Question to Olympus 14-150mm 1:4,0-5,6 ED II owners

I own both 12-40 f2.8 and 40-150 f2.8 PRO lenses.

For business trips the 40-150 f2.8 lens too big and heavy IMO.

So, I need a lens like Olympus 14-150mm 1:4,0-5,6 ED II.

Would you recommend it?

I'd appreciate to see some of your captures taken with this lens.

Thanking you in anticipation…

I own the Zuiko 12-40 and the Zuiko FT SWD 50-200, both great lenses but quite big and heavy.

The 14-150 II is a very versatile lens, great for holidays.

It's very handy and convenient.

Every Superzoom is a compromise, you have to keep that in mind.

The 14-150 is sharp in the center at all focal lengths, the sharpness at the borders and in the corners varies quite a bit, that's the compromise you have to accept.

All in all, I'd say it's a decent lens; the sealing against dust and humidity is a plus, especially on a trip.

The 14-150 can take great close-ups, an additional achromatic close-up lens +3  58mm complements the close-up capabilities.

A circular polarizer might be a good idea, too, for landscapes.

I am satisfied with the lens, though I'd wish that it was a bit sharper in the corners at 14mm.

I recently upgraded to the 12-40mm and 14-150mm II lenses on my E-M5 from 12-50mm and 14-150mm mark 1 lenses. I tend to take snapshots (often times waiting for the decisive moment), so I am not as picky as many people in this group.

Note, if you live in the USA, bear in mind Olympus' promotion on lens prices ends tonight (Sept. 5th), and the 14-150mm II will go back to $599 from $399.

I don't have many pictures yet in my public albums with the 14-150mm II, but I did go on a whale watch with 3 cameras (E-3 with 14-54mm, E-5 with 50-200mm, E-M5 with 14-150mm II), and took some pictures with the 14-150mm II. It did rain for part of the trip out to where the whales are, so I was glad all cameras/lenses were weather sealed. All of these pictures were taken as JPGs and processed with rawtherapee:

Olympus E-M5 camera with Olympus-m43 14-150mm-II lens, f/9.0, ISO 200, 1/250 sec, 47.0mm, auto mode, vivid color, center weight metering, image stabilization

http://www.the-meissners.org/2015-large-albums/2015-whale-watch/large/2015-08-01-13-47-010-wwatch.jpg

Sailing ship

Olympus E-M5 camera with Olympus-m43 14-150mm-II lens, f/11.0, ISO 200, 1/500 sec, 36.0mm, auto mode, vivid color, center weight metering

http://www.the-meissners.org/2015-large-albums/2015-whale-watch/large/2015-08-01-14-36-014-wwatch.jpg

Watching for whales

Olympus E-M5 camera with Olympus-m43 14-150mm-II lens, f/10.0, ISO 200, 1/400 sec, 14.0mm, auto mode, vivid color, center weight metering

http://www.the-meissners.org/2015-large-albums/2015-whale-watch/large/2015-08-01-15-02-023-wwatch.jpg

Storm clouds

Olympus E-M5 camera with Olympus-m43 14-150mm-II lens, f/9.0, ISO 200, 1/640 sec, 150.0mm, auto mode, vivid color, center weight metering, digital zoom x2

http://www.the-meissners.org/2015-large-albums/2015-whale-watch/large/2015-08-01-15-24-029-wwatch.jpg

Whale tail

Olympus E-M5 camera with Olympus-m43 14-150mm-II lens, f/10.0, ISO 200, 1/400 sec, 67.0mm, auto mode, vivid color, center weight metering

http://www.the-meissners.org/2015-large-albums/2015-whale-watch/large/2015-08-01-15-29-032-wwatch.jpg

Whale tail

Olympus E-M5 camera with Olympus-m43 14-150mm-II lens, f/11.0, ISO 200, 1/320 sec, 29.0mm, auto mode, vivid color, center weight metering, digital zoom x2

http://www.the-meissners.org/2015-large-albums/2015-whale-watch/large/2015-08-01-17-34-053-wwatch.jpg

Gloucester light hose with clouds

X_Holger wrote:

I own the Zuiko 12-40 and the Zuiko FT SWD 50-200, both great lenses but quite big and heavy.

The 40-150mm f/2.8 lens is on the large side, but the 14-150mm II is about the same length as the 12-40mm f/2.8 lens. It is 3oz (100g) heavier though.

This post includes some test shots I did several weeks ago. I've been really pleased, and never hesitate to take it when I'll be outdoors and lens changes will be inconvenient.

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/56196626

I own both the 12-40mm f2.8 pro, and the 14-150mm II.

I just sold my 14-150mm I and my EM-5 I.

I just purchased the EM5 II.

The EM-5 II is an exceptional camera. Great ergonomics, which profoundly changes the experience of capturing images.

The image quality of the 14-150mm II does not appear to be signficantly different from the 14-150mm I. There is a slightly better build quality and weather proofing...

That said... The 14-150mm is great for travel because of convenient focal range variability... but it is definitely not good in low light situations. Period. For low light, I use the 12-40mm f2.8 pro (but even better f1.8 primes).

Skeeterbytes wrote:

I'm late to the dance but if you didn't object to carrying two lenses, just the big 40-150 Pro, the 40-150 kit lens is quite nice, light and super cheap. I use it and the 12-40 for my hiking/backpacking kit.

It is a matter of what your priorities are.

For me, the 40-150mm is too expensive and too big, particularly since I still have my E-5 and 50-200mm lens that I use when I need low light and relative distance.

I also prefer not to change lenses when it is raining, so having a superzoom like the 14-150mm II is great when I need a lot of zoom, but rain may come up.

Skeeterbytes wrote:

I might not have stated it well, but am suggesting adding the little 40-150 kit lens as a Pro 40-150 substitute for travel. It's quite small, collapsed, and often available for a hundred bucks. That way he'd still have the fast 12-40 as a normal lens.

The way I read your original post was you were suggesting using the 40-150mm pro as the second lens. The 40-150mm (non-pro) is a fine lens if you don't have to worry about rain, and you can take time to change lenses.

In terms of weather sealing, you could keep your lenses in a plastic bag, and only use the weather sealed lenses in wet weather. I do this with my two primes (Panasonic 20mm and Olympus 45mm), but it is convenient to have the whole 14-150mm range without worrying about the weather.

I like my copy and find image quality fine for travel. The one catch (for me) is the starting focal length. I'd prefer 12mm over 14mm and often find 14mm to be limiting. But otherwise it's a fine lens and decent value when offered for the $399 US sale price.

PhotOptimist wrote:

I own both 12-40 f2.8 and 40-150 f2.8 PRO lenses.

For business trips the 40-150 f2.8 lens too big and heavy IMO.

So, I need a lens like Olympus 14-150mm 1:4,0-5,6 ED II.

Would you recommend it?

I'd appreciate to see some of your captures taken with this lens.

Thanking you in anticipation…

I own both the 40-150 Pro and the 14-140 II for the exact reasons you are asking. I love the Pro but it can be a little too heavy to take at times. The 14-150 II is a fantastic lens IMO for the weight/size/price(I bought during the just ended sale). I highly recommend the 14-150mm 1:4,0-5,6 ED II.