the OM mZD 100-400mm f/5-6.3 OIS lens has been upgraded to a Mark II version in Feb 2025 adding basic level IPX1 weather protection, sync IS compatibility, ZERO coating, a new hinged tripod collar and is slightly lighter
Olympus m.ZD 75-300mm f/4.8-6.7 II zoom lens
version II lens produced 2013
close focus to 1.5m at 300mm and 0.9m at 150mm
new external styling to suit E-M5
ZERO coating
MSC AF drive
18 elements in 13 groups with 1 super ED, 2 ED and 3 HR lenses
“Panasonic 100-300mm f/4-5.6 was significantly sharper than the Olympus 75-300 f/4.8-6.7 II lens throughout the entire aperture range, and especially at 300mm”
Olympus has created a compact, hand holdable super telephoto zoom lens for the Micro Four Thirds system which is capable of up to 600mm supertelephoto field of view in 35mm terms without compromising significantly on sharpness.
it is best used on a camera such as the Olympus OM-D E-M5 camera fitted with the HLD-6 grip for better ergonomics, and of course image stabiliser which reliably allows hand holdable shutter speeds down to 1/160th sec at the 300mm end.
150-600mm in 35mm terms
58mm non-rotating filter thread
metal lens mount
7 rounded blades
18 elements arranged in 13 groups incl. 2x ED and 3 highly refractive elements
it seems that best results are at the 100-220mm range with shots at longer focal length being much less sharp, although camera shake is likely a major factor at such high magnifications.
“While this lens is obviously not in the same class as the primes and high-grade zooms that we have reviewed so far, it is actually pretty amazing for a superzoom.”
“The lens also earns our admiration for fast focusing on the equally new DMC-GH2, even at the 600mm equivalent end of the zoom range in low-light conditions”