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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 Rolling Impressions | |
So I got a copy of the Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 in for review today. I haven't had a ton of time with it yet, but I'll keep updating this as I go, as I know a lot of m4/3 shooters are interested in the lens.
First things first, as I noted when I played with it at Photokina, it's a pretty big lens, especially in the m4/3 universe. You feel the weight, and while it's small for an 80-300mm equivalent, it's also not THAT small for an 80-300mm equivalent. It makes my X-T1+55-200 feel pretty small and light, and that lens isn't exactly tiny. Still, in the grand scheme of things, it's a bit smaller than a full frame 70-200/4, so I'm being picky here. The hood is huge, but nicely retracts so you don't need to reverse it. Build quality is outstanding, and it feels solid and the zoom and focus rings feel great.
http://www.jordansteele.com/2014/40-150.jpg
AF is very quick and very accurate, though I noticed in dim light indoors, it would sometimes hunt, and sometimes hunt a LOT on my E-M5. We'll see how prevalent it is over the next week.
My first impresions optically? It's frickin' incredible. Absolutely tack sharp right from f/2.8 throughout the entire zoom range. From a resolution standpoint, there is literally nothing more to wish for here. It's extremely sharp into the corners even at 150mm and f/2.8.
Bokeh is very nice when there's a fair bit of blur...can get some slight nervousness on just out of focus grass, but specular highlights are smooth and round.
The Achilles heel? Flare. Don't shoot this into the sun. Don't shoot this with the sun right at the edge of the frame. Simply stay away from the sun. Bad. Bad flare.
Of course, I'll need to put it through a LOT more paces, but in the vast majority of situations, I don't think anyone would be disappointed by the optics. Oh...it also can focus really closely. 0.7m at 150mm.
Closeup of my son's eyes at 150mm, f/2.8. Uncropped frame (ISO 1600+pushed a bit, thus the noise):
http://www.jordansteele.com/2014/40-150_eyes.jpg
100% crop:
http://www.jordansteele.com/2014/40-150_eyes_crop.jpg
Another super close up near MFD, this time at f/5.6:
http://www.jordansteele.com/2014/40-150_xander_close.jpg
100% crop:
http://www.jordansteele.com/2014/40-150_xander_close_crop.jpg
Some more shots:
55mm, f/5.6
http://www.jordansteele.com/2014/40-150_city.jpg
135mm, f/2.8:
http://www.jordansteele.com/2014/40-150_xander_milk.jpg
Bokeh @ 150/2.8:
http://www.jordansteele.com/2014/40-150_bokeh.jpg
And here's bad flare:
http://www.jordansteele.com/2014/badflare.jpg
With bright reflection to the left:
http://www.jordansteele.com/2014/sideflare.jpg
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