Olympus Zuiko Digital 40-150mm f/3.5-4.5, Lens Review

A look back at the Zuiko Digital 40-150mm f/3.5-4.5, the second of the pair of kit lenses for the Olympus E-300 and the E-500 DSLR Kits.

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The Olympus Zuiko Digital 40-150mm f/3.5-4.5, a telephoto zoom lens for the now-discontinued Four Thirds DSLR system, is the second of the kit lenses for the Olympus E-300 introduced in 2004, and the E-500 in 2005. The lens, bigger and heavier than most other APS-C lenses, is well-regarded for its image quality in good lighting conditions, pleasing color renditions, and background blurring effects.

It has 13 elements in 10 groups with 7 aperture blades, measures 77mm in diameter and 107mm long, focuses down to 1.8 meters, takes 58mm filters, and is a lightweight at 425 grams.

The lens was first introduced with the launch of the Olympus E-300 in 2004, and was also packed as the second kit lens for the twin-lens set of the Olympus E-500. Subsequent releases of the camera series, however, saw the lens being replaced by the smaller and more compact Zuiko Digital 40-150mm f/4.5-5.6, which has a smaller maximum aperture.

On the Olympus E-500, the lens is equivalent to an 80 - 300mm zoom lens on a 35mm full frame camera, an excellent choice for portraits and general telephoto use, and for its creamy, pleasant, and smooth bokeh; though not so much for extreme wildlife or shoots where very shallow depths of field are essential.

The lens, which has a brighter aperture than many kit lenses, also allows for tight shots of distant scenes and for capturing people and events from a moderate distance.

Reviews

Reviews indicate that the lens received praise for its excellent sharpness, especially at the wider end of the zoom range (40-110mm) and when stopped down. Image quality remains acceptable at 150mm, but some reviewers found it softer at the longest focal lengths, particularly when shot wide-open. Typical of Olympus optics, the lens is also said to produce true-to-life colors and good contrast.

Built

Though the lens is predominantly plastic, it is sturdy, comes with a durable metal mount, features a smooth zoom action with rubberized focus and zoom rings that offer a good grip, albeit a long manual-focus throw. The front of the lens rotates while focusing, and the lens is not weather-sealed or dust-sealed.

Walking The Zoom

@ 40mm

@ 50mm

@ 70mm

@ 100mm

@ 140mm

Early Images

In use, autofocusing can be a mixed experience; in good light, it is reasonably quick, but it can be slow and noisy, especially in low-light conditions.

End Note

For vintage digital camera enthusiasts, especially of the CCD genre with Four Thirds mount cameras, the Zuiko Digital 40-150mm f/3.5-4.5 is still an excellent performer worth looking at. The lens is often listed on auction listings at prices that are affordable and manageable.

Olympus E-500, Zuiko Digital 40-150mm f/3.5-4.5

As a Four Thirds lens, however, the lens is not directly compatible with the modern Micro Four Thirds (MFT) mirrorless cameras, unless adapted to an MFT body using an adapter, with significant degradation of the autofocus performance.

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