Tax refund lens

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.

I can’t speak to the 50-200 but the 40-150 Pro is an excellent lens and a perfect companion to the 12-40. A no brainer in my book. Get the TC as well. I bought mine at e-infin.com over 4 years ago, never an issue. They offer very fast shipping. $1084 for both.

https://www.e-infin.com/ww/item/2404/olympus_m.zuiko_digital_ed_40-150mm_f/2.8_pro_lens

https://www.e-infin.com/ww/item/2518/olympus_m.zuiko_digital_mc-14_1.4x_teleconverter_(white_box)

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?

Yes, the 40-150 Pro and MC-14 is a stellar lens/teleconverter combo and perfect complement to your 12-40.

The 40-150 gives you extra reach, close-up/quasi-macro capability, lens function button, manual focus clutch...phewww.

Additionally, Olympus just announced a 2.0x teleconverter that would give you an 80-300mm @f5.6.

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.

Good luck.

Cheers.

If you're getting a refund, you're doing something wrong.

The Panasonic 50-200 works well on my EM1ii.  I went with it for the added reach and the lighter weight.   I got mine for $1,500 on Greentoe, which only sales new US warranty lenses.

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 Pro is an amazingly sharp lens (and amazingly small, considering)

Works well with the 1.4 TC, but there is a noticeable drop in clarity at 150mm with the TC. Below 150, no visible consequences, still crazy sharp.

My only beef with the 40-150 is the character of the bokeh, it’s not good. Expect very busy backgrounds and out of focus shapes retaining their edges. If you’re used to a C/N 70-200 on FF, this ain’t quite like that.

Examples of it’s bad bokeh can be seen in these two recent threads:

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4366226

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4367540

Shadowfixer wrote:

If you're getting a refund, you're doing something wrong.

It's too complicated for a thread title....:)

I agree with all of you that say the bokeh is bad. It is disappointing.

G Rash wrote:

The Panasonic 50-200 works well on my EM1ii. I went with it for the added reach and the lighter weight. I got mine for $1,500 on Greentoe, which only sales new US warranty lenses.

Do you believe this lens is as sharp as the Oly?

BruceRH wrote:

I can’t speak to the 50-200 but the 40-150 Pro is an excellent lens and a perfect companion to the 12-40. A no brainer in my book. Get the TC as well. I bought mine at e-infin.com over 4 years ago, never an issue. They offer very fast shipping. $1084 for both.

https://www.e-infin.com/ww/item/2404/olympus_m.zuiko_digital_ed_40-150mm_f/2.8_pro_lens

https://www.e-infin.com/ww/item/2518/olympus_m.zuiko_digital_mc-14_1.4x_teleconverter_(white_box)

Thanks for these links. Are these items shipped directly from China?

PicLiz wrote:

G Rash wrote:

The Panasonic 50-200 works well on my EM1ii. I went with it for the added reach and the lighter weight. I got mine for $1,500 on Greentoe, which only sales new US warranty lenses.

Do you believe this lens is as sharp as the Oly?

I'm happy with the sharpness on mine, but I have never used the Oly 40-150, so I don't know how the two would compare. One thing that concerned with me the Oly is its lack of stabilization. It might not be an issue at all with the EM1ii, but I've read reviews for several years that say IBIS is better at shorter focal lengths and in-lens stabilization is better at long telephoto focal lengths.  According to the review at cameralabs.com, the in-lens stabilization was excellent and was about 1 stop better than using just the IBIS of the EM1ii with this lens at 200mm.

They 50-200 has OIS, longer telephoto and is lighter than the Olympus, but lacks the constant f/2.8. For my uses, the extra "reach" and lighter weight made the Panasonic my choice.

PicLiz wrote:

G Rash wrote:

The Panasonic 50-200 works well on my EM1ii. I went with it for the added reach and the lighter weight. I got mine for $1,500 on Greentoe, which only sales new US warranty lenses.

Do you believe this lens is as sharp as the Oly?

40-150 + 1.4 TC @ 210 is likely softer than the 50-200 at 200.

But take the TC off and the Oly blows it away.

Terrible Photographer wrote:

PicLiz wrote:

G Rash wrote:

The Panasonic 50-200 works well on my EM1ii. I went with it for the added reach and the lighter weight. I got mine for $1,500 on Greentoe, which only sales new US warranty lenses.

Do you believe this lens is as sharp as the Oly?

40-150 + 1.4 TC @ 210 is likely softer than the 50-200 at 200.

But take the TC off and the Oly blows it away.

The reviews I read before buying the Pany certainly didn't conclude that big a difference.  They generally said the Oly was a good bit sharper wide open in the corners at shorter focal lengths and a little bit sharper in the center on the short end, and that the Pany equaled or surpassed the Oly as you got closer to the longer end.  Of course there's no way to account for sample variation in any of these reviews or our personal experiences without testing several of each.

PicLiz wrote:

BruceRH wrote:

I can’t speak to the 50-200 but the 40-150 Pro is an excellent lens and a perfect companion to the 12-40. A no brainer in my book. Get the TC as well. I bought mine at e-infin.com over 4 years ago, never an issue. They offer very fast shipping. $1084 for both.

https://www.e-infin.com/ww/item/2404/olympus_m.zuiko_digital_ed_40-150mm_f/2.8_pro_lens

https://www.e-infin.com/ww/item/2518/olympus_m.zuiko_digital_mc-14_1.4x_teleconverter_(white_box)

Thanks for these links. Are these items shipped directly from China?

From Hong Kong

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.

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.

Yes, the Oly 40-150 Pro is a great lens with amazing ability. It does a lot more than the 35-100 in terms of function. And matches up well with your 12-40 Pro.  As for optics both are great. One lens is smaller and lighter, while the other larger and longer, but that extra is needed for the f/2.8.   Consider f/2.8 at 300mm equivalent for that price range  is astounding.  No other lens can do what it does for functions at f/2.8

I would also keep the 35-100 f/2.8 for when you need shorter lengths and a lighter camera.