There will be certainly no new camera from Olympus and Panasonic this year. But still there is a small chance Olympus will give us the final specs of their 300mm PRO lens by end of November. A trusted source heard Olympus could give us some more official info by end of November. But it’s yet completely unclear if this means the lens will be available for preorder already or only by early 2016.
The same source also said that 2016 will be very exciting for Olympus. He will share some more info later. Stay tuned 😉
52 Responses
come on Oly, give me some honey
C’mon Simon, spill the beans
I doubt that I can afford it yet: but I would like to know how much it will cost!
Heck, I’d even take in time for Christmas…no need to be greedy 😉
Love to see what tele shoots will be able to do with this optic
Can’t wait for the comparisons (and all of the opinions, LOL!) between the Panasonic/Leica Zoom and this Olympus prime lens (with and without 1.4x converter). There will be a LOT of digital banter on this up and coming prize-fight, no doubt!
You are going to start a war between panny and oly fans. LOL. 🙂
That is my intention. It’s my FAVORITE pastime!!!! 🙂
I don’t care who makes either lens…
Just gimme the 100-400mm!
NOW! ?
For me, a zoom is more useful out in the field when looking for critters. Trying to locate a bird (or whatever) in a tree is tough with a 600mm equivalent prime. I’ve tried it with my Nikon 300mm f4.5 with my M4/3 cameras and it’s very tricky. Usually by the time I find the spot, the thing is gone. It’s MUCH easier with my 100-300mm!
When is someone, ANYONE, going to release a high-quality, general purpose M/43 teleconverter usable on ANY lens?
You might want to try the EE-1 dot sight. Works great. You get to use both eyes, so a full horizon. Once you locate the subject you can simply switch to the VF if desired and you’re spot on. Or just stay with the dot sight. It works great for BIFs as well.
The issue isn’t just “pointing it in the right direction” it’s also framing. Every time I say that I prefer the option to zoom, people reply “just use a dot sight” but that won’t show you how the image gets cropped in the viewfinder. Composition is about placing the subject in the frame, getting the correct amount of the surroundings in to tell a story with the picture, and if you have no option to zoom out, you’re going to find yourself too close in many situations.
But I had an instructor back in community college whose mantra was… “if in doubt…GET CLOSER!” LOL!
Obviously your instructor wasn’t shooting wildlife! LOL
Exactly.
I almost never shoot anything dead-center in the frame unless it’s documenting something.
I have red dot sight and it’s really for bird-in-flight spray and pray shooting. If a critter is not in the open, a lens will focus on branches or leaves, NOT the critter.
I’m thinking you’ve never used a dot sight? Yes a dot sight can be used for BIFs but it’s useful in locating the subject when you’re using a long lens with a very narrow FOV. As mentioned, once you locate the subject with the dot sight you simply switch to the VF and either auto or manually focus.
When I’m using a long lens I always center the subject. I’m going to crop anyway — so ultimately the subject won’t be centered — but you might as well get the best image quality on what matters.
I do prefer zooms for the reasons you’ve mentioned but the facts are that a zoom involves compromises. For example, I’d rather be at 420mm f/5.6 than 400mm f/6.3. If the subject is moving I’d rather be at 300mm f/4 since AF is better with more light, even assuming the image quality wouldn’t degrade because of diffraction.
Jeff I recently purchased the 100-300 used, good deal for the lens. While I agree with pretty every review and shooter out there, yeah it’s soft at 300, I’m also finding the results rely entirely on realistic expectations. That lens just loves light, it desperately craves it for fast shutter speeds, and fast shutter speeds are the only way to ensure sharpness. I’ve managed to get very good shots, hand-held at around 290mm, by simply not using it if the lighting is bad. If it’s cloudy, grey and there is no direct sunlight to work with, I just leave it in the bag.
The 100-300mm isn’t a bad lens at all given the size, weight and price. I’ve found that if I set the aperture at f7.1 and try to get the shutter speed up over 1/500th, it can do a damn good job, even handheld @ 300mm.
I’ve shot with it in the jungle in Costa Rica on a couple of trips and it did well. It’s pretty dark under the canopy, so I used an UltraPod II braced against my chest for extra stability.
Well..my decision is already made….I have the Oly 40-150mm (all the teles above 100mm for MFT have been soft and slow!)…….so I bought the 40-150mm w/1.4x in kit form from Tokyo when it first came out. Got some good savings….(kit is not even available here???? you have to buy å la carte)…. The focusing could be better with the 1.4x but it is what it is…so most likely I will be buying the Olympus 300mm as I already have the very excellent (but proprietary) 1.4x. The Oly 300mm with or without the 1.4x will have more speed too than the panny/Leica…so..everything is a trade off..as what you say is true…sometimes, for action having a zoom is invaluable. …but shooting at f/6.3 can be a giant liability as well…depending on the situation. Now that we are getting into this realm …we really need the sensors to step up with some serious phase focusing and the next real level of IQ improvement.
What is non-general purpose with the Olympus 1.4x TC? That it only works with medium to long tele primes and fast tele zooms like all TCs do on any system?
The Olympus 1.4x teleconverter only works with 2 or 3 lenses. The 12-40mm (I’m not sure about this lens), 40-150mm and 300mm.
That kind of blows.
When I say “general purpose” that means it works on ANY lens with a M4/3 mount, not just a very few.
The problem is not the Olympus TC, the problem is that m43 (like all mirrorless systems) has only a few fast-ish tele lenses. If you look at the compatibility chart for TCs on other systems, it is only medium to long tele lenses and with a few recent exceptions only for f/4 or faster lenses.
The latter restriction had its root in the longtime f/5.6 PD AF limit on DSLRs but also that at f/8 diffraction is already limiting the performance leaving no space to gain IQ by stopping down and since TCs always reduce IQ to some degree, using them often works best if you can raise the IQ by stopping down a bit (which won’t work if the wide-open f-stop of the lens+TC combo is already f/8).
The restriction to medium to long tele lenses is due to mechanical, optical, and practical limitations:
a) TCs often protrude into the lens a bit, making them incompatible with most lenses below ~150 mm
b) TC’s optics are optimised for medium to long tele lenses
c) TCs make sense if they provide lens combinations otherwise not available, mostly slower versions of primes (when used on f/2 through f/4 primes) as slower primes tend to not exist whereas slower zooms often do exist, and/or
d) TCs make sense if adding a TC is noticeably cheaper (and lighter/more compact) than adding a second, longer lens (for example, adding a 1.4x TC to a 25 mm f/1.4 lens has little advantage over adding a 45 mm f/1.8 lens, adding a 1.4x TC to a 300 mm f/4 lens is much cheaper and lighter than adding a 420 mm f/5.6 lens).
Below is a list of lenses compatible with either one of two different Nikon 1.4x TCs (I’ve removed ‘duplicate’ entries for a given focal length and f-stop):
• AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF ED*1
• AF-S NIKKOR 200mm f/2G ED VR II
• AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/2.8G ED Vr II
• AF-S NIKKOR 400mm f/2.8E FL ED VR
• AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/4G ED VR
• AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4G ED VR
• AF-S NIKKOR 800mm f/5.6E FL ED VR*2
• AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II
• AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/4G ED VR
• AF-S NIKKOR 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II
• AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR*2
*1: AF not possible
*2: Can be used when attached to f/8-compatible camera body
Thanks for an informative post.
What I want to know is when I can actually buy this or the Panasonic 100-400. There seems to be less and less correlation between announcements and availability.
I thought everyone knew that release dates were directly proportional to the level of public interest. Everyone needs to feign disinterest in order to get the release dates moved forward.
Although I am less joyful about the rancorous banter Bob predicts, I will be enthused to have a complete line of professional-grade lenses for use on the μ43 mount. It would be even more exciting to be able to afford all of them at once, though I think the point was to legitimize the system and make an attractive cost argument, along with convenience, compared to FAR more costly alternatives. Affordably expensed, I consider the good fortune to have a very flexible and powerful camera system, an OM-D with six lenses, and I am very happy with the thousands of excellent pictures I have been able to shoot in the last two years. At the end of the day and for those who own OM-D systems (as opposed to those who bad mouth them all day), the photographic distance between a very high grade enthusiast system and a premium professional system is astonishingly absent when the fast-aperture primes are used. The slow zooms I use, mostly outdoors, where excellent light usually solves the pressure to dip into the high ISO well. I promised myself, for example, that I would never use 6400 ISO on the OM-D, but in practice, I have used it a couple of times to good effect, nowhere near as noisy, such as would require DxO Prime treatment. The next lens for me has got to be the 40-150mm constant f2.8, at which time the argument of need to express to the wife will be largely solved. I would love an mZuiko 34mm f1.4 too. Experience: although the 17mm stays on the camera most of the time, I think my most beautiful shots come from the 45mm. (I agree with the observation that OIS inclusion telegraphs an intention to sell on the Panasonic platform as a means to recoup the cost of developing the 300mm lens.) Here and there, yes. Same tune. Owning is astonishing.
Great comment!
I’d love the 40-150, I was debating on which lens to invest in as a zoom the canon 70-200 II or the Oly but in terms of usage, I think the Oly would pip it!
I debated long and hard with my Scottish heritage over the Olly 40-150/2.8. In the end, my miserly ancestors lost the fight. They were a little appeased tho, because I got the lens together with x1.4 adaptor in Australia for less than the lens alone would have cost from the States.
Where was I? Oh yes, it’s a fantastic lens. Far better to crop from it at 150mm than use the Olly 75-300 at the long end.
I took over 1000 images over the last weekend at a rugby tournament (E-M1), and was very happy with the results, most were spot on, focus-wise. Am now saving for the 300/4.0 to get full value from the adaptor!
oh..thanks..that is why I want/need the Oly 300mm…you get “full value” from my 1.4x! Yeah…yeah ….that’s it!!!!!! The guilt is gone. LOL!
Hey DonTom I just got to ask where you got the 40-150/2.8 & 1.4x Convertor and what the damage was in the end? I am looking at the same two and would be most appreciative of knowing. Thanks
Hi, I got them from a store in Melbourne, as a kit. Not sure exactly what I paid now, will check when home, but I think it was around AU$1500. I collected them in person, and got a GST refund, as I was only passing through in the way to NZ. So was very happy with the deal. I suspect the prices were set when the AU$ was almost as high as the US$….
Thanks will sniff around in Sydney today
Btw… has anyone noticed that it says “IS” instead “OIS”?
What does people say if the Olympus has not implemented Optical Image Stabilization at all? And the switch in the 300mm lens is just to enable/disable the IBIS quickly?
Just think about it! If you add OIS, you need to have a switch to use only it in specific directions like horizontal stabilization or vertical stabilization! So when you start panning you can use it without it working against you! IBIS allows to do that with Auto-mode or you choose either one direction. But nevertheless you need to have a quick way to disable IBIS.
And everyone who use Olympus bodies, knows that disabling the IBIS is not fast as should because you can’t bind the IBIS On/Off to any function buttons, but you need to either use SCP or Menu to do so!
And in sports/wildlife you need to be able quickly disable the IS when subject starts moving (bird flying diagonally at you, so you pan camera diagonally instead just horizontal/vertical so auto-IBIS can’t do anything!)
I have started to believe that IS switch in the 300mm means exactly that, the control for IBIS instead having OIS at all!
If it doesn’t have OIS, it won’t sell to Panasonic users, and Olympus likely won’t recoup their investment designing the lens. Especially since some Olympus users will likely go for the 100-400mm zoom, anyway.
It’s a simple business decision.
I suggested this in an earlier thread and was it was denounced as “dumb”. Charming place, the interweb. 😉
The most convincing arguments that the lens has its own stabilisation are that Olympus has patented such a design, and that marketing has been released (Russia) with the lens labelled “IS” in its title.
Although a dedicated, simple (dumb!) switch that just disables image stabilisation makes perfect sense on a big lens like this, those other points make me now lean in favour of it having OIS.
I don’t think the acronym indicates that it doesn’t have optical IS. Other manufacturers use the acronym “IS” or sometimes “VR” or “VC” to mean the same thing as OIS.
I’d say likely it’s a hydrid IBIS+OIS when then lens is attached, therefore the switch turns IS on/off globally.
Regardless, I cant imagine IBIS alone being all the effective at this focal length. It better have OIS!
The delay in the launch of the lens was blamed on a decision Olympus made to add optical stabilization to the lens. The firmware announcements also include new settings to allow optical and focal plan image stabilization to work together. It is highly doubtful that purpose of the function we be, solely, to mount Panasonic lenses. There was also a note somewhere that suggested but did not really confirm Olympus testing, to the effect that the focal plane stabilizer could not do the whole job on such a long lens. I think the lens on loan to DPreview is an old prototype. Personally, I would be shocked if the IS button should really say OIS. Does Panasonic have “OIS” trade-named with super and mega?
Someone on Dpreview mentioned that the prototype they have access to, does not have in-lens stabilization.
The mystery continues.
It’ll be very interesting to see what body they release next year for this lens… Very interesting! I do hope that they make the flagship with dual slots. I think that if you’re going to play on the ‘Pro’ then this is a needs must (in my humble opinion).
And a larger battery as well. Something like the GH3/4 has had.
Steve, I hear ya, but there are ways to extend battery life. I took over 1000 images this weekend, using the 40-150/2.8 and the battery grip. I was expecting to have to charge at least one battery, but the menu is still showing a full charge on the battery in the grip, hasn’t switched to the battery in the body.
I also hiked through the European alps last year, and typically was only able to charge batteries once a week. Wasn’t a problem with only one spare.
For reference, I almost never use the rear LCD and turn the “Rec View” off (so no auto review), which helps with both battery life and the ability to follow action in the EVF when burst shooting.
I agree, there are so many benefits to dual slots, and the E-M1 wouldn’t be harmed by the extra few mm required to house a second card.
The only mystery is a switch in a lens prototype, that would be perfectly useful for the OIS as well. The Panasonic market is leaning heavily on the video side, it doesn’t justify the additional efforts of in lens IS.
I hope the Olympus 500mm f4 IS PRO for the m4/3 will be announced or available in 2016 also. I will buy it.
I for one, really hope they do go ahead and build the 500mm lens. It would still be kind of big, even for m43, but it would be stunning (if Oly gets it right).
Yes
>125mm front lens diameter…
No problem. I will buy it!
Very nice lens. Now for a little flag waving in support of compact, PRO-grade and reasonably fast primes [especially one 17mm 1:1.4] I’d like to spend money on right now.
Pro grade, fast primes are never small or light, unless you want MF. The PL 42.5mm is worth the inconvenience of weight and price.
Well, we’re talking m4/3rds here. And yes, I shoot mostly with manual primes, but realize Olympus will not go down that lane [though the basic old PEN-F 38mm 1.8 with a roughly 55mm FOV is a fabulous complement to the E-P5].
Notice above ranking, top down: compact – PRO – speed.
The PL 42.5 is m43 😉