Zuiko 70-300 coming - Oct.

[Mr. Pickles]

Posted on Olympus site...

Olympus Zooms in on Ultra-Compact 70-300mm Super-Telephoto Digital Lens

Versatile, Lightweight Telephoto Lens Offers 600mm Equivalent and Incredible Macro Capabilities in Half the Size of Competitive Lenses

CENTER VALLEY, Pa., June 26, 2007 – Olympus, a worldwide leader in lens technology, today announces its new super-telephoto Zuiko Digital™ ED 70-300mm (f4.0-f5.6) lens with a compact, lightweight design that is ideal for travel – a perfect complement to the two new portable D-SLR (digital single lens reflex) cameras, the EVOLT E-410 and E-510.

The lens' impressive 140-600mm equivalent focal length (in 35mm photography) is excellent for capturing beautiful images in situations where getting close to a subject is not practical, such as photographing distant scenes, wildlife, sports and children at play. Additionally, due to its unique optical design and impressive minimum focusing distance, this telephoto lens enables consumers to get up-close (38 inches / 0.96 meters) to subjects when taking macro shots - essential for capturing the intricate detail of a flower or jewelry. The lens will be compatible with all E-System and Four-Thirds system cameras, and it will be available at an attractive price for consumers.

For more: Olympus Zooms in on Ultra-Compact 70-300mm Super-Telephoto Digital Lens

[Jonathanp]

Good news, shows a trend towards Olympus kicking out lenses that compare more with Canon, but have the 1.5 crop advantage.

[Max@Home]

..make that 2.0x crop advantage

...FWIW, looks like a great lens... pity no 'extra' on-lens IS... would be a great help for composition and AF system... exacter price known yet?

...€0.02...

Max@Home

[Mr. Pickles]

The lens doesn't need IS, since Olympus is putting IS in their new bodies. Rumored priced is about $400.

Other rumor is that it is really a rebadged, yet tiny bit different, version of Sigma's own 70-300 APO, which is not available in a 4/3 mount, but was a fine lens when I had one in a Canon mount.

[Max@Home]

Originally Posted by Mr. Pickles

The lens doesn't need IS, since Olympus is putting IS in their new bodies.

we have different opinions here: I do not believe that in-body sensor IS will be at all effective at 600mm FoV, and I stick to my comment that in-body sensor IS does nothing for the viewfinder (composition, ability to follow the action),
nor for the AF sensor(s), (ability to lock -and hold- AF) which will be put to their limit at F5.6 already...

The Sigma 70-300 APO -is- a fine lens, FWIW, no-challenging you there

..just *my* €0.02 worth...

As always, with my kindest regards and respects,


Max@Home

[Mr. Pickles]

I never said in-body or in-lens IS was better, so we aren't differing in opinions.

But, it is hard to believe that a manufacturer that puts IS in-body would put IS in-lens. Seems like that would be double dipping. Kind of like using IS on a tripod.

[dougjgreen]

Rumor has it that this "Olympus" lens is actually just a re-badged Sigma. They both have the IDENTICAL optical formula 14 elements, 10 groups, 3 ED elements. And the mechanical specs are quite similar (9 aperture blades, 58mm filters, 95mm minimum macro focusing distance). The Olympus is spec'd to weigh 2 ounces more, which would imply that some plastic has been replaced with metal in the Olympus version (as well as having a slightly longer barrel due to the short flange to focal plane distance of the 4/3 mount. Note that this is one lens that Sigma has NOT made available for Olympus mount, which is exactly what would be expected if they were OEM'ing it to Olympus directly.

Sigma - Lenses

NEWS! - Olympus announces Zuiko 70-300mm lens

[DUSTBERG]

That would be really great if it was around $400.00. Being a broke college student, I better start saving now.

[Mr. Pickles]

Originally Posted by dougjgreen

Rumor has it that this "Olympus" lens is actually just a re-badged Sigma.

Yes that is the rumor and was mentioned above, which adds to the rumor. I don't really see anything "wrong" with that though. I know other lenses that are probably (haven't taken spy photos at the factory) re-badged Sigma lenses.

I think the Sigma 70-300 APO (which has a macro mode) is a fine "beginner" to "intermediate" lens. So it makes sense to have it in the Olympus "standard" lens lineup. Lots of people will be very happy with it. Those that think it is top of the line glass will be a little less impressed, but they need to know what they are getting.

What I don't get is why they would re-badge the lens? Sigma is a "part" of the 4/3 group so why not just tell them to make theirs in a 4/3 mount? Must be some reason they don't want them to, so I would assume they have an "agreement" that Sigma will not make their 70-300 version available in a 4/3 mount for a year or lifetime...

But I wouldn't tell anybody with tight strings NOT to buy the 70-300 lens, because they can do a lot with it. Kind of makes for a good "toy" to experiment with while you save hundreds more for the 50-200 and extender, or thousands for the 300mm prime...

[dougjgreen]

The only problem with this being a re-badged lens is that it will cost more with an Olympus nameplate on it than it would with a Sigma nameplate on it. As a Sigma lens, the street price is in the $200-$225 range. As an Olympus lens, it will have an MSRP of $400, and will probably sell for $300-325 on the street. Now, if Olympus has managed to get Sigma to upgrade the mechanical specs as part of their agreement to OEM the lens, or if Olympus' QA tolerances for this lens are tighter than Sigma's would be on their own, then that added value is justified. But if it's just the same lens with a new label, many folks will be paying an extra $100 or so for nothing but a name tag.

As for WHY they would re-badge this lens, it's because Sigma clearly thinks that they will sell more of them under the Olympus brand than under their own in the Olympus mount - especially if otherwise Olympus ended up sourcing a similar lens from a competitor like Tamron or Tokina. And Olympus gets to save their scarce R&D for stuff that cannot be easily outsourced.

[Mr. Pickles]

Folks pay more for a name everyday of the week though. Ever bought Wal-Mart brand stuff instead of the "big" name? You think Wal-Mart has their own water bottling plant? Or cookie making factory?

If you put a bin of something in a store with a sign on it "25 cents a piece", some people will buy some. Take the sign and replace it with one that says "three for a dollar" and more will probably buy it. Marketing.

If Sigma and/or Olympus sell more 70-300 lenses at $400 than they would at $225, then...

[dougjgreen]

One MAJOR reason that Sigma/Olympus end up selling more of that one lens at $400 is because it won't have any competition. If Olympus sells a re-badged Tamron lens for $350, and Sigma sells their similar lens for $250, the overall market may be bigger, but they each get a smaller share of it. And people are a lot dumber about 3 for a dollar items, than they are about buying about a single $250 lens vs. 3 lenses for $1000. Mainly because their wives won't let them buy 3 lenses for $1000.

[Mr. Pickles]

I don't need 3 of them lenses for $1000. I'd only need one. But then again, I don't need a 70-300.

[abc2DP]

in the 70-300 spes (from Olympus) (I read it from SLRgear):
...
Durable Construction
Designed to meet the needs of the enthusiast photographer, the Zuiko Digital 70-300mm lens uses advanced optical designs and the highest quality optical glass, including 3 ED glass elements, to provide rich color and crisp, clear photographs. All Zuiko lenses are lead-free, utilizing titanium within the optical design. The lightweight comfort and durability of this lens will give the user years of use no matter where in the world they may travel.

"All Zuiko lenses are lead-free, utilizing TITANIUM within the optical design,...give the user YEARS of use no matter where in the world they may travel " : maybe this is the reason why they want to sell this Zuiko lens at higher price than Sigma ?!

[dougjgreen]

Originally Posted by abc2DP

in the 70-300 spes (from Olympus) (I read it from SLRgear):
...
Durable Construction
Designed to meet the needs of the enthusiast photographer, the Zuiko Digital 70-300mm lens uses advanced optical designs and the highest quality optical glass, including 3 ED glass elements, to provide rich color and crisp, clear photographs. All Zuiko lenses are lead-free, utilizing titanium within the optical design. The lightweight comfort and durability of this lens will give the user years of use no matter where in the world they may travel.

"All Zuiko lenses are lead-free, utilizing TITANIUM within the optical design,...give the user YEARS of use no matter where in the world they may travel " : maybe this is the reason why they want to sell this Zuiko lens at higher price than Sigma ?!

This one probably has titanium in the Olympus logo badge, and nowhere else.