Olympus 14-150mm f/4.0-5.6 II Review - The BEST Travel Lens for m4/3?
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- Опубліковано 5 жов 2024
- Olympus 14-150mm f/4.0-5.6 II is most likely the best travel lens for m4/3. In this Olympus 14-150mm ii review, I will find out if it really is.
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I started with the 14-150 several years ago with my first M 4/3 exposure via the EM5. I have since since settled with the EM1-II. I have spent lots of money on all the PRO lenses (14-40, 12-100, 40-150, etc.). My personal endorsement is for the 14-150 for all the good reasons that are documented all over the place especially the light weight and the weather protection as I live near the beach and also travel. This lens is on my camera 90+% of the time.
I am trying to figure out why Olympus has not promoted this lens more during the past few years; perhaps they are just trying to sell all the other (expensive) lenses they have introduced...
Hola! I just bought an used E-M5 mkiii, and I don't know if getting the 14-150 (my first choice) or go for 12-100, or loose range and go to 14-40 2.8. For my "first" lens, an all terrain, what do you recommend?
I have this lens! I bought it months ago for my trip and i got so many great pics. The af is pretty fast, and the dof is shallow enough for me. It fits perfectly on my Lv mm backpack so i can bring it everywhere and shoot whenever i want^^ The size and weight is really a plus for me! Like what people say, the cons is in lowlight. So i always bring my 45/1.8 or 17/1.8 with it to complete it. This combo is fire! 🔥
Ofc if you want more pro result like sharper image and shallower dof, you should get something like 12-100/f4. But dont hurt your back and your hands while traveling. Enjoy the trip first, shoot great pics later. Traveling is to having fun, isnt it lol
Ive borrowed the 12-100/f4 from my uncle for 3 days trip and it hurt my hands and its too heavy to carry on my backpack. Bcs im a girl and my body is a little weak, size and weight is my main priorities!
Nice video peter! I enjoyed it, keep up the good work! Would like to see your video about family portrait and event photography tips ^^
Sorry for the long comment, have a great day!
I like long comments and when people share their experiences. So thank you.
It is good to have a fast prime for those low light moments. I am glad that you are happy with the lens.
Quite a few similar comments already... I've used the 14-150mm lens with my EM5 Mkii almost exclusively on my travels because it covers just about everything out and about. If you need to limit to a couple of lenses in your rucksack because you need also to carry clothes, food etc (why do most camera rucksack manufacturers design their bags assuming you're bag will be full of camera equipment?). The 14-150mm and the 9-18mm covered a month of all sorts of terrain, cities and wildlife in NZ, and to be honest I rarely used the 9-18 - the 14-150 did it all.
When Olympus brought out the 12-200mm I thought that would be even better. I haven't got one but I note it's over 1.5 times heavier and sticks out quite a bit more on max zoom looking at your review (thanks for that one too). A comparison between these two would be helpful, please.
This is the lens I use the most. It is so versatile when walking around looking for photos: take the wide shots and then zoom in on details. I think the main disadvantage is that it's not quite wide enough at the 14 mm end. I almost always carry the Olympus 12 mm f/2 as well, just in case I need to take a really wide shot. And if I think I will be doing some low light photography I would take either the 17 mm f/1.8 or the 25 mm f/1.8 as well.
Thank you for reviewing this lens. I have it and looked forward to you comments. I think this is one of Olympus most underrated lens. I was thinking about the 12-200 but too heavy. Same for the 12-100 pro..great lens, too heavy. the 14-150 is weather sealed and in the hands of a very good photographer (i.e. you!) will result in some very good images. Thanks again for this review.
Thanks!
This is my favorite lens!!! The only time it comes off is when I'm shooting in low light or macros. I’ve often thought about buying a second one, just in case Olympus decides to discontinue selling it.
Do you reckon all of Olympus functionality is the same as Sony a6600?
@@kombizz In my opinion, it is close to Sony APS-C 6400. !!
Hi Peter, Both my wife and I have this lens( she bought hers new). I bought mine second hand and used it on my Panasonic g80, when it went faulty and could not be repaired I was devastated! So I bought a OMD 10Mk2 with this lens as part of a new deal. I was so impressed with Olympus, I gave my daughter the G80 and I now have a EM1Mk2. This combination is great for travel.
I have this lens. It came with the camera when I bought my EM5 Mark II. Good lens.
This was the first lens I bought for M4/3 and I have always been extremely pleased with it. It served me well for a series of trips to SE Asia in 2018 and early 2019, and is still my go-to travel lens if I'm flying and need minimum weight for maximum versatility.
I ordered this lens along with my E-M5 Mk II 4 years ago. It is a really good, versatile lens and does everything I need. In fact, it is the only lens I own for my Oly camera. I keep circular polarizer filter on it to enhance landscape shots outside "golden hours". And it's cheap. You can get one now, brand new, for around $500-550 US if someone is on the tight budged.
This is my go to lens on the m10. Took some christmas lights on houses last week. Was really impressed. Also took landscapes at a local nature center. Just enough zoom to get the shots. Love it. Deb in Pennsylvania USA
Good to know. I might get this lens as a package with the EM5 iii.
This is my favorite travel lens. I've used it for more than a year. Light weight with versatility without changing lenses.
The lens hood is a pretty tight fit, it's a good idea to extend the tube and hold that while removing the hood. don't load up the zoom mechanism.
Good point.
Living in rural Australia, I travelled to the next photography shop (800km trip), thinking I needed a 12-200 or 12-100.
Turns out they are the size and weight of a large can of beans on the em5ii!
The 14-150 instead is exactly what I wanted, including weather sealing which I need down here for the sand and the salty ocean spray.
No complaints about IQ really- I shoot mostly 1:1 and always add some vignetting anyway.
Also, I stopped caring about edge to edge sharpness in my private photography years ago.
It's a great lens to have together with a small prime, imho.
Tx Peter :-)
That is a long way to the "local" camera store!
Thanks Peter!
I bought this lens together with my EM5 Mk II in2016. It's a perfect travel/walk around combo. I do not feel like I need any other lens for my Oly. I get very good results at any focal length, so it's a great money saver and of course the extra gear weight does not kill my back ☺.
I purchased the EM5 MKIII + 14-150mm f/4.0-5.6 Mk II. I really like this combination for working street or crowds family parties. Camera + Lens is very light. The lens feels good in the hand and is well balanced with the EM5 III. Both body and lens have polycarbonate skin and are quite light used together. I can carry this setup all day and not have my neck, back, or shoulder aching. And everything works swell with my Godox flash.
Seems popular for light weight and decent quality…the 40-150 F4 would be a tempting alternative albeit a bit pricer and about 100 g heavier…still a nice match for the smaller cameras. Enjoying these older videos, though your new ones as well!
Thanks.
I have the early version of this lens, not weather proof but it's very sharp and I really like the focal length range. When I travel, I take this lens along with the 9-18mm zoom. These two lenses give me an incredible focal length range in a very compact travel kit.
That is a good combo for travel. As you said you will have a very good range with a good price.
Thanks for your review, Peter. This has been my most used lens for over ten years. I recently upgraded to the MKII, weather-sealed version in preference to the much bulkier 12-200 offering. I also have the 75-300, 12-40 Pro, 45 mm Pro, 8 mm Pro, 9-18 mm, and 14-42 and 20 mm pancake lenses. They all have their place, but if I have to take one general purpose lens then it is the 14-150. It suffers some barrel distortion at the wide end but that is easily fixed in post. I have found it to be a great all-rounder for outdoor shooting and I wouldn’t be without it.
You seem to be very well covered what comes to lenses.
I have the Samy 8mm, Panny 20mm, Oly 14-45 kit from EPL-5, Oly 45mm and the Pany 100-300 and I was considering a all round lens for travel to replace the plastic 14-45 for my new E-m5 III. Is this the one I should go for? What do you say?
Clearly, the super-zooms are for when you must travel light or when it is impractical to change lenses, or both.
In the Olympus range that means the 14-150 f4-5·6 or the 12-200 f3·5-6·3.
The 12-200 is 60% heavier and has 79% greater volume than the 14-150 (if I have done my sums correctly), which, on a lovely lightweight camera like your E-M5 Mk III might make a big difference to handling.
Also, the lenses stop down to their minimum aperture quite quickly: my 14-150 is at f5·6 at 100 mm and I understand from the imaging-resource.com review that the 12-200 reaches f6·2 also at 100mm (in comparison, my 75-300 f4·8-6·7 reaches f6.2 at 200 mm). So the 12-200 is about half a stop slower than the 14-150 at and beyond 100mm, which could be something to bear in mind if you use the longer focal lengths a lot.
I cannot comment on comparative sharpness, but I think that it is fair to say that these lenses are generally computed to perform best in the most commonly used range of focal lengths; ie under 100 mm at the long end. There is plenty online about this and I’d be happy to send you some examples from my 14-150mm if you like.
Of course, it is all a matter of which set of compromises fit your needs best. For me, that remains the 14-150mm; with the Panasonic 20mm f1·7 in my pocket for low light.
I have owned this lens since it came out. I traded in an equivalent length Tamron for it, as the Tamron wasn’t weatherproofed. I don’t think Peter mentioned that, but it’s nice since the em5 ii and iii are weatherproofed. I have used it a lot over the years, and always had excellent results. I highly recommend it.
He did mention it when he was sipping his drink.
Hi, I have two of these lenses, one for me on my om1 ii and one for my wife Ann on her om5 ii. They are great for a lightweight day out for general purpose and just long enough for a spot of wildlife
Great video. I had one until I got the 12-100/4.0. I then gave my wife the 14-150. She loves it. Love your "city bird" photos.
Thanks.
Hello Peter, I have that lens. And I always use it as an excellent all-around travellens for my OLY OM D-10 Mk 2. I also have the 45mm 1.8 lens. I live in Barcelona, Spain and I follow you very interesting videos/information since several weeks. Thanks and have a nice weekend.
Thank you.
Yes, I use the same body/lens combination as you used in Copenhagen. Very happy with the lens weight and 'scope'. In mid-2021 I bought it in the UK for £250 from HDEW. I should really now sell my Pancake 14 - 42 Kit lens.
I have this lens too. It was my first lens and I reslly like it. It's very good and light. The downside is indoorshooting, macroshooting and moving objects. So then I got the 12-40mm PRO lens which is a lot better in these areas. The only downside of that lens is it's heavier/bigger size/weight and shorter focallength. But still, for me the 12-40mm PRO is much better and I use this lens now for almost everything. The only thing I use the 14-150 II lens for is when I need the extra focallength., which is almost never.
I would find it very interesting to see you make a video comparing these 2 lenses as the best allround lens for m43. Because surely these two are the very best out there today!
But which one is the VERY best?
Have you tried the 12-100mm F4 PRO? Might be a good compromise for your needs?
I have the 12-40 and mainly use it for holidays because have a few primes now for most of my specific needs, but personally I find the 40 too limiting quite often when I want to zoom in a bit further (example, trying to take pictures of cruise ships in the caldera when I went to Santorini earlier this year). The constant F2.8 is great indoors for when I go to museums/cathedrals etc, and the 40mm top end is fine, if anything the problem indoors is the 12mm not being wide enough sometimes 😂
The F4 of the 12-100 seems a great compromise for both of us. But it's not cheap, and as I use mine for mainly outdoors (and usually sunny too) I don't *need* the F4.
Which is why I'm more curious about the 12-200 (variable aperture) which I found out about when looking into the 12-100. It's quite a bit cheaper, but even though it's supposedly soft at the long end it still gives twice the reach for less money.
But, sorry, what I was going to say is I'd like to see a comparison between the 12-40, 12-100, 12-200 and this lens.
Thanks. That is something that I will consider. Lets see if I can get a hold of those other lenses.
@@ForsgardPeter that would be awesome. I was going to ask in the main thread but replied to Terje because thought my question might also help them as my query was similar 😊
Peter, I ordered and received this lens and I agree This is a great Travel lens, I ordered it as the user lens for my old OMDE 1 as a Back-UP Camera to carry it with me all the time, Very happy even comparing it to the PRO 2.8. Liked your Review very Much.
Thank you. Yes it is a good quality lens and very good for travel.
Recently I thought buying me the latest Olympus 12- 45 mm f/4. Then I thought of my Olympus 14- 150 mm f/4-5.6 and I made a comparison between both. To my surprise, I discovered little difference between the two. My 14- 150 mm had 1 stop less light, was 40 gr heavier and slightly 13 mm longer. So I came to the conclusion that I'm not going to need the latest Olympus lens 12- 45 mm f/4. Maybe better to replace my old camera Olympus OMD-M10 MARK II with the new MARK IV that will bring my existing lenses to a better level and better handling in general
For those who travel and take a lot of shots in place visited. Using two lenses is inconvenient in such circumstances when the photographer needs all the time take shots with wide range of focal lengths. The photographer will end up using shorter zoom like 12-40 and reluctantly change for zoom 40-150. If the photographer dedicates go out for taking certain photographs she/he can elaborate a plan. But this is not the case in travel photographing. So for travel photography such a lens is must have. Of cause it's direct competitor 12-100 PRO.
This is my go to lens for tree mounth now and I don t regret my purchase. With this lens you can do everything, is ligthweight compact weather seal .
I bought mine for my E-M10 II to replace the 14-42 and 40-150 kit lenses. Then I migrated the 14-150 II lens to my NEW E-M10 IV body. It saves me changing lenses constantly. I did several city scape runs covering the whole focal length range with good corner-to corner sharpness. However, the 24 shots of Sandra in a new dress at full length, taken at about 7 feet distance, shows the depth of focus is very narrow when viewed at 400%. But Sandra and her mum found no fault with those shots.
I have that lens. It is just beautiful, one of my most treasured possessions with the OM-D-1 Mk2 body. Both bought used from camera dealers in Germany. I've had Olympus cameras for the past 50 years including two now classics which I wish I had kept. I am hoping that this one lens will meet all my needs to keep things easy and light as a 71 year old with dodgy mobility. And no need for a tripod of course with the excellent stabilisation.
I used this lens extensively when I purchased my first Olympus camera (EM5 II) along with the 25mm 1.8. While it is a good lens I found the 25mm sharper and eventually I sold it and bought the 12-100mm Pro lens which is much sharper and fast at longer zooms. I upgraded to the EM1 II and together with the 12-100mm it is my travel lens that is so good I never need anything else except in very low light. The 12-100mm has in lens stabilization that works with the IB stabilization that is incredible! Of course, the 12-100mm is much larger and heavier (and more expensive) , as is the EM1 II, so it is not comparable. For a really light street camera I think the EM1 II with the 25mm 1.8 is great and light. I recently also got the M/4 version of the Sigma 16mm 1.4 which is rather large and heavy, but super sharp and fast. Originally designed for APS-C the Sigma is so sharp because it uses just the center of the optical field - it is a great lens if you can tolerate the size and weight. On a tripod the Sigma is fantastic.
Looks like are well covered what comes to lenses. The 12-100mm f4 Pro lens is better, but as you said it is heavier and more expensive. Sigma makes great lenses.
I agree with you that this lens is vey versatile ,high quality and in reality has become my " go to "lens for most occasions - quick to use , good bokeh when required , very sharp and the zoom range makes it very versatile for many occasions. one of the best lens that I have owned !!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Hi Peter. I have the Mk2 version of this wonderful lens on my EM5Mk2 and it is invariably my first choice for Landscapes.
I don't know about the Olympus 14-150, but I chose the Tamron 14-150 and this thing is awesome. Sharp at all focal lengths and apertures. It's a great do-everything range if you can only bring one lens. I often bring my 17mm 1.8 as well for shooting in low light (as I was writing that you talked about doing so.)
I recommend having a fast prime also for those evening moments when it is dark.
Peter, bought this one used after watching this video. Paired it with an M10 miii for a friend who just retired in Alaska. Thanks again!
Glad I could help!
I have the Olympus M.Zuiko 14-150mm II on my Panasonic Lumix G9 and it works beautifully! I also have the Panasonic 14-140mm lens and I have to admit, I prefer the Olympus lens. The Olympus seems to be a tad sharper and has a little punchier contrast than the Panasonic lens. The Olympus also has an extra bit of telephoto reach. It's a surprisingly good zoom lens at a reasonable price!
Thanks so much for this great review! You've sold me on this lens and it will make a great addition to my Oly 25/1.8 and Laowa 7.5/2. The 14-150 will replace my existing 14-42 kit lens and Oly 40-150 as I was looking for more convenience and less lens swapping.
Glad it was helpful!
I had the 14-150 for some time, but upgraded to the 12-100. It was nice and compact, light, and weather sealed, but I really wanted 12mm for city landscapes and wanted a faster lens for nighttime exposures. Sure, the image stabilization meant buildings were sharp, but people walking weren't. The 12-100 is a bigger and heavier than I like, and I lose 100-150mm. There are always compromises!
Excatly, it is always a compromise and thats why people should pick the lens they need. All lenses are not for everybody.
i suprised to find out this video of your is the only real proper one reviewing about the len
most other youtubers just prefer reviewing pro lens
I try to review as many lenses as possible.
Thank you for this review Peter. This was the first lens I bought for my Em10 iii and I really like it. The second one was the 12-45 Pro which I use most of the time. The initial decision came from your review of that lens.
I, too,love my 12-45 pro. My 75mm f1.8 covers my portrait needs
This is my general walkabout lens on my EM5 II or GX85. Very convenient and in some environments a must so I done change lenses and get dust or dirt on my sensor.
I bought this lens earlier this year and have been constantly surprised at the pictures i've produced with it :)
This is the first lens I got my girlfriend for her GX80. She hasn‘t swapped the lens since and I have been envious of the combo ever since :p
Hi Peter, I own this lens and the own word to subscribe it is 'convenience'. Wide zoom range and weathersealed. Ideal for hiking or traveling, just bring a bright prime with you for darker or indoor situations. The Olympus m.zuiko primes are small and compact, so no problem taking one with you. But even owning this lens I always seem to prefer other lenses, like the 12-40 2.8 pro. The zoom range is good enough for me and I prefer the wider and constant aperture. It's also a lot sharper and has a less nervous bokeh. But it is heavier. Or I take a m.zuiko prime with me, smaller, lighter, brighter, sharper but no zooming.... Aaarghh choices...
I've had this lens for almost four years. I bought it for a trip to visit several national parks in the western US, and it has been on my camera 90% of the time since then -- first on my old EM5i and now my present EM5ii. I've used it coast-coast on trips in the US, in Europe, in Costa Rica, and in Mexico, and it will accompany me on another trip to Scotland and Iceland next year. Did I mention that I love this lens? For those that can't justify the added cost (and weight) of the 14-150mm f2.8 Pro, my answer to Peter's question is, "Yes, in my opinion, it's the best travel lens for m4/3." Caveat: I have not compared this lens with the newer 12-200mm f4.0-6.3 Olympus, so I would be happy to see a side-by-side shoot-out comparison of the two.
I have a video about the 12-200mm f4.0-6.3 from last spring, but have not compared these side by side. Link to the 12-200mm video: ua-cam.com/video/wALRhqUAr7k/v-deo.html
a good single lens, I still like the 12-40 because I think most of my shots in travel are more street photography oriented and if you carry the 2x extender you get a nice tele length but keeps the package small for walking around. Love the yule lights and the bird shots.
Thanks.
I need to try mine out a bit more. I only tried a few test shots when I bought this lens used last year on my E-M5 MkII. Now I have the MkIII. I'll be taking a trip to London next year, and wouldn't mind using the 14-150 if the image quality is near enough to my 12-40 f/2.8. I'm planning on picking up a wide prime (probably 17mm f/1.8) for indoors or lower light. I will do some video. The zoom changing aperture makes me wish the E-M5 MkIII had auto ISO in M when shooting video at least. A trick is to stop down to 5.6, then zooming from wide to tele won't change the aperture. If it's light enough outside, I'll usually shoot stills at f/5.6 to f/8 anyway.
Great and honest review! Thank you so much.
I'm hanging between two lenses, the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-150mm F4-5.6 II and the Olympus M.Zuiko ED 75-300mm F4.8-6.7 II. I don't know wich one I schould go with. Greetings from Germany 😊
Thanks. What are you photographing? The lenses are quite different. 14-150mm is more for general use and the 75-300mm is for animals birds etc.
After selling my 12-40 2.8 pro I bought this lens. Much better fit on smaller bodies (still using my E-M5 mk1). Great choice for multi day hiking where every gram counts. A bit limiting for low light, so an additional fast prime is recommended.
Thank you Peter. I have just been researching what to take on my trip and this helps a lot. I have the older version of this and the 9-18mm. Hopefully they will produce results as good as the newer versions.
It's great lens, for all the reasons you said. And it's very underrated. Great video Peter, thanks for sharing.
I acquired this lens for cycle touring because my 12-100 is just too big and heavy when every gram counts! I just looked at the focal lengths I used during my last long (9 weeks) trip and I used the full range. However, 37% of my shots were at 14mm and 83% in the 14-40mm range. Maybe a case for the 12-40? But then I'd miss the reach... I also had my 17mm f1.8 for low light and I just got the 9-18 mm for my 2020 trip.
For me too, this is the best lens fr th globe-troters... Every day in my bag.... The pro-lenses are too eavy to travel today with the restricted bags on plane....
Thanks for another great video review, Peter. I have had this lens, but I prefer the 12-100mm f/4 pro for travel. Great in low light situations, and no need for a tripod!
The 12-100mm f4 Pro lens is a very nice lens and IQ is a bit better. It is also more expensive and bigger.
@@corygraw9729 Sorry, I don't shoot much with longer lenses, and then I use a slow adapted four-thirds lens. Of course there will be the announced lens: www.dpreview.com/products/olympus/lenses/olympus_150-400_4p5_is_pro!
I bought an E-M5iii with this lens when the iii was first available and have been happy with the lens. As Peter mentioned, the variable aperture when zooming results in an exposure change while shooting video, but I can work around that. With lots of light, this is an excellent lens when traveling at minimum weight and size and only want to carry one lens. On dog walks and nature hikes, this combination is working out well for me. I'll use my Pro gear when I need to, but now I have the choice to go light. Thanks, Peter.
Yes there is a work around for the variable aperture. Just use f5.6 as aperture. It wont change if zooming while recording video.
@@ForsgardPeter That's the trick. Set to 5.6 for video and zooming won't affect exposure in video.
Now if Olympus can enable auto ISO while shooting video in M mode...
Thank you very much for this work around, I'll try it.
I have the mk1 version, it feels cheap, slow to focus and extends too far but certainly at the long end you would be hard pressed to see any difference in image quality compared to my 40-150 Pro unless you pixel peep at 300%. I guess the 40-150 Pro is such a beautiful lens to use, it is easy to fall in love with it
I just bought this lens used on eBay for $49! What a bargain. Happy New Year, Peter.
That is a bargain. Enjoy your new lens.
Greetings from Barcelona
Thank you for reviewing this lens.
My pleasure.
I have two copies of the Panasonic 14-140 f3.5-f5.6. Mine are not weather sealed but current ones are. They do have o.i.s though, which is used in combination with in-body stabilisation on current Panasonic bodies, though not with Olympus bodies. I cannot comment on which brand of equivalent lenses are best but the Panasonic, while amazing for a 10X zoom, tends to be slightly soft compared to the best primes at the same focal length. Only if we pixel-peek though. I've tested it at 45mm alongside the Olympus 45mm and my Sony full frame 24-240 f3.5-f6.3 set to 90mm, all at f4.5, plus the Sony with Viltrox 85mm prime. All were slightly sharper when shooting at a harbour wall some 500m away than the Panasonic, but only noticeable when blown to 100%.
Obviously I'd like to try the Olympus against the Panasonic but I cannot justify or arrange to do so. However my point is that this is my favourite grab and go type of lens, because it is just so versatile and the image quality is more than acceptable. They are not the brightest of lenses, obviously, but the versatility, for me, more than makes up for it. I would not have three 10x zoom lenses at great expense otherwise. Sceptics should try out the Olympus with an open mind to see what they think. They will probably be pleasantly surprised, especially when fitted to the E-M5 and E-M1 bodies.
I recently bought a brand new and unused Olympus 14-150mm f / 4.0-5.6 II for just 350 euros! It probably comes from an E-M5 III kit, and was therefore so cheap to get. The first impression is very good. Small, very light and handy and despite the plastic material it doesn't look cheap. Of course, when you touch it, you immediately notice that it has no metal housing. But that's the price for the low weight. I haven't been able to do much with it yet. However, the image quality is very good after the first impressions. It's really good in the wide-angle range. At 150 mm, however, I often received blurry photos. The focus just wasn't there. But the light was not particularly good either and / or I was too stupid. And it's also 300 mm focal length. Maybe it was because of it. I will try it out in better conditions. In any case, it seems to be the ideal lens for on the go if you only want to carry a camera with as few lenses as possible. The poor light intensity is of course a drawback when the light gets worse. If you need acceptable exposure times, you can only compensate for this by screwing up the ISO, which in turn quickly affects quality. But that is whining at a high level. The idea of building a bright 14-150 f / 4.0 Pro analogous to the 12-100 f / 4.0 Pro came to me immediately. But that would be much bigger and more difficult, and would in no way be so cheap to manufacture.
Long lenses need to be really steady to get a sharp images. Give it another try when it is brighter and you can use faster shutter speeds.
Lens hoods don't just control flares, they also increase contrast of the image because they prevent stray light from bouncing around inside the lens randomly. Not just in flare form.
Good point, you are right.
I too have owned this lens but sold it. I use an older OLY 18-180 mm lens. Not that much bigger, even with the micro 4/3 converter but greater range. Would consider getting the 12-200 mm zoom though.
Came here trying to decide whether to take a 14-150 or the f1.9 triple set on holidays, left just as indecisive but now craving a Glühwein with Rum!
The 14-150mm is quite versatile lens for travel. Gluhwein is great when it is cold!
Hi,Mr Forsgard.....
What a happy coincidence. !!!
A month ago,I purchased my beloved EM I mark II (body)..After this, I saw ,at ebay, a good bargain....the zuiko
14-150 , that I couldn't go away....then I bought it too..
And now....Mr Peter Forsgard publishes this great video...
Could I ask for more ...???
Please forgive my bad english...
...it's not my native language...
Best regards.
Thanks.
I have this lens and used it for most of my travel photography in Europe. My wife loved it because I didn't have to keep swapping my primes (this is the only zoom I have other than the Olympus pancake). I loved it because I wasn't worried about weather and it gave me sharp images in a light and compact package
Thanks for your videos
this lens is very good with extension rings.
At 150 mm focusing distance:
* Maximum
ring 10 mm 3m20
ring 16 mm 1m95
rings 26mm 1m20
* Minimum
rings 26 mm 0.26 m
True and with extension tubes are a really good way to start macro.
I have a EM1ii with a 12-40mm Pro and the 40-150 R budget telephoto which are both great but I wanted something to cover both ranges and I looked at the 12-200mm which would be perfect but it is way too expensive for me, then I found out about the 14-150mm and thought this would be a good compromise. The mark II version was also too expensive for me so I looked around for a second hand mark I and found one for £150. I know it does not have the weather sealing but that is not a problem for me. Anyway, it has now become my favourite lens and I will keep using it until I can afford the 12-200mm
I bought the EM5 Mii about a year ago precisely because of this lens. I was a SONY APS-C user but was frustrated because, while my a6300 is a very good camera, it was marketed as "weather resistant" but SONY did not have any lenses specifically for APS-C which were weather resistant which makes the camera body's weather resistance futile. To find a good quality weather resistant big range travel lens at a very reasonable price was the deciding factor for me to go with Olympus for my outdoor good daylight travel needs. It's also far lighter than my 18-200 APS-C lens while having a greater equivalent range which is a bonus. Great lens for general (non-pro) travel. I also bought the 14-42 EZ lens with the automatic lens cap for casual compact and walkaround use and have recently purchased the 17mm F1.8 for indoors and lower light situations in fair weather. These 3 lenses pretty well cover my travel needs and make a very light package ! The only drawback is the battery charger which, with its long power cord, is somewhat cumbersome to carry around and pack. I would prefer a charger which plugs straight into the wall with no power cord.
Weather sealing is only good when both the camera body and the lens is weather sealed.
I received my first prize in a photocompetition the other day. E-M5 MKIII and ED 12-40mm f/2,8 PRO.. I’m going to use it for backup and filming for my socialmedia. Very excited to start using it. I wounding if you heard of there going to be a batterygrip for this or is it only the handle? Big hands.. small camera. 😁 however.. great video and I will consider this lens.. but I’m aiming more towards the 40-150 with a converter. Great lens that I’ve tried for a day.
Wow, congrats! Nice price! Is the photo online somewhere, loved to see it!
Peter Forsgård thank you! You find my waterfall pic @vagabondmagasin (instagram)
I just happened to see this while...guess what...travelling with a 14-150mm lens. I've had it since 2018, third trip so far.
You have enjoyed using the lens?
this is sharper than lower aperture lenses I’ve seen on youtube …. this is the one
Could you do an IQ between this lens and the 12-100 pro?
Currently I often take the 12-40 and 40-150 and I am thinking of getting a single lens solution for light weight travel.
Did not compare this lens with any other lens, but I am planning on doing it in the near future.
12-100 / 4 is pro offers primarily professional use in reporting and the quality of optics in this model is objectively better than in the Amateur 14-150. Nevertheless, for a simple application 14-150 is very convenient and not expensive if you buy it on the secondary market. I have as a regular zoom is used just 12-100 / 4 and in work and on trips, and the rest of the lenses are already selected in a set based on specific tasks. If to compare in forehead 12-100 and 14-150, then 14-150 loses with perspective optics and stabilization, but wins in terms of weight, prices, and 150mm in a long range.
I have this in the LUMIX version 14-140. I use it on a LUMIX camera and a OMD 1 MarkII
Just saw some images from the Olympus 40-150 F4.5 (outstanding)...and for $110 (including lens hood as you often suggest!) I don't think I can go wrong. I did not see a review on your site. Paired with my G9 I think I've a nice carry anywhere lens with expectation for some excellent captures!
I have not tested the 40-150mm f4.5 lens yet. I will once I get a hold of one.
Zooming while filming without darkening can obviously be fixed by setting the aperture to 5.6 manually to make it a constant 5.6 throughout the range. But what can't be fixed is the lens isn't parfocal so it must be refocused while zooming which wouldn't work very well :) But then again, I never plan on keeping the part when I'm zooming anyway. I've heard the M.Zuiko ED 40-150mm f2.8 PRO is close to parfocal. I wonder if this is true?
Close yes, but not totally.
I just bought this lens on EBAY for A$300....that was a must have for the OM10 mark111 I just had to have as well.
Sounds like a good deal!
Just read the comment Steve wrote beneath and it is the same with me, it was my first mft lens and I’m still more than happy with it. Btw I really liked the “on air” lamp in the December red color.
Thanks. It is a small fun gadget that can have different images and text on it.
When you used it. Did you notice while zooming at around 25mm the zoom action has a slight resistance bump? The seller said it is a known thing with long broad focal range lenses
No I did not.
I just bought this lens yesterday. Will put it to the test and let you know. I paid $300 Canadian. The guy bought it and decided not to use it. It was unused in the box. I also got the Olympus lens case thrown in
You made a good deal!
Thanks for the interesting video. My Panasonic 14-140 is very similar and I take it on all trips
I just bought a used M5 MKii used that has this lens as it's kit lens.. Now I can't wait for it's arrival.. I have the 10 MKii and iii but I wanted the weather sealed option. I live in Oregon. Might be useful. Love your videos..
Thank you.
@@ForsgardPeter At $500 I could not resist.
Would love to see a video using this camera or either of the M10 shooting the Milky Way
It would be interesting to compare this lens with the Olympus 40-150 f4-5.6 to know what you are trading for a longer zoom range
That is a good idea. Lets see what I can do about that.
Hi Peter! I'm a HUGE FAN!! I'm sold as much on you as I am on your very well balanced tutorials on the OM Digital 4/3 cameras, and your friendly easy to get along with demeanor! So now I have a tough question for you! I'm wondering why I should go for the OM D EM M III which I believe has the highest most well thought out technology, when I'm already very adept at shooting manual on canon cameras and can do 99% of what the OM system will do with a camera twice the sensor size and practically the same camera size and weight. Understandable I suppose the OM 7 stops of stabilization would give me one advantage in traveling and not needing a tripod or ND filters, but to truly nail down a low ISO image with ultimate depth of field and no camera movement, I think the only real deal is to have a bigger sensor camera, a tripod, and vibration free triggering of the shutter. I still want the OM but I keep talking myself out of it. what say you?
If you have a possibility to test it first, it might help. E-M1 MKIII is a very capable camera and most likely you will be very happy with it. The 7stop IBIS is great and long shutter speeds, even several seconds, are not a problem.
I bought the 14-150 about half a year ago, because I wanted a weather sealed lens without carrying the 2.8s 12-40 and 40-150. If I wouldn't have the zooms I would have chosen the 12-100.
But the lens have a disadvantage. The focus is lost as soon as you zoom a little bit. So do AF and then optimizing the focal length is a bit difficult. Video is also difficult because of this behaviour. The other zoom lenses I know are more parfocal.
I combine this lens with a Pana 8-18 and the beloved 1.8/17 as my travel kit.
A rather late post.
Essentially, I purchased my Pen F & OMD E ? Mk II for closer ,but not macro type shooting.
The Pro zooms are simply too expensive for the relatively few times I would use ,just the one. That said, it is very handy to have a zoom to use, even if only occasionally. Also, this lens is very fairly priced.
With your still images, video is of no real interest to me, are the images sooc, or have they been massaged with post software?
Thanks for the video, I have little doubt many Olympus or OMS users have considered purchasing this lens.
Thanks for the comment. The lens is still available. I agree that this lens is one of those hidden "gems" that not very many consider getting. It is a good lens for travel.
I'm getting this lens with EM5 kit. I'm trying to decide if I should open the box or not and try to sell it as new unopened. New to M43 sorta(had ep2 years ago) so need to build a kit from scratch. 8-25 is coming. So not sure what to compliment it with. Panasonic 35-100 F4 seems like nice fit and super small for a two lens day/trip. And maybe 12-100 for a one lens outing. ??? Decisions decisions.
Welcome to the m43 world. 8-25 f4 is a great lens. The focal length of the Pana lens seems a great addition to the 8-25mm f4. Cannot say about the quality have not tested it.
I got that lens with the 17mm kit a year ago and my plan was to get a second body so my wife can use the same camera system. She is used to her 10x superzoom compact Fujifilm and she has enjoyed the em10 Mark 3 with this lens. I find The Sweet spot for that lens in regards to sharpness and minimum focus is between 70-100mm. Bumping sharpness to +20 in light room seems to alleviate any softness. I would seriously think about buying another one but I'm saving up my pennies for 40-150 pro then later the 2x converter for birding.
Thanks for sharing tour way of sharpening. Have you fond what aperture gives you the best results what comes to sharpness?
@@ForsgardPeter We both been happy with it at wide open but for landscapes between f/8-11 seems to be the best. The variable aperture closes down quick so I just set it to f/5.6 for everyday shooting with Auto ISO capped at 3200 and noise reduction filter set to low so I can clean and sharpen the image in post the way I like it.
When I was driving, my wife would set it to shutter priority for 1/500 to 1/1000 and it would float around f/4-5.6. It's hard to judge the sharpness in that situation but she was very happy with the results.
I do like my little 40-150mm wide open at 40mm because it has a more pleasing background blur and I have a couple pictures the shocked me on how sharp it was at 145mm f/5.6. Maybe I got a really good copy or only paying $99 brand new makes me feel that way. As for sun flare and purple fringing the 14-150mm with the hood really is better controlled. I won't complain about that lens when I spent only $700 brand new as a travel kit that included the 17mm lens.
Maybe I can collect some images and send you a link when I get a chance. I'm also on Instagram under the same name but you would probably want to see the full resolution images.
Thank you for video. You convinced me, it's my future lens. Hm, future means next week :D.
Thanks for the review Peter. I use this lens with M10-ii and really like it, but notice it can have significant fisheye distortion at lower focal lengths. Have you noticed that?
It is not a perfect lens, but in my opinion the distortion is not that bad. Besides Lr corrects it automatically.
New Sub here my friend 👍🏻 Great Video and this is the new lens I will buy. I am new to photography and just got my new GH5. Cheers from Western Australia 📸 ✌🏻
Thanks for subscribing. Welcome to the channel. What are the things you like to photograph?
I would say absolutely fantastic when you have light. I recently took a series of pictures on a fall day of my niece and nephew "box sledding" and playing in the leaves. The pictures all came out amazing, even have had a few printed. Having a few years with this lens, I would say that it works better with the EM1.2 than the EM5.2. I did shoot a few video clips, and changed my focal length while recording and did not notice much darkening, but I also wasn't hitting the extremes. This is my go to lens for outdoor daytime shooting. The 75mm f1.8 is far better for portraits, but this one can still produce great images that even paying clients would love. At 150mm f/5.6 you can get some good background separation while it also can help eliminate some background distractions since your field of view is so narrow.
What are the things that works better in E-M1 MKII vs. E-M5 MKII?
Thanks for the video. I have this lens but not sure if it's the Version II copy. I only use it occasionally and notably only in bright outdoors condition. I've never used under low light and tripod though. By the way, I was in the same place last year around about October. Copenhagen is really beautiful.
I agree Copenhagen is a wonderful city.
For travel, I bring this and the small 9-18mm, each on an Oly body.
Good combo and covers pretty much everything.
I'd say the 12-100mm constant f4 is the best travel lens. Both seem very good though.
That is a very good lens for travel too.
I have been following your videos for quite a long time, which I do appreciate. My photo equipment has been only from Olympus since 1974, than the OM-1.
But what brings me here today is to ask you sir where could we find such a 'winter hat' with the OM-D logo you are using?
I got that from Olympus Finland and I think they do not sell those.
Some great photos with this lens. Great review.
Thank you.
I had this lens for one year, with my little Oly E-M5 Mark II, and I hated it. The build quality was ok but the image quality was disappointing, I never managed to like the rendition it had, the sharpness felt dirty, like the shadows were darker and the highlights were brighter and micro level, the chromatic aberrations were almost always present with purples so deep that even Lightroom couldn't fix it at maximum correction level and deep blues that was impossible to correct when there was sky in the background of the subject. In the end, I traded it in for an Olympus 50-200mm f 2.8-3.5 Mark I Four-Thirds lens that felt a world of difference better, as well as my (that I still use today) Olympus 14-54mm f 2.8-3.5 Mark I. At that time I also had the Panasonic 14-42mm f 3.5-5.6 Mark II and the Panasonic felt a lot better in term of IQ and rendition. I would recommend this lens only for people who care less about IQ and more for portability and not-switching-lenses-ability.
and you had the MKII version of this lens?
A very handy, compact lens - fabulous zoom range. The only problem I have experienced so far with this lens is lens creep. Anyone else had this problem ?
I did not have that problem.
Peter, with this video on Olympus 14-150mm. you gave me the exact information I need to help my daughter to choose a camera and lenses from any other brands (Canon, Nikon, Sony). I think her camera would be, in Olympus would be the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III .
She is looking in lenses, for birds, animals mainly but a compact enough to travel. Do you think the 14-150mm (in 4/3) will be perfect or a bit stronger one would be better? Of course with the use of auto-focus.
I know with an APS-C camera, the 300mm would start to be interesting for her need.But what would be close to that with Zuico lenses?
Thanks for those great information on your video.
Thank you and I am glad it helped you!
I have a Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II which came with the 14 - 150mm as a kit lens. In some situations, eg the Danube Delta, I found it a bit short for birds to to fill my frame. So I purchased a Olympus 75 - 300mm which is budget lens and still quite compact.