No Ultrasonic AFLenses with ultrasonic focusing mechanism tend to be quiter and faster than traditionally focusing lenses. One or more Low Dispersion lens element is usedLow Dispersion lens elements help to reduce chromatic aberration. Not stabilizedImage stabilization helps to reduce blur caused by hand shake, especially at high focal length or in low light situations. Image stabilization can give 1 to 3 stop advantage over none stabilized lens, based on the reciprocal rule. Internal FocusingInternally focusing lenses don't change their size while setting focus. The front lens is fixedThe fixed front lens is not rotating during zoom and/or focusing. This allows the photographer to use petal shaped lens hood. Fixed front lenses also make the use of polarization filters a lot easier. No drop-in filter supportDrop-in filters are used in those lenses where either the front lens is too large, or the field of view doesn't permit the use of traditional filters at the front of the lens. Usually bright tele and ultra-wide angle lenses support this filter type. |
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300mm (35mm equivalent) lens in a short 7.2cm body with ED lens elements, ensuring both picture quality and portability.
Boasting the smallest size and lightest weight in its class, this cost-efficient 3.8x telephoto lens uses an ED (Extra-low Dispersion) lens element for optimum correction of chromatic aberrations. Incorporating a circular aperture diaphragm for beautiful defocusing, this lens assures high picture quality throughout the zoom range, as well as providing an astonishingly short closest focusing distance of 90cm throughout the zoom range. |
| Available mount(s) | FourThirds |
| Application(s) | Portrait, Landscape, Wildlife |
| Category(s) | Tele zoom |
| Multiplier | 2× |
| Stabilizer | no |
| Focal length | 40 - 150 mm (3.8× zoom) |
| Lens construction | 12 elements in 9 groups |
| Angle of view |
35mm: N/A digital: 30-8.2° |
| Number of blades | 7 |
| Maximum aperture | wide: f/4 tele: f/5.6 |
| Minimum aperture | wide: f/22 tele: f/22 |
| Minimum focusing distance | 90 cm |
| Magnification | 0.14× |
| Filter size | 58 mm |
| Size | ∅ 65.5 × 72mm mm |
| Weight | 220 g |
| Notes |
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| AF speed | N/A |
| AF sound | |
| Internal focusing | yes |
| Internal zoom | N/A |
| Fix front lens | yes |
| Mount type | N/A |
| Weather sealed | N/A |
| Drop in filter | no |
| Ultrasonic AF | no |
| APS-C sized circle | N/A |
| Low dispersion lens element | yes |
| Hard case | N/A |
| Soft case | LSC-0814 (not included) |
| Lens hood | LH-61D (included) |
| Tripod adapter | N/A |
Aug 15, 2008
I got this lens with my E-510 (14-42mm and 40-150mm).
It's my main lens for now. I don't use the 14-42mm much. it's sharp sometimes. 3 to 5 of 10 photos are excellent, the rest just decent or below. slow auto focus in light and sometime not accurate. I use manual focus mostly to get the best results. I used it with the ex-25 and I got very nice macro shots. but for taking pictures of wild life or birds this is not good and for me it's worthless for these kinds of photography. also not good for macro unless you combine it with the ex-25.
In my opinion, it's better to buy the old 40-150mm f/3.5 if you can find it or just jump to 70-300mm if you have money because you almost will stop using it if you have the 70-300mm. at lease the 70-300mm excellent for macro and reaches further.
Nov 22, 2008
When my"therapist" at the local camera store told me he could sell me this lens for $100 I thought, "It's Olympus, how bad could it be?" So I bought it and took some time to set up a few test shots against the superb Olympus 14-54. The 40-150 performed beautifully, it's nice and sharp, and nothing I could do produced any fringing. The edges are plenty sharp enough, I just kept muttering WOW.
Focus and zoom seem on a par with the 14-54: smooth and fast.
Being 4.0-5.6 I guess there's not a whole lot of glass in there so the lens is very light. That can be an advantage when you need an all-purpose, compact, walk-around/travel lens. This is fast becoming mine.
One note: it has a plastic mounting flange, but the general build quality is solid. It doesn't come with a fancy case.
I believe it's the best $100 I ever spent on camera equipment!
May 11, 2008
I bought this lens to complement the stock 14-42 that came with my Olympus e420. I actually paid $101 for it at a local camera store, when Amazon was asking $300 for it (now it is down to $128).
Main reason I bought it was to get some reasonable tele-power for my camera, and the price certainly was right.
While it is a very decent lens for objects 2 meters and out, it lacks macro capabilities. I do mostly nature shots, and find myself constantly switching lenses in places where I would hate to see anything drop to the muddy floor.
At 150, power is pretty good for perspective shots, but not nearly strong enough for shooting birds or wildlife. Looks like I'll be purchasing more glass in the near future, something like a pancake 12-600 tele-macro with automatic IR to UV programmable filtering 8^)
Olympus Evolt E420 10MP Digital SLR Camera with 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko Lens
Mar 2, 2010
Okay, it's inexpensive. The ring where it attaches to the camera is plastic. But, are you going to use this as a hammer? It is that very construction that makes this camera a heavyweight in the lightweight class, and at an affordable price.
Years ago, a lens with this magnification ratio would be unheard of (equivalent of 80mm to 300mm). My old Canon lenses with half that range (and no better optical quality) weight four times as much.
Oh, we are so spoiled in this digital world! Yet, I enjoy being spoiled.
You will not find a better lens anywhere for this price. You may not find a better lens anywhere for twice the price of this little gem. Other manufacturers "kit" lenses (the lenses often sold accompanying the camera body as a kit) are virtually throw-aways, something to get you through until you can buy their more expensive lenses. Not this one. Auto focus is good, color and other aberrations minimal.
Although I own and use some very expensive bodies and lenses, this lens is always in my car with my E-520 and the 14-42 lens. If a photo opportunity comes up, I won't be missing those cameras and lenses at home, because this kit will handle the situation with great aplomb.
May 8, 2010
This is an excellent zoom lens for the price. If you have a 4/3 body, then this is a must. At this price, size, weight, value and quality, you should just buy this lens. It can produce sharp images.