Olympus 40-150mm F2.8 Pro Review

My, how we’ve grown

We better kick off by discussing the “elephant in the room”, which in the case of the 40-150mm is that it is a bit of an elephant; especially in the context of the theoretically “micro” in “Micro Four Thirds”.

This can best be illustrated by sitting the lens, mounted on the E-M1, next to my very first M43 purchase; the Panasonic GF1 and 20mm lens:

The bad news is that if you want a constant aperture F2.8 lens of this focal length; then you are going to have to put up with the physical size and the weight of the glass. It’s physics; bitches.

The good news is that no other manufacturer can offer you an equivalent lens without you requiring massive muscles or, more realistically, a tripod or monopod to use it for more than five minutes. With the Olympus you can shoot hand-held all day without feeling you have had a workout. Add in the 12-40mm F2.8 Pro and you have a massively capable combination to cover almost every shooting eventuality.

Like a tank, only better

The 12-40mm set a new standard for M43 lens construction, the 40-150mm is built to the same high quality. Looks and feels solid, apparently waterproof, and check out the lens hood!

The first gasp of delight comes when you find that the lens hood is included in the price, which wasn’t always the case. The second frisson of excitement comes when you twist the hood to extend it. It slides out smoothly and locks in place such that you can sit the lens and camera on the ground supported by the extended hood. But then a slight twist and the lens retracts again. It’s great, and a million miles removed from some of the previous offerings; such as the 60mm Macro optional hood which has a tendency just to give up and fall off when you are not looking.

Also included with the lens is a tripod collar which I have removed and am waiting for someone to come up with a slide-on item that will cover the collar studs. My wife hopes there will be a Little Kitty version; but she says that about everything.

Like the 12-40mm there is a programmable function button, and there is also a focusing ring which you can slide back to initiate linear manual focus with hard stops. I find this very useful on the 12-40mm, not so much on the 40-150mm; in fact I reckon it is pretty much unusable at longer focal lengths. The problem at these legnths is that the movement between in focus and out of focus is tiny and it is very hard to hit the sweet spot. And as soon as you stop moving the ring to consider whether or not you have got it right, the view zooms out to full screen and you have to slightly move the focus ring to zoom in again (this is if you use zoom manual focus assist, which I do). These leads to much swearing. Plus, if you use auto-focus to acquire initial focus and then pull back on the ring to move to manual focus, your subject will be out of focus again. Nice idea, not so useful at longer focal lengths.

Don’t stand so close to me

The 40-150mm has a close focusing distance of 70mm. This means you can focus on something 70cm away with the lens at 40cm focal length. Or 150cm focal length. Or at 150mm focal length with the 1.4 extender (so 210mm focal length). This makes it almost a macro, and the ideal weapon when you want to shoot beasties that might bugger off should you get too close with a macro lens; such as dragonflies, moths, wasps and frogs:

Also good for flowers:

Speed too

Auto-focus speed is fast and accurate, as you might expect. With the latest firmware on the E-M1, tracking focus works well for action photography; see here for more details and many sample action images.

Never mind the width, feel the quality

It’s beautifully made, it has a useful focal range with plenty of light sucking abilities, and it focuses impressively close; but none of this matters if the image quality is rubbish. Luckily for you and your recently depleted bank account, the image quality of this lens is stellar; at all focal lengths and across the frame. There are plenty of other reviews that illustrate and analyse this, so I will bore you no further; except to say that this lens joins a very small club whose output make me exclaim “Mmmm NICE!” when viewed at 100%. It’s more consistent that the 12-40mm across the focal lengths (the 12-40mm drops off at the longer lengths, see here). Sticking the 1.4 adapter on it does not noticeably degrade quality. I only have one complaint…

Bokelicious?

For close-up shots, the bokeh is creamy and lovely; no complaints. For other shots it is usually OK, but sometimes find the bokeh can be a little harsh and unpleasant. Here’s an example; full image and then a crop:

Unpleasant. Not every shot is as bad as this of course; but the bokeh fails to please on occasions.

Final thoughts

I have been waiting for this lens for more than a year and it has not disappointed. It lives in my camera bag along with the 12-40mmm on most outings. For a macro shoot it travels along with the 60mm Macro; and it is only at night that I might reach for something with a wider aperture. One of the great performers of the M43 range. Go on, you deserve one!

Some shots:

Comments 🔗

2015-03-10 | subroto mukerji says

Enjoyed the pictures, especially the shot of the two large gentlemen (planter types?) with their innocuous looking drinks; seen it before on your blog, love it. A great lens, but definitely beyond the reach of the hoi polloi. Glad to see you’re making good use of it. Keep it up.

2015-03-10 | nikonf2 says

A very interesting review and and I enjoyed your photos which were of a very high standard. What was your workflow for these shots?

2015-03-10 | Ray says

Excellent results and useful review too. I only wish I could afford one. Will have to sell off some other lenses and stuff to get the money together. Still want to test it out on my E-M1 first to see how it compares with the IQ and AF to my older four thirds 50-200mm f2.8-3.5 monster lens with 1.4X extender too

2015-03-10 | Brad Calkins says

I love MFT and this lens, but I can’t agree with the claim that a similar lens/range from another manufacturer requires bulging biceps! A D7100 and 70-200mm f/4 weighs a few grams less than the E-M1 paired with the 40-150mm, and would offer near identical performance and range on the long end (and more resolution and faster AF). Lots to love about this lens, but let’s not get carried away with the size advantage!

2015-03-11 | Mark says

@Brad, There is no real equivalent which would be will be a 70-300 f2.8 zoom, not the lightweight slow 70-200 f4 - it’s all about transmitted light to the sensor (lens “speed”), not DOF equivalency games. Now see if you can find an equivalent f2.8 zoom that’s close in size & weight & price. Good luck!

2015-03-11 | Spike says

Fully agree Mark. Anyone who comes on here banging on about equivalence will get a lifetime ban and their genitals removed by small puppies. Actually, one of things I should have mentioned is how good it is to have MORE depth of field using this lens for sports. The Canon 300mm F2.8 I used to use was a nightmare; had to keep forcing up the F stop as high as possible to get decent depth of field; the Olympus makes it so much easier.

2015-03-11 | ChristianPFC says

“My wife hopes there will be a Little Kitty version” Hello Kitty?

2015-03-11 | Spike says

Put them in Lightroom and then export them! With a bit of cropping and minor adjustments as required. No special processing.

2015-03-11 | Spike says

Hello Christian, please don’t call me Kitty.

2015-03-11 | Grant says

…especially while, at night, you’re reaching for something with a wider aperture…

2015-03-12 | Gorpie says

Nice review and great pictures. I’ve the same lens selection 12-40 f2.8, 40-150 f2.8 and the 60 macro.Perfect line-up, but the 40-150 is my favourite. The only drawback is its poor backlight performance. But for tele-macro and portraits its a winner. I’ve switched from Canon eos to the m43 and never regretted this change. Thanks for the great articles and photos in your blog. Keep up the good work. Gorpie.

2015-03-12 | Andrew says

There is a version of this lens that is only sold in Japan unfortunately, that makes all the bokeh balls into Hello Kitty faces….it’s about ¥25,000 more but there are many reviewers ( most women I will admit ) that say it it the absolute best version of any Olympus lens ever made….time for a return trip Spike…

2015-03-13 | Jason says

My bank account was weeping but I was like a kid on Christmas. Mine just arrived today and I had to have “private” moment with it. I looked spectacular on my second EM1 that I picked up so I didn’t have to change lenses.

2015-03-13 | Spike says

I will admit to a personal moment or two (or one hundred and twenty) when it first arrived. Just sat looking at the box, having waited for the damn thing for more than a year. Ridiculous behaviour.

2015-03-13 | Grant says

You cad Sir. You are a bounder and a rotter! SWMBO reads these missives and now he is doomed, doomed I tell you… (Alright Private Fraser, that’s quite enough from you). Can’t wait to see the snaps when you get back Spike, they’ll knock the ponies right into a cocked hat, that’s for sure!

2015-03-13 | Grant says

Ridiculous behaviour? Absolutely not! As long as the pride of ownership is not overtaken by the tyranny of possession you’re reasonably safe. Well almost… Sort of… Lets face it, you’re probably screwed!

2015-03-14 | Andrew says

The last time I had a “personal moment or two” with a lens it had to be sent back for a rigorous and intensive cleaning….now that I am older ( and some say ) wiser I just buy those Hoya filters….much cheaper in the long run…..

2015-03-14 | Grant says

Please, please tell us you don’t still have the snaps…

2015-03-16 | Andrew says

nah - sold them to Evil Angel which is how I came to be retired and writing this from my 200 metre yacht cruising the Agean…they developed them into a series - I lost track but I think the 1st one was called " Lens Baby? Oh Yeah Lens Baby!!" - haven’t kept up with the rest …ta…have to go …we are approaching the Isle of Lesbos and I figure the 40-150 can earn me some extra ouzo cash…..cheers..