A 300mm (600mm equivalent) prime that's only 8.9 inches long and weighs only 2.8 pounds (without its tripod adapter) is a dream come true for sports and wildlife photographers–especially for those coming from heavy full-frame Nikon and Canon versions, which each are over 17 inches long and 11 pounds.
Related content
-
-
The Best Mirrorless Lenses of 2023
best-right-now
feature
We received a copy of the CES Editors' Choice award–winning lens a few days after we returned from Vegas, so of course I instantly strapped it to the OM-D E-M1 loaner we had in-house. Here's what I saw on the frigid streets of Boston.
Hands-On
With the M.Zuiko ED 300mm f/4 IS PRO, Olympus has done a great job making sure that smaller doesn't mean cheaper. Upon picking this lens up, you can immediately tell that it's incredibly well-made, with a fully metal body and an incredibly dense feel. The weather sealing provides a crucial added benefit that both wildlife and sports shooters will appreciate.
The small size of the Olympus M.Zuiko ED 300mm f/4 IS Pro allows for users to shoot angles unlike the bulkier 600mm lenses on the market.
{{amazon name="Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mirrorless Camera (Body Only)", asin="B00EQ07PG2", align="right"}} The focus ring–which features Olympus's signature clutch that slides back and forth to switch between auto- and manual focus–has good tactility and glides effortlessly when focusing manually. The controls for image stabilization and focusing distances are snug, so you won't accidentally move them, but can be switched easily with your thumb while shooting.
Overall it's much more like shooting with a 70-200mm full-frame lens than some 600mm f/4 full-frame monstrosity.
Sample Photos
The following sample photos were all taken on either the new Olympus PEN-F or the Olympus OM-D E-M1, without using a tripod or monopod for support.
EXIF: E-M1, 600mm, 1/320 sec, f/4, ISO 250
EXIF: E-M1, 600mm, 1/500 sec, f/4, ISO 200
EXIF: E-M1, 600mm, 1/2000 sec, f/4, ISO 200
EXIF: E-M1, 600mm, 1/1000 sec, f/4, ISO 200
EXIF: PEN-F, 600mm, 1/320 sec, f/4, ISO 640
EXIF: PEN-F, 600mm, 1/500 sec, f/4, ISO 200
EXIF: E-M1, 600mm, 1/200 sec, f/5.6, ISO 1600
EXIF: PEN-F, 600mm, 1/320 sec, f/4, ISO 640
EXIF: E-M1, 600mm, 1/320 sec, f/4, ISO 1000
EXIF: PEN-F, 600mm, 1/320 sec, f/4, ISO 800
EXIF: PEN-F, 600mm, 1/250 sec, f/4, ISO 1600
EXIF: E-M1, 600mm, 1/60 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200
EXIF: PEN-F, 600mm, 1/320 sec, f/4, ISO 800
EXIF: PEN-F, 600mm, 1/320 sec, f/4, ISO 500
Related Video
{{brightcove '4302628102001'}}
Meet the tester
As a photojournalist, Jackson has had stints working with bands, the military, and professional baseball teams before landing with Reviewed.com's camera team. Outside of Reviewed.com, he can be found looking for the next game to relieve his "Gamer ADD" or growing his beard.
Checking our work.
Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.
Shoot us an email
