New lens

It's a cracking lens, Scrungee.

Taking macro pics with autofocus only works to a degree unfortunately, Scrungee. I use autofocus rarely to be honest as the camera will sometimes shift focus especially when taking hand held shots and your hand wavers!! I use manual focus most of the time but I can see why you would use autofocus. Let us all know how you get on!!!

 

Top pics, Scrungee!!!

 

Go for it, Scrungee!!!!

Olympus makes high-performance super-telephoto shooting more accessible than ever before by introducing the affordable M.ZUIKO ED 75-300mm f4.8-6.7 II lens (35mm equivalent 150-600mm). Olympus has redesigned the lens to match the distinctive OM-D E-M5® and PEN®Micro Four Thirds® series cameras and added a new advanced ZERO (Zuiko Extra-low Reflection Optical) coating to keep scratches off, and eliminate ghosting and lens flare even in bright lights.

The M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 75-300mm 1:4.8-6.7 II telephoto lens boasts the same high focal length and first-class components as its predecessor, the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 75-300mm 1:4.8-6.7, and is capable of bringing faraway subjects like children’s faces, animals and landscape features vividly to life with superb-quality close-ups. Olympus fitted a circular aperture that ensures a professional-looking bokeh with smooth and even background defocusing.

The compact size and light weight of this tiny telephoto lens make it convenient to carry. Olympus has redesigned the lens to match the distinctive OM-D E-M5 and PEN series cameras. The lens includes Olympus’ near-silent MSC (Movie and Still Compatible) focusing technology to reduce the whir that can otherwise ruin movie playback on a High-Definition TV.

The M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 75-300mm 1:4.8-6.7 II benefits from the 5-axis image stabilization of the OM-D E-M5 and maximizes the performance of the Olympus PEN compact system cameras for brilliant still images and high-definition (HD) video capture.


Olympus M.ZUIKO ED 75-300mm f4.8-6.7 II lens specifications
Principal specifications
Lens typeZoom lens
Max Format sizeFourThirds
Focal length75–300 mm
Image stabilisationNo
Lens mountMicro Four Thirds
Aperture
Maximum apertureF4.8 - F6.7
Minimum apertureF22.0
Aperture ringNo
Number of diaphragm blades7
Aperture notesCircular aperture
Optics
Elements18
Groups13
Special elements / coatings1 Super ED glass element 1 ED glass element 3 HR glass elements 1 E-HR glass element ZERO coating
Focus
Minimum focus0.90 m (35.43″)
Maximum magnification0.18×
AutofocusYes
Motor typeMicromotor
Full time manualYes
Focus methodInternal
Distance scaleNo
DoF scaleNo
Physical
Weight423 g (0.93 lb)
Diameter69 mm (2.72″)
Length117 mm (4.59″)
SealingNo
ColourBlack
Zoom methodRotary (extending)
Power zoomNo
Zoom lockNo
Filter thread58 mm
Hood suppliedNo
Tripod collarNo

 

Hi Scrungee, it depends on the make of the camera but with my Pentax K5 it's X 1.5, so my 90mm lenses are equivalent to 135mm and my Sigma 500mm is equivalent to a 750mm.

My K5 [body only] weighs around 1 and a half pounds, if you stick a lens on it then it's 2lbs upwards. As you know I have an collection of old "glass" which are not light when stuck on the camera but I've always used solid heavy stuff so in a way it feels comfortable and right and gives me confidence

I've always like Olympus cameras and if Pentax weren't around I think they would be the camera in my hand.