Olympus M.Zuiko ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS Review
The Olympus M.Zuiko ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS ($1,499.99) is an appealing lens for Micro Four Thirds photographers interested in capturing photos of distant action. It's built to high standards, made for all-weather use, and offers teleconverter support. And despite an ultra-telephoto angle, it's quite useful for handheld photography. That said, its optics are a mixed bag—we enjoyed sharp results at the wide end, but quality drops off when zoomed in. For the price, we hoped for better.Ultra Telephoto for Micro Four Thirds Olympus has a few telephoto zoom options for the Micro Four Thirds mirrorless system. The M.Zuiko ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS qualifies as midrange in price and position. It's a step up from the $550 75-300mm F4.8-6.7 II, and well shy of premium options like the $2,900 M.Zuiko 300mm F4.0 and the $7,500 150-400mm F4.5 TC 1.25X IS Pro.
From the outside it looks great. The barrel mixes polycarbonate and metal, incorporating dust, splash, and freeze protection. Olymp...
The Olympus M.Zuiko ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS has many of the hallmarks of a serious lens for enthusiasts. But while we love how well the lens is made, it struggles to get sharp results at maximum zoom.
Ultra-telephoto angle in a lightweight package; Tripod collar with Arca foot; Excellent 1:1.8 macro; Stabilized optics; Dust and splash protection; Teleconverter compatibility
Image quality suffers at maximum zoom; Omits anti-smudge fluorine coating