| Brand: | Olympus | ||
| Average Rating |
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Covering field of view to 600mm (35mm equivalent), this high mobility super-telephoto zoom lens weighs only 620 grams. Also, this lens incorporates three ED (Extra-low Dispersion) lens elements to offer sharper, higher-contrast imaging performance.Furthermore, 1x magnification (35mm equivalent) tele-macro photography is capable. Thanks to Four-Thirds system, the lens offers a lot of the footwork out of both super-telephoto and macro photography world. more info
{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }
It depends upon what you’ll use it for…
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I’ve had this lens for a couple of months now and I can say that I’m pretty happy in some respects and not so happy in others.
Over all it is a nice lens FOR THE PRICE. That is the crux of the matter. If you can’t afford something better then this will do in a pinch. It’s not a bad lens.
However, If you are a birder then I don’t think that you will be happy in the long run.
Here’s the thing. When people say that this lens is slow to focus they mean that often (though not always) it has to go through a long procedure of spiraling its barrel (external barrel) from one end to the other. It hunts and pecks its way until finally it finds a focus. That usually means that your beautiful shot of that cardinal is GONE!
I’m often confused as to why sometimes it focuses quickly and other times it has to go through this frustrating procedure. I think that it comes down to this… when you see the perfect “money shot” in front of you it purposely chooses this moment to mess with your head!
One other thing that really bothers me is that, as I said, it has an external focus barrel. This means that if you use a polarizing filter you have to twist the filter AFTER EVERY TIME YOU FOCUS since the filter thread twists during focusing.
Lastly, don’t think that this is going to get you as close as you want for birding. No matter what, you will always wish that it was three times closer!
Having said all that, for most other uses, including taking shots of your daughter on the soccer field, you will be relatively happy.
Cheers!
Very impressive lens, very well made
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The ZD 70-300mm lens isn’t the best long telephoto lens you can buy, it’s the absoluete best one you can get for $350!
This lens is incredibly well made, with a very solid feel and a nice fit and finish. It is made in Japan, and has a metal lens mount. This looks and feels like a lens that Nikon or Canon will sell you for $750.
While it is a fairly heavy and substantial lens, it is downright petite when compared to other 140-600mm equivalent zoom lenses.
You will be very impressed with the macro ability of this lens. It will deliver nice isolation and nicely blurred backgrounds. This lens is also excellent for wildlife photography, and the limitation of a slower lens speed isn’t a real problem when shooting in good light. Which is what you usually have when shooting wildlife.
This same lens with a f/2.8 maximum aperature would cost six times more, be four inches longer and weight twice as much, so I think f/4.0 was a good choice by the designers. This lens is an excellent compromise for folks on a budget.
It will have some problems hunting for focus occassionally, but that is to be expected from lenses in this price range and aperature. Overall, I’m glad I got this lens because it really expands my reach as a photographer. I highly recommend this lens to anyone who wants a moderately priced long zoom lens for their 4/3 camera.
very pleased
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I am very pleased with the durability of this lens and the excellent photos it delivers. I’ve photographed various events ranging from soccer games in the rain to musical concerts in a dimly lit hall to bright fall landscapes, and all of my photos come out sharp. The lens is a great asset to any Olympus SLR.
Great for the price
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I got this lens at amazon for less than $260, free shipping. It’s a great lens with excelent quality.
Great
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Just what the doctor ordered. Took it to Yellowstone for its first workout, am VERY pleased with the versitility and results.
Great for Getting Started w/ Wildlife Photography!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’ve been using this lens for about two months now, and I must say, this thing is great for wildlife. I don’t have a ton of money to spend on the better lenses, but this entry level lens is cost friendly and gets the job done. I have snapped some great photos from a distance and allows me to identify exactly what I’m photographing. I’m no wildlife expert, but when my photos are as clear as they are, I can simply look-up and compare photos from books on what species I have seen.
If you are shooting by hand with this lens, make sure there is enough sunlight, otherwise the photos may be soft. If you are shooting in low-light situations, I would recommend at least a monopod.
Long Lens
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I love this lens. Yes, it has limitations. The only really annoying one it the occasional focusing issues. The worst case, is if you focus on something say 5 feet away, and then try to go to a near infinity shot. At least with my copy. None the less I have several stunning shots iv taken with this. Including a Great Blue Heron.
Olympus Zuilo 70-300mm Lens
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I took this lens to Park City, UT and while I was at the Olympic Park, an international ski jump competition was going on. I used this lens to get nice close-ups of the skiers during thier jumps. Great clarity and range with this lens and I made out with some pretty cool pics of the skiers mid-flight. Great lens for any novice or intermediary photographer.
Satisfactory budget telephoto
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I’ve had this lens for a couple of weeks now, shooting with it on an E-420. My primary concern before buying were reviews citing slower and wandering AF as light becomes low. These are generally true, but it should be said that the only conditions I’ve encountered trouble with so far are indoors and at night, which is not a major knock against this lens. The AF is a little noisy but not intrusively so, and while the external focus tube precludes the use of a polarizer because it rotates during focusing, I understand the need for this kind of design in this price range. Optics are good enough that a sensor like the E-420′s can’t faithfully capture visible flaws in image quality. Capable of surprisingly delicious bokeh. Build quality is just fine and zoom action is smooth, AF/MF switch is nice. If you’re on your first DSLR and need a first telephoto with a lot of focal length range, this is your top choice in the 4/3 system.
Nice Lens
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This lens delivers on what it promises. A wide zoom range and gets very close to far away objects. The shipment was right on time, as scheduled, and the price couldn’t be beat. The only caution, use a mono or tri-pod to get really clear shots. Because of the tight zoom and limited aperture, it picks up the slightest movement when holding the camera in your hands.
Impressed
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have an e-510 and have been just using the kit lenses for the past year and had this one saved in my amazon cart for about that long. Glad I waited as with the rebate now in effect on the 70-300mm lens the price was just too hard to resist and having watched its price remain a steady 80 dollars or so above what it is now for the past year I would recommed others who are on the fence to get it now.
I was impressed by the build and heft of this lens. Better then the kit lenses by far. Really gives my e-510 reach now. I also have a Canon T1i (I wanted the video function) and the 55-250mm lens for that. The build on the Olympus is much better. (I do like the canon as well though, just a noticeable build quality difference in the two lens) The pics with this lens are very good, although at 300mm in anything less the full light I can tell the IS system is at its limits and some shots will be spot on and others just a bit off do to my inablity to steady handhold at that range. I would highly recommend this lens to Oly users as you are getting a very nicely built lens with a lot of reach for a very good price.
You can’t expect more from a long lens without paying 3X more!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have owned this lens for about one month. During this time I have used it daily to test it’s capabilities as a long focal length lens, as a macro lens, and as a portrait lens. After learning it’s limitations I am nothing but pleased with the results that I achieve with this lens. Just be aware:
* You should be experienced at shooting with long lenses.
* You cannot expect good results in poorly lit environments.
* You cannot shoot fast moving targets at long focal distances without difficulty.
* You will normally have a higher percentage of blurry shots than with shorter lens.
* The auto focus will start to hunt if you don’t place the sensor spot directly on the subject.
* The focus speed is not as fast as with shorter lenses with a larger apertures.
I would recommend this lens to experienced photographers or novices that are willing to take the time to learn how to use it. It is a real bargain (usually priced below $350.00) and it will perform like lenses costing up to three times as much. Happy shooting!
A lens all Olympus owners should have
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I had been eying this lens for quite some time. One of the biggest advantages of the 4/3rds system is on the telephoto side. The only problem I have with this lens is I waited so long to buy it! It is a truly exceptional lens. I was very impressed with the range and image quality I got. I have been using this lens with my E-30 now for over a month. It is very light and though a little slow at F/4.0-5.6, I have had no problems with it out doors even in the early morning or late evenings.
If you are on the fence about this lens, get off it and buy it!
A good long lens
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
My first impression of this lens was its size and weight; it is big. At about 1.4 lbs it outweighs my E510 camera body and at 3.5″ wide and almost 6″ long with a filter it takes a lot of room in the camera bag. There is only one reason to get this lens and that is for its extended zoom range, about twice that of the 40 – 150 mm kit lens. In 35 mm equivalents this lens zooms from 140 – 600 mm. It is an ideal lens for outdoor wildlife photography. However, like all “long” lenses this is a large and heavy piece of equipment and is difficult to tote on hikes. Also, like all “long” lenses, this lens requires more thought when using than shorter lenses. Whereas image stabilization helps to minimize blurring as a result of shake, it is still best to set the camera on shutter priority and dial in a speed of at least 1/500th of a second. Then adjust the ISO and aperture as appropriate. It is better to have some noise from a high ISO or softness from a wide open aperture then have to deal with blur from shake. My E510 seems to be aware when this long lens is used and increases the speed a little, but not nearly enough to compensate for the length of the lens.
I’ve only taken about 100 pictures with the lens and so far I have been very please with the results. As expected, it is very good at distance shots. What I hadn’t expected is that it is also good at close-ups from a distance. I took a picture of a large bee on a flower from about 7′ away and the flower and pattern on the bee’s wings were crystal clear. The depth of field, as expected, was very narrow. As several other reviewers have pointed out this is not a very fast lens. It rapidly stops down from f4 to f5.6 when you zoom. Hence, my comment that the lens is best used for outdoor photography, especially in full sunlight where f5.6 is not a problem. Given the limitations noted above, I strongly recommend this lens. However, if you are a novice, to get the best results, be prepared to use settings other than AUTO and to learn something about the camera. If you are a hiker and want the capability of a long lens I would seriously consider a superzoom camera (they are about the same price as this lens). The quality may not be as good, but they are much easier to lug around.
Product OK , shiping OK
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Nothing to add….product exactly what I was expecting, and the shiping very fast(4 days to Madrid) and realy cheap comparing to others, I payed no other import taxes….realy OK purchase…good luck…
Outstanding product : Olympus Zuiko 70-300mm
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is a reasonable priced zoom lens that is well worth the time and trouble to carry it around. I have had very good success using it with my Olympus E-520 camera. Crisp clear photos are the result of using this product.
Produces great results for me.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have had this lens for about 6 months to use with my Olympus e-510, and have really put it through its paces. I have had no problems with its operation, and it has consistently produced quality results for me. I have nothing but praise for it.
Good lens, not as sharp as hoped for
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I’ve been using this new lens for a couple of months now. It’s been hit and miss as far as clear, focused images, mostly miss. I’m using an Olympus E-510. When the exposure and lighting and distance are just right I’ve gotten a few decent pics. None were as sharp or detailed as I had hoped, based on earlier reviews and samples. So with just the right conditions and just the right camera settings and a little luck, you may get some decent shots. However, too frequently this amateur has been getting frustrated. For the price though, it’s probably worth the time to practice.
Zuiko long telephoto lens
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is an excellent lens if you’re looking for a long telephoto lens for you Olympus camera. You just have to remember that any long lens has to be used with a higher shutter speed or steadied on a tripod to get the sharpest images. [...].
Great lens, good depth, low loss..
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have one of the original e410′s from Olympus and was happy to get this lens as I do a lot of nature pictures as well as performance pictures for a local dance group. For external shots, it’s great. Inside, there are usually issues with light loss as you zoom in, but there was very little with this lens, especially with the FL-50 flash. It is a little cumbersome on the e410′s smaller body, but using a monopod helps tremendously. A great “reach out and touch” lens.
A worthy lens
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I purchased this lens four months ago for my E-520 for moon shots at the first, then wound up using it for much more, particularly nature photography. This lens is capable of amazing photos of the moon, to the point where you can crop out the edges until the moon fills most of the image and is still tack-sharp (using a remote control or anti-shock release and tripod).
When I began using it for nature photography–birds especially–it was a mixed blessing. The fact that birds are generally to be found in the shade of trees makes the f/5.6 at 300mm slow at finding a focus, and sometimes you have to nudge the manual focus into the right area for the auto to get the idea, but once you hit that sweet spot, it’s golden. Another downside is the lack of depth of field in mediocre lighting: two birds, with one behind the other, will not both come into focus unless you have enough good lighting so as to be able to open the aperture. But I’m not knocking too hard it for that; that one bird you get is in incredibly detailed focus. Some may lament the slow focusing for each individual shot, but the way to get around this is to set the camera on quick-shot so it takes a succession of photos so long as you hold down the shutter button, like frames in a movie. THIS can lead to amazing shots, for it can capture the birds in poses you never would have had time to catch when pressing the shutter each time. Some of my best bird shots have been at 300mm while using this feature, usually on either Aperture or Sports mode.
Also, birds which reside around one’s house which one has been feeding for a long time become incredibly adapted to people. Since December (when I was using a 40-150mm) I’ve been able to move from the open window to the porch and on out into the yard closer and closer to the feeders. This is wonderful news for the 300mm, for the birds very nearly fill the frame or are easily cropped to do so, providing wonderful detail.
It’s a good idea to use this lens on a tripod which has a mount you can swing around. The one I use has a twisting handle which moves the mount up and down and has a screw which tightens side-to-side motion. Keeping that screw loose and using the handle to swing the camera around while the right hand remains on the shutter button will give a quick aim and steady support. If you’re in a place where you can’t use a tripod, bracing it against something, such as a tree, helps tremendously.
All in all, I give this lens 5 stars for its excellent performance in all I wish it to accomplish. The few negatives, such as not working well hand-held and needing good lighting for the best DOP are trifling against all the positives I outlined above. If you are an amateur looking for a good telephoto without breaking the bank, you will be very happy with it.
Not bad for the money!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
As others have written, this is a great lens for the money. It does take a bit to focus, which works best in MF mode, but other then that, it zooms very well and captures awesome pictures when focused well. Good buy for the money if you cannot step up to the next level lenses in the 1000 dollar range and up!
Worth every penny
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have had this lens for a month now, and couldn’t be happier. My daughter is a senior and use this lens photographing her soccer games. It is sharp and clear, focuses great, and has great reach. It is a wonderful Four-Thirds lens.
A great addition to my camera bag.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I had waited to purchase the Olympus Zuiko 70-300 until I had upgraded to the E520 with image stabilzation. The combination of the two delivered some very pleasing results. Like the other reviews I have found the lens has difficulty focusing in low light. I have learned to set the camera to one focus point when working with this it.
If you are into wildlife photos or even people and don’t have a fortune to spend on glass you can do plenty with this one. It is a great addition to my bag.
Olympus best field lens
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I think this is the best economical field lens Olympus/Zuiko has produced. I have taken hundreds of shots, and I have yet to find a problem. Yes I am happy with the lens, it has became my daily use lens and on those few occasions I do switch lens,then I all ways switch back to this great quality lens. You should see the pictures it takes and with the addition of a 2X converter, wow! This is a good buy for any one that wants to reach out and capture the moment on pixels, and not spend thousands of dollars.