Olympus Looks to Lure Pros With New High-End Lenses
Two lenses under development will add to the company's line of professional Micro Four Thirds glass.
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In our review of the OM-D E-M1, we called the camera proof that Micro Four Thirds could serve pros as well as enthusiasts. It seems Olympus is on the same page, since it just announced development of two more PRO-series lenses: a 7-14mm f/2.8 and a 300mm f/4. Both lenses are expected to hit store shelves next year, though pricing and exact availability are unknown.
Once in production, these lenses will complement the existing 12-40mm f/2.8 and 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO lenses, offering coverage from 7–150mm (14-300mm equivalent) with full weather and dust sealing, metal construction, and constant f/2.8 aperture (for the zooms, at least). The 300mm f/4 lens offers a stunning 600mm equivalent field of view on any Micro Four Thirds body—something that would cost as much as a small car if you were buying it for a full-frame camera.
Olympus also announced that the 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO lens, which was announced all the way back in September of last year, will finally be available for purchase in the second half of 2014. We've really been enjoying the 12-40mm on the E-M1, so we can't wait to get our hands on that one, too. Stay tuned for our hands-on impressions the moment the pro telephoto rolls into our office.