Back in June (article here) I told you that Olympus delayed the 300mm PRO f/4.0 Zuiko lens launch to add in lens image stabilization. And today Digicameinfo confirmed the lens has in body stabilization.
My source also explained why Olympus decided so:
Olympus considers to make the new 300mm f/4 PRO lens with OIS, to complement IBIS in Olympus bodies (which is less effective at really long focal lengths) and also be attractive for Panasonic users.
I know, it is the first for Olympus, but then it is going to be very specialized, and they have decided than without Panasonic user market it would not have enough sales to pay to its development, and that was the cause of its delay.
Lens construction is 17 elements in 10 groups, 2 SuperED elements, internal focusing.
Other sources told me the lens will ship in early Spring 2016.
Reminder: The 300mm PRO lens is listed here:
Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 300mm f/4 PRO Lens (here at BHphoto).
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65 Responses
I hope the price is still reasonable
Latest price rumors on this site were 1799-1999€.
This is barely reasonable (considering recent
NIKON 200-500mm f/5.6 E ED VR price for instance)
Around 1300€ would be
I think so, too.
Interesting! I guess it makes sense with a focal distance this long but I hope Oly doesn’t start adding IS to shorter lenses aswell. Can’t wait to get my hands on this lens!!
While stabilization can be a nice thing in some situations, I really appreciate having a switch on the the lens to be able to easily toggle it on/off.
I’m glad to see that Olympus finally realized that longer lenses DO benefit from in-lens stabilization. It’ll also be a no-brainer purchase for Panasonic users (if you can afford it).
How about adding the snap focus clutch thing to all your lenses?
The Question is: Will a future Olympus Camera with dual/hybrid Stabilization technology also support Panasonic OIS lenses? In video mode?
Isn’t the first question if Olympus will actually have hybrid IS? So far it doesn’t seem to be the case.
The “dual/hybrid Stabilization technology” from Olympus utilises the lens’s stabilisation totally & only adds the rotational correction to it (since that is not possible within the lens).
Still have doubts but the Panasonic user base is only valid reasoning. But Pana comes with 100-400mm f4-6.3 and it is far more attractive than this! That lens is made by Leica standards (engineer handiwork for quality check) so it will be optically superb.
This is Olympus, clearly a superb by quality but just a prime and even slow with 1.4 converter. That is Achilles heel on both, f/4 is requirement for wildlife as slowest ratio but now we have a f/5.6 and f/6.3 (1/3 stop slower from f/5.6).
Zooming is important as there isn’t time to swap lenses or bodies, so Pana wins.
While I’m mostly a prime user, I totally agree about zooming vs. prime with long lenses. I adapted a Nikon 300mm f4.5 ED IF lens and it’s frustrating to use when searching for a bird. It’s not binoculars.
The 100-300mm is much easier to use. Spot at 100mm zoom to 300mm and shoot.
I’m REALLY looking forward to the 100-400mm!!!!
You didn’t try a red dot sight, like the olympus one (or an adapted one) :
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1116753-REG/olympus_ee_1_dot_sight_for.html/c/product/#inpage:in+stock?gclid=Cj0KEQjw75yxBRD78uqEnuG-5vcBEiQAQbaxSEOXmUM2OAtGu5le3mY1FXxap7vEZiZ92Kvew2mGnOEaAjBU8P8HAQ
for “target” acquisition ?
In any case still a long time to wait to choose between the two ..
Hope some dates are announced at photoplus NYC (starting tomorrow).
I have a red dot sight I got a while back from brando.com in Asia somewhere. It’s fine when birds are flying, but in the woods, when they’re on a branch and you need to focus manually, forget it.
But what about using it with a fixed lens, to replace the acquisition part with low zoom position ? and then look in the EVF for fine tuning ? (I’ve used one myself this way, but didn’t have a lot of time practising with it)
Practice, I used to have this problem when I was a newbie but not anymore. A serious camera user will get use to such things and aquire a natural ability to do so.
Valid reasoning is that you need lens stabilisation at longer focal lengths, since the tip of the lens (mostly) moves in the X and Y axis, while the body of the camera (mostly) rotates around the X, Y and Z axis.
But the Oly lens will probably have the best possible IQ and sometimes that is the most important with supertele lenses. And 5.6 is not that slow at 800mm
+1
God knows….there will be MANY comparative reviews!
Only if any reviewers manage to have both in house at the same time, and that’s just those reviewers that get equipment on loan from the manufacturer/importer! The reviewers buying their own equipment will have a tough time getting both at the same time
The zuiko wins for me because it’s likely smaller and sturdier, has better IQ, propably a stop faster @300 then the Pana and 1/3 stop faster @400. Speed is more useful than versatility in focal length for my type of shooting (sailing, willife mostly deer, elk…).
Well, I have the Olympus 75-300mm and it is f/6.7 @ 300mm, which is almost the same as the f/6.3. I can confirm that yes, that is slow, really really slow. The moment you’re not shooting in blazing sunshine, the huge magnification turns every little movement into a blur.
Given how “well” m4/3 does with high ISO, I would say f/4 is the minimum aperture you’d want if you’re serious about shooting wildlife, as in, you’re shooting during sunrise/sunset.
Maybe Olympus wants to have image stabilization in high-res mode? And in-lens IS is the only way to do that.
Why?
You can do a superposition of IBIS and shift movement. If this feature should be usable handheld, they need to do it anyway.
But what do I know, i am just an engineer who likes to take pictures 🙂
I use IBIS (only 3-axis of the E-M10 even) with a vintage 400mm lens, and I can’t really agree that it’s less effective at these focal lengths…
Yeah, my M1 and M5 II handle my 40-150mm f2.8 quite well even with the 1.4x attached….but hey…the lens IS should make this new offering a mo-better lens…I just wonder how much it has added to the size. …it’s not like we have any “say” in the matter, though. LOL!
I guess we will need firmware updates, too….If we want to have this complementary IS thing implemented as well. right?
Panny OIS lenses are no bigger than Ollie and generally smaller than their Pro series. Olympus cameras can already, and always could, utilise OIS lenses.
The Panny GX8 has Dual-IS, Body-IS and OIS at the same time. Firmware updates have been issued for a few of the later Panny lenses.
From Olympus, I believe that to implement Dual-IS, they will need a new camera., and that doesn’t seem to be the E-M1ii. As it stands it is either use Body-IS or Lens-IS (OIS), not both.
The new 300mm is getting OIS because OIS is better with long lenses, Olympus said so.
The verbiage up above says that the IS in the lens will “compliment” the body IS. I am reading that the two IS’s will work together….just like the Lumix situation in the GX8. Maybe I am reading something into it. I don’t know. It could be that with the 300mm IS it will be an “either/or” situation with my Oly cameras. I guess we need more specific information. oh well.
If you use a long lens like the Panny 100-300 on the E-M5ii, use it with Body-IS and with OIS, the difference becomes apparent, OIS wins. The turnover point is between 50mm to 100mm.
Vintage lenses have no OIS so yes, IBIS is effective. Especially with manual focussing in live view.
The E-M5ii really, really struggles with the 4/3 Sigma 50-500 (Bigma on MA1 adaptor) and the Tokina 400mm simply because these lenses are so long, (the Bigma being especially big and heavy too), the tail is wagging the dog. Later Bigmas have IS (OS in Sigma-speak) and don’t suffer this problem, but they don’t fit m4/3.
What I’d like Sigma to do is produce a m4/3 Bigma, with image stabilisation like the others, they already make m4/3 lenses and the original Bigma was 4/3 fit.
Apparently Sigma has taken part in developing the lens. Probably for the IS part.
That wouldn’t surprise me as they had a big part in the old (4/3’s) 70-300 lens with the MF switch on it. Also, I believe the M75mm prime was too.
To all the naysayers from last time who flamed me: Haha! (Nelson voice)
@admin No hint about possible diffractive lens technology à la Nikon/Canon?
I smelt this coming with the E-M5ii “VCM” stabilisation not being called “IBIS” . The other explanation is the first one Olympus trotted out for going Dual-IS – body stabilisation is simply not as effective as lens stabilisation with long and extra-long lenses.
>and they have decided than without Panasonic user market it would not have enough sales to pay to its development
Then they should release it in E-mount too 🙂
I’m now taking images using a ZD 300mm 2.8 for years and E-M1 with its IBIS really made things quite easy. Even when used together with EC-20 and EC-14, it’s a great combination.
http://www.al-ka-web.de/obj.php?obj=Olympus+Zuiko+Digital+ED+300mm+1%3A2.8
http://www.al-ka-web.de/obj.php?obj=Olympus+Zuiko+Digital+ED+300mm+1%3A2.8+%26amp%3B+Olympus+Digital+EC-14
http://www.al-ka-web.de/obj.php?obj=Olympus+Zuiko+Digital+ED+300mm+1%3A2.8+%26amp%3B+Olympus+Digital+EC-20
I’m really looking forward to see the performance of the mZD 300mm 4.0 with OIS or combined stabilization.
These are very nice pictures, I went through your galleries. It is joy to see them, such details and colours, composition. Nice. And some of them was achieved with “outdated E-5”. Gear really doesnt matter when you’re skilful.
It is hard to handle the E-M1 with very large Zuiko 300/2.8?
Of course, I’m using it mainly on a tripot but situations where I handle it without additional support are increasing in number.
The image attached was captured without mono- or tripot.
i’ll just leave this here again and wait for oly fanboys to call bs. oh wait… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRK6WfCboM8
I remember posting a link to a review with appropriate conclusion as a reaction last time. Btw. I could be wrong, but wasn’t your user name Mr Allcaps?
Accept no substitutes. There’s only One MrALLCAPS, and He is I and I am him.
But, get a grip with reality. The only people that DON’T believe the GX8 is better at I.S. at longer focal lengths are Blind Olympus Fanboys.
They refuse to believe that Panasonic is better in anything.
CORRECTION: There is only one MrALLCRAP. The poor troll doesn’t even know his own name.
Sure makes sense that in lens IS works better for long lenses, either with or without in body dual cooperating IS. But unless you only use long focal lengths: see Photographyblog and Ephotozines comparisons.
Problem is, Panasonic has no long lenses. The 300 zoom is crap and IBIS doesn’t help you.
On the upside the Panasonic 100-300 costs £345 and is a basic entry level telezoom. The 300mm prime that is coming will cost almost 4 x as much .It bloody should be better than the 100-300.
The 100-300 is certainly not a stellar lens but used correctly { a major failing of many long telephoto shooters } it is capable of very good results . Following the instructions in the link below will allow for the best results from it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgzLfLa2acA
It’s pretty hard to take advice from a guy who first dismisses this lens because of “really terrible results” (the nature of which is conveniently left unspecified) and then has an epiphany about using a tripod when shooting with a super telephoto lens and keeping his shutter speeds below the reciprocal of the focal length (now there’s something none of us would have come up with) and is now “very happy with it”. Photography 101 anyone?
And they did not even make their DFD marketing BS work with it. 😉
“The only people that DON’T believe the GX8 is better at I.S. at longer focal lengths are Blind Olympus Fanboys.”
For longer FLs, Oly can use OIS in the lens too. If there is no OIS in the lens, then GX8 cannot use it either. So there.
That movie looks sponsored by Panasonic, so may be not that trustworthy.
“… but this little video from Panasonic that compares their latest ‘Dual IS’ technology available in their latest”
Yup, the video is no more than advertisement. Wait for Pana fanboys to call bs or throw stones like they always do.
Oh dear the Olympus faithful are out in full force today. And
using conveniently anonymous names just for the occasion . The irony being that this same group defend “reviews” by Robin Wong an actual employee of Olympus.
Wait for what? The attention you didn’t get the first time you posted this commercial?
Theoretically…makes perfect sense (all else equal, of course; meaning mostly that Pana IBIS = Olympus IBIS). The option of to have none/IBIS/OIS/Both is ideal.
In reality, Olympus IBIS has worked just as well for me, at telephoto focal lengths, as Canon/Nikon/Sigma IS/VR/OS .
But I’ll remember to simulate this test next time I’m shooting in the middle of an earthquake. 🙂
I am a GX8 owner and no Olympus “fanboy” (though I am a “fan” of pretty much every camera company to some degree).
Looking at the video, I would say that Panasonic had the opportunity to demonstrate a particular set of vibrational movement spectrum, amplitude and axes that emphasize the advantage. For example, if they use an extreme vertical displacement that is within the Dual IS operating range but exceeds the Olympus IBIS range, then the Olympus system may sense this and shut itself down gracefully (rather than letting IBIS “hit the stops” and cause very unpleasant effects.
So while the video shows genuine advantage of Dual IS in certain scenarios, it is not undeniable proof of superiority in all (typically less extreme) situations.
Finally, I don’t think it is any negative reflection on Olympus, that they equip a 300mm lens with OIS to enhance and extend the IBIS. It may tug at the beliefs of Olympus fanboys who are loathe to admit that their IBIS could use a little help, but it is simply good engineering to deal with the reality of a high-magnification lens.
This test has MUCH wider shake angle than is common for handshake. MUCH MUCH wider. The difference obviously will exist for handshake too, just not at 140mm (280mm eq as in the test) but longer. Like for 300mm Olympus goes to cover with the IS PRO lens.
Personally, I tried E-M5 with 500mm f/8 mirror lens, and it allows for sharp (well, as sharp as the mirror lens can do) pictures in daylight although audibly struggles very hard (way too hard). So I guess for 300mm+ it makes sense.
I am going to Tanzania for a safari in February and was originally going to get this lens for the trip but I guess now it won’t come until March or April. My fallback will be the Nikon 1 with the 70-300 cx lens.
How about the Olympus 75-300?
It does perform reasonably well (for it’s price) in ‘good light’.
‘Olympus considers to make the new 300mm f/4 PRO lens with OIS, to complement IBIS in Olympus bodies (which is less effective at really long focal lengths)”
This is the Main reason why. Proof that the GX8 is better than any Olympus camera with ibis at longer focal lengths.
Bet that Olympus knocks off the I.S. body/lens feature from the GX8.
“Bet that Olympus knocks off the I.S. body/lens feature from the GX8.”
Olympus already has a dual IS patent (published) that specifically states that the in body stabilising function would only be for rotational correction since that is not possible with OIS while leaving the rest for the lens. I hardly see that as knocking off the GX8 system. The OIS in the 300 f4 lens appears to be coming from Sigma.
I personally don’t use any image stabilization with telephoto lenses anyway.
Im my experience these telephoto lenses are used for fast moving subjects like birds and sports where a fast shutter speed is preferred. Albeit It does help for framing your subject when using live view. I will not be purchasing this lens. It simply is not fast enough for the focal length it provides. If it was an f2.8 I certainly would have made the purchase.
You’re in luck! Olympus already makes a 300mm f/2.8 lens, just go and buy it
I’ve owned it for a little over 2 years. It is a fantastic lens. Works great with both the 1.4 and 2x tc!!
All bought used. And for a great price!
To the Panasonic fanboys:
Yes, the Panasonic zoom will be cheaper, lighter, better quality and … a zoom. Sure. Want to buy a bridge?
That comment is rather ironic considering the plague of Olympus fanboys that fill this forum
I didn’t see any Olympus fanboy around falsely accusing photographers for being paid by company to sell their cameras, like MrALLCAPS accused Edmond and Darren. *cough*
Panasonic kids set a new low standards where no other in the forum can ever touch. That’s the irony.