From the OM System announcement today, the most exciting product for me is the OM SYSTEM M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-600mm f5-6.3 IS. It is clearly a modified version of the Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS S which I am sure no one will complain. Looking at the track record of the OM System as a company, I don't think they have the capability (or the intention) to design a new lens from scratch, let alone a complicated one like the Sigma (I hope they prove me wrong, though! ), so this is a welcome external addition to the system.
Here I have prepared a scale real-life size comparison of this lens with the other Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC 1.25x IS PRO, followed by a specs and feature comparison.Thanks to its built-in teleconverter, the 150-400mm lens actually has a max reach of 500mm (1000mm FF equivalent) which makes it the closest competitor focal range wise in the MFT world to the new OM System 150-600mm (1200mm FF equivalent).
(click on the image for larger version)
OM System 150-600mm f5-6.3 vs Olympus 150-400mm F4.5 TC 1.25x
The OM SYSTEM 150-600mm f5-6.3 IS with a length of 265mm, is 49mm shorter than the 150-400. Besides, the Olympus 150-400mm F4.5 TC 1.25x IS also has a larger diameter of 116mm compared to the OM SYSTEM 150-600mm f5-6.3 IS's 110mm diameter.
Keep in mind though that the new 150-600 is an external zoom lens vs the internal zoom design of the Olympus 150-400mm so it will get longer once it is fully extended. But for storage and transport purposes, the shortest length of the lens is the more important dimension for sure.
Both lenses can also be used with Olympus MC-14 M.Zuiko 1.4x TC and Olympus MC-20 M.Zuiko 2x TC teleconverters to further increase the effective focal reach!
| FEATURE and SPECS COMPARISON | |  |  |
| Model | OM SYSTEM 150-600mm f5-6.3 IS | Olympus 150-400mm F4.5 TC |
| Lens Type | Zoom | Zoom |
| Lens Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Micro Four Thirds |
| Focal Length | 150-600mm | 150-400mm |
| Max Format | FourThirds | FourThirds |
| Image Stabilization | | |
| Number of Diaphragm Blades | 9 | 9 |
| Optical Elements | 25 | 28 |
| Optical Groups | 15 | 18 |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 2.8m | 1.3m |
| Max Magnification | 0.34x | 0.29x |
| Weight | 2060g | 1850g |
| Length | 265mm | 314mm |
| Diameter | 110mm | 116mm |
| Filter Thread | 95mm | 95mm |
| Weather Sealing | | |
| Price | Amazon, B&H Photo | Amazon, B&H Photo |
Check the full comparison of these two lenses here.
