Olympus Corporation announces the launch of the new M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm F4.0 IS PRO super telephoto lens. This latest professional grade lens sets a new image stabilisation benchmark of six shutter speed steps through the use of Olympus’ newly developed synchronised 5-axis stabilisation technology. With a very long 600mm equivalent focal length and compact dimensions, it has been designed for high mobility nature, wildlife, motorsport and reportage photography. The new M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm F4.0 IS PRO is the highest resolution lens in the Olympus Zuiko lens system, and works with all Micro Four Thirds system compatible still and video cameras.
The M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm F4.0 IS PRO uses Olympus’ new “Sync Image Stabilisation” (IS) technology to achieve a world’s first six1 shutter speed steps of stability. It is also the first Olympus Zuiko system lens with optical-stabilisation. Used with an Olympus OM-D E-M1 or E-M5
Mark II camera body, the in-lens IS system combines with the camera body’s in-built stabiliser to achieve a level of stabilisation that is greater than either component. “Sync IS”, the name given to this new ‘cooperative’ image stabilisation technology effectively counteracts camera movements along five axes. This extremely high level of stability promotes handheld super-tele photography; especially beneficial to field photographers and videographers who require their equipment to be extremely portable.
The M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm F4.0 IS PRO is the highest resolution lens in the Olympus Zuiko lens system. Large diameter, yet relatively thin high-performance optical elements are used to provide the lens its compactness and lightweight. The seventeen-elements in ten-groups optical arrangement contains three Super ED (Super Extra-Low Dispersion) lenses, three HR (High-Refractive index) lenses, and one E-HR (Extra-High Refractive index) lens. Combined, they help achieve extraordinarily high resolution levels with minimal colour aberrations. The application of “Z Coating Nano”, a new high-performance antireflectance material with optical properties similar to that of high refractive index glass, significantly reduces lens flare and ghosting.
The M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm F4.0 IS PRO focuses extremely quickly, requiring just 400ms to achieve accurate focus from infinity to a five meter focus distance with the OM-D E-M1 – a class leading result amongst super-telephoto lenses. Its extremely fast AF speed will ensure that fleeting nature and wildlife subjects, or fast moving sport action, can be readily photographed with high accuracy. With a minimum focus distance of just 1.4m (maximum magnification of 0.24x), it provides extraordinary close-shooting capability for the imaging of small nature subjects.
To guarantee reliable operation in severe climactic conditions, a seventeen-point hermetic sealing system is used to protect internal components against dust and moisture. Combined with the professional OM-D E-M1 or enthusiast E-M5 Mark II weather-sealed camera bodies, the M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm F4.0 IS PRO can be confidently used in wet, desert, or extremely cold environments.
The compact weather-proof M.Zuiko MC-14 tele-converter (1.4x magnification) can be used with the new M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm F4.0 IS PRO to attain a combined 420mm focal length (840mm). Imaging performance remains high as the optical design of the MC-14 tele-converter is ideally matched to the lens. The new M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm F4.0 IS PRO perfectly embodies Olympus’ philosophy of the modern high-mobility, high-performance interchangeable lens camera system.
