Olympus 300mm f/4 PRO + E-M1 Mark II: Turning the everyday into the sublime
posted Tuesday, February 7, 2017 at 7:22 AM EST
The Olympus 300mm f/4 PRO is a hard lens to get enough of. We reviewed it, shot extensively with it on the Olympus E-M1, and then awarded it Best Telephoto Prime Lens in our 2016 COTY awards. But as all of that was transpiring, Olympus was busy rolling out the E-M1 Mark II, which really upped the ante in terms of what the 300mm f/4 PRO could offer photographers. As such I couldn't resist the temptation to acquire them both from our lab and give this pair an extended gallery selection of its own.
After all, the E-M1 Mark II received our highest honor in 2016, winning the Best Overall Camera in our awards, and a well-deserved recognition it was. When you combine the two you get not only a rather small and light overall package considering the whopping 600mm equivalent focal length, but also one that in tandem is rated for 6.5 stops of correction with image stabilization engaged! This is a powerful tool indeed, and if you like shooting wildlife without being encumbered by too much weight or the need to constantly be lugging a tripod around, this rig should make your shortlist for consideration.
But a funny thing happened on the way to my grand notions for seeking out exotic wildlife with this pair, and instead I ended up staying close to home and engaging more of the "local wildlife" around my house. It wasn't my original intention, but the images compelled me to stay.
[Taken with Olympus 1.4x teleconverter]
• Olympus 300mm f/4 PRO + E-M1 Mark II •
