OM 50-200mm f/2.8 PRO preorder links at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, OM US store, Fotokoch, Foto Erhardt, Calumet, WexUK, Clifton, OM European stores.
Techradar conclusion:
OM System has further served its mission to be a leading outdoor photography brand with its outstanding new 50-200mm F2.8 zoom. With an equivalent 100-400mm focal length and bright maximum aperture, it’s a highly versatile wildlife and sports optic, and you can further extend that reach with the 1.4x teleconverter to create a 560mm F4. Build quality is top drawer, the internal zoom is a welcome bonus, and paired with a current OM System camera you get a lightweight, IP-rated weather resistant system, complete with smart subject-detection autofocus, rapid burst shooting and incredible image stabilization. Optical quality impresses, even if bokeh can be a little fussy at times. It’s an expensive lens, and quite the leap price-wise from the 40-150mm F2.8, but if you invest in the 50-200mm F2.8 won’t be disappointed. For me, it joins my best wildlife lenses hall of fame, and impressive macro photography skills add extra shine.
PetaPixel conclusion:
Should You Buy It? Yes. With the OM System M.Zuiko 50-200mm f/2.8 IS Pro, you pay a professional price, but you get professional quality. This lens has versatility in spades to help offset its high cost.
DigitalCameraWorld conclusion:
The OM System M.Zuiko 50-200mm f/2.8 IS Pro isn’t officially a replacement for the trusty 40-150mm f/2.8, but it is absolutely the new sheriff in town. While the 40-150mm has made me a lot of money over the years, the 50-200mm outclasses it in every way, from its extended reach and improved IS to the superior sharpness. And the supercharged performance is particularly noticeable with top-tier cameras like the OM-1 Mark II, as the lens supports blazing fast 50fps continuous AF, as well as Pro Capture and focus stacking – all of which will make this an essential professional tool for my kitbag.
DigitalKamera.de conclusion (google translated):
The OM System M.Zuiko Digital 50-200 mm F2.8 ED IS Pro is a powerhouse. It combines high light intensity and a generous zoom with a comprehensive range of features in a reasonably compact body that’s very robust thanks to its IP53 rating. From wildlife and action to sports, to landscapes and close-ups, it’s suitable for a wide variety of subjects and is easier to take far from civilization than a corresponding 35mm setup. The autofocus is fast, the bokeh and even the sun star are beautiful. The image quality from wide open is beyond reproach. Only the not-so-affordable price of just under €3,500 might be a hindrance to the purchase. But this zoom lens is by no means overpriced or unaffordable.
Phototrend conclusion (google translated):
With this 50-200mm f/2.8 IS PRO, OM System has created a lens that ticks all the boxes: brightness, versatility, compactness, and robustness. A true “Swiss Army knife” of the Micro4/3 range, it is aimed at both demanding wildlife photographers and traveling naturalists looking to limit their equipment without sacrificing quality. It now remains to be seen whether its promises in terms of speed and image quality can be confirmed in the field. But one thing is certain: this 50-200mm could well become one of the new pillars of OM System’s M.Zuiko PRO range.
Mapcamera conclusion (google translated):
If the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO is a lens with ultimate super-telephoto performance, then the OM SYSTEM M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 50-200mm F2.8 IS PRO truly is the ultimate telephoto lens. The shooting style that combines the rendering quality of a 400mm F2.8 with mobility is undoubtedly unique. Personally, I was pleased with the detachable tripod mount. All of the shots in this article were taken handheld. I was also surprised that I could store it horizontally in my 30-liter backpack instead of vertically. I wanted a lens that could cover the super-telephoto range, had a fast aperture, and was lightweight. The OM SYSTEM M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 50-200mm F2.8 IS PRO is the lens that will fulfill that desire. I highly recommend you try it out for yourself.
