It’s been on the roadmap since at least last November, and it’s finally almost here: the M.Zuiko Digital ED 150–400mm f/4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO is fully developed and expected to start shipping in late January, 2021. This high-res super telephoto lens features a built-in 1.25x teleconverter for up to a 1000mm equivalent field of view, in a package small enough that you can leave the tripod at home.
Contact a Mike’s camera near you or click here to pre-order this beauty today!
Rock solid
In addition to its diminutive size—only 12.4″ long, weighing 4.1 lbs—an advanced 5-axis stabilization system helps you keep shooting handheld. With the right settings, using an E-M1X, you can actually achieve up to 8 stops of extra stability! The internal zoom/focus mechanisms ensure that the lens never changes size, and the lightweight carbon fiber hood was carefully designed to prevent it from throwing the whole setup off-balance.
The magnesium alloy body of the lens is completely weather sealed and protected by a heat-resistant coating. Strap eyelets allow you to protect your lens mount, shifting the load bearing points to the tough lens body. A fluorine coating on the front element finishes off the 150–400mm lens’ list of protective features, making cleaning as effortless as can be.
Extreme reach
400mm is a fairly impressive focal length on its own, especially considering the fact that the image coming out of a Micro Four Thirds sensor is going to have a field of view equivalent to an 800mm lens on a full-frame camera. This was not enough for the engineers at Olympus, however; not only is there a 1.25x teleconverter available at any time with a flick of a switch, the M.Zuiko Digital ED 150–400mm f/4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO is also fully compatible with the MC-14 and MC-20 1.4x and 2.0x teleconverters. That makes a maximum reach of 2000mm full-frame equivalent. Yow!
| Focal length (35mm equivalent) | Max aperture value | Max magnification (35mm equivalent) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO | 150–400mm (300–800mm) | f/4.5 | 0.29x (0.57x) |
| With built-in 1.25x TC | 187.5–500mm (375–1000mm) | f/5.6 | 0.36x (0.71x) |
| With built-in 1.25x TC and MC-14 1.4x TC | 262.5–700mm (525–1400mm) | f/8.0 | 0.5x (1.01x) |
| With built-in 1.25x TC and MC-20 2x TC | 375–1000mm (750–2000mm) | f/11 | 0.71x (1.43x) |
This lens is no slouch on the close end, either; at all focal lengths, the minimum focusing distance is a mere 1.3m (roughly 4’3″).
Uncompromising quality
It should come as a surprise to no one that this PRO series lens demonstrates optical excellence beyond its reach and compactness:
- Max f/4.5 aperture throughout the entire zoom range
- 9 blade circular aperture
- 28 elements in 18 groups including ED and EDA elements* designed to minimize flare and color bleeding
- Z-coating nano tech to suppress reflecting light
*Extra-low Dispersion & Extra-low Dispersion Aspherical
This lens promises to open up impressive possibilities for Micro Four Thirds shooters of all levels of experience and specialization. If it speaks to your photographic soul, make sure you’re one of the first ones to receive this lens by pre-ordering today at this link or by contacting a Mike’s Camera near you.
