GEAR OM SYSTEM 50-200MM F/2.8 IS PRO
Big, bright and built for wildlife and action, this 50-200mm f/2.8 zoom proves Micro Four Thirds still has game WORDS ADAM DUCKWORTH SUPER ZOOM FLAMIN’ GORGEOUS SHOTS IN THE WILD
T o prove it’s deadly serious about being an outdoor camera brand with rugged kit for serious image makers, OM System has revealed its boldest lens yet. It’s the M.Zuiko Digital ED 50-200mm f/2.8 IS Pro that isn’t just a small step up from the brand’s popular 40-150mm f/2.8 optic but a giant leap forward. The price is much higher at £2999/$3700 but you get both a constant f/2.8 maximum aperture and incredible built-in stabilisation as well as a range equivalent to 100- 400mm in full-frame cameras.
made for larger-sensor rivals. Build quality is excellent, with a robust metal barrel and full IP53 weather sealing, promising reliability in rain, dust and sub-zero conditions. Both zooming and focusing are internal, so the length never changes and balance stays constant. It’s ideal for mounting on gimbals and tripods. The optical design is entirely new, comprising 21 elements in 13 groups with a complex mix of EDA, Super ED, HR and E-HR glass, plus an aspherical ED element. The aim is to deliver resolution and contrast
Of course, a lens like this doesn’t exist, and only covering a sensor a quarter the size of full-frame, the M.Zuiko Digital ED optic is smaller and lighter than any comparable optic could be. For wildlife and sports shooters, it’s a premium proposition sitting just below OM’s 150-400mm f/4.5 IS Pro, but of course that doesn’t offer the fast maximum aperture. Measuring 226mm/8.9in long and tipping the scales at 1250g/2.8lb with a tripod ring, it’s no featherweight by Micro Four Thirds standards, but it is still a good deal smaller than optics
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