Olympus 14-150mm almost doubles in length at full zoom: any problems?

Based on a number of factors (including DPReview recommendations), I recently got an Olympus M.Zuiko 14-150mm F4-5.6 II lens. For those who haven't seen this lens extended, it is a true "trombone" of a lens! Not counting the mount, the un-extended lens is about 83mm long. But at maximum zoom, the lens extends a further 60mm, almost doubling its length to over 140mm.

My concern is not with the length per se, but with the sturdiness of the lens. It almost looks like the lens is "planking"! One would think that such a long extension would make the lens weaker. So my question is simple: is this lens a "tough trombone"?

I'd be interested to hear if any owners/users of this lens have had any problems due to its exaggerated extension, such as excessive lens wobble developing, or even some kind of breakage. Likewise, were there any problems with lens sturdiness in Mk I that have now been resolved in Mk II? Or, to take the "planking" analogy a bit further, does this lens just have good core strength, due to the lens equivalent of "solid abs"?

(Interestingly, the Panasonic 14-140mm F3.5-5.6 II is more compact, and extends considerably less, despite having almost as much reach as the Olympus.)

Been using mine every day for five years with no problems.

My old Konica Minolta A200 has a floppy zoom lens. It wiggles several degrees and droops when fully extended. It's a great lens and still takes excellent images.

Dick

Obviously a good endorsement. It's the image quality that counts not how or what you used to get it.

Dick

I've used it in extreme conditions.

Cold, hot, sandstorm, rain. Down to tunnels, up to cranes, not a glitch.

Glass is clean,  nothing inside, zoom works as new.

I Don't know if my 24-70 can take that much.

atomgr wrote:

I've used it in extreme conditions.

Cold, hot, sandstorm, rain. Down to tunnels, up to cranes, not a glitch.

Glass is clean, nothing inside, zoom works as new.

I Don't know if my 24-70 can take that much.

Thanks for the info! You have certainly experienced the "highs and lows" of photography!  I now have full confidence in my 14-150mm!