Olympus has announced full details of the Digital ED 150-400mm f/4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO lens, including availability, and price. The lens will be available from January 2021, with an RRP of £6499.99. The lens gives 300-800mm equivalent or up to 1000mm with the built-in 1.25x Teleconverter active.

One image can change us.

A picture, a moment can change the way we feel. Change how we see ourselves. Change our understanding and change the rules. Provoke and change history.

MPB puts photo and video kit into more hands, more sustainably. Every month, visual storytellers sell more than 20,000 cameras and lenses to MPB. Choose used and get affordable access to kit that doesn’t cost the earth. Sell the kit you’re not using to MPB. Trade in for the kit you need to create. Buy used, spend less and get more. Buy. Sell. Trade. Create.

Super telephoto PRO lens that enables 1000mm* equivalent handheld shooting, and an E-M1X firmware update

M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO and E-M1X firmware update with Bird detection

London, 17 November 2020 – This is the news that wildlife, nature and outdoor sports photographers have been waiting for: the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO is ready. This high-resolution, super-telephoto zoom lens is equipped with a built-in 1.25x teleconverter and covers a wide focal length of 300-1000mm equivalent*. Go to an amazing 2000mm* with the optional M.Zuiko Digital 2x Teleconverter MC-20.

Tune in to @OlympusUK on Facebook at 4pm UK time today (Nov 17th) for a live discussion including feedback from our photographers who have been lucky enough to shoot with it.

The lens is based on the Micro Four Thirds System standard and features a high-performance 5-axis sync IS. It delivers the world’s strongest motion compensation of 8 EV steps**, perfect for handheld super telephoto shooting. This exceptional lens is available from the end of January 2021 at an RRP*** of £6,499.99. For more information, interviews and full details on reserving one of these remarkable new lenses, please go to www.enjoy.photo.

To enable the E-M1X photographers to take full advantage of the potential of the new super-telephoto and other M.Zuiko lenses, the firmware has been enhanced: Bird detection has been added to the Intelligent Subject Detection AF developed with deep learning technology, which is based on AI. With this new function, the camera automatically prioritizes detection of a bird's eye for focusing and tracking so the photographer can concentrate on composing images to capture a moment. The new firmware also includes various functional improvements such as RAW video data output to support professional video production. It will be available from 3 December 2020.

High-resolution zoom lens that enables 1000mm* equivalent super-telephoto shooting

The lens body features a built-in 1.25x teleconverter, maintaining high optical performance while enabling up to 1000mm equivalent* handheld super-telephoto shooting. The optional M.Zuiko Digital 1.4x Teleconverter MC-14 and the M.Zuiko Digital 2x Teleconverter MC-20 are also supported.

When combined with the MC-20, this lens allows focal lengths up to an astonishing 2000mm*. The M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO features a closest focusing distance of 1.3m across the entire zoom range and close-up shooting performance with a maximum image magnification of 0.57x*, which increases to 0.71x* when using the built-in teleconverter for enjoying true telemacro shooting.

A lavish 28 elements in 18 groups lens construction was adopted, including a newly developed large-diameter Extra-low Dispersion Aspherical lens and four Super Extra low Dispersion lenses. This guarantees reduced flare and color bleeding across the entire zoom range and superb resolution to the edges of the image, even on a large-diameter lens with a fixed F4.5 aperture. Olympus original Z Coating Nano technology is employed to provide sharp, clear images also in difficult shooting environments, such as backlit scenes.

Compact, lightweight design with superb weather-resistant performance

Magnesium alloy is used for the lens barrel and a lightweight carbon fiber lens hood is used to ensure that the center of gravity of the lens does not shift toward the end when the lens hood is used. The use of optimal materials in each area of the lens helps maintain strength and precision while achieving a compact, lightweight design with a length of 314.3 mm and a weight of 1,875 g****. The M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO is designed to give photographers the ability to smoothly tune settings and functions as they shoot.

Pairing it with the Olympus OM-D E-M1X and its superb dustproof, splashproof, and freezeproof properties makes it possible to continue shooting in harsh weather conditions such as rain and snow with complete peace of mind. Compared with the black coating on conventional lenses, the heat-resistant coating on this model efficiently reflects the infrared rays of sunlight, keeping temperatures inside the lens from rising even in blazing hot weather for stable optical performance. The front element of the lens features a fluorine coating which provides a smooth and scratch resistant surface and makes it easier to clean for better maintenance.

World’s strongest 5-axis sync IS up to 8 EV steps** of compensation and fast, high-precision AF

The M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO supports 5-axis sync IS. At 300mm equivalent*, it achieves the world's strongest image stabilization of 8 EV steps**. Even when extending the telephoto range up to 2000mm equivalent* by using the optional MC-20 teleconverter, image stabilization is still available. Its high image quality hand-held shooting capabilities make the lens a perfect addition specifically for wildlife, nature and outdoor sports photographers. Olympus’ original high-precision lens thinning technology enables the production of lightweight focusing lenses, enabling fast, high-precision focusing across the entire zoom range.

OM-D E-M1X firmware version 2.0 with Bird detection

Olympus has announced a new firmware update for the E-M1X, plus updates for the E-M1 III, E-M1 II, and E-M5 III. Full details can be found here.

Related accessories for the M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO

• PRF-ZD95 (optionally available) - The optionally available Zuiko PRF-ZD95 PRO Protection Filter features ZERO Coating to suppress flares and ghosts from reflections and easy-to clean, fluorine-coated, black-edged glass. It is a protection filter with a satin, glare-reducing black Alumite frame. RRP - £299
• LH-115 Lens Hood (bundled) - A lightweight carbon fiber lens hood with excellent durability. A flocked finish on the inside of the hood prevents internal reflection.
• CSS-P121 Lens Strap (bundled) - A lens strap developed for exclusive use with a super-telephoto lens. It is made of mesh material to prevent sweating, has excellent cushioning, and an anti-slip texture.
• LC-115 Lens Cap (bundled) - This cloth cover-style lens cap is easy to attach and remove for quick shooting.
• LSC-1642 Lens Case (bundled) - This purse-string type lens case features a three-layer construction that protects the lens and can be used to store the lens with lens hood, lens cap, protection filter, and teleconverter attached.

Free warranty extension fot the M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO

The new lens comes with a free six-month warranty extension***** when registered via the MyOlympus platform at http://my.olympus.eu

More information at www.olympus.co.uk/site/en/c/lenses

Product specifications are subject to change without notice. Please check the Olympus website at www.olympus-europa.com for the latest specifications.

* 35mm equivalent
** According to CIPA standards. When attached to OM-D E-M1X, with yaw and pitch applied to
camera, half-press IS: Off and focal length set to 300mm*, as of 17 November 2020
*** Recommended Retail Price
**** Excluding lens cap, rear lens cap, and lens hood
***** Six months on top of the statutory warranty in the country of purchase.