Along the E-M1 and 12-40mm f/2.8 Olympus will also announce the new 40-150mm f/2.8 lens. But the mid range zoom will be released in 2014 only. There are no pictures and price info yet. But we will know more about it on September 10-11 when Olympus will announce the new MFT products. But I expect the price to be in the range of the 50-200mm SWD lens (Around $1200 here at Amazon).
P.S.: There may be a new high end compact camera too. But I am not 100% sure yet and I am working to get some more details.
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200 Responses
On the day I receive my 50-200 SWD!
There were rumors about the 12-40/2.8 and 40-150/2.8 pair around the close of last year and beginning of this year. The 40-150/2.8 ought to share the 62mm filter size of its 12-40/2.8 little brother.
I am surprised they are able to go to 150mm and f/2.8 at the long end. This is the same focal length and aperture as Panasonic’s future premium prime X lens! For Olympus to deliver this, in the same year as Panasonic’s planned release, and with the flexibility and versatility of a zoom, spells doom for its X lens. What Olympus is able to do is just crazy here. Hopefully both the price and size remain reasonable.
Olympus always introduces a new pro body with pro lenses to go with it. As this is the start of the pro µ4:3 line, they needed to have their pro standard zoom ready to go. With the standard zoom ready to roll, its Big Brother could not be far behind. Those two zooms cover most of my standard lens wants—12-150/2.8. The other wants can be fulfilled by brighter pro primes within the 2-zoom range (e.g., 12/2, 14/2, 17/1.8, 20/1.4, 25/1.8, 25/1.4, 45/1.8, 75/1.8, 100/2, 150/2), specialty lenses like a couple UWA primes (e.g., 10/2, 7/2.8), a full-frame fisheye (e.g., 8/2.8), a perspective control lens (e.g., 12/2.8 tilt & swing), some macros (e.g., 50/1.7, 70/2.8, 100/4.5), and some super tells >150mm (e.g., 200/2.8, 250/2.8 or 250/4, 300/2.8 or 300/4).
Of course, there can be slower non-pro primes/zooms to satisfy the prosumer and casual user customers.
Need a UWA-to-wide pro zoom. 8-17mm f/2.8. That would be my most used lens; more than any normal or telephoto zoom.
8-17/2.8? It seems to me since they are about to officially announce the 12-40/2.8, something more like a 6-12/4 or 6/12/2.8 would be more appropriate.
I’d take a 6-12/2.8
I agree. A 6-12 would be crazy. If i had a 9-17 and a 40-150 I wouldn’t need the 12-40. Who shoots between 17 and 40? Wide for landscapes architecture, group photos, street shooting. Short – medium tele for portraits, plants, wildlife, sports.
In film days my 50mm lens got used as a loupe. I can’t ever recall taking photos with it.
+1
We’re still week with wides in m4/3. Any F2.8 wide zoom will do.
@sqweezy
I agree, this is indeed very ambitious even for Olympus anf I hope they deliver an amazing product.
Wow! What a system this m43 is turning into and the lenses keep on coming.
One great thing is this lens hasn’t really cannibalised other lenses either.
The 40-150’s or 40-175’s are for budget conscious, the 75-300mk2 and lumix 100-300 are ultra telephoto lenses for those needing less size and weight at lesss cost, and the 50-200swd 43 lens is still yielding a 100mm equivalent extra on the telephoto end over this proposed lens for wildlife and action applications whereas this lens is a more Pro level all round telephoto lens that can take a crack at all types of photography with that aperture. Imagine the shallow DOF at
150 f2.8?!
Pro m.zuiko, Pro lumix,Leica Nocticrons, voigtlanders, Schnieiders, sigmas, tamrons and possibly even minolta on the way!….what a system.
This 40-150mm f/2.8 is no doubt another PRO lens. What a nice zoom range for a lens with such a speed. This is how M43 can beat the FF, in smaller but more flexible zoom range lenses that are still very high quality.
Go, Olympus, Go!
Of course, it’s a pro zoom. In fact, when these two pro zooms were rumored 2/3 of a year ago, I knew the OBS was nearing completion. Olympus loves to introduce a pro body with a pro standard zoom, if one is needed in the lineup, or some other popular focal length in pro housing. 😉
What the heck is a “pro” zoom?
1. fast
2. rugged
3. quality
4. pricey
Did I forget anything?
How about doesn’t extend when zooming?
Internal focus doesn’t do anything for image quality, and even Olympus’ ZD SHG 14-35mm f/2.0 does not use an IF mechanism.
Yes, it does, no extension happens during focusing.
But it extends slightly during zooming, being shortest at approx. 20mm, some 5mm longer at 14mm, and some 15mm longer at 35mm.
Oh – that sounded a bit confusing maybe (lots of millimeters there).
More precisely:
The ZD ED 14-35/2.0 is at its shortest at approx. 20mm FL, then extends 5mm at 14mm FL, and extends 15mm at 35mm FL.
1. fast
2. rugged
3. quality
4. pricey
.
.
5. weather sealed
6. super sharp
… sadly, they will share these with Sony. And someday, Sony’s “cheaper” NEX and Alpha line will overtake Olympus’ PEN and OMD.
Why?
“… sadly, they will share these with Sony…”
How? Different image circle.
“And someday, Sony’s “cheaper” NEX and Alpha line will overtake Olympus’ PEN and OMD.”
Thought we’re talking about lenses here. Anyway, Olympus/Panasonic has their own cheaper bodies, like the EPM* and EPL* lines. Also, don’t expect the weather sealed NEX to be cheaper than the NEX-7, which was announced at $1200 for the body.
Lens hood…..
3. quality glass
…
5. reliable
Ok, let me get this straight. If it is a slow cheap and not rugged zoom, but still providing decent quality (basically only one of your points), then it is not a pro zoom, even if it is enough for your needs and you do sell your work?
Seems to me that “pro” denomination is there precisely for the non-pros.
Also “Comes with a hood”.
Because only pro’s need hoods and can’t afford to buy them separately. 😉
Good one!
If “decent” quality is enough for you, why buy more?
That’s not for me, but if it works for you, great, especially if your customers pay.
I have a couple of lenses that don’t have weather-sealing, and I dislike using them during bad weather. Considering that Olympus Four-Thirds HG and SHG lines were both weather-sealed, bad weather was never a problem for me–even out in 3 hurricanes.
Precisely my point.
No, its not. Pro lenses are for the convinience of the working pro. It should focus fast so that you actually get the shot. When you do manage to get that shot its super sharp so you can provide a quality photo that can be printed a decent size to your client without tons of digital manipulation. Its also of a bigger aperture so that you have access to higher shutter speeds at relatively low isos, or want a prime level sharp photo when stopped down. It should also be able to stand some abuse, if the action happens under the rain, I cant be worrying about my gear. You can certainly get a paid pro photo with any lens, flicker has an astonishing group with photos with the 14-140 super zoom that will make a seasoned pro cry. But when push comes to shove, where the other non pro lenses would fall down, a pro lens will deliver
Not every professional needs faster autofocus and bigger aperture.
Arguing for the mediocre instead of praising excellence is a futile exercise.
There is nothing “mediocre” about the right tool for the job.
Sold my 12-60, 50-200, MMF3 and 1.4TC on faith Olympus would do this two months ago as the difference in quality was not sufficient to keep it for its size. Was wondering if I made a mistake until they announced these two lenses. Now I am very happy!
I have wondered why I got ‘sucked into’ into Olympus, and although I know its not supposed to be important but professionals would come up to me with the E620 or E5 and say, nice lens but make no comment about the camera(non-professionals would come up purely because it was big and therefore I must be professional!). Now with the OM-D they just love the system. Have professionals walk up to look at it when I am taking photos. This will be even more the case with the Em-1. A number of them who used to rubbish it, are seriously looking at changing over. Lots of positive comments about the system and photos even amongst the FF guys. Keep it up Olympus, glad I stuck with you, it was fairly close for a while there.
Cool. Smart gamble.
Didn’t catch those rumors (or forgot about them). However, I got the 50-200 precisely for the E-M1. Besides, I kept the old but small 4/3 40-150 because I figured there was only room for something inbetween for now.
You however, with the 1.4x, had a reach of 200-280! Now, your party ends at 150. Do you plan to crop, or did you never use the longer reach?
Kept a whole bunch of 4/3 lenses myself, but I still have an E-3 around as well for the few things it still does better then any available m4/3 camera. Looks like the E-M1 is going to change that. Still, if the 40-150/2.8 is going to be significantly smaller then the 50-200, it would do the job for me at least, especially considering the increase from 10 or 12mp to 16mp gives some more room for crops. Might want to get one in due time, but in no hurry there.
For the E-M1 its an important lens however, as covering at least the ’24-300′ range with bright high quality and weather sealed zooms is a bare minimum for entry into the ‘pro’ market beyond niche uses.
Whoa! i better keep saving 😉
Keep saving. There is another high end compact! Will it be something like a fixed lens compact with an M43 sized sensor? It can be made smaller, lighter but better than a M43 camera mounted with a lens because the lens and camera will be optimised for each other.
I hope it’ll have an EVF…
Wow, that sounds like a good range, I wonder how big and heavy it will be.
more money spent
wa-wa-wee-waa!
80-300mm is incredible range for a f/2.8 lens, I bet it will be huge though.
I bet it will be as big as 50-200 SWD
Size of the 75-300 with a slightly wider lens barrel.
That makes total sense, the new lens will be some kind of 75-300 with integrated 2x speed booster.. kind of 🙂
I dont think they need to do anything as complex as adding a speed booster. it is just over a 3x zoom at moderate telephoto with a fast aperture for a 4/3rds sensor.
Think of the existing 40-150, it will be wider due to the faster aperture, and probably slightly longer to take the pressure off the glass elements. Throw in some software correction and you have a wider lens barrel than the 75-300, but about the same size… It will have heft though.
A very compelling set of lenses 12-40 plus 40-150, one just about $1000 the other about $1300.
Abraham
Olympus will never release lenses that big… because they know it will defeat the purpose of a smaller system… the designer always got that in their mind…
A lot of us bought that big 50-200, exactly because it makes the most of the size advantage of a smaller format: to match it in large formats would need even bigger, longer lenses, like 70-300 in APCS or 100-400 in 35mm.
Telephoto work has always favored somewhat smaller formats than other types of photography, for the sake of the big lenses needed not being even bigger: in the film era, telephoto users for sports, wildlife and such overwhelmingly preferred the smaller 35mm format over larger alternatives like medium forma,t while larger formats were at their stongest in the wide-angle to portrait range.
even if its big, a 2.8 tele zoom will always be smaller then 24×36 format 80-300 2.8 but its just the average consumer who expects such zoom in mft format to be much smaller. The types who think that small size is the only dictating factor in MFT….
Exactly. The m43 14-150 is a wonderful m43 system showcase and never lets me down, but that’s because I know its diminutive proportions and weight come from the “something’s gotta give” principle.
So robin, here’s your wake up call for the other side of m43! 😀
Glad to see some super-zoom love on these (on indeed any) forum. Much under-rated for travel and general wandering about.
When I shot Nikon APS-C, my favoured setup was an 18-200 and a 35/1.8 prime.
With m43 I’ve not been able to exactly replicate – the 20/1.7 is a little too wide, and the 25/1.4 is a little big for the format (about the same size as the 35/1.8 – but I guess that’s due to the bigger aperture). But they are both fine lenses, and it’s a great choice to be able to make.
With the really tiny 14/2.5 too (why bother with the body cap lens?) you’ve got a really light and portable travel setup – that’s good enough to not just use for travel!
Needless to say, I sold the Nikon setup within a year of getting a m43 camera.
Even when I take more than one lens with me, I often keep my 14-150 in a baby sock in a corner of my bag. The kicker is the relatively silent and fast focus when shooting video.
Certain people will resent it but here it goes again: It’s a dad’s lens! The ultimate tool for capturing those memories! The E-M1 will take it to new heights. 🙂
WIDE PRIME
12/2
Wow, nice lens.
But we really need a 300mm F4 and a EC14.
B
+10. Or a 200-400 3.5-4.5 or so?
Why not an 200mm F2.8 and mEC14 also mEC20.
Yes
I’d second that.
+10 too 😉
or even better, a 350/4.0 (yes, I know, I’m pushing things a bit …)
Seems wrong, 40-150mm f2.8 would be pretty massive. I think maybe it should be 40-100mm f2.8.
Going by maximum affective aperture diameter, which tends to relate to the size of the biggest from elements in a telephoto lens, and the biggest is at the long end: 150mm/2.8 = 54mm. So the size could be comparable to an 80-300 f/5.6 (150mm/2.8 = 300mm/5.6 = 54mm.) To put it another way, it could be designed as 80-300/5.6 with 2x focal reducer at the back, but more optimal designs are possible.
So hopefully no more massive than the fairly common 75-300/3.5-5.6 zoom.
My pessimist guess is a 0,7x focal reducer. Read on a past rumor that 0,5x speed booster didn’t exist for FF to m43 because it was not optically feasible with good IQ.
So about same size as a 56-210mm F4 APS-C lens (which doesn’t exist…)
Non-IS Canon FF 70-200mm F4 is 76mm x 172mm and 705 g. APS-C would be smaller.
For comparison, Lumix 35-100mm is 67mm x 100mm and 360 g.
Hope I am wrong.
No 2x speed booster really needed! In fact, slow telephoto lenses like 300mm, f/5.6 often use designs that are roughly a shorter, faster lens at front plus an integrated teleconverter at the back … like 200mm f/4 with 1.4x TC.
So maybe in this case, it is a bit like taking an 80-300 f/5.6 that is basically a 56-210 f/4 with 1.4x TC and replacing that 1.4x by a 0.7x.
I understand your point, and as I don’t know anything about lens designs, I might as well believe you!
However, estimation of lens size would be about the same, if you start from a 70-200 f4 like I did, or from a 80-300 f5.6 like you did.
Canon 70-300mm f/4-5.6 USM IS is 77 x 143 mm, and the L version is 89 x 143 mm. Both are NOT fixed length, unlike the 70-200. That’s only 29 mm less than the 70-200, and zoomed at 300 mm, it might be even 3 cm longer.
My impression is that if Oly 40-150mm f2.8 is zooming internally and is really constant f2.8 (still a rumor), it will be almost as big as a 70-200mm F4. My official guess: let’s say 67mm x 153mm. If it is not fixed length (like both canon 70-200), it might be shorter. I first thought that it would be zooming internally, just as the Lumix competitor, but since 43 zooms like 50-200mm f2.8-3.5 were not, it might be the same for that new lens. Would make more sense size-wise for m43 cameras.
Anyway, it won’t be as big and heavy as the 50-200mm, which is 86.5x157mm and 995g, and that’s good news.
Guys, just look at how big the Panasonic 150mm f2.8 and you can imagine the size of 40-150 f2.8.
Picture here: http://asia.cnet.com/story_media/62220396/pana42and150mm_600x450.jpg
To keep it smaller (same size as Panasonic 35-100), I will be happy with a 40-150mm f2.8-4. What do you say?
Exactly what I was thinking!!!
It could be f2.8 until 100mm and increase to f4 at 150mm.
one word: Prototype.
You’re useless.
not much than your comment..
thoses pics are olds…
Old look of 42.5mm lens:
http://asia.cnet.com/story_media/62220396/pana42and150mm_600x450.jpg
New look 42.5mm lens:
http://panasonic.co.jp/news/topics/attachment/114010/2.jpg
So now, it will be the same for the 150/2.8 lens that will be released on 2014. It was an prototype 150mm and will not have the same look…
Of course it most likely won’t have the same look. The topic was size.
The topic was size, i agree with you but he wanted to compare an prime 150/2.8 which we dont have news and pictures anymore since last year to an zoom like the new 40-150/2.8. First, how to compare an prime to a zoom? its none sense.
There is maybe some possibility that 150/2.8 Pana prime may be smaller. Olympus zuiko 300/2.8 is 282mm Length only.
No, he’s true, you’re useless…
I’d take such comparisons with a grain of salt. Some modern lenses like the Fuji 35mm or the Sony 10-18 show that things can definitely get smaller.
Can we assume it will be bigger than Panasonic 35-100 f2.8? They can save some weight for the IS motor but I am sure it will still be bigger.
The fuji 55-200 and sony 55-210 are quite big and long. The fuji 50-200 f3.5-4.8 weight 580g. Tele lens are usually bigger than wide angles.
Well, i hope Olympus will surprise us.
No doubts 40-150 is a far more interesting range than 35-100. At least to me.
How much size and the need for OIS matters that would be interresting to see.
I typically use my 10X zoom in broad day light and mostly for the tele end. I was considering the 35-100 + 14mm pancake, that rumor changes the game for me!
@AhYap
You raise a good point. How big will it be…?
Let’s hope to see a prototype in this Sep 11-12 annoucement. 😀
wow.. just wow…
12-40 and 40-150.. practically i dont need any other lens.. both are fast lens and have the go anywhere practicality.
perhaps with 7-14 and 60 macro. hopefully all those 4 lens can fit into a bag the size of ff 70-200
Nice to see more high quality MFT lenses on the market.
Basically few lenses still missing: 25mm f/1.x and inexpensive UWA prime, around 6-8mm. OLY WE NEED THESE!!
What about the Leica f1.4/25mm Summilux? Or do you mean Oly lenses?
I am totaly happy with any good lense in the range I need and don’t need a specific brand. Only exception is, if it is to expensive 🙂
Well, if Oly finally gets a weathersealed 75-300 or better still 100-400 f4-5.6, I am selling my Canon gear and moving to m43 for good. This is getting excited!!!
Welcome !
If they can keep the size down – I’ll be very interested.
Really nice focal lengths on these new lenses! I like it 🙂
>> P.S.: There may be a new high end compact camera too
A XZ-3 with better focus capability and better video would be nice.
I like but do not love my XZ-2. I do carry it every day in my bag and have a lot of pictures I like, but in less than perfect light, it could use some help. Video as well, At times it looks very good, but often it seems a bit soft, and with close up subjects the AF seems to hunt a bit, taking a sharp image in and out of focus on occasion. Capture is handy, featuring a dedicated one-push movie capture button on the camera back. The built-in microphone is fairly sensitive but there is no wind-cut feature.
I will gladly sell my XZ-2 for an XZ-3 if these few items are corrected
Why carry a ZX-2? I used to carry a ZX-1 but found that a PM1/PM2 with a pancake lens was just about as big with much better IQ. Really, the ZX-x body and PM1/PM2 are about the same size. Gave my ZX-1 to my wife to replace her Fuji FinePix compact camera that was delivering horribly out-of-focus photos.
With the possibly new compact I vote for a Pen stlye body with a 17.5 f1.4 fixed lens, with distance scale on the barrel.
Don’t know about the PM1, but XZ1 opens at 1.8, has a x3 zoom, nice IS, and is still small. That’s really versatile and it delivers a great IQ IMO.
I prefer this mid-long range. I wonder how it will compare to 75mm prime. (I know it’s too early to talk about it)
I really like the sound of this, but it won’t replace any of my current lenses.
Three years after buying my current camera (E-PL1), the next revolution comes along for the format. PDAF and dedicated PDAF lenses! I’ll be buying the E-M1 and both of the new zooms, for sports photography. Can finally get decent images of my kids at play.
I doubt that I’ll let go of any of my current primes though, they work too well for travel and take up so little space.
Whoaaaaa !!! Isn’t continuous autofocus horrible on the omd ?!?! The sport you will only follow will be a soccer game between zombies.
The OM-D E-M1 is expected to have PDAF, which should make it much better at tracking AF than the E-M5 or any other current MFT camera.
Warf, prime for travelling ?! no way ! I only take zooms for travelling, it’s so convenient
Given the performance of the 75mm, it would probably compare badly 🙂
Vlad I think you are right.. 🙂 the fact is that sometimes a zoom is easier to use. (No, I’m not getting lazy, but 10 hours shooting at Venice Movie Awards can be heavy)
Zooms are great, nothing lazy about them. Switching constantly lenses in a crappy weather and wearing gloves can become highly frustrating.
That’s why we need two bodies! 🙂
A very good point. Which brings us back to lightweight cameras. Ah, the pleasures of portability!
Now we’re talking
That will kill the upcoming pany 150 f/2.8…
Since Panasonic know about the Olympus 40-150 2.8 weather sealed they stop to show their 150 2.8 prototype…that why they only show the lovely 42,5 1.2 now.
Maybe Pansonic work on faster telephot prime now.
Really hope the second Pro Oly zoom come early 2014 (january please).
Primes always outperform a zoom equivalent if they are designed around the same time.
That’s only true if a prime and zoom afre built to the same quality standards. There are plenty of top flight zooms that beat standard grade primes in contrast and resolution.
How good the oly will be @150 mm ? there are lot of soft zooms at the long end…
Why not just do the 50-200 as it would be a more suitable range. 40->50mm very useless zoom range but 150–> 200 would be a significant reach advantage.
Yes it would be bigger but that’s all relative as the 150mm end would still be a large lens, at that point does it really matter if it’s 50-60mm longer and ?????
Yes it would be more expensive but at over 1,000 buts, a couple of hundred would make or break a person getting it. People investing over a 1,000 for lens obvious want the reach… and will pay for it.
It’s not 40mm -150mm though is it? It’s an 80mm – 300mm equivalent, at 2.8 this is brilliant!
I would just opt for an m4/3 70-200mm f/2.8. Perhaps Panasonic can make this if Olympus makes the 40-150mm f/2.8.
In terms of size, this lens will just be a bit smaller than the 70-200mm f/2.8 for FF dSLRs.
Totally agree and the optics of a 3x zoom (70-200) would be better and easier to get HG IQ vs a 4x (50-200) so I take my post back, and suggest they do a 70-200 😉
I am familiar with the FOV of an m4/3 70-200mm as I am already using a Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 with my GH3 though with manual focus. An m4/3 version of the 70-200mm with AF would make a great lens for use in air shows and safaris.
if the 70-200 F2.8 exist,.someone need to make 12-70 f2.8 as a complimentary,.,.so we need only 2- zoom lenes,.that can cover 24-400mm on FF equiv
I hope SIGMA can see this and start making the 12-70mm and 70-200 F2.8,.especially if they willing to put their CRAZY idea with an F1.8 aperture,.just like their new ZOOm
btw,.12-70 F1.8 it will give us a beautiful zoom from 24-140mm and it can replace at least 5 existed primes on M43; 12/f2 14/2.5 17/1.8&2.8 20/1.7. 25/1.4 30/2.8 45/1.8 45/2.8macro and 60/2.8 both ply and sigma,.and close to 75/1.8 fl
Meant 40-50mm longer (physical length of lens) and 18-20mm in diameter, seems hardly a size difference to go with the smaller 40-150 option vs the 50-200.
The focal length on the short end of the proposed lens of 40mm to 50mm zoom is hardly anything (just step forward a bit with your feet) but the 150mm to 200mm is a very significant reach advantage for the lens.
Sure the 50-200 option would cost a 200-300 more but would that be option when you’re already paying $1,200 (as suggested) or more ..surely a $1,500 50-200 F2.8 would be greatly received vs. a $1,200 40-150mm.
don’t you think 50-200 SWD is already big and heavy enough?
I don’t believe it’s in production any longer, it’s not native to m43s. Unless the EM-1 has fast autofocus on it and Olympus intends on putting the Dual-Focus system in all the PENS and EM-5’s of the future, there is still a community wanting native greater then 150mm telephoto in the F2.8 range.
The idea is that the 50-200 will work pretty well with the new body.
This lens will be really interesting if they release a 2x extender too. So you will get a 80-300/5.6 from the combo. That would be nice for wildlife.
+1000 🙂
300/5.6 is too little for shooting the local eagle. I’d prefer a 300/4 w/ 1.4 TC, or a 2-400 3.5-4.8 or so.
Once upon a time, birders got lots of good shots with 600mm f/4 and _film_, and even with no IS. In MFT, 300/5.6 gives the same FOV, and needs at most just twice the ISO speed of film, or more likely a lower ISO speed when camera movement is the main need for speed. ISO 800 on the EM5 is way better than ISO 400 35mm format film, so I think I could be satisfied with 300/5.6 …
… and In fact I have got some nice bird shots with f/6.7 at the long end of my Olympus 75-300.
I have a dilemma now. Buy 35-100 (to my 12-35) now as I need a tele lens, or wait? Or buy GX7 instead, which I planned next year? 🙂
…and I forget the problem about IBIS, d’oh. 🙁
LOL!
Wow…. Olympus is following after a brand most of you all hate so much.
What’s next, a GX7 look-alike?
40-150 is quite different from 35-100 just in case you don’t know.
And you are following us Oly fanboys?
You appear a bit frantic and sad at the same time, stalking us Oly fanboys here. Please remember you are a guest at this party because of your own doing.
E-P6 could very well have an integrated EVF. And while Nex lovers say the GX7 stole that utterly brilliant idea from Sony, you can then say the same thing of Olympus. We’ll be very happy for you. Keep it up! 😀
Sounds like a great lens, but I’m curious how big it will be. Size is still the reason why I love mFT. If it’s big, I would prefer a smaller f4 version with the same range.
I tend to agree: I am happy for mFT users who occasionally want a bigger, faster lens, but people who want that speed (and shallow DOF) a lot of the time are probably better served by a different system, like APS-C format with a roughly f/3.5 or f/4 lens, like the new Fujifilm 18-55 f/2.8-4, or the new Sony 18-70 and 55-200 f/4 lenses. The higher minimum f-stop needed, makes design easier, allowing wider zoom ranges.
I still love the middle ground of 4x or 5x moderately fast zooms like the Four Thirds 14-54/2.8-3.5, 50-200/2.8-3.5 and 12-60/2.8-4, for the wider zoom ranges, and so less lenses to carry.
Edit: I mean Sony 18-105 f/4, not 55-200!
Wow, Panasonic would need to make their 150/2.8 really good (or cheap) to compete with this thing.
But will the EM-1 have 24p? That’s all that matters, you know.
Lotsof you asking for 50-200 not realizing that lens already exist in 43 mount. If focus works ok, thats what you need to get since it already is on the market.
They need to fill the holes such as 300mm f3.5 400mm f4 and 500mm f/5.6 all wether sealed. This goes with their philosophy providing stuff no one else has.
Since 150mm f2, 300 f2.8 and 90-250 f2.8 already exist dont bother hoping for some kind of overlap. You want some of these, get them right away.
Olympus has already designed the 400mm f4. The only problem is that they designed it for the Sony A-Mount.
I hope the 40-150 will have a tripod collar…
WOW… there are people willing to pay $1200 for an 80-300 F5.6 equivalent. Well, people have what they deserve. M4/3 will never be a serious system.
Would you care to guess the price of your FF canon 70-300mm f/4-5.6 L lens?
You should know that, being a user of a most serious system.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/732106-USA/Canon_4426B002_EF_70_300mm_f_4_5_6L_IS.html
And how’s your Betamax doing ?
Nice try with the equivalent there.
Yes, as u didn’t deserve a brain so u didn’t get one. Sounds fair
Your 2.8 FF is 5.6 equivalent to my phase1 idiot
The aperture isn’t 5.6 equivalent. The aperture is 2.8. 2.8 is 2.8. Grade school math will tell you that.
You tried to play the “I gotcha!” game but lost.
+100
Thats why my dad said ; dont play with an FF camera if you still in kindergarten.
I diont know why these FF troll is getting dumb and dumber these day,.
Jealousy
> I diont know why these FF troll is getting dumb and dumber these day,.
FF trolls are doing “their” format a disservice. I’m telling you: Oly hired them to make the E-M1 look better (and for our pleasure, naturally).
And focal length is focal length, 150mm is 150mm, not 300mm. But when all is said and done, and the resulting pictures are judged by how they look and not by millimeters and f-numbers and ISO numbers, pictures from 80-300/5.6 on FF sensor will look very similar in noise, composition and background blur to the pictures at the same shutter speeds from 40-150/2.8 on m43, maybe just slightly less noise on m43 because the smaller sensors are made using better tech. And yes, such a comparison is a good judgement of real value of lenses, because their construction and production cost can also be very very similar, with just slightly different rear group.
And the moment you actually prefer the DOF achieved with m43, the only valid comparison becomes 2.8.
I am waiting gor High end Compact , i am tired of looking on products which i don’t really like, just because of Marketing issiues.
Hah! I hoped against hope that this might be the ‘additional small surprise’, but it’s hardly small! 150mm is good enough for virtually all applications I might be interested in, and I still have the 100-300 for that remaining 2%. As many here, I wonder about its size. It might turn out that it might coexist peacefully with potentially much smaller & lighter 35-100. How on earth can I afford both though, I don’t know though.
Any chance Olympus would discount a two-lens kit?
Yes
Discount discount
Hope the bokeh is smooth 🙂 That may be the only reason I would sell the 50-200 and get this one… But then, the extra 50mm is always useful. Dilemma.
“[…] Olympus will also announce the new 40-150mm f/2.8 lens.”
Would cost an arm and a leg. But much more useful than the X 35-100. Never really liked the the “standard” 24-70 and 70-200 zoom ranges. They are both too short, not versatile enough. But people keep asking for them.
Otherwise, haven’t owned the ZD 50-200, but the kit ZD 40-150 served me very well. Pretty versatile – and compact and light – lens with very very decent IQ. Occasionally I did miss the reach of 200mm, but otherwise the 40-150 suited very well the E-620. (Tried once to pair it with the EC14, but it made the lens way too dark even for a cloudy day (and E-620 doesn’t have much ISO latitude to push).)
I’ll be holding on the the ZD 40-150 and 50-200 until Sony completely destroys the Olympus brand and FF DSLRs will once again reign supreme (somewhere next year, I hear). Should be quite a bargain at that time!
Seriously: for telezoom, I have two wonderful complementary options. But rest assured I’ll be reading every review of this 40-150/2.8!
Sounds like a great travel combo with the 12-40, but still leaves some wanting that longer “pro” level lens for birds and such.
Well as a few have suggested this puts the Panasonic prime 150 2.8 in the mud. So… Maybe Panasonic goes back to the drawing board for a 200 2.8? Or better still 300 4.0?
The image quality of a 150mm prime will be better than the zoom. It will also be smaller and possibly cheaper… There is no getting around that.
Oh yes!
I’ll get on for sure. I just hope that the E-M1 has good enough AF for shooting something faster than turtles unlike previous Olympus bodies.
That’s an admirable troll. Really. Well hidden, almost invisible. You’re the master of FUD ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear,_uncertainty_and_doubt ).
That would be a very useful lens. Unfortunately, they will ask $2000+ for it and not sell many.
Well – a 400mm/4 in m4/3 mount would be terrific!
Add a x2 teleconverter to that 40-150/2.8 and you’re done 🙂
Молодцы, Олимпус!!!
Даешь ещё 150-300/4 и 7-14/4!!!
A beautiful Olympus strategy seems to be unfolding, just my take.
. First – release a great line of consumer ultra light weight lenses as the bread and butter for this system to reach out to the consumer and better exemplify the philosophy of this format which is about small & light yet powerful.
.Second – release High grade yet very small and light Prime lenses that further legitimise the format, adding to it’s diverse capabilities while extenting it’s reach to the enthusiast, amateur or even Pro seeking a lighter alternative.
.third – introduce a weather sealed high end body like the omd em5 with a couple weather seamed lenses like the 12-50 & 60 f2.8 macro to reach out to the potential market that demands this level of quality.
.fourth – it seems that the OMD is well received and now a natural progression is to solidify and unite a PRO library of fourthirds lens and micro 43 lenses to the same mount to further establish the legitimate place of this format for those customers seriuosly inclined to take advantage of such classic gems whilst also keeping classic 43 customers happy and saving a format, they have now amalgamated both m43 & 43 into OBS.
. Fifth – begin to unleash the Pro m43 equipment, slowly but surely the format is evolving into a legitimate alternative to serious high end users and pros alike while canikon attempts at mirrorless have not been a runaway success.
All along Panasonic is marching along with it’s don’t hold back eggs all in one basket full frontal assault that is adding so much momentum to a format that isn’t a solo effort like other formats out there. Valuable contributions from other 3rd party vendors like voigtlander, Schnieider, Sigma, tamron only add depth.
The next step is to fiercely target a marketing strategy focused at western markets to appeal to the consumers using the canon rebel + kit lens and to solidify it’s place among the high end users.
Could very well be. But hey have admitted at least once they weren’t happy with getting the PDAF (essential for OBS) to work. So it seems the Sony “rescue” was right on time. Personally, I think they were negotiating long before and that the whole scandal just made the partnership stronger. Just guessing, but it makes more sense.
Yes I also believe Olympus were looking at solutions for some time now but that Sony ultimately became the catalyst for what we today know to be the em1.
Hopefully just the begining of better things to come.
Nice one Olympus, finally a fast zoom option which was what zd lenses are known for. They’ve done well with the primes now they should make their mark in zooms for m43 too.
Just for comparison sake. The link below compares OMD-EM5 with slow Oly 40-150. Next to that is GH3 with 35-100. Next to that is the Nikon D7100 with 70-200 F2.8. (APSc equivalent) Next to that is a D800, but since the compare tool did not have anything equivalent to a 80-300 F2.8 lens, I grabbed the Sigma 300mm F2.8 prime instead.
What I would expect for the Oly 40-150 F2.8 Pro is a lens a little longer then the Pany 35-100 and somewhat wider front objective. But under no circumstances will it come anywhere near the other two lenses.
http://camerasize.com/compact/#289.95,381.366,440.107,290.248,ha,t
Looking at that I see the m43 lenses and bodies saving me from a simultaneous hernia and ruptured disk in my back, while still being able to produce high quality 20X24 prints, and just about everything I would ever need for magazine publication or internet production. Now admittedly, if I was shooting for 40X60 or larger prints, I would want a larger sensor camera with top drawer lens. But you know what, in 47+ years of photography, including my professional years, I have never needed that. But if I do, I know where I can rent a real nice medium format and lenses of choice.
Great comparison, thanks. Says more than 1000 words. Some would say the D800 clearly wins and must be best. Some would argue you need highest resolution in every case (“noise free!”). Others would admit – usually only under torture – they just like the “bigness” of big DSLRs with big telezooms because it makes them feel better about themselves.
“For sports and wildlife, FF will be a niche product within five years.” — prospective E-M1 buyer, August 2013
@admin
Some great shots from the VC 42.5/0.95 by Markus Tysk: http://www.mtyskfoto.se/?cat=10
also Steve huff just review his Nokton .95/42.5mm
here
http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2013/08/28/the-voigtlander-42-5-f0-95-micro-43-lens-review/
Awsome! Thanks for that link J Shin, there’s even shots from the 17.5 f0.95 lens. The only thing holding me back fomthe 17.5 now is the weight and the thought there may be a leica nocticron 17.5 f1.2 af lens announced eventually if the 42.5 is a success.
It’s not fair to Panasonic. The 150mm prime will be stabilized, so more appropriate to GHx users. However, it will be less versatile and probably more expensive than this 40-150. Having the 150 on the horizon for so long, an announcement of a competing lens that is still in early prototype stage is an ungentlemanly blow. Shameful behavior. I hope Olympus has the sense to hold this announcement until after the 150 has been unleashed.
It has been a long time since Panasonic and Olympus last coordinated their lens roadmaps. I suppose competition is good for lowering prices, but it’s also wasteful. I would like to see more cooperation, if not collaboration, in the future.
“…an announcement of a competing lens that is still in early prototype stage is an ungentlemanly…”
But wasn’t that exactly what Panasonic was doing with their 150mm?
What Panasonic did was different. Their pre-announcement was perhaps too early, unjustifiably raising expectations, but it was not cheap and ugly FUD like what Olympus seems to be doing. I truly hope Olympus will not pre-announce the 40-150 at this time. They can show a new lens roadmap to state their general intentions, but more than that is clearly unacceptable.
So lets see, Panasonic can do a pre-announcement for a lens that wasn’t going to be available for over a year, and during that time, any announcement by Olympus of a lens that partially compete with it is ‘not done’, and even underhanded if its not going to be available real soon?
Its underhanded for Olympus to announce something that is needed to make their upcom8ng ‘pro’ camera a viable offering for many, but its not underhanded for Panasonic to pre-announce something that will make anyone think twice before announcing any fast tele-zoom?
Amazing.
I’d rather think both are right or both are wrong.
Either you’re kidding, or you have a really hard time admitting you were not privy to any negotiations and agreements between Pany and Oly.
Snyeye,
You also work for Panasonic? like Giuglio Sclerosis ?
I’ve been using Olympus cameras since the early 90’s. Currently I own an E-5 and an E-M5 with lots of Olympus and two Panasonic lenses. Blame me for being a Panasonic fanboy if you like. I don’t care.
Regardless, you using “FUD” in this context is plain sillyness. These companies are partners but still competitive. Nobody in their right mind is talking down to the Pany lens at this time.
Pana should have released the 150mm a long time ago, or never had anounced it in the first place.
And let’s be honest, I MUCH prefer a ZUIKO lens over a lumix one. Zuiko is one (if not the best) lens manufacturer, period!
There are indeed many superb FT lenses but there is often a significant weight and price penalty. The Olympus FT 7-14 is indeed a little better than the Panasonic 7-14mm however the downside is that it weighs 78Og and costs £1448 here in the UK, while the Panasonic lens weighs 300g and costs £884, 2.5x the weight and costs an extra £564 for a lens that is marginally better makes no sense to my use for Mft. My Nikon 14-24mm which is a FF f/2.8 lens weighs only 190g more than the Olympus 7-14mm F4
If you already have FT glass then good luck to you and I really hope that the AF is as good as they claim for FT glass .However for native mFT glass where for most people size and weight is a critical factor for me Panasonic provide most of the best choices for the system.
Best native UWA {7-14} , best cheap kit lens { 14-45} best 10x zoom{14-140mk2] best fast standard weather sealed zoom at the moment anyway {12-35} best fast short weather sealed tele {35-100} best fast standard prime {25mm} . A system with only Panasonic lenses would give you from 7-100mm { 14-200mm FF AOV} along with a fast fifty equivalent { 25mm F1.4}. That is not too shabby for a TV company 🙂
To get noticeably better option of at least the same speed you would need the FT 7-14 , 14-35,35-100 and stick with the 25mm F1.4 as there is no alternative. Ignoring price {hey, its hypothetical 🙂 }the weight of these three excellent FT lenses adds up to 3345g or roughly 3.3x the weight of the Panasonic trio.Frankly when I am happy to carry that sort of weight it will be FF.mFT is a superb lightweight set up, unless you already own these lenses from FT I do not see the appeal of using such large lenses on a system optamised for weight and size .
Another occasion to become poorer. And it’s happening too often these days. But not if at the price of 50-200.
BTW ,.i hope the focus peaking on the E-M1 is better than the one E-P5 has,.and wish can be use on video mode
Wow!
That is great to have f/2.8 at 150mm.
I’m curious if they will begin to release PRO primes like 17mm/1.4, 25mm/1.4, 45mm/1.4 and a 90mm/2.8 Macro…
Especially a pro version of the 17mm is badly needed, since there is nothing decent at around 17mm for M43.
Why would you want to see a 45mm,f/1.4 from Olympus if the Leica 42.5mm,f/1.2 from Panasonic seems to be around the corner? And why a 25mm, f/1.4 if the very same is available from Panasonic? Is it weather-sealing you’d like to see added?
PROS GET ONE-POINT-TWO
The only way.
That will be a big and expensive beast !! I have the panny 35-100 and I’d like too have the 100-150 range !
I’m not in love with my panny 35-100 anymore 😀
sell me a low ball price haha =]
This is such great news. I have a couple of good primes, but a constant f/2.8 zoom with an improved range over the Panasonic 35-100 is pretty exciting. Must start saving…
mhhh… pana with their 150 f2.8 is not happy I believe…. they better redisign it to f/2
would wonder if there is any official comunication/synchronization between Oly & Pana
The Prime 150mm F2.8 should be significantly smaller lighter and knowing Olympus pricing probably cheaper.