Olympus 40-150mmolympus 40-150mm

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The Olympus 40-150mm lens is a budget telephoto lens made to accompany the Olympus 14-42mm lens. You can get this lens from either Amazon (Best Price + FREE Shipping)olympus 40-150mm, B&H Photo Video or Adorama. You are helping me running this site when you buy anything using those links – your help is appreciated!

This lens is usually sold as a kit lens but it is also available for a very cheap price separately. When used in a four thirds DSLR camera, the focal length will be equivalent to 80-300mm.

The thing that stands out from this lens is the compactness and lightweight characteristics. You can pair this lens with the 14-42mm and you will have an excellent range to shoot from.

If you’ve read my review on the Olympus 14-42mm, you know how much I like that kit zoom lens because of the optical performance.

Will this lens also fare well in terms of optical performance?

Let’s find out in the Olympus 40-150mm lens review below.

For my in-depth review, see the following sections. Click on the link below to go directly to any section.
SpecsPerformanceSample ImageConclusionWhere to Buy

Olympus 40-150mm Specs

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Official Name:
Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f/4-5.6

Focal Length Markings:
40, 50, 70, 100, 150mm

Features:
ED – Extra Low Dispersion Glass – Technology to make the image sharper by correcting the light wavelength that travels through the lens.

Full Technical Specs (from Olympus’s website):

Technical Specifications
Groups / Elements 9 / 12
Angle of View 30 – 8.2
Number of Blade Diaphragm 7
Minimum Aperture f/22
Minimum Focusing Distance 0.9m
Filter Thread 58mm
Weight 220g
Dimension (Diameter x Length) 65.5 x 72mm
Macro Magnification Ratio 0.14X
Available at Amazonolympus 40-150mm, B&H Photo Video, Adorama

Optical Performance

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Olympus 40-150mm Sharpness

This lens is very sharp on the center at any aperture and focal length, even at the widest one!

Border sharpness are also great at any aperture and focal length.

See the table below for the full sharpness test result.

Sharpness Scale (from Best to Worst):
(5) Excellent
(4) Great
(3) Good
(2) Fair
(1) Poor

Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f/4-5.6 Center Sharpness

Focal Length / Aperture f/4 f/5.6 f/8 f/11
40mm Excellent Excellent Great Great
100mm n/a Excellent Great Great
150mm n/a Great Great Great

Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f/4-5.6 Border Sharpness

Focal Length / Aperture f/4 f/5.6 f/8 f/11
40mm Great Great Great Great
100mm n/a Great Great Great
150mm n/a Great Great Great

Distortion

Barrel distortion is apparent at 40mm. However, it is not to a large degree and can be easily corrected.

Both 100mm and 150mm has a slight pincushion distortion that can be safely ignored at all shooting conditions.

See the distortion test result below.

Vignetting

Vignetting is visible at the maximum aperture at any focal length. When you stop down by one stop, it will be essentially gone from any focal length.

See the full vignetting test result below.

Chromatic Aberration

Chromatic aberration is very well controlled on this lens. It is very low at any aperture and focal length.

See the full chromatic aberration test result in the table below.

Chromatic Aberration Scale (from Best to Worst):
(5) Negligible
(4) Very Low
(3) Low
(2) High
(1) Very High

Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f/4-5.6 Chromatic Aberration

Focal Length / Aperture f/4 f/5.6 f/8 f/11
40mm Low Low Low High
100mm n/a Very Low Very Low Very Low
150mm n/a Very Low Very Low Very Low

Build Quality

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Materials

Plastic, but quite decent.

Zoom Ring

Zoom ring is quite smooth with just enough friction to prevent zoom creep. The lens will extend when you zoom it towards the telephoto end.

Focusing

Focus ring operates similarly like the zoom ring. The autofocus is relatively slow in this lens compared to other lenses on the same league.

The autofocus is pretty accurate here though.

Image Stabilization

In the Olympus DSLR world, Image Stabilization is installed in the sensor, not on the lens. Check your DSLR body if it support Image Stabilization.

Compatibility

This lens is compatible with both Four Thirds and Micro Four Thirds camera (via a special adapter).

Sample Image

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Below are some sample images that I took with this Olympus 40-150mm lens. Click on any thumbnail to enlarge the images.

Get the best price online from these sites: Amazonolympus 40-150mm, B&H Photo Video, Adorama.

Conclusion

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Here is the conclusion for this Olympus 40-150mm lens.

For a budget lens, this lens performs very well optically. It is very sharp at any focal length and aperture, both on the center and on the borders.

Distortion is only visible at 40mm (barrel), but it can be ignored at other focal lengths.

Vignetting is only visible at the widest aperture. Stop down one stop to completely eliminate it.

Chromatic aberration control is excellent on this lens. You can ignore it at any aperture and any focal length.

The only downside on this lens is the relatively slow autofocus. You can always switch to manual focus if you think the autofocus is too slow for your taste though.

Best of all is the price of this lens. I would consider this lens to have close to professional quality grade in terms of optical quality and having an appealing price at the same time.

Drawbacks

  • Slow autofocus
  • Barrel distortion at 40mm (slightly visible)
  • Vignetting is apparent at the widest aperture at any focal length

Positives

  • Very sharp on the center and borders at any focal length and apertures
  • Good distortion control above 40mm
  • Excellent chromatic aberration control
  • Excellent value for money

Good For

  • Telephoto shooting under bright light conditions

Not So Good For

  • Fast moving sports photography under dim condition due to the slow max. aperture

What Others Are Saying…

by “Anne”

When my”therapist” at the local camera store told me he could sell me this lens for $100 I thought, “It’s Olympus, how bad could it be?” So I bought it and took some time to…
Click here to see the full reviewolympus 40-150mm

by “bdgilfry”

Okay, it’s inexpensive. The ring where it attaches to the camera is plastic. But, are you going to use this as a hammer? It is that very construction that makes this camera a heavyweight in the…
Click here to see the full reviewolympus 40-150mm

Where to Buy

Olympus 40-150mmolympus 40-150mm

Get Olympus 40-150mmolympus 40-150mm

Support this site, buy the Olympus 40-150mm lens from these sites (best price online):

Amazon (Best Price + FREE Shipping)olympus 40-150mm

B&H Photo Video

Adorama

See the following related lens reviews to see more Zuiko lenses options options.

Alright, thanks checking out my Olympus 40-150mm review and I will catch you in the next one!

Lens Score
Optical Quality
Build Quality
Value for Money
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