Olympus 70-300mm & 40-150mm Micro Four Thirds Lenses

[Photo-John]

Olympus just announced two new Micro Four Thirds zoom lenses, the M.Zuiko Digital ED 75-300mm f/4.8-6.7 and M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f/4.0-5.6. Both are Micro Four Thirds versions of existing Four Thirds lenses. I'm a huge fan of the Four Thirds 70-300mm zoom, so I'm really excited about a smaller, dedicated M43 version.

New Olympus 70-300mm & 40-150mm Micro Four Thirds Lenses >>

The 40-150mm is interesting too - especially since I took the Four Thirds 40-150mm with the E-PL1 on my trip to Mazatlan - the trip I based a good portion of my E-PL1 review on.

[Liz]

Thanks for this good news John! I'm happy Oly is coming out with more micro lenses.

However $900! for the 70-300? Yikes! I hope it's the "L" lens of the micro system for that price! The 4/3 version of the 70-300 lens is now about $270. And it's a fine lens.

Liz

[Asmarlak]

I think the price a big turn off not only to lens buyers but also to who plans a buy a PEN.

[Photo-John]

Thanks, Liz. In all my size and weight comparing I totally missed that huge price discrepency. I wonder if there's something else I missed that might account for the price? I agree with Asmarlak that the price will turn people off to the 70-300mm lens - especially since the aperture is over a stop slower than the Four Thirds lens.

[OldClicker]

They could at least paint it white. Terry

[Photo-John]

They could at least paint it white. Terry

Heh heh. White paint definitely raises the value of a lens

[Liz]

Heh heh. White paint definitely raises the value of a lens

Yes.....especially those nice white Canon lenses! And I don't mean the drinking cups!

Liz

[SmartWombat]

I noticed the slow speed first, and the price is outrageously high.
A lens I won't be buying for my E-P1, I think.

[catspaw]

the price on the 70-300 is insane! much cheaper to get a converter and the non-micro version.

However, posting here to let you know when I talked to the Olympus rep a week or so back, he indicated that a second 'kit' version of the PL-1 would be out WITH the 40-150 lens (AND the 24-42). He estimated the kit price would increase about $150, but for a $300 lens. Not bad. Waiting to save up and see how it falls out price wise before I make the leap, but I've shot with the PL-1 for 5-6 days now in all sorts of conditions and have had a blast with it. Ditching my regular G10 for this.

[Liz]

Another option would be the Olympus 70-300 for the 4/3 system. I looked into this lens at one time and found some great reviews as well as beautiful sample images - and real life shots that were excellent.

Of course you need the adaptor for the M4/3 system. If you use other 4/3 lenses, it would be well worth the money. The Panasonic adaptor is exactly the same as the Oly - but about $50 less expensive. If I recall correctly, the lens is not heavy (relatively speaking).

Amazon has this lens for $289 - free ship.

http://www.amazon.com/Olympus-70-300...5932490&sr=8-1

Amazon customer sample images:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-me...e=UTF8&index=2

Liz