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Olympus and Panasonic add new super telephoto lenses to Micro Four Thirds line-up

By Alvin Soon - on 6 Jan 2016, 4:35pm

Olympus and Panasonic add new super telephoto lenses to Micro Four Thirds line-up

Olympus and Panasonic have each added new super telephoto lenses to the Micro Four Thirds family.

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm f/4 IS Pro

Olympus’ addition is the M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm f/4 IS Pro, which provides a 600mm focal length in 35mm equivalent. This makes it the fastest super telephoto prime in the Micro Four Thirds lens line-up.

The new lens is hermetically sealed in 17 places, making it splash-proof, dust-proof and freeze-proof.

The new lens comes with built-in image stabilization that works with the OIS in the OM-D E-M1 and E-M5 II cameras for six stops of stabilization. With other camera bodies, the lens IS provides up to four stops of stabilization.

The 300mm lens measures 227mm long and weighs 1.27kg, “one third of the size and weight of most DSLR 600mm equivalents.”

Olympus writes that the lens features a new lens coating technology called ZERO Coating Nano, which suppresses reflected light to minimize ghosting and flaring.

The M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm f/4 IS Pro provides a maximum image magnification of 0.48x (35mm equivalent), with a minimum focusing distance of 1.15m from the end of the lends. For video shooters, the lens’ Movie & Still Compatible mechanism allows for silent AF and shooting.

The lens also features a Manual Focus Clutch mechanism that switches the lens to manual focusing when the focusing ring is pulled towards you. A Focus Limit switch lets you limits focus (4m to infinity, all range, 1.4m to 4m), and a built-in sliding lens hood can be locked into place when extended. The tripod base plate is removable.

The M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm f/4 IS Pro is available now (in the US) with an SRP of US$2,499.99 (approx. S$3,580.49).

Source: DP Review.

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmar 100-400mm f/4-6.3 ASPH

Panasonic’s introducing the Leica DG Vario-Elmar 100-400mm f/4-6.3 ASPH, which makes it the longest super telephoto zoom lens in the Micro Four Thirds lens family, with a focal length of 200-800mm in 35mm equivalent.

The 100-400mm lens comes with Power Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). It works with Dual Image Stabilization on the Panasonic GX8, which uses both camera OIS and lens OIS to stabilize the shot.

The lens measures 172mm long and weighs 985g, and is weather sealed against dust and light rain. It’s built with nine diaphragm blades, which provide circular apertures for smooth and pleasing background blur. It has a minimum focusing distance of 1.3m, and a magnification of 0.25x.

The lens comes with a two-part tripod mount which can covert between landscape and portrait orientation. It also comes with an integrated, hide-away lens hood. The lens is built with Panasonic’s high-speed 240fps AF-motor with silent focusing, for both fast and quiet autofocusing.

The Leica DG Vario-Elmar 100-400mm f/4-6.3 ASPH will be available in early April (in the US) with a SRP of US$1,799.99 (approx. S$2,578.47).

Source: DP Review.

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