Camera Labs

At last the Zuiko 70-300mm arrived so last weekend I went out to take some shots!












These are my first photos using the Zuiko 70-300m lens. I'm so delightful buying this lens it has a learning curve but when you get used to it, surley it will give you great results! I'd like to hear some comments on these photos!
Thanks for looking

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Olympus E-5 Olympus E-520
50mm f2.0 Macro 14-54mm f2.8/3.5 II
50-200mm f2.8/3.5 SWD 70-300mm f4/5.6
Hoya Filters CPL, UV, IR, ND8
Olympus FL-50 Digital Flash, x2 Vivitar 285HV x2 Yongnuo YN560
Manfrotto 055XPROB & Lowepro Mini Trekker AW
My fotostream:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/omarbongailas

It's a decent lens for the money, no doubt about it. Not the sharpest lens out there, but as your shots demonstrate, the lens is pretty versatile. Its macro capabilities, light weight, and long reach suit me just fine. It might even have convinced me to pass on either the 35mm or the 50mm macro lenses (for now).

I recently added the EC-14 to my kit for the extra reach and I'm REALLY happy with that decision. Wildlife shots are SO much easier. Just be prepared to work only in bright light; the minimum f-stop drops to f/8.

I've seen some very sharp images taken by others with this lens, but I've yet to master mine to my satisfaction. The next thing I'm going to try is to calibrate the focus on my E-620 to see if I can't eke out a bit more edge that way, at least for those times I rely on AF.

Feel free to share any tips you find for getting sharp images with this beauty.

Cheers,

Terry

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E-620 : HLD-5 : 7-14mm : 8mm FE : 9-18mm : 12-60mm : 14-42mm : PL 25mm : 50mm Macro : 50-200mm SWD : 70-300mm : EC-14 : EC-20 : EX-25 : XZ-1
Flickr photostream

P.S. I love the flare from the bright light in your last pic

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E-620 : HLD-5 : 7-14mm : 8mm FE : 9-18mm : 12-60mm : 14-42mm : PL 25mm : 50mm Macro : 50-200mm SWD : 70-300mm : EC-14 : EC-20 : EX-25 : XZ-1
Flickr photostream

Nicely done. You are a master.

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"The quickest way to make money at photography is to sell your camera."

Olympus E-520
Zuiko 14-54mm II
Zuiko 70-300mm
Zuiko 50mm
B+W Filters
LowePro Classified 160
Lexar Professional Series Compact Flash
Olympus M+ 2 GB Flash Card
Optech Soft Case Pouches and Lens Sleeves
Optech Ez Comfort Neck Strap
California Sunbounce Sun-Sniper Camera Strap

Thanks for your comments as I said I'm still learning this lens every time I use it I learn somethig new! The sharpest shots I'm experiance are when you have the subject just a few feet away! I'd like to take pictures of flowers and now using this lens I'm temping to buy the EX-25 tube for more close ups.

@tbransco May I please ask you how're you doing with the 9-18mm? I've found a good deal on this lens and I'd like to have a suggestion from someone who own it before I buy it!

Thanks

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Olympus E-5 Olympus E-520
50mm f2.0 Macro 14-54mm f2.8/3.5 II
50-200mm f2.8/3.5 SWD 70-300mm f4/5.6
Hoya Filters CPL, UV, IR, ND8
Olympus FL-50 Digital Flash, x2 Vivitar 285HV x2 Yongnuo YN560
Manfrotto 055XPROB & Lowepro Mini Trekker AW
My fotostream:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/omarbongailas

zazu,

I have only had the 9-18 a few short weeks and have not had much experience with it. There are plenty of comments and examples in the FlickR group "OLYMPUS Zuiko Digital Club'. Look for the discussion thread dedicated to the 9-18mm. I think it was mostly this group of people that convinced me to pick it up.

I was thinking about the EX-25 myself for awhile, but have decided against it based on what I read in the Flickr Olympus groups. Have you come across the EX-25 lens compatibility data compiled by Olympus? It's a useful reference to help you judge the tube's value:

http://www.olympus.co.jp/en/support/imsg/digicamera/compati/di004042e.cfm#etcl

It suggests you can achieve up to a 1.32X magnification using manual focus fully zoomed to 300mm. However, (hearsay warning) that may not be much of an improvement over the bare lens. I can't seem to find the magnification stats for the bare lens. For me, I'm going to invest in a good tripod and head combo and top it off with a long lens support (Manfrotto 293). That should help ALL my shots of slow moving objects that I take with the 70-300mm (and other lenses). For me, at this point, the bare lens has plenty of macro power unassisted.

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E-620 : HLD-5 : 7-14mm : 8mm FE : 9-18mm : 12-60mm : 14-42mm : PL 25mm : 50mm Macro : 50-200mm SWD : 70-300mm : EC-14 : EC-20 : EX-25 : XZ-1
Flickr photostream

P.S. The maximum magnification of the bare 70-300mm is spec'd by Olympus at 0.5X. See here: http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/product.asp?product=1346&page=specs#wide

I'm not sure what to make of this. It's quite a jump from 0.5X to 1.32X, so perhaps what I read before regarding the doubtful added benefit of the EX-25 should be regarded with some skepticism. Let us know what your own research into this combo reveals!

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E-620 : HLD-5 : 7-14mm : 8mm FE : 9-18mm : 12-60mm : 14-42mm : PL 25mm : 50mm Macro : 50-200mm SWD : 70-300mm : EC-14 : EC-20 : EX-25 : XZ-1
Flickr photostream

I read some scientific explanations where people say that tube doesn't help anything with 70-300. Actually if I recall correctly it would help only on 70mm, but even that is less then what would you get when fully zoomed in.

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E-5; E-1; E-620; GH-1
12-60; 50-200; 70-300; 40-150; 25; 35; 50;
14-140;
FL-36rx2 ; FL50r; FL50
www.facebook.com/maksimimages
www.maksimimages.com

I've concluded from my own reading that the EX-25 is for those that REALLY need 2:1 magnification (possible only with the 35mm macro), or who want their 50mm macro to acheive 1:1 magnification. If you have either requirement, then the tube may be worth the price, but otherwise, probably not. Just my two cents.

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E-620 : HLD-5 : 7-14mm : 8mm FE : 9-18mm : 12-60mm : 14-42mm : PL 25mm : 50mm Macro : 50-200mm SWD : 70-300mm : EC-14 : EC-20 : EX-25 : XZ-1
Flickr photostream

I love my lense,...it's a very versatile bit of glass,....especially for size and price.

My only complaint,.....is when it misses focus on something moving...and it does that ALOT,...mostly in those "OMG there's(insert subject here)"....and 9/10 times,....it buzz,...buzz.....buzzz,....buzzz....then...it waits for YOU to tell it which way to go.

When it gets to the far end,...it just stops.....no matter how many times you half press shutter.

This is the only lens that in certain light and situations,...will NOT go back and forth through the focus hunting,....which is weird.

Granted I've dropped my E-510(wind blew tripod over),..but it had the kit lens on at the time.....but still,...it knocked all my stuff in the mirror box out,..was reassembled....and works fine.

But I got my copy of this lense AFTER the body was dropped.....so It could be that.....but it's an issue for others online too..so.

TBH,..the older Oly's with 3 points of AF,....are not miracle workers
for faster moving subjects anyway.

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Nikon D90,SB-600,50mm f/1.8,55-200mm,18-105mm,300mm f/4 AF-IF ED
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