Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 50-200mm f/2.8-3.5 SWD

Olympus 50-200 SWD a must have lens? As a professional Olympus E-3 photographer and photo instructor working in Africa, I often need to shoot in tough conditions ranging from desert dust to humid ocean beaches, misty mountain tops or even tense public protest situations - which dictated the choice of the E-3 bodies. I had a ZD70-300 lens which is optically good (as are all Olympus "designed for digital" lenses) but the focus was slower than I required when shooting fast-breaking action and the lack of dust/moisture sealing meant one could not use it in varied conditions without taking some sort of care to protect the lens. The 50-200 SWD, on the other hand, focuses rapidly enough to track weaving Premier league football players or birds in flight. It picks-out a politician from a debating chamber and snaps it all into focus before you can blink. It is also sealed agaisnt moisture and dust so weddings on rainy days can now provide wonderful photo opportunities and one camera can hang around in the drizzle while the other with the 14-54mm ZD is used to wait for the perfect moment or vice-versa. A quick buff with a towel after coming in from the rain and all is sorted and the lens simply shrugs it all off and comes back for more. A factor to consider is that you effectively have a 100-400mm 2.8/3.5 optic in a package the size of competitor brands' 70-200mm lenses. Put another way, I have the reach and speed of a fast 400mm prime lens used by colleagues at sports events but who are stuck on monopods with heavy kit while I can move around and shoot hand-held. When looked at in that perspective, this lens is an absolute bargain for what it provides its owner. So while some may think it is heavy (and it is compared tot he ZD 70-300) it is a fifth of the mass of any other optic with similar speed and reach. Optically, it is clearly evident the lens is in a different league to the "normal" lenses and images are crisper, more saturated and have a "punch" lacking in the ZD70-300 (not that that lens is at all bad but it is just that the 50-200SWD is just so much better). It will lift your photographs into another level of quality. If you are considering whether the 50-200SWD is worth it there is no debate in my mind anymore. It absolutely is worth every cent and actually a bargain when compared to any other similarly performing optic on the market! If you can afford it, take the plunge and buy it - you will not have cause to regret your decision.Read full review

A great lens One of the great lenses Olympus has made and now frequently available for less than dlrs700. The same in range and aperture as the new Panasonic Leica m43rds for a thousand dollars less. Only drawback is that it is 300gms heavier, having been designed for 43rds.

Excellent Lens Anyone with an Olympus M-1, M-3 or an M-5 camera should own this lens. I am not a professional photographer, but I have been taking pictures for over fifty years. Please keep this in mind as you read my review. I just purchased a used M-3 body and this is the first lens I bought for it. My previous experience with a 4/3 camera is with an Olympus E-510, so I am not new to an Olympus camera. There always seems to be compromises with a zoom lens, but I can’t seem to find one with this one. The first thing I noticed about the lens is that it is heavy, which for me is a good thing because it helps me steady the camera. The quality of the lens seems top notch. The auto focus is fast, maybe not as fast by today’s standards, but it is plenty fast for my needs. Picture quality is amazingly sharp. I especially like the close ups that I have taken with it, they are beautiful. I can already tell within the short time I have used this lens that it will become my go to lens. There are plenty of good deals on this lens right now, so be sure to pick one up. You will be glad you did.Read full review