Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 40-150mm F4.0-5.6 R Silver for Micro Four Thirds System Camera, 3.75x Zoom Lens, Portable Design

The M Zuiko 40-150mm f/4-5.6 is everything the most reputable on-line reviewers say it is: a very light and small medium-length zoom with a remarkable performance for an incredible price. The lens is made of plastic but handling it gives a sense of a fine construction with tight tolerances and no looseness. Both rings operate quite smoothly and there is no zoom creep. Focusing on the EM5II is silent, quick, and assertive even indoors (with static subjects). I tested it for optical performance with a very detailed subject - one of my wife's jewelry creations - all open and closed down 1 and 2 stops at 40mm, 70mm and 150mm. I processed the Raw files in PS CS6 applying my typical white point, clarity and sharpening to all. The results are very statisfying. In conclusion, this is a budget lens that is definitively worth considering for its unique price/quality point. I will add a couple of lines of comments as soon as I take the lens out to photograph birds in action.A word of caution about this and other telephoto lenses negative reviews. The use of a 300mm lens is already demanding in terms of technique. Image stabilization takes only care of camera shake but moving subjects require very short exposures to avoid blur. If the writer does not specify if they are shooting Raw or jpegs there is little value in their conclusions. Additionally, you don't know if they know how to properly process the Raw files and/or what's the setting for in-camera sharpening in jpeg. Lastly, many people shoot on a tripod without turning off image stabilization (a must).11/16/16 addendum: I am replacing the older pictures with new ones of Echo Bay in New Rochelle, NY, just before and with the latest super moon. All pics are from Raw files developed in PS 6 with the same treatment.Pic 1: 40mm (80mm eq), f/16, 1/320sec, ISO 800Pic 2: 70 (140)mm, f/16, 1/32sec, ISO800, tripodPic 3: 62 (124)mm, f/16, 1/6sec, ISO800, tripod

Alright, how do I say this? This lens is a Five-Star item, but only if you get it on sale for $99. It's all plastic, has a zoom that is not very smooth, and one copy I tested made a little bit of a rattle. The lens also does not have the special optical coatings that it's more expensive "brothers," one of which runs more than four times the price (see it at Olympus 14-150mm f/4.0-5.6 II Lens for Micro Four Thirds Cameras (Black)), and the other, the Olympus Zuiko edition (which runs at over ten times the price: see it Olympus M.ZUIKO 40-150mm f/2.8 Interchangeable PRO Lens for Olympus/Panasonic Micro 4/3 Cameras) and has a simpler lens element construction than either of those more expensive lenses.But if you can deal with all that, it is a remarkably sharp lens, and can actually turn out some very nice photos. To boot, it is so light that you almost don't notice it is on the camera. Its truly a remarkable deal, particularly when on sale. It yields a pretty sharp image at most all lengths, and the colors are punchy but optically neutral. It's in some ways the perfect travel lens due to its long zoom and very light weight. But you just have to accept that this lens is just not going to feel like one of the "Pro" Olympus lenses because of its plastic build. But I must say that I was really surprised at the quality of the images, which are certainly not class-leading, but are actually quite good, very sharp, and respond well to post-processing. When you add its very light weight and very inexpensive price, it really is a great choice.So, this is a matter of understanding what you are getting. If you want a top-of-the-line lens, go for the 12-100mm Pro Olympus lens, which has a very different feel and much more sophisticated optics, and will cost about $1,300. But if you are looking for an inexpensive, light lens that does duty for short trips, impromptu shots, etc., that is sharp and yields photos perhaps about 70-80% of the level of the most expensive lenses, this is the one. It's, without doubt, an overperformer that punches way beyond its weight (no pun intended). And when you feel that non-smooth zoom mechanism, just remind yourself you're getting great shots for almost free. Five Stars.

If you don't currently have a telephoto zoom lens in your kit and this lens is still available for $99, you should buy it right now. The lens is surprisingly sharp and focuses very quickly. It's light weight and all plastic, but when it's mounted on the camera it has a solid, quality feel, and the upside is that it's very small and light for the zoom range it offers. My only complaint is that its bokeh is not as smooth and pleasing as I would like, but it's not bad by any means. All-in-all this lens is so cheap (even at its full price, but especially so for its oft discounted $99 price) and capable that there's no reason not to pick one up, even if you have the more expensive f2.8 version on your eventual wish list.