Olympus announced that it was developing the M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO back in January 2019, but is now ready to reveal more details – including the fact that it will go on sale at the end of January 2021.
The new lens is a super telephoto zoom lens with a built-in 1.25x teleconverter, which means it has an effective focal length range of 300-1000mm. However, it can also be used with the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 1.4x Teleconverter MC-14 or M.Zuiko Digital 2x Teleconverter MC-20 to take that maximum length to 2000mm.
Naturally, the lens has a Micro Four Thirds mount and is designed for use on any of Olympus’s mirrorless camera although it is likely to be most at home on the double-gripped Olympus E-M1X or possibly the E-M1 Mark III.
Olympus has included 5-axis sync IS in the lens and it’s claimed to enable a shutter speed compensation of up to 8 EV steps. That’s a new record and one that will be appreciated by anyone planning to hand-hold the 314.3mm long 1,875g (excluding the caps and hood) optic.
Despite its long focal length range, the M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO has a closest focusing distance of 1.3m throughout the zoom range while its maximum magnification is 0.57x (in 35mm equivalent terms), increasing to 0.71x when the built-in teleconverter is in action.
Construction
Olympus has built the M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO from 28 elements in 18 group. This includes a newly developed large-diameter Extra-low Dispersion Aspherical lens and four Super Extra Low Dispersion lenses to reduce flare and colour bleeding.
Olympus’s Z Coating Nano technology’s also been applied to improve sharpness and clarity in difficult conditions such as backlighting. Meanwhile, the front element has a fluorine coating to make it scratch resistant and easier to clean.
The dust-proof, splash-proof, and freeze-proof lens barrel is made from magnesium alloy while carbon fibre has been used for lens hood to help reduce weight at the end of the optic.
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO Price and On-sale date
According to Olympus, the M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO will be available from the end of January 2021for £6,499.99. To reserve one visit www.enjoy.photo.
You can also pre-order the lens from Adorama in the US, and Wex Photo Video and Park Cameras in the UK.