Olympus Targets Pros with a 40-150mm f/2.8 Lens and Firmware 2.0 for the OM-D E-M1

Olympus is expanding its appropriately named PRO lens series for Micro Four Thirds with the telephoto zoom M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO Lens. The company is also releasing an MC-14 1.4x Teleconverter alongside the lens and giving the OM-D E-M1 mirrorless camera a makeover with a new Silver finish, as well as a significant version 2.0 firmware update. This update adds major functionality with new tethering support, keystone compensation, and Live Composite ability.

The 40-150mm joins the 12-40mm f/2.8 lens in the PRO category of M.ZUIKO DIGITAL lenses, where it shares the distinction of a fast, constant f/2.8 aperture and dust-, splash-, and freeze-proof metal construction. Extending the PRO lineup to an equivalent 80-300mm, it also introduces an industry-first Dual VCM (Voice Coil Motor) autofocus system. This new AF mechanism affects two independent lens groups, which are controlled by their own linear-drive motor, to produce extremely quick, quiet, and precise focusing.

The optical design, which employs a floating-element mechanism, comprises 16 elements in 10 groups, and includes a host of low-dispersion and high-refractive index elements. Three extra-low-dispersion elements and one super extra-low-dispersion element help to reduce chromatic and spherical aberrations throughout the zoom range, while one extra-low-dispersion aspherical element helps to maintain a compact overall form factor. Additionally, one high-refractive index and dispersion element further contributes to well-controlled distortions and aberrations for maintained sharpness and clarity. A ZERO (Zuiko Extra-low Reflection Optical) coating has also been applied to lens surfaces to suppress lens flare and ghosting for increased contrast and color fidelity.

Enjoy the heft of the rugged metal lens body and its variety of features, such as a Manual Focus Clutch, which makes switching from auto to manual focus as simple as sliding the focusing ring. There are also distance-scale markings for checking focus and a programmable L-Fn button for intuitive lens-based settings control. Included with the lens is a rotatable tripod collar, for well-balanced mounting on a tripod or monopod, and a dedicated LH-76 Lens Hood that can collapse onto the lens for storage.

Being released alongside the 40-150mm lens is a dust-, splash-, and freeze-proof 1.4x teleconverter designed specifically for it, to extend the focal length to 56-210mm, which is equivalent to 112-420mm in 35mm terms. Teleconverters do cause a light loss of about 1 stop; however, with the lens’s constant f/2.8 aperture and the impressive ISOs of modern cameras, this is rarely an issue. Additionally, Olympus is releasing a new ZUIKO PRO line of protection filters, in 62mm and 72mm sizes, that feature a black anodized aluminum frame, high-quality optical glass, and the same ZERO coating found on the lenses.

	M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO Lens	M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 40-150mm f/4-5.6 R Lens
Lens Mount	Micro Four Thirds	Micro Four Thirds
Focal Length (35mm Equivalent)	40-150mm (80-300mm)	40-150mm (80-300mm)
Maximum Aperture	f/2.8	f/4-5.6
Minimum Aperture	Not specified by manufacturer	f/22
Angle of View	30° to 8.2°	30° to 8.2°
Minimum Focusing Distance	27.6" / 70 cm	35.4" / 90 cm
Magnification	0.42x (35mm equivalent)	0.32x (35mm equivalent)
Autofocus Motor	Dual VCM (Voice Coil Motor)	Movie & Still Compatible High-Speed Imager AF (MSC)
Image Stabilization	N/A	N/A
Weather Resistance	Dust, splash, and freezeproof	N/A
Lens Construction	16 elements / 10 groups	13 elements / 10 groups
Diaphragm Blades	Not specified by manufacturer	7, rounded
Filter Thread	72mm	58mm
Dimensions (D x L)	3.1 x 6.3" / 79 x 160 mm	2.5 x 3.3" / 63.5 x 83 mm
Weight	1.7 lb / 771.1 g	6.7 oz / 190 g

MC-14 1.4x Teleconverter
Lens Mount	Micro Four Thirds
Magnification Factor	1.4x
Maximum Magnification Ratio	0.6x (35mm equivalent)
Weather Resistance	Dust, splash, and freezeproof
Lens Construction	6 elements
Dimensions	2.3 x 1.0" / 58.4 x 25.4 mm
Weight	3.7 oz / 104.9 g
Compatibility	M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO Lens

 

Also, being announced is a Silver version of the flagship OM-D E-M1 mirrorless camera and a version 2.0 firmware update, which will be available via an electronic download. The most notable features of this update include tethered shooting with the OLYMPUS Capture system, digital keystone compensation, a live composite mode, a couple of new art filters, and improved operability. OLYMPUS Capture works within the included OLYMPUS Viewer3 software to provide a full live view image, the ability to adjust camera settings, and more. Previous images can even be set as overlays for matching and comparing shots.