Field Testing the Olympus 300mm f/4

2016-03-10 • SEND FEEDBACK |
Related: Death Valley, Olympus, Olympus 300mm, Olympus Lenses, Olympus M.Zuiko, Olympus M.Zuiko 300mm f/4 IS PRO

Get Olympus 300mm f/4 at B&H Photo.

I’ve been enjoying the Olympus 300mm f/4 on the Olympus E-M1. It is a very fine lens and I’ll be reviewing it in Guide to Mirrorless.

The 300mm Micro Four Thirds focal length is equivalent to 600mm in a full frame field of view, so it has a lot of reach in a relatively small and very manageable package. Using it has left me no doubt that this would be the 600mm (equiv) lens of choice were I to shoot at that range—anything in full frame is just so huge and such a hassle.

This cactus was perched 60 feet up a steep canyon cliff. The 300/4 is great fun to pick out small areas of interest. I really enjoy using it that way.

Death Valley: Cactus high on cliff, Cottonwood Canyon

f4 @ 1/13 sec, ISO 200; 2016-03-07 18:21:58
E-M1 + OLYMPUS M.300mm F4.0 @ 624mm equiv (300mm)

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Bokeh of the Olympus 300/4 is smooth and creamy with exceptional color correction—truly outstanding.

Death Valley: Delicate Yellow Flowers, Cottonwood Canyon

f4 @ 1/160 sec, ISO 200; 2016-03-08 13:09:45
E-M1 + OLYMPUS M.300mm F4.0 @ 624mm equiv (300mm)

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Up late from the night before, this group arrived in a blaze of headlights and cloud of dust in Twenty Mule Team Canyon, rousing me. So I rose at 5:15 AM and did some shooting.

Death Valley: Photographers lined up in 20 Mule Team Canyon

f4 @ 1/80 sec, ISO 200; 2016-03-10 07:30:33
E-M1 + OLYMPUS M.300mm F4.0 @ 624mm equiv (300mm)

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