M.zuiko 40-150 $150

Scott105 · Jul 6, 2011

I received mine today. Great deal on a nice lens. Can't wait to try it out.

thearne3 · Jul 8, 2011

Weird emails...

Ordered on July 5. Confirmation email 6am July 6. Backordered email 6pm July 6. Shipped email 1pm July 8 with FedEx tracking number!

Whassup widdat??

Ninja · Jul 8, 2011

I ordered one yesterday and got an email back saying that they were backordered. I spoke with a CSR who is trying to find out when the next shipment is due...soon I hope!

pxpaulx · Jul 8, 2011

The good thing is microcenter is a legit, awesome store - I've no doubt they'll honor the backorders whether or not the price goes up...assuming the lens is still being shipped by Oly.

WJW59 · Jul 8, 2011

I received mine yesterday and it still has the $299.99 sticker on the box. :biggrin:

Just to confirm, BNIB, warranty card, and box had not been opened. I hope everyone that tried to order get's their lens.

Otto · Jul 8, 2011

Picked mine up today. Same experience as WJW59. They still had one in stock.

I just checked, and the following MicroCenter stores have the lens in stock. If I was looking for one of these, at this price, I would contact each store to see if they are willing to ship. I don't know their policy on shipping from individual stores.

CO - Denver/Denver Tech Center - 1 in stock
GA - Greater Atlanta/Duluth - 1 in stock
GA - Greater Atlanta/Marietta - 1 in stock
IL - Chicagoland/Central - 2 in stock
IL - Chicagoland/Westmont - 2 in stock
KS - Kansas City/Overland Park - 1 in stock
MA - Boston/Cambridge - 2 in stock
MD - Beltway/Rockville - 2 in stock
MI - Detroit/Madison Heights - 1 in stock
MN - Twin Cities/St. Louis Park - 2 in stock
MO - St. Louis/Brentwood - 2 in stock
NJ - North Jersey/Paterson - 1 in stock
NY - Long Island/Westbury - 1 in stock
NY - Yonkers - 2 in stock
OH - Northeast Ohio/Mayfield Hts. - 1 in stock
OH - Cincinnati/Sharonville - 2 in stock
TX - Houston/West Loop - 2 in stock
VA - Northern Virginia/Fairfax - 1 in stock

That's a total of 27 available as I write this at 12:46am, July 9. I would think one of those stores would ship one, but I could be wrong.

Hope this helps,

Otto...

Ninja · Jul 8, 2011

Microcenter's CS rep got back with me and said that they did not know when they would get any more. I called Olympus America and tech support answered because customer service was closed for the day. I will try again Monday and see if they have an explanation of the situation.

Has anyone Heard if Oly lens production was affected by recent events in Japan?

thearne3 · Jul 10, 2011

FedEx says delivery on Tuesday. Fingers crossed...

Luke · Jul 10, 2011

just rushed off to order one..... I now realize (after completing the order) that it's not the 14-150, but that's why it's so much cheaper.
This GAS is killin' me.

thearne3 · Jul 11, 2011

Luke...

So did you cancel the order? $150 is half price for the 40-150, not a bad deal. They still go for $200+ on eBay, so the downside is protected! :thumbup:

Luke · Jul 11, 2011

thearne3 said:
Luke...

So did you cancel the order? $150 is half price for the 40-150, not a bad deal. They still go for $200+ on eBay, so the downside is protected!

I did NOT cancel the order. The glass does hold its' value better than the bodies anyway. I would think it would be quite some time before it's worth LESS than $150.

I'll interested how it compares to the Panasonic 45-200 which I think is a great lens. To me, the gear acquisition is never a means to an end. Sometimes it's just an added impetus to get out and shoot. And photography is what it's really all about.

Jordan · Jul 11, 2011

Mine was supposed to be delivered Friday, I did 2 day shipping but it wasn't even in my state. But I blame it more on Fedex, since they didn't get it here in the 2 days.

pxpaulx · Jul 11, 2011

Well, even though I just bought the 100-300mm, this was just too good a deal to pass up! There was one left at the store here in Minneapolis (hopefully), so I just ordered it.

Ninja · Jul 11, 2011

I just got off the phone with Olympus America.

Here's the report: The ED 40-150mm f4.0-5.6 is "heavily backordered". A shipment is due in at the end of July. The number of lenses will probably cover about half of the number backordered and so it may be a while before all backorders (nationally) are filled. The plant is on the opposite coast of Japan from the area affected by the earthquake and is producing them as fast as they can. It's a very popular lens.

I guess I will just try to be patient and see when the backorders at MicroCenter get filled.

Cheers

pxpaulx · Jul 11, 2011

ah well, out of stock! placed a backorder, guess it is wait and see then!

labcoatguy · Jul 11, 2011

Micro Center in Cambridge MA had one left in stock, and I manage to snag it! Very excited; the store is right along my commute home so I'm going there this evening.

avidone · Jul 11, 2011

well, I just got word from my friend in Orange County that he was able to get one at that store, where he reserved online a few days ago, so YIPPEE! he will bring it to Rome in a couple weeks along with a 17mm pancake... now I just need to stop obsessing about Soviet lenses and adapters on EBay and get out and take some more pics... unfortunately here it is mid-30's (centigrade for you yanks) by about 11 o'clock these days, so maybe I need to arrange to make some night shots?

c5karl · Jul 11, 2011

Based on the tip here, I picked one up in store at the local Micro Center on Friday. I already had the Panasonic 45-200, but I figured at that price, I could resell it at no loss after giving it a try.

Now I'm thinking about selling the Panasonic lens. Not crazy about the plastic mount, but at a $150 price, that's a reasonable concession.

I'm just in love with the size and light weight. It's the best tangible example I've seen of the advantages of the MFT system, even compared to mirrorless APS-C. This much telephoto reach at a reasonable aperture that's this portable & compact is just amazing. The Panasonic 45-200 feels like a brick by comparison. The Panasonic has an extra 50 mm of telephoto, but I never expected to really need the 400mm-equiv field of view. That leaves solid construction and OIS in the Panasonic's favor. It's just that the Olympus feels so danged nice.

I think I'll defer my decision about what to sell until later.

thearne3 · Jul 12, 2011

First Shots with new 40-150

FedEx delivered the lens at 5pm and I went to our local park for the Tuesday night folk concert - a Norman Rockwell like environment with a small stage, sun setting, kids dancing, picnics...

Early on very tough conditions: high contrast, lots of movement. All shots at -0.7 - -1.0 EV. I notice that I was always between 40mm and 85mm - probably my fixed position and failing light. When it got dark I brought out my Pen F 38mm 1.8 and OM 135mm 2.8.

f4.4 1/400 iso400 58mm