40-150mm Olympus Zuiko 4/3 on Digilux 3 - information please?

[graeme_clarke]

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Whilst looking to see what telephoto lenses are available in 4/3 format for a Digilux 3, I came across the Olympus Zuiko 40-150 on a well known Scottish dealer's list which is reasonably priced second hand. (The Leica/Panasonic zoom to 150mm, new, is hugely expensive). My wife was using the Digilux 3 on a trip to the Farne Islands off the Northumberland coast photographing birds. However, the standard lens (14-50) is just too short for some shots even though the birds are often close. She's concerned about weight and although I could have put an R 100mm lens onto the camera its manual everything and heavy - she says that's too difficult as she just wants to frame. point and shoot!

 

So, does anyone have experience of using Olympus lenses on a Digilux 3, and this one in particular? I'd like to know what functions are available - automatic diaphragm, autofocus, lens data communicated etc, and any comments on image quality?

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Graeme

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[ASpes]

If I remember well in the Oly 4/3 range there have been two 40-150, the older one has a metal mount, the newer a plastic one (ABS??). If the mount is black it's the latter, but don't be put off by this, it fits snugly and works well just like the other, even makes the lens somewhat smaller and lighter. Both are standard grade lenses in the Oly range, and optically rather good, well over their price, although I would not compare them neither to the top Oly range nor to the Leica R lenses.

 

Now, if you let me, birding is a special area of photography, and even with a crop factor of 2x, the 40-150 might be on the short side for that use, but obviously it depends also on the bird size and how close you can get to it. You might want to consider the Oly 70-300, which has a more suitable range and is not that expensive. (there are a couple used ones on that site...)

 

All Oly 4/3 lenses work no problem on the D/3, the top grade actually shine on it. The main difference in use is that they do not have an aperture ring, but you can set the aperture via the dial at the back of the camera. Apart from this, they work just like your "kit" Leica lens, so your wife can use them the way she's used to.

 

Hope this helps.

[250swb]

The 40-150mm isn't spectacular by Olympus standards, but as Olympus kit lenses are often better than some manufacturers main lenses that should be born in mind. But if the aim is to photograph birds I would say the Olympus 75-300mm is the one to go for. It is a little bit better optically and with a lot more reach.

 

Steve