{"id":778,"date":"2024-02-02T10:56:23","date_gmt":"2024-02-02T09:56:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magazine.e-group.uk.net\/pages\/?p=778"},"modified":"2024-02-04T11:59:24","modified_gmt":"2024-02-04T10:59:24","slug":"in-defence-of-the-new-150-600mm-zoom-from-om-system","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magazine.e-group.uk.net\/pages\/in-defence-of-the-new-150-600mm-zoom-from-om-system\/","title":{"rendered":"In defence of the new 150-600mm zoom from OM System"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is this OM System&#8217;s most misunderstood lens?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is a lot of nonsense flying around about OM System\u2019s new ULTRA-telephoto zoom lens. And there are also some honest concerns. Indeed, my own feelings about the 150-600 have changed the more I have thought about this lens. So let\u2019s delve in.<\/p><div id=\"magaz-3148051704\" class=\"magaz-content magaz-entity-placement\"><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-7118785035453708\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7118785035453708\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"6626408476\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Perusing comments on our very own discussion forum, many of which reflect influencers and so-called experts on YouTube and other social media platforms, it\u2019s clear to me that the new <a href=\"https:\/\/magazine.e-group.uk.net\/pages\/om-system-150-600mm-f-5-6-3-gives-micro-four-thirds-300-1200mm-reach\/\">OM System m.Zuiko ED 150-600mm f.5-6.3<\/a>, launched last Tuesday, is frequently misunderstood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>So the lens is based on a Sigma design<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">OM System won\u2019t say anything about the provenance of the lens, but why should they? It\u2019s not the first time a Micro Four Thirds lens with an Olympus or Panasonic Lumix brand has been designed and even made by Sigma. OEM manufacturing is a big part of Sigma\u2019s business. The OM System 150-600 is very clearly a re-engineered Sigma 150-600mm f\/5-6.3 DG DN OS | Sports optic. Its appearance, specifications, and dimensions, are all convincing evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>But this isn\u2019t simple badge-engineering<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The lens will have modified electronics and firmware to enable it to communicate with the Micro Four Thirds protocols for fly-by-wire autofocus and image stabilisation controls. Stabilisation, in particular, is an OM System industry-leading fort\u00e9 and the 150-600 gets the full-fat Sync IS treatment. This is the magic that enables the camera body\u2019s IBIS (In Body Image Stabilisation) to synchronize in real-time with the lens\u2019 own OIS (Optical Image Stabilisation) to maximise stabilisation. The system works across 5 axes and delivers up to 7 stops of added stability, as define by CIPA standards, at 150mm, and 6 stops at 600mm. With OIS on its own, you can get up to 5 stops, which is one stop better than Sigma\u2019s own version of the lens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is no way of knowing for certain, without OM System and\/or Sigma briefing us, but there might even be some optical modifications. The image circle for Four Thirds sensors is smaller and, perhaps, some fine-tuning has been done to enable the existing m.Zuiko MC-14 1.4x, and MC-20 2.0x teleconverters, to be optimally matched, but that\u2019s just a guess.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>This is not a re-warmed DSLR design<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sigma currently sells three 150-600mm f\/5-6.3 lenses and they are all quite different. Two, were introduced ten years ago (2014) and were designed specifically for DSLR cameras. In August 2021 Sigma\u2019s third 150-600 was launched; the brand new 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS, designed specifically for mirrorless cameras. Optical design, the engineering of the autofocus hardware, etc., were new. This is what the OM System 150-600 was based on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>But isn\u2019t the OM System 150-600, therefore, an adapted full frame lens?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The simple answer is, yes. But that\u2019s missing the point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just because the lens was originally designed with full frame (and APS-C) sensor cameras in mind, doesn\u2019t mean it is unnecessarily large and heavy compared to a lens designed, from the ground up, for Micro Four Thirds. And neither does it mean it won\u2019t perform well on a Micro Four Thirds body. Most importantly, the lens is a thoroughbred mirrorless design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Anyway, are we comparing apples with apples?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Well, not really!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A 150-600mm lens fitted to a full frame camera is doing the same job as a 75-300mm lens fitted to a Micro Four Thirds camera. For the record, the OM System 75-300mm f\/4.8-6.7 is &nbsp;\u2013 OK I exaggerate \u2013 microscopic, compared to the 150-600.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On Micro Four Thirds, the 150-600 is doing the job of a 300-1200 on full frame! This is a completely different game to using a 75-300 on MFT. And you can even boost that to 600-2400 using an MC-20 converter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>So who is OM System aiming at with the 150-600?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My initial reaction was to suppose it would only be of interest to those that REALLY needed to get substantially closer to a subject than, say, using a 400mm lens. That would be quite a limited market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But my thoughts on this have evolved. Olympus and OM System have been triumphant with the m.Zuiko 150-400mm f\/4.5 Pro, the BWL (Big White Lens). &nbsp;Users rave about its optical performance, Sync IS stabilisation, and supreme portability compared to lenses from rival systems. It also includes a built-in switchable 1.25x converter, also of excellent quality, so you can turn your 150-400 into a 188-500mm f\/5.6 without removing the lens from the camera body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But at \u00a37K, the glorious 150-400 is basically a limited-edition lens affordable only to those few who can really afford it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Until now, the only in-house alternative has been the m.Zuiko 100-400 f\/5-6.3, which is affordable and a good performer, if not in the same league as the 150-400 Pro. But now we have the new 150-600. Yes, it\u2019s twice the cost of a 100-400, but it\u2019s almost a third of the cost of the 150-400 Pro. It\u2019s a little brighter at matching focal lengths, too. If you need more than 400mm, you can just turn the zoom ring further \u2013 no need to stop and fit a converter to the 100-400.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 150-600 also has a Pro lens feature, Sync IS, which the 100-400 doesn\u2019t. But the 150-600 isn\u2019t a Pro lens and it\u2019s limited to 25 fps sequential shooting compared to 50fps for Pro lenses. But is that a huge drawback for most?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I automatically assumed the 150-600 would be far too heavy for hand-held photography, but it\u2019s only 10% heavier than the 150-400 Pro. You do need to be fit, but I am sure the 150-600 can deliver, hand-held.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>But what about the price?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ah, the price. OM System has priced the 150-600 at double that the Sigma version of the 150-600 sells for. That is, undoubtedly, disappointing. I\u2019ve argued that OM System might not be expecting to sell a big enough volume of the 150-600 to permit it to be commercially viable at a lower price. But the more I think about it, OM System could be pleasantly surprised \u2013 at the right price. I think the best we can hope for is that the lens sells better than hoped for and the price can be reduced over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Get the paparazzi interested!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I also have a fun suggestion for OM System \u2013 sell an OM-1 Mark II + 150-600 kit, with some teleconverters thrown in, at an attractive price, for the paparazzi. I reckon this is just what they have been waiting for!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I hope you found this article useful. As ever, I recommend you have a look at our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.e-group.uk.net\">friendly discussion forum<\/a> dedicated to anyone interested in Olympus\/OM System and compatible gear.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"magaz-999371103\"><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-7118785035453708\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7118785035453708\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"6626408476\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Is this OM System&#8217;s most misunderstood lens? There is a lot of nonsense flying around about OM System\u2019s new ULTRA-telephoto zoom lens. And there are also some honest concerns. Indeed, my own feelings about the 150-600 have changed the more I have thought about this lens. So let\u2019s delve in. Perusing comments on our very [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":779,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[80],"tags":[75],"class_list":["post-778","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editorial","tag-telephoto-zoom"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/magazine.e-group.uk.net\/pages\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/778","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/magazine.e-group.uk.net\/pages\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/magazine.e-group.uk.net\/pages\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magazine.e-group.uk.net\/pages\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magazine.e-group.uk.net\/pages\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=778"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/magazine.e-group.uk.net\/pages\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/778\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":796,"href":"https:\/\/magazine.e-group.uk.net\/pages\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/778\/revisions\/796"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magazine.e-group.uk.net\/pages\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/779"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/magazine.e-group.uk.net\/pages\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=778"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magazine.e-group.uk.net\/pages\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=778"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magazine.e-group.uk.net\/pages\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=778"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}