Product Description

This is lightweight, compact and with a great 10x standard zoom lens covered to the range of distinct telephoto effect. It is equivalent to 36-360mm on a 35mm camera. The almighty lens can cover most of shooting scene. The closest focusing distance is down to 45cm in entire zoom area, and 0.23x (equivalent to 0.46x on a 35mm camera) of magnification allows you close-up shots. Two ED lenses and two aspherical lenses compensate each aberration to give the high-performance in entire zoom area.

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Product Details

• Brand: Olympus
• Model: Digital
• Dimensions: 7.00" h x 5.30" w x 4.80" l, 2.56 pounds

Features

• ED glass compact lens
• 36¿360mm equivalent in 35mm format
• Includes case, lens hood, front lens cap & rear lens cap-SG

From the Manufacturer
Receive sharp and colorful images from this lightweight all-digital lens, from less than 18 inches away or as far as its 10x telephoto will take you. Weighing less than 16 oz., this durable, extremely portable lens is perfect for wide group shots or "zooming in" on your child's soccer game, and delivers a distortion-free view and outstanding results thanks to ED glass lens elements and its built-in CPU that automatically corrects lens, shading and exposure information.

The sophisticated line of Zuiko Digital lenses is designed to professional standards to provide professional results in every facet of their use. Coreless motors provide impressive speed. A dedicated computer processor supplies intuitive image data transfer. A wide focal range gives you the flexibility to perfectly frame and capture detailed images near and far. Precision crafted optics--including fine aspherical and ED glass elements--produce the finest image results. And a digital specific design based on the Four Thirds System makes this lens virtually effortless to carry and use. This is not a lens built specifically for the E-1 Digital SLR; it is a lens built specifically for you.

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Customer Reviews

Less than ideal "one lens" solution
The overall size and weight of the Olympus D-510 2 lens kit (14-42 and 45-150) offered a small, light kit that is very versatile. My only issue is I find myself in a lot of situations where a rapid lens change is required with this combination so I was looking for something in a single lens that offered a larger zoom range.

This lens offers the zoom range I was looking for, but its almost the size and weight of the two kit lenses put together and is slower than either. I did not have any color or clarity problems attributable to the optics in this lens and in theory its a step up from the kit lenses.

Unfortunately, largest aperture falls off to f6.3 rapidly and that makes for a slow lens over the majority of its zoom range, which also causes a dimmer viewfinder image, and slower auto focus.

Its not quite disappointing enough to return, but in general you are better off with the kit lenses from a size/weight/quality standpoint. If you REALLY need the zoom range in a single lens, this is worth considering, but the compromises that come with this lens are greater than I've seen in other third party lenses with a similar zoom range (admittedly for other lens mounts).

I think I'll look towards the 50-200mm f2.8-3.5 Olympus lens next.

The E-510 finally makes this lens a keeper
I had previously owned one of these lenses and as I noted in an earlier review no one could have wanted this lens to be the great single lens "travel lens" more than I did, but alas the lens just came with too many shortcomings to work well with my E-500. Enter the E-510 with built in image stabilization and much better high-ISO performance and in my opinion a new day has dawned for this lens.

This is not a fast lens and that will never change but finally this is no longer a deal breaker. The lens has been performing very well indeed on my E-510 as long as I keep the design limitations of the lens in mind.

Points to consider:

- This lens is not super sharp wide open (maximum aperture) the way a Zuiko 12-60mm or 50-200mm lens would be - it's "acceptable" for some but not for my needs.
- Stopped down about two notches or simply set to f/8 or f/11 this lens is very sharp indeed - it sharpens up nicely - however the depth of field at shorter focal lengths might be too generous for some shooters needs.
- The lens is not weather sealed and is not made to the same quality as the mid-grade or top pro-grade Zuiko lenses. It's built to pretty much the same standards as a kit lens, which is to say just fine (it has a metal base).
- It focuses much closer than the Zuiko 50-200mm lens and makes a very good general purpose walkabout lens for use in strong lighting.
- The lens uses 62mm threads at the front and as a result several lens attachments from the old Olympus E-10/20 DSLRs will fit.

If you're using an older E series Olympus camera I can't recommend the lens without reservation, but for those shooting with the new image stabilized Olympus DSLRs I think that this lens can work very well as a travel lens or a general walkabout lens high on the convenience factor.

All Purpose Lens and it Rocks... whatever the situation!
Finally! It's here! The all purpose lens us Olympus E Series fans have been waiting for. And it is wonderful. Pictures are sharp edge to edge, indoor and out. Shots taken both Auto Focus and Manual have turned out well. I have no complaints. For an all purpose lens, it works well in a variety of light conditions, an area of concern when I bought the lens. Now I feel set. I can keep this one on the camera and I'm prepared for all those impromptu shoots you end up on. I'll still use my other lenses, but only when I know the specifics of the shoot ahead of time. But now if I just want to grab the camera, sans the 10 lb. bag, and go shoot pictures of my kid at the zoo, I can. And like you, I love that freedom. Bottom line, I couldn't be happier and if you are looking for an all purpose zoom lens for your E-300, E-500, E-1 (and soon to come E-3 and E-330) cameras, look no further. This is the one you want (trust me I tried the Sigma for Olympus alternative... stay clear of that one). I know it costs almost as much as your camera body, but in the end you'll find the shots you end up with in the long term will more than make up for any buyer's remorse you may suffer in the short term. So get off the fence, Click the Buy button, and get to work on those shots... whatever the situation.