Oly 75-300 Mk II in March

Cleaned up exterior. New Zero coating. Price drop.

Olympus releases updated M.Zuiko Digital ED 75-300mm lens

Wow... I feel sorry for those that paid $900 for this lens a few weeks ago. That's just not right. IMHO

it could have been weather sealed too but not.  So let's wait for test shots and review if it indeed improved and compliments well with EM-5.  The price is definitely a good change

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reygon
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Take nothing but photos... Kill nothing but time... Leave nothing but footprints...

If you paid $900 just a few weeks ago and can wait for the new lens why not make a return? The wait will save you $350. In addition, the cost of the old lens should drop should you want to re-buy it, Maybe, just a guess.

I remember when Nikon sort of did the same thing. They had a 75-300 push/pull zoom lens that was AF and cost about that same $900. It was replaced with a 70-300 D AF lens when the "D" technology or distance technology was new and that replacement was about $300 if I recall.

Still more expensive and a half stop slower than the Panasonic 100-300.

I have and like the 100-300, but the smaller size/weight and greater range make this lens very attractive.

I will gladly give up a half stop for a lighter and smaller super-tele.

Good update from Olympus overall, I wish they put a bit of weather sealing on it though, even just a rubber ring around the mount would be appreciated.

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http://www.adventurerob.com

the Oly is half the volume as the pana wiht its larger diameter

The new version is way cheaper. Something must have been taken away, like some HR elements (the old one has three of them). I don't own the 75-300, but from what I have seen it is a quality optic with impressive sharpness, contrast and clarity. I hope the new one keeps up with it, though I doubt it.

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It's the same

MkI

18 elements in 13 groups; Super ED, ED, HR elements

http://www.olympus.com.au/Products/CompactSystem-Cameras/PEN-Lenses/75-300mm-f4-8-6-7-Super-Telephoto-Zoom-(PEN)-(1).aspx

MKII

18 Elements in 13 Groups; Super ED lens, 2 ED lenses and 3 HR lenses

http://www.olympus.com.au/Products/CompactSystem-Cameras/PEN-Lenses/M-Zuiko-Digital-75-300mm-f4-8-6-7-II-Telephoto-Zoo.aspx

I suspect it's just market pressure.

To me it appears that the element that has been taken away is the Profiteering

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I speculate that this lens will be produced in China, whereas the original lens was produced in Japan - resulting in the cost savings.  In my experience my Made in Japan lenses have been better constructed and without defects that appear to me more common in MIC lenses.  While it likely won't make a $350 difference in the price of the lens - the 'original' 75-300 may be viewed as a gem if the quality of the mk2 is less consistent.

I have the 75-300. It is amazing. Very small and light for its range, and very good image quality. I had ordered the black one and received the silver one by mistake but after taking a few initial test shots I was so thrilled with my copy that I kept it. Once you have a really good copy of a lens, never give it up!

So I don't know what kind of improvement there should be in the 75-300. The only thing that could really be improved was the max aperture but that has stayed the same.

Frankly, I do not understand why Olympus is coming out with a revised 75-300 lens while we are all waiting for a 12-60 f/2.8-4 for m43 to be introduced... a new 75-300 we could easily live without but a 12-60 is what we really badly need.

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Slowly learning to use the Olympus OM-D E-M5.
Public pictures at http://debra.zenfolio.com/.

It's also MSC (movie stills compatable - i.e. the focus motor is quiet).

Not sure it the original was or not, but I suspect not.

Original was also MSC.

Dave

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Yes, the old 75-300 is a real good lens.  I like the small siz.  I don't like the slowness.  Since I have the original I have no plans to buy the new version.

Yes, it would be great to see a 12-60 f2.8-4.0.  I really don't expect to see such a lens until the OMD-pro is released late this year.  I would also love to see a 60-250 f2.8-4.0 to pair up with the 12-60.

I have two lenses that are slower than 5.6 at their long end and having use them for a while I am not going to buy any more lens slower than 4.0.  This is about were diffration begins in MFT.

Dave

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Diffraction doesn't begin, it is always there when light is obstructed. It is not noticeable until the aperture is small enough to be significant. In 135 format the threshold was f/16, you could comfortable go to f/22 provided your subject matter isn't minutely detailed.

Based on the f/16 limit for 135, it made sense that APS-C was f/11 and MFT f/8. Fine. But that still means that unless I'm taking a picture of a sea of zebras from 100 yards I can probably go to f/11 and if I'm on the street ten feet away more than likely f/16 will also work, but luckily, because of the sensor size I don't need f/16 to have the same DOF as a 135 camera -- I just need f/8.

This is a long super telephoto with the long end at 300mm. If you want f/4 you're asking for a monster lens, which is fine. There may be SHG type lenses coming down the pipe but expect to pay handsomely for them.

By the looks of the new lens, I think Olympus is just making the same cosmetic changes they made when they replaced the 40-150 with the 40-150 R.