For any camera system to maintain a wide appeal, it’s essential that it’s supported by a range of lenses catering to as many subjects as possible. When the Olympus OM-D E-M1 was announced in 2013 it was revealed that there would be a number of professional lenses that would support Olympus’ flagship camera. The M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f/2.8 was released alongside the OM-D E-M, and the M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f/2.8 was released the following year in late 2014.

The M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f/2.8 provides an equivalent focal range of 80-300mm, which loosely makes it the Olympus equivalent of a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens. But with the added bonus of an extra 100mm of reach, and the fact it’s a smaller, lighter and as a result more portable lens. Plus, it’s dust-, splash- and freeze-proof making it usable in most conditions you can throw at it. This makes the lens ideal for sports and wildlife photographers especially, but also wedding, portraiture and landscape photographers. Thanks to its compact size and lightweight, Olympus cameras are becoming increasingly popular with landscape and travel photographers.

So in just a few years, the M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO has established itself as the must-have medium telephoto lens in the Olympus Pro lens series thanks to its highly versatile focal range. Photographers looking for even greater reach can look towards the M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm f/4.0 IS PRO, which offers an equivalent focal length of 600mm with a maximum aperture of f/4. This is, of course, a much more specialist lens, but one that certainly complements the 40-150mm.

The M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO is Olympus’ own workhorse lens that has wide appeal across photographic disciplines. It’s packed with the latest in Olympus lens technology and thanks to in-camera sensor-based Image Stabilisation offers up to 5 stops of compensation. The minimum focusing distance of 50cm at all focal lengths is an extremely handy feature too.

Read the full review here.
Price: £1,499
www.olympus.co.uk