Spectacular Piece of Glass

I don't know that I have anything new to say about the 40-150 f/2.8 that hasn't been said,  except maybe to say that it's not nearly as heavy or bulky as I was expecting.  I regularly shoot with the Olympus 100-400 and it is downright svelte next to that lens.  It's fast to focus and super sharp, even with the the 1.4 teleconverter, which is often how I use it.  That essentially makes it a 100-400 f/4, which for some of the wildlife is Southern Utah is perfect.

If you can justify this lens, buy it.  You'll love it.  There are no negatives to it from where I sit.  The output is superb, it feels great in the hand and it focuses fast.  It also internal focusing so the length is the length.  It's a superb piece of kit.

I love mine and because it is so lightweight, I normally don't even attach the tripod mount. But wouldn't it be even greater if it came with IS? 

Like you I ditch the tripod mount as well, makes it even lighter.  As for Sync IS, I wish all the lenses had it but I don't really find it necessary, when it gets too dark to shoot with this lens I should be home having dinner anyway.  

The speed of the predictive autofocus of the Sony RX10iv has spoiled me...but there's no doubt that the IQ of the Olympus is much better, especially at higher ISOs which because of necessary noise reduction of the RX10iv images, reduces their IQ.

There are times that I simply cannot lock focus, even though I pick a point of contrast, and I have to use the manual focus wheel to get my subject into focus.

If anyone has some hints to help speed up focus access with this lens, I'd love to hear them.

Isabel

Isabel Cutler wrote:

The speed of the predictive autofocus of the Sony RX10iv has spoiled me...but there's no doubt that the IQ of the Olympus is much better, especially at higher ISOs which because of necessary noise reduction of the RX10iv images, reduces their IQ.

There are times that I simply cannot lock focus, even though I pick a point of contrast, and I have to use the manual focus wheel to get my subject into focus.

If anyone has some hints to help speed up focus access with this lens, I'd love to hear them.

Isabel

Didn’t buy the lens until the OM1 arrived.  Not had a problem with SAF.  Realise that’s not a great help, but a data point at least.

Andrew

OlyInKanab wrote:

I don't know that I have anything new to say about the 40-150 f/2.8 that hasn't been said, except maybe to say that it's not nearly as heavy or bulky as I was expecting. I regularly shoot with the Olympus 100-400 and it is downright svelte next to that lens. It's fast to focus and super sharp, even with the the 1.4 teleconverter, which is often how I use it. That essentially makes it a 100-400 f/4, which for some of the wildlife is Southern Utah is perfect.

If you can justify this lens, buy it. You'll love it. There are no negatives to it from where I sit. The output is superb, it feels great in the hand and it focuses fast. It also internal focusing so the length is the length. It's a superb piece of kit.

40-150 x 1.4 = 100-400?

I don't understand, can you please explain?

Jozef

Jozef,

From a field of view standpoint, the 40-150 on a M43 body is equivalent to a 80-300.  Add in the 1.4 and you have a 112 - 420 equivalent field of view.  At least that's my math and understanding.

OlyInKanab wrote:

Jozef,

From a field of view standpoint, the 40-150 on a M43 body is equivalent to a 80-300. Add in the 1.4 and you have a 112 - 420 equivalent field of view. At least that's my math and understanding.

You've got a very strange math ... 40 - 150mm = 40 - 150mm. FF is NOT the norm.

Jozef.

ProDude wrote:

Isabel Cutler wrote:

The speed of the predictive autofocus of the Sony RX10iv has spoiled me...but there's no doubt that the IQ of the Olympus is much better, especially at higher ISOs which because of necessary noise reduction of the RX10iv images, reduces their IQ.

There are times that I simply cannot lock focus, even though I pick a point of contrast, and I have to use the manual focus wheel to get my subject into focus.

If anyone has some hints to help speed up focus access with this lens, I'd love to hear them.

Isabel

. I simply don't typically bother with S-AF but stick to C-AF as it's fast and accurate. Unlike some I DO keep the setting in the AF section where it is "Scanner" to the ON position. This allows the camera to continue to attempt to lock focus rather then giving up first try. Check on your setting for that as well.

I'm sure I don't have the latest firmware.  Installing new firmware gives me the willies.  My Scanner options are modes 1, 2, and 3.  No "On".  I have it set to 3 which states: "If the subject appears unclear or it contrast is low, the AF Scanner will still be activated."

The sun is very low now so it's not a good time to check C-AF functioning.  I should add that I'm usually shooting through double paned glass so it's entirely possible that that's what's screwing up the responsiveness of the focus...HOWEVER...my experience with the RX10iv is that the double-paned glass didn't bother its focus.

Isabel

Skeeterbytes wrote:

Hi Isabel,

Can you share your camera settings? I see you have an E-M1iii, a camera I pair the 40-150 with for challenging subjects, especially sports, and have excellent success with focus. But you perhaps are shooting in more challenging conditions and it will help to know more about when and where difficulties arise.

One time I had issues was shooting soccer from the stands using the MC14 (E-M1ii). The artificial turf in the midday sun seemed to dazzle the AF and I had more missed focus than I am accustomed to. I more typically shoot from field level.

Cheers,

Rick

I have been using S-AF because I think it worked better for me, but I will test C-AF tomorrow when lighting is better.  I am using the smallest focus box.

Isabel

ProDude wrote:

… there will be a 40-150 f2.8 Pro II with Sync IS built in and an Arca Swiss bracket on board.

I'm unwilling to go bigger, heavier, or slower aperture for Sync IS, and I don't use the tripod bracket.

I had expected a much bigger, heavier lens. It just fits in my belt-bag perfectly. It will probably stay there, even if there are bigger or heavier versions with more capability.

Isabel Cutler wrote:

I'm sure I don't have the latest firmware. Installing new firmware gives me the willies.

My understanding is that CAF got much better with firmware 1.3.

I think you need to "get over" your "willies."

I think where most people go wrong is that the process seems to take too long, and so they do something to interrupt it.

When I'm doing a software update — which I do regularly, and have never had a problem, going back to E-System days — if it seems to be taking "too long," I step away from the computer and find something else to do for a while. Have a meal, watch TV, even sleep on it. It eventually works.

Be sure you the camera is plugged in to power, or at least has a 100% battery. I update via OM Workspace, although others report success with OI.Share. (As an RF Engineer and lifetime ham radio operator, updating wirelessly gives me the willies!) Follow instructions exactly.

ProDude wrote:

Isabel Cutler wrote:

The speed of the predictive autofocus of the Sony RX10iv has spoiled me...but there's no doubt that the IQ of the Olympus is much better, especially at higher ISOs which because of necessary noise reduction of the RX10iv images, reduces their IQ.

There are times that I simply cannot lock focus, even though I pick a point of contrast, and I have to use the manual focus wheel to get my subject into focus.

If anyone has some hints to help speed up focus access with this lens, I'd love to hear them.

Isabel

I simply don't typically bother with S-AF but stick to C-AF as it's fast and accurate.

Had a chance to try out C-AF today, and you are right; it nails focus more quickly than S-AF.

Thanks!

Isabel--

"If you're not prepared to be wrong you'll never come up with anything original" Sir Ken Robinson
http://www.pBase.com/isabel95
https://www.flickr.com/photos/isabel95/

Jan Steinman wrote:

Isabel Cutler wrote:

I'm sure I don't have the latest firmware. Installing new firmware gives me the willies.

My understanding is that CAF got much better with firmware 1.3.

thanks for the encouragement.

Isabel