Preorders: 300mm f/4.0 PRO lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, GetOlympus. In EU at Amazon DE. WexUK.

A NEW WORLD OF HANDHELD NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY: THE OLYMPUS M.ZUIKO® DIGITAL™ ED 300MM F4.0 IS PRO ARRIVES

Super Telephoto Lens with Powerful 5-Axis Sync Image Stabilization and Olympus’s Highest Resolution Ever in a Compact, Dustproof and Splashproof Body

CENTER VALLEY, Pa., January 5, 2016 —Olympus is pleased to announce the Olympus M.ZUIKO Digital ED 300mm f4.0 IS PRO, a compact supertelephoto lens that expands the capability of the M.ZUIKO PRO series of professional, splashproof and dustproof lenses that deliver outstanding image quality under any circumstance. The M.ZUIKODigital ED 300mm f4.0 IS PRO is the first Olympus interchangeable lens with a built-in image stabilization mechanism, and when paired with the Olympus OM-D E-M1 (firmware version 4.0) or E-M5 Mark II (firmware version 2.0), in-body and in-lens image stabilization work in perfect harmony, resulting in the new 5-Axis Sync IS technology to produce the world’s most powerful image stabilization performance of up to six shutter speed steps of compensation*. The lens can also be used effectively with other camera bodies, as the in-lens stabilization mechanism alone provides four shutter speed steps of compensation.

With a length of 8.9 inches (227mm) and weight of a mere 2.8 pounds (1,270g), at one third of the size and weight of most DSLR 600mm equivalents, the M.ZUIKO Digital ED 300mm f4.0 IS PRO is designed to slip into an airplane carry-on bag or backpack and go anywhere to help users easily capture handheld images in once-challenging photo destinations. Despite its compact size, the lens is hermetically sealed in 17 places and features freezeproof performance down to 14⁰F (-10°C). Together with the same splashproof, dustproof and freezeproof performance as the OM-D E-M1 and E-M5 Mark II, this ensures you can capture high-quality images in the harshest environments.

The M.ZUIKO Digital ED 300mm f4.0 IS PRO debuts Olympus’s highest-ever resolution by combining three Super ED lenses, one Extra-High Refractive index lens and three High Refractive index lenses to reduce the color bleeding and chromatic aberrations that tend to occur on typical super telephoto lenses. In addition to Olympus’s renowned ZERO Coating (ZUIKO Extra-low Reflective Optical Coating), a brand-new lens coating technology called ZERO Coating Nano suppresses reflected light to minimize ghosts and flares for extremely sharp details of images, including car headlights. A layer of nanosized particles and a layer of air from the center to the surface of the lens achieves a refractive index similar to air and significantly reduces surface reflection.

The M.ZUIKO Digital ED 300mm f4.0 IS PRO also gets up close to explore the beautiful, minute world of telemacro photography with maximum image magnification of 0.48x (35mm equivalent), with a minimum focusing distance of 46 inches (1.15m) from the end of the lens. When combined with the M.ZUIKO Digital 1.4x Teleconverter MC-14, the user can capture all of nature’s beauty in high resolution at 840mm (35mm equivalent) and an increased image magnification of 0.67x (35mm equivalent) in a handheld compact body while maintaining the same minimum focus distance.

The OM-D’s silent mode combines with the lens’ Movie & Still Compatible mechanism for silent AF and shooting, giving the user the ability to blend into the background of any situation, whether that be the refinement of a symphony performance or the dusty plains of a lion’s hunting grounds.

The lens also features a Manual Focus Clutch mechanism that makes switching to manual focus possible by pulling the focusing ring toward you. The side of the lens barrelfeatures a Focus Limit switch (4m to infinity, all range, 1.4 to 4m), an IS switch (On/Off), and an L-Fn button, which can all be operated without ever taking your eye off the viewfinder. The built-in sliding lens hood can be locked into place when extended, and the tripod base plate with a quick shoecompatible rail is removable.

U.S. Pricing and Availability
The M.ZUIKO Digital ED 300mm f4.0 IS PRO lens is available now for an estimated street price of $2,499.99 (U.S.) and $3,199.99 (Canada).

To find out more about the Olympus M.ZUIKO Digital ED 300mm f4.0 IS and for a complete list of specifications, visit the Olympus website at http://www.getolympus.com/us/en/lenses/pen-omd/fixed-focal-lengths/m-zuiko-ed-300mm-f4-0-is-pro.html.

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Preorders: 300mm f/4.0 PRO lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, GetOlympus

Hurray! You can now preorder the new Olympus 300mm f/4.0 PRO lens on Amazon US (Click here). Ships on March 7!

Thanks Riley for sharing this!

Panasonic will announce all their new products at 10am PST time (that’s 19:00 in Berlin). All we can expect from a Micro Four Thirds point of view is to get the new 100-400mm Panasonic-Leica MFT lens.

The specs are known. I hope Panasonic will tell us more about price and shipment date at the event!

Olympus E-M1 Frozen

The Best Cameras Under $1000 USD In 2015 (Bokeh Digitalrev).
Plenty of Olympus EU auctions at [shoplink 22691 ebay]Olympusmarket[/shoplink].
The 20 Best Poses for Taking Beautiful Photos of Women (Double Mesh).
Unsere 5 Kamera-Highlights 2015! (Valuetech DE).

Shex: “Yuneec Tornado H920 With CGO4 Gimbal Micro Four Thirds Camera. Uses the GH4 sensor, also comes with an optional gimbal mount to mount an actual GH4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=El-6Gy-Uw6E“

Norman Doggett
Conspiracy of ravens high in a cottonwood tree in La Puebla, New Mexico. Olympus OM-D E-M1, M.Zuiko 40-150 PRO at 150mm, 1/500s, f/4, ISO 200.

1) You can share your pics by using the message box on our 43rumors Facebook page (Click here).
2) All 43rumors readers pictures can be seen here: facebook.com/43rumors/photos. Like the pictures you like and chat with the authors if you want to know how they took the shot!
3) The most liked pictures and some pics selected by myself will be posted weekly on 43rumors

This is the weekly selection:

I wish all readers a great new 2016! I am sure that from a Micro Four Thirds point of view this is going to be a very intriguing year :)

Ale

Olympus EM-5 Mark II – Video Test: Low light & High ISO (v 2.0 firmware)

Testing the Panasonic GH4’s 4K Video Capabilities (Akihabara)
Y Optics Mitakon Speedmaster 25mm f0.95 Review (Jan website).
Olympus Art Filters? Are You Interested? (Thewanderinglensman)
Street Fotografie in Wien (Christian Mari).
Plenty of Olympus EU auctions at [shoplink 22691 ebay]Olympusmarket[/shoplink].
Las 10 cámaras que han marcado 2015 (Quesabesde).

Vit: “A simple promotion video for a remastered song. Was shot on single gh4 + Sigma 18-35 1.8 CinelikeD. It was rather unprepared no-budget shooting in photo studio that took around 2 hours. The biggest issue was to sync video and master audio – the band got problems to hear the phonogram so their tempo was different from the master audio. Had to do multiple shifts and edits to make everything look acceptable. But despite all efforts in finding shots without mistakes in performance and careful grading the video was not appreciated. The reason was ‘The wooden floor looks bad in the shot and the window is ugly’. So as a conclusion I would remind You about the importance of proper planning, sketching and a very long and detailed criteria for evaluation list beforehand. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5y33DxhnsE”