Super Zoom vs. Super-Duper Zoom
Zuiko 100-400mm IS compared to Zuiko 150-600mm Sync IS
I remember the trepidation and excitement I experienced when I purchased my first super zoom for my Olympus camera, the Zuiko 100-400mm. I worried that it would be too heavy, or that I might not get as much use out of it as I had envisioned. At the same point, I was optimistic about being able to photograph the local cottage wildlife from a more magnified field of view.
Well - long story, short - yes the lens was heavier than I was used to at the time, but no heavier than my Nikon full frame 18-200mm lens. And yes, I did manage some wonderful shots of wildlife and also landscapes.
Zuiko 100-400mm IS
It can be challenging to whittle down nearly 2000 images to a representative handful, but that's what I tried to do with this collection below. I did not limit myself to photographing wildlife; I found this lens useful other forms of nature photography as well. Click on any image for a larger view.
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Fast forward to early 2023, when I went through a similar emotional experience, having made the decision to trade in a significant amount of gear (including my 100-400mm) to trade up to the OM Systems OM1 Mark II camera and the Zuiko 150-600mm zoom lens, literally the two most expensive pieces of camera equipment I have ever purchased.
There are several in-depth reviews of this lens online, listing the pros, cons and rumors about its manufacturing provenance. My goal here is to provide a personal perspective on the lens, after shooting with it for about 6 weeks.
Abridged perspective: I really love the lens!
Personal Perspective
My subtitle for this article refers to a comparison between these two lenses, but perhaps that is not accurate; I'm not trying to imply that one lens is better than the other. I think both lenses are quite good, and I would highly recommend the 100-400 to anyone in a heartbeat. Fiscal responsibility notwithstanding, it's likely I would have kept the 100-400 AND bought the 150-600.
But really, how many super zooms does one person need? Hence, the trade-in.
This new lens... is pretty freaking great, but it is costlier, bigger and heavier than my older 100-400mm.
The 150-600mm still boasts weather sealing, slightly better than the 100-400, I believe (IPX1), and has the added benefit of Sync Image Stabilization (Sync IS) where lens and body IS work together, when mounted to a compatible body, like the OM5, OM1 or OM1 Mark II. This means up to 7 stops of image stabilization, compared to about 3 stops of stabilization with the 100-400mm (which did not allow for IS of the camera and lens to work together). In practical terms, I can capture images at slower shutter speeds or lower ISO values. And with a lens this long and heavy, that stabilization really comes in handy!
Zuiko 150 - 600MM Sync IS
Capturing birds in flight is not my strong suit, but it's a skill I plan to work on over the year. That said, I've already made captures that I couldn't have prior to this new equipment, thanks to both the lens and the AI-based subject detection built into the OM1 Mark II.
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150-600mm with 1.4 Teleconverter (210-840mm)
In addition to the native long reach of the lens, it also works with my 1.4x teleconverter, giving me an astounding reach of 840mm (effectively 1680mm when compared to a full frame sensor camera). What does this mean in real terms? Imagine being able to fill your frame with a northern cardinal from 20+ feet away.
Or get nice and tight on any wildlife without disturbing them. But also have the flexiblity to back off and show their environment.
Yeah, that much reach.
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Handheld High Res Images
OM System and many Olympus cameras are also chock full of computational photography features beyond just amazing image stabilization. The OM1 Mark II sensor has a native resolution of 20 megapixels, but thanks to High Res Modes for Handheld and Tripod use, I can create 50 - 80 megapixel images from a single capture. As long as your subject is not moving, this allows for a very high quality image file. Inspired by another photographer, I decided to test those limits with the 150-600, with and without the 1.4 teleconverter attached.
I included the image of the graffiti-covered boulder (captured at 1/30 sec) only so you could look at the texture on the face of the rock. It's not going to win any composition awards. lol
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Wrap Up
I hope you've enjoyed viewing these images. I know I've enjoyed capturing and processing the photos. And of course, I truly enjoy sharing the work with you.
Now, stop reading and get out there! :-)
Technical Notes
All images were captured in RAW format and processed in Lightroom. Many shots are at higher ISOs - 1600 up to 3200, but I only performed minor noise reduction, using the traditional NR tools in Lightroom. While not included here, I can state that AI Noise reduction in Lightroom also performed very well with these images. I left out those versions so you could get a truer sense of the original captures.
Technical Reviews