Two additional Olympus M.ZUIKO PRO lenses to launch in 2015

[Ian]

Re: Two additional Olympus M.ZUIKO PRO lenses to launch in 2015

The 300mm f/4 looks similar in size to a ZD 50-200mm SWD, but maybe longer (although I expect it to be an internal-focus design).

The 7-14 f/2.8 looks very compact indeed (especially compared to the ZD 7-14 f/4) but is likely to be bigger than the Panasonic 7-14 f/4.

Ian

[Ross the fiddler]

Re: Two additional Olympus M.ZUIKO PRO lenses to launch in 2015

Anybody care to hazard a guess at just how big and expensive a 300mm 1.4 Pro lens is likely to be?

Ron

That would be horrendously large & expensive, the 300mm f4 on the other hand might be a bit more manageable in size & price though.

[bilbo]

Re: Two additional Olympus M.ZUIKO PRO lenses to launch in 2015

Originally Posted by bilbo
Now the small question of price.

Forget the idea of small (in price) though.

Yep - I chose my words and their order very carefully

[catkins]

Re: Two additional Olympus M.ZUIKO PRO lenses to launch in 2015

Exciting to see the completion of the Pro lens range now on the distant horizon.
What I will find interesting is how well a native micro-four thirds 300mm Pro or indeed 40-150mm Pro lens performs with wildlife or more especially my interest of low level aviation, especially when trying to acquire the target at some distance.
With my Sigma 70-200mm EXII APO the ideal is to acquire/lock-on to the aircraft at some distance, to then be able to track it into shooting range. This is relatively straight-forward with the Oly E-30 but has been a problem with the Oly E-M1, though with all my pre-purchase research it was clear that this might be the compromise that I had to pay. Once close too, and almost beginning to fill over half the frame, the E-M1 has been reliable in its speed of focus and its ability to remain locked on to target. However, the initial tracking or lack of is frustrating, as it jumps in and out of focus.
So, the big question for me is, will the new 300mm or 40-150mm Pro lenses bring additional benefits in distance target acquisition and reliable lock-on as the subject is tracked in? If they do, put me down for potential debt issues! Trouble is, by the time they come out will we have any low level aviation left to photograph in the north?!!

Regards
Chris

[Zuiko]

Re: Two additional Olympus M.ZUIKO PRO lenses to launch in 2015

Now the small question of price.

They won't be cheap!

But for those on a budget (like me) there are already options such as the 9-18mm, 40-150mm f4/5.6 or 75-300mm.

This is brilliant, much-needed news for pros and those with deep pockets and will further strengthen the system as a whole.

PS Could this new committment be anything to do with Olympus's vastly improved projected financial results, reported this week on the Amatuer Photographer website?

[photo_owl]

Re: Two additional Olympus M.ZUIKO PRO lenses to launch in 2015

They won't be cheap!

I would expect the 300/4 to be very similar to the 50-200 in price and to edge it slightly on IQ

[benvendetta]

Re: Two additional Olympus M.ZUIKO PRO lenses to launch in 2015

I think that I will just hang on to my 43rds 7-14mm and just live with the bulk. After all, I already have it and can use today, it is not costing me anything, and it is still a damn fine piece of glass. I am sure that in terms of optical quality the micro 43rds version won't be any better. The only thing that will be, is the size.
The 300mm f4 does look nice but I will likely pass on it if it is going to cost big bucks. For the limited use I would get out of such a lens, the ability to hire kit like this from Ian is soooo attractive.

[Ian]

Re: Two additional Olympus M.ZUIKO PRO lenses to launch in 2015

While the shorter flange/back distance does enable the optics to be shrunk, compact size could tempt Olympus to sacrifice absolute optical excellence - maybe not in terms of sharpness but possibly in distortion characteristics. Bigger optics usually mean less distortion and vignetting.

Ian

[Gwyver]

Re: Two additional Olympus M.ZUIKO PRO lenses to launch in 2015

I wish it wasn't taking Olympus so long to get these things into production - their mFT offerings at the long end (other than than the 75/f1.8) are currently a bit thin.

Having revealed the 40-150 last September I had hoped that shipments of it might start in time for my trip to Skye in June, but it looks like this won't happen.

[catkins]

Re: Two additional Olympus M.ZUIKO PRO lenses to launch in 2015

They won't be cheap!

But for those on a budget (like me) there are already options such as the 9-18mm, 40-150mm f4/5.6 or 75-300mm.

This is brilliant, much-needed news for pros and those with deep pockets and will further strengthen the system as a whole.

PS Could this new committment be anything to do with Olympus's vastly improved projected financial results, reported this week on the Amatuer Photographer website?

In one sense, this would appear to give Olympus a logical lens range for lower and upper lens performance/quality/price portfolios.
However, it would be interesting to see how Olympus price these new lenses as I would assume that the Enthusiast/Pro market is the ideal.
Are there enough Pros able to spend big budgets to warrant the development costs? Conversely, despite the worldwide recession there are a lot of Enthusiasts who are able to spend reasonable sums of money (witness the 19% increase [Oct-Dec 2012/Oct -Dec 2013] in mirrorless sales due especially to the E-M1).
But the digital camera market for Olympus is still in decline partly due to reduced sales in the compact and PEN camera ranges. And though Olympus Corporation can report improvements, its Imaging department still is the weak link.

Though the poor compact/PEN sales led to the current Olympus Net Sales target being unmet, the Operating Income target was met because the increased sales of 'high-margin OM-D products contributed to higher gross profit and lower cost of sales'.
So, the 'high margin OM-D products' will be critical to Olympus Imaging and the pricing of products will no doubt owe a lot to the real-life results of E-M1 sales.
These E-M1 users are likely to be the key users of the Pro lenses; how these Pro lenses add to the capabilities of the E-M1 and its future successors, and at what cost, will be the key to their success.
Within this band of E-M1 users, there must be the assumption that many users have upgraded from existing Olympus digital cameras, and that many of these will already have good four thirds mount telephoto lenses.
Therefore, the market for these Pro lenses is perhaps chiefly limited to those who are recent converts buying into the OM-D Pro system and to those might want to upgrade from four thirds mount lens to micro-four thirds. And for the latter, pricing plus performance gains will be critical, in order to justify the upgrade. I find the fact that Olympus have decided to bring out a 300mm f/4 fascinating as it's difficult to see the 'mass' market that would justify it at this stage of the OM-D development - but its development does at least tempt us to feel that all is good and getting better at Olympus Imaging!

Regards
Chris
(It must be wet and horrible outside - I fear I ramble!)

[bilbo]

Re: Two additional Olympus M.ZUIKO PRO lenses to launch in 2015

I would expect the 300/4 to be very similar to the 50-200 in price and to edge it slightly on IQ

Where do I sign up?

[Ross the fiddler]

Re: Two additional Olympus M.ZUIKO PRO lenses to launch in 2015

I would expect the 300/4 to be very similar to the 50-200 in price and to edge it slightly on IQ

That would put it into the expensive but reachable target for me (AU$1500) & not over-the-top at double the price.

[bilbo]

Re: Two additional Olympus M.ZUIKO PRO lenses to launch in 2015

I find the fact that Olympus have decided to bring out a 300mm f/4 fascinating as it's difficult to see the 'mass' market that would justify it at this stage of the OM-D development - but its development does at least tempt us to feel that all is good and getting better at Olympus Imaging!

Really? For me (E-3 early adopter with 4/3 glass having only just bought into MFT with E-M1) the 300mm f/4 fills out a major hole at the top end. The 50-200mm SWD is a great lens, but for wildlife it doesn't really have the reach. I had a Bigma 50-500mm which had the reach but which did my back in!

A reasonably priced MFT 300mm f/4 prime will see me close to the front of the queue. I just won't put myself through the same early adoption fiasco we had with the E-M1 without major incentives!

[Grumpy Hec]

Re: Two additional Olympus M.ZUIKO PRO lenses to launch in 2015

These look highly desirable.

Anybody fancy joining me in a bank raid and we can split the proceeds to be able to afford them

I would love to see a 135 - 400, to give overlap with the 40-150, in the pro range. My Sigma 140-400 is excellent for safari etc. and an Olympus Pro version would be very welcome to top off this expanding range. I live in hope rather than expectation plus I probably couldn't justify the expense anyway

Hec

[dogsbody]

Re: Two additional Olympus M.ZUIKO PRO lenses to launch in 2015

credit card, in 2015 you will be taking a most horrible spanking.