New Olympus Patent: 400mm f4.0 MFT Lens

[DavyG]

Reports of a new Olympus patent for a 400mm f4.0 lens.

https://www.dailycameranews.com/2018...-4-0-mft-lens/

Dave

[Bengeo]

Re: New Olympus Patent: 400mm f4.0 MFT Lens

Too heavy for me. Now a 400mm f5.6 .....

[Ross the fiddler]

Re: New Olympus Patent: 400mm f4.0 MFT Lens

I'm waiting for (& hoping I can afford) the 150-400 f4.0-5.6 lens that is said to be announced next March, being available at the end of 2019. Good zooms are my preference.

[Phill D]

Re: New Olympus Patent: 400mm f4.0 MFT Lens

I think I'm in the same camp Ross so long as it's good at close up shots too like the 300mm is.

[Walti]

Re: New Olympus Patent: 400mm f4.0 MFT Lens

Shame about the little rider at the end....

We have to mention that several months ago, Dpreview reported, “Olympus Cancels 400mm f4 lens”:

After years of planning, development and testing, Olympus is considering cancelling the production of a 400mm f4 lens. This lens was going to be one of the most superlative lenses ever made by Olympus; however, after extensive surveying, it was discovered that it might only meet the needs of a very small minority.

[AMc]

Re: New Olympus Patent: 400mm f4.0 MFT Lens

I did get a survey a while ago from MyOlympus asking a lot of leading questions about PRO and specifically telephoto lenses.

As I am involved in Online Surveys for a living I was very disappointed by the terrible way they'd phrased the questions and that they insisted on answers when you had no opinion.

We make a point of not forcing users to answer questions as your useful responses get swamped with garbage replies from people eager to complete the survey and get the reward.
Hopefully it will appear if there is a market.

[Ross the fiddler]

Re: New Olympus Patent: 400mm f4.0 MFT Lens

Shame about the little rider at the end....

We have to mention that several months ago, Dpreview reported, “Olympus Cancels 400mm f4 lens”:

After years of planning, development and testing, Olympus is considering cancelling the production of a 400mm f4 lens. This lens was going to be one of the most superlative lenses ever made by Olympus; however, after extensive surveying, it was discovered that it might only meet the needs of a very small minority.

It's likely for the same reasons as the F1.0 primes that were shelved in favour of the f1.2 prime lenses instead. They were heavy & expensive while the f1.2 lenses had a better chance of selling. I suspect they've gone (going) for the zoom up to 400mm instead. They (says Simon) are also bringing the MC20, so that would bring the 300 f4 lens up to 600mm at f8. That is supposed to come next March (with the E-M1 Mk III). At least that would give me 300mm f5.6 with the 40-150 lens.

[stevewestern]

Re: New Olympus Patent: 400mm f4.0 MFT Lens

It would be good to know if the 150-400 is actually coming, and some details - I was at a Grass Track race meet on Sunday and my 40-150 with T/C just wasn't long enough for the furthest action so almost all my pictures were with the Nikon FF and 150-600 sigma..
I'm very tempted to get a Panasonic 100-400 as waiting for something that may not even arrive is not something I'm good at..

[Walti]

Re: New Olympus Patent: 400mm f4.0 MFT Lens

MC20 is on my shopping list now...

Not sure about a 150-400, I don't miss a zoom very often at the long lens area.

(I have the 40-150, 300 and MC14)

[Ross the fiddler]

Re: New Olympus Patent: 400mm f4.0 MFT Lens

MC20 is on my shopping list now...

Not sure about a 150-400, I don't miss a zoom very often at the long lens area.

(I have the 40-150, 300 and MC14)

I don't know how much the 150-400 is likely to cost as they are only going to announce (in March) that they're going to produce it for the end of next year, but maybe I'm hoping & wishing for more than I can afford, while the 300 f4 lens is over AU$3000 with the best discounted price so far being $2700. If the 150-400 could be about $2500 then I might be able to go for it (eventually), but that's just hoping.

[griffljg]

Re: New Olympus Patent: 400mm f4.0 MFT Lens

I think that I may well be in the same camp as Ross on this one. I prefer high quality zoome to primes, especially for telephotos. I zoom out to "acquire" the subject and then zoom in to take the photo. I have tried to photograph little birds in flight or slightly bigger aeroplanes while fully zoomed in, but without much luck.

When my old Sigma 50-500mm (BIGMA) died (aperture stopped closing) and couldn't be repaired, there was only one real option. - The Panasonic / Leica 100-400mm.

If an Olympus 150-400mm had been available, I would have gone for it. But it wasn't and so I didn't.

[Ross the fiddler]

Re: New Olympus Patent: 400mm f4.0 MFT Lens

I think that I may well be in the same camp as Ross on this one. I prefer high quality zoome to primes, especially for telephotos. I zoom out to "acquire" the subject and then zoom in to take the photo. I have tried to photograph little birds in flight or slightly bigger aeroplanes while fully zoomed in, but without much luck.

When my old Sigma 50-500mm (BIGMA) died (aperture stopped closing) and couldn't be repaired, there was only one real option. - The Panasonic / Leica 100-400mm.

If an Olympus 150-400mm had been available, I would have gone for it. But it wasn't and so I didn't.

I had one person suggest going for the Lumix FZ1000 with 24-400 (equiv) F2.8-4.0 using 1" sensor. It's selling for $900 & might be a poor man's option, but I really would like that Oly 150-400 lens though. Actually, I just realised, I already have that! (40-150 + MC14)

[JohnGG]

Re: New Olympus Patent: 400mm f4.0 MFT Lens

I have the Pana-Leica 100-400 and it is a cracking lens but if Olympus brought out an equivalent it would be tempting for two reasons. Firstly it would be nice to have image stabilisation in the lens that worked in conjunction with the camera body, like the Zuiko 12-100/4 and 300/4. Secondly, the zoom ring on the Pana-Leica works in the opposite direction to all the Zuiko zooms which continues to cause confusion. My preference though would be for a constant aperture lens, even if it was a little darker at the short end. Perhaps f/4.5 or f/5 over the entire range.

I wonder if Olympus will bring out a 40-150/2.8 Mk 2 with IS built in.

Cheers,

JohnGG

[Loup Garou]

Re: New Olympus Patent: 400mm f4.0 MFT Lens

I'm waiting for (& hoping I can afford) the 150-400 f4.0-5.6 lens that is said to be announced next March, being available at the end of 2019.

Same here. It will pair-up nicely with my Olympus 14-150mm f4-5.6 and I can trade in my current Panasonic 100-300mm f4-5.6 for the new lens.

Price apart, the other concern is the size and weight, of course. I like a lens to be of robust build quality but at the same time, easy to handle. One of the major advantages of the MFT system is their smaller size compared with other formats and hence portability. My wife and I are retiring within the next 6 months and plan to do some "outdoor" type travelling where a long lens would useful.

[Ross the fiddler]

Re: New Olympus Patent: 400mm f4.0 MFT Lens

Same here. It will pair-up nicely with my Olympus 14-150mm f4-5.6 and I can trade in my current Panasonic 100-300mm f4-5.6 for the new lens.

Price apart, the other concern is the size and weight, of course. I like a lens to be of robust build quality but at the same time, easy to handle. One of the major advantages of the MFT system is their smaller size compared with other formats and hence portability. My wife and I are retiring within the next 6 months and plan to do some "outdoor" type travelling where a long lens would useful.

The 150-400 F4-5.6 won't be light with that focal length & aperture, but not as large & heavy if it was a constant F4 though & is most likely a Pro quality lens with OIS & Sync IS possibility. Your 14-150 F4-5.6 lens is a very compact lens.

The PanaLeica 100-400 F4.0-6.3 is nearly 1kg with a 72mm filter. I would expect the Olympus to be a bit heavier & maybe with a larger filter perhaps too (not sure on the physics on that though).