Tax refund lens

PicLiz wrote:

jwilliams wrote:

PicLiz wrote:

I am thinking of getting the Oly 40-150 Pro and teleconverter to replace my Pan 35-100 and hopefully get some sharper shots than my 75-300 can produce. Is this a bad/good idea? Is this a better choice than the Pan 50-200 for my Oly Em1.2? I have read some discussions about these lenses in other posts, but I am still unsure and would like to consolidate my kit in the best way possible. I am really enjoying my 12-40 Oly Pro.

The 40-150 is certainly a great lens. I just got one and I must say it is the best m43 zoom I have had and I also have the 12-40 like you. I got mine used along with the TC at a real good price. I was really wanting the PL 50-200 especially since I have a G9, but the new price was too high for me and I have never seen a used one for sale (that might say something).

Anyway, you cannot go wrong with either, but if you think you will be using the longer FLs more, the extra reach of the PL might be very useful as attaching TCs is a PITA and IQ does suffer. If you were keeping the 35-100 the 50-200 would definitely be a better pairing. The PL is a tiny bit lighter, but its best attribute vs the 40-150 is it goes to 200 on its own. The PL can also take the Panny 1.4x TC so again if wanting to go longer it has advantages.

The 40-150 is a bigger lens. Both bigger around and longer, even though it goes to 150 vs 200 for the PL. It is an internal zooming design so it is longer.

Every review of either lens I have seen has been very good so there is no wrong choice.

I will be using it at the longer focal lengths as I take a lot of shots at my backyard bird feeders. As someone else mentioned Oly is coming out with a 2x teleconverter in the summer, although I do not want IQ to suffer. I do like to keep things as light as possible, however I do use monopod and tripod. I just watched David Thorpe's review on PL 100-400. There was not much wrong he could find with that lens, but is much heavier than the other two...the reach would be incredibly exciting though. These are always such tough decisions.

Go for the 50-200.  I have only quickly tested the 1.4x TC, but I can guarantee you a 2X isn't going to be great.  The 1.4x from my little test was just Ok.  Not great so 2x is definitely venturing into less than OK territory.

I'd get the 50-200 and then get the 1.4x, or better yet get the Oly 300 4.

The 100-400 could be an answer, but it is slow and from some tests I have seen the IQ at 400 isn't so hot.  You certainly can try it and maybe you don't need to use 400 that often.

If you really want both reach and good IQ, the 300 4 (with a 1.4x when needed) is probably the best.  When getting to really long FLs, primes just work better from my experience.  Also you often want the fastest aperture you can get so the f4 and 300 is a pretty good combo.