OM SYSTEM 50-200MM F/2.8 IS PRO
PECKING ORDER With great optical quality and plenty of control switches, the new OM zoom
SPECIFICATIONS
Price: £2999/$3700 Mount: MFT Image coverage: MFT Aperture: f/2.8-22
is top of the tree for MFT
Aperture blades: 9, rounded Construction: 21 elements in 13 groups Image stabilisation: 5-axis Sync IS, 7 stops Minimum focusing : 78cm/30in
For sports or wildlife, its AF and stabilisation work well together while the constant f/2.8 aperture ensures consistent exposure and faster shutter speeds. For close-ups, its macro-like ability opens creative possibilities. For travel or landscape work, it’s compact enough. If the price isn’t an issue for you, the mix of reach, speed, stabilisation and teleconverter compatibility makes it a great choice.
hit rates. Focus breathing is minimal, although the lens isn’t parfocal, so zooming requires continuous AF to maintain sharpness. Close focus is also reasonable with the minimum distance at 78cm/30in throughout the zoom range, offering 0.25x magnification. This then allows close-up shooting of small details with lovely subject isolation. Pair the lens with the MC-20 teleconverter and you achieve effective 1:1 macro at 200mm, albeit with an f/5.6 maximum aperture. Optical performance is excellent across the board. At f/2.8, the lens is already very sharp from centre to edge, with impressive contrast and minimal aberrations. Corner shading is negligible and fringing virtually absent. Stopping down brings only marginal improvements. Out-of-focus rendering is smooth, aided by the shallow depth-of-field at telephoto lengths. The bokeh is creamy, with well-rounded specular highlights thanks to a nine-blade iris. Even in more challenging backlight, flare and ghosting appear perfectly well controlled, especially if you’ve got the hood in place. Teleconverter compatibility is a real advantage. With the MC-14 fitted, the 50-200mm becomes a 70-280mm f/4 which is a 140-560mm equivalent. With the MC-20, it transforms into a 100-400mm f/5.6, the equivalent of 200-800mm.
Filter size: 77mm Dimensions (wxl): 91.4x225.8mm/3.6x8.9in Weight : 1250g/2.8lb
across the frame throughout the zoom range, while suppressing chromatic aberrations and flare. A Zero-II coating helps minimise reflections, and the large 77mm filter thread is surrounded by a deep hood with an adjustment window for a variable ND or polariser. The zoom ring requires less than a quarter turn to cover the full range, making it quick to operate. The focus ring is electronic but smooth, while controls include an AF/MF switch, a focus limiter, stabiliser switch and a dedicated preset focus system. It has four customisable L-Fn buttons and the supplied Arca-Swiss compatible tripod foot can be unclipped without removing the lens from the camera. Stabilisation is a major upgrade with optical IS built in. On the flagship OM-1 Mark II, the combinations work together to offer up to seven stops of shake correction. On cameras without the system, the lens alone is good for five stops. Autofocus is quick, quiet and precise. The lens locks on rapidly to fast-moving subjects and tracks them well. Birds in flight were acquired confidently and followed with high
THE VERDICT
This is a lens that might be pricey but can replace the need to carry both a 40-150mm and a 100-400mm, saving money and weight. The OM System M.Zuiko Digital ED 50-200mm f/2.8 IS Pro offers the handling, durability and optical quality expected of a professional telezoom, but with the portability advantages that Micro Four Thirds users prize. For specialists in wildlife, sport, action or tele- macro work, it is the best lens available for the system today.
More information
omsystem.com
HOW IT RATES
Features: 9 Great zoom range, incredible image stabilisation and fast aperture Performance: 9 Sharp, detailed footage, and the stabilisation is simply stunning Handling: 9 Small and light to hold compared to full-frame lenses, smooth control rings Value for money: 9 Yes, it’s at the high end for an MFT telezoom but it offers so much lasting value OVERALL RATING: 9/10 From wildlife to sport and beyond, this lens delivers in every way Pros: Class-leading image stabilisation and great image quality Cons: Not the cheapest option but offers something unique
SCALED DOWN The MFT system means lenses like the 50-200mm f/2.8 can be relatively compact
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