 4/3rds lens with an adapter instead..and on the OMD-EM1 it's just awesome.
I wonder why Olympus didn't make a Micro FT version of that? It would have been more expensive and maybe bigger than the 40-150 but an amazing lens. If I had one I wouldn't be selling it in a hurry either.
I agree totally...I have that..and the 12-60 and the original 9-18....You really don't much else...LOL