The Olympus M.Zuiko 150-400mm f/4.5 TC1.25x IS Pro gives unparalleled reach – at an unprecedented price
(Image credit: Olympus)
Update 6 March 2021: At The Photography Show spring virtual event today, Olympus UK has confirmed that the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm f/4.5 TC1.25x IS Pro is now finally on sale. Currently the company is still fulfilling pre-orders, so you aren't yet in the shops – but at least you can now get your name down if you want one of these incredible supertelephotos for the Micro Four Thirds cameras, which we first saw a prototype of at The Photography Show 2019.
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm f/4.5 TC1.25x IS Pro being demonstrated at The Photography Show virtual show this weekend - watch the recording of the session here(Image credit: Future)
The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm f/4.5 TC1.25x IS Pro lens has finally been launched – and this remarkable optic, which delivers an equivalent full-frame range of 375-1000mm via the integrated teleconverter, comes with a remarkable $7,499.95 / $6,499 price tag.
The M.Zuiko 150-400mm may be the most expensive Micro Four Thirds lens ever made, but it's also the most unique. There is simply no equivalent lens on any other system, and certainly none that offers this kind of awesome range in such a compact, hand-holdable frame. Combine this with the Olympus TC-20 2x Teleconverter and it delivers a staggering 750-2000mm range!
At an astonishing 115.8 × 314.3mm and 1,875g (yes, those figures are correct!) this is an unprecedented proposition for sports and wildlife photographers, offering a lens that can be carried, handheld and used in the field in ways never before possible.
While shooting at up to 1,000mm lends itself best to tripod work, the 150-400mm is perfectly usable handheld, with 4.5 stops of native stabilization that combines for 6 stops when used at 500mm (1000mm equivalent) and 8 stops at 150mm (300mm) on the Olympus OM-D E-M1X.
The standard 150-400mm (300-800mm) range features a fixed f/4.5 aperture, while employing the built-in 1.25x teleconverter results in a fixed f/5/6 aperture throughout the 187.5-500mm (375-1000mm) zoom. It also possesses a minimum shooting distance of 1.3m across the entire range (including with the teleconverter), further adding to its versatility.
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Externally the lens is fully weather sealed for dust, splash and freezeproofing, with heat-resistant coating for use in hot extremes, and internally it features 28 elements in 18 groups.
The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm f/4.5 TC1.25x IS Pro is available for pre-order now, and will start shipping in late January 2021.
James has 22 years experience as a journalist, serving as editor of Digital Camera World for 6 of them. He started working in the photography industry in 2014, product testing and shooting ad campaigns for Olympus, as well as clients like Aston Martin Racing, Elinchrom and L'Oréal. An Olympus / OM System, Canon and Hasselblad shooter, he has a wealth of knowledge on cameras of all makes – and he loves instant cameras, too.
