Olympus 8-25 f4 Pro leaked

[mawz]

The flip side is that the 40-150 PRO is quite small and light, it's smaller and lighter than the FTZ+70-300E combo I use on my Z5, but is f2.8 and takes TC's (vs f4.5-5.6 and no TC compatibility)

The 35-100/2.8 is just absolutely tiny if you can live with only 100mm (200mm-e)

 

[doady]

Imagine if the future 40-150mm Pro and the other Pro telephoto lenses on the roadmap materialize and they all have IS. If there is a 40-150mm F4 IS Pro, a 50-200mm F2.8 IS Pro, and a 50-230mm F4 IS Pro, where would that leave the 40-150mm F2.8 Pro?

I probably wouldn't have minded if they focused on those "bright prime lenses" on the map and brought out something like a 10mm F1.4 before the 8-25mm F4. But with 8-25mm F4, I think they will turn their attention to a small 40-150mm Pro now. There aren't a lot of smaller weather-sealed lenses to match with E-M5 III so that is probably something they should address soon.

 

[ac12]

Imagine if the future 40-150mm Pro and the other Pro telephoto lenses on the roadmap materialize and they all have IS. If there is a 40-150mm F4 IS Pro, a 50-200mm F2.8 IS Pro, and a 50-230mm F4 IS Pro, where would that leave the 40-150mm F2.8 Pro?

I probably wouldn't have minded if they focused on those "bright prime lenses" on the map and brought out something like a 10mm F1.4 before the 8-25mm F4. But with 8-25mm F4, I think they will turn their attention to a small 40-150mm Pro now. There aren't a lot of smaller weather-sealed lenses to match with E-M5 III so that is probably something they should address soon.

At the longer end, it would benefit the system to have OIS on top of the IBIS, for additional stabilization.
At 300mm, my 70-300 is marginally stabilized by the IBIS. My wobble will sometimes exceed the ability of the IBIS to compensate for.

I expect the 40-150/2.8 to be replaced by a 40-150/2.8 with IS/Sync IS or as you said a 50-200/2.8 with IS/Sync IS.
Because if you put a MC20 on the 40-150/2.8, you are up at 300mm where I already have trouble holding it steady.

 

[mawz]

Imagine if the future 40-150mm Pro and the other Pro telephoto lenses on the roadmap materialize and they all have IS. If there is a 40-150mm F4 IS Pro, a 50-200mm F2.8 IS Pro, and a 50-230mm F4 IS Pro, where would that leave the 40-150mm F2.8 Pro?

I probably wouldn't have minded if they focused on those "bright prime lenses" on the map and brought out something like a 10mm F1.4 before the 8-25mm F4. But with 8-25mm F4, I think they will turn their attention to a small 40-150mm Pro now. There aren't a lot of smaller weather-sealed lenses to match with E-M5 III so that is probably something they should address soon.

My expectation is the f4 adds to the line and the f2.8 IS replaces the current 40-150 with an updated SyncIS-capable lens. The lack of SyncIS-capable IS on the 40-150 is really its only weakness at this time.

The current model could either retire or get cheaper as a result.

 

[MichailK]

The lack of SyncIS-capable IS on the 40-150 is really its only weakness at this time.

I wonder how much larger this lens came up being in order to accommodate the IBIS dictated larger image circle and whether also employing OIS-SyncIS could produce a smaller lens.

 

[John King]

OMDS 8-25 price in Australia is $1,599 AUD$.

 

[djtaylor7]

And NZD$1749 in New Zealand. But discovered that OMDS have not yet set up an Olympus NZ shop, or are prepared to ship from AUS, which used to happen, so we have to go to local distributors.

 

[Radagast]

A 70-250mm F3.5 is in development. Somebody at DPR forum hinted that several times. And his hints proven to be are accurate during last years.

Hmmm could be. Based on other lens releases, I expect it to be f/4 and to outzoom the competition. The competition is 70-300, 100-400, and 80-400. I thus expect a minimum 5x zoom: 50-250, or 45-225. Even a 6x maybe: 40-240. Either way, as long as possible with f/4 and a 72mm filter thread.

Anyhow I have no idea, it is just fun to speculate.

 

[Aristophanes]

Hmmm could be. Based on other lens releases, I expect it to be f/4 and to outzoom the competition. The competition is 70-300, 100-400, and 80-400. I thus expect a minimum 5x zoom: 50-250, or 45-225. Even a 6x maybe: 40-240. Either way, as long as possible with f/4 and a 72mm filter thread.

Anyhow I have no idea, it is just fun to speculate.

It is fun.
After the 12-45/4 compactness and the modestly oversize 100-400, I’d think the f/4 zoom will edge towards the former and be the more compact “Pro” companion, even at the expense of some zoom range.

The 8-25/4 was never going to be a small, compact, and yet “Pro” lens given the WA constraints of m43. They gave the 8-25 filters and extra zoom because little design choice.

 

[retiredfromlife]

A slightly different review

 

[JonSnih]

A slightly different review

This rattle complaint was exaggerated. Like a small child who discovers something and can't stop doing it. Both 12-50mm F3.5-6.3 and 12-40mm F2.8 rattle. Until it works, no reason to complain.

 

[DrWu]

I prefer my lenses zoomed, not shaken. But after seeing that short review by Matti Sulanto I could not resist the temptation to start shaking my lenses Well... at least M.Zuiko Pro 12-100 rattles as well as Sigma 30mm F2.8 Art. If I remember correctly also Leica DG Summarit 25mm f1.4 also rattled when shaken (but it rattled sometimes also by itself when it was attached to camera with power on...).
Sulanto is a very experienced photographer and over the years I haven seen him shooting with and switching systems between Olympus, Sony, Canon, Fuji and Lumix... He definitely emphasized that "rattle effect" too much in this stage when the lens itself isn´t even shipping yet. There is no proof that the 8-25mm is somehow badly designed, manufactured or of inferior quality in comparison with earlier Pro lenses.
Now there´s a danger that some youtubers, influencers and other persons writing about photography make this "rattle" a headline when trying to find something to write about on their web sites.
Anyway... I am very interested in this Pro f4 8-25mm lens and ordered it two days after the publication. I haven´t had any ultra wide lens for about 11 years since I sold my physically rather impressive four-thirds Zuiko F4 7-14mm.

 

[pake]

I don't think that rattling would be an issue for me as I tend to NOT shake my lenses. At least while shooting. But I guess as a Panasonic man he had to complain about something.

 

[djtaylor7]

Interesting that this is another person who expected to get a sample to review and only found out late. Robin Wong commented that the release came as a surprise to him https://robinwong.blogspot.com/2021/06/new-video-series-robinspeaks.html. Perhaps OMDS is restricting who it uses to release products?

 

[retiredfromlife]

Interesting that this is another person who expected to get a sample to review and only found out late. Robin Wong commented that the release came as a surprise to him https://robinwong.blogspot.com/2021/06/new-video-series-robinspeaks.html. Perhaps OMDS is restricting who it uses to release products?

In his video he sounded quite uphappy, and considering his possition i dont blame him
Very odd indeed, seems like they made a decision not to give him a review copy, but gave review copies to non Olympus people

 

[mawz]

In his video he sounded quite uphappy, and considering his possition i dont blame him
Very odd indeed, seems like they made a decision not to give him a review copy, but gave review copies to non Olympus people

I'm wondering if the issue was Robin, or the local distributor in Malaysia.

From what Robin said, the disty either lied to him or was deliberately kept in the dark about the release. I'd suspect the latter is more likely given Robin's stature and reputation in the Olympus community. Pretty hard to get Robin a review copy if they are deliberately keeping the local operation in the dark about new releases for other reasons. Note as per Robin, the local Distributor is a subsidiary of YL Camera, a major local retailer, not OMDS or JIP. Robin's status as an Olympus Visionary is via the local organization as well so OMDS isn't really in a position to deal with him directly and cut out the local distributor.

Robin is a pretty reliable source for a good review that is both positive on Olympus and comprehensive, and he has more visibility outside of the Olympus community than many of the other Olympus Visionaries so he'd be an obvious choice to get preview samples.

That said, OMDS seems to be focusing on certain types of photographers as Visionaries. That's why Peter Forsgard left the program, his work doesn't align with the marketing push from OMDS towards more Explorer-oriented work. Of course Peter also got samples from OMDS Suomi, he's just not a Visionary anymore. I suspect that's why Robin didn't get asked to be a Visionary by OMDS directly, his work tends to be in the same sort of areas as Peter's (Note Jimmy Chen also does this sort of work and did maintain his status as a Visionary, but he's more video focused and that is probably the difference that mattered)

 

[swifty]

I haven’t seen the video so apologies if Robin has already addressed the issue.
But being in Robin’s neck of the woods, Malaysia has been hit pretty severely recently with COVID-19 case outbreaks and their form of social distancing law called the MCO (movement control order) is still in effect, and has been for several months.
I think it may be possible some logistical issues stemming from the MCO may have prevented him from early access?
Dunno, just a thought.

 

[balazs]

Hey, some of you who pre-ordered this lens might find this as annoying as I did. I pre-ordered this lens on 6/9. Was thrilled to get a shipment notification on 6/15! It reached my hometown, but then it was turned around, back to the sender. FedEx told me that it might get damaged and I would have left at that. However, I reached out to the customer support of the Olympus Store to make sure I'll get a replacement soon if it indeed got damaged in transit. Their response really surprised me:

///////////////////
Thank you for your email regarding your online store order. I am happy to assist.

A number of 8-25mm have errantly shipped prior to when they were meant to. I can let you know that we are aware of the shipping error and we plan to ship your order by the originally promised time period of mid-July.

I wish you a nice day and please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions.

Kind regards,

Sandra Basten
OM Digital Solutions
Customer Care Specialist
//////////////////////

Seriously? They took our money and decided NOT to ship the product we purchased for another MONTH although they HAVE the product in stock? WHY? Just because they can...

 

[doady]

I am pretty sure it is normal to build up stock of a product before the release date, and ensure the retailers also have it in stock by that date so that those who preordered from those retailers can also get their copy at the same time as everyone else.

 

[DrWu]

I

Hey, some of you who pre-ordered this lens might find this as annoying as I did. I pre-ordered this lens on 6/9. Was thrilled to get a shipment notification on 6/15! It reached my hometown, but then it was turned around, back to the sender. FedEx told me that it might get damaged and I would have left at that. However, I reached out to the customer support of the Olympus Store to make sure I'll get a replacement soon if it indeed got damaged in transit. Their response really surprised me:


Seriously? They took our money and decided NOT to ship the product we purchased for another MONTH although they HAVE the product in stock? WHY? Just because they can...

Hi,
That sounds very strange. In Japan and some other East Asian countries it seems that this lens is available today. I bought the lens on the 11th of June from OM Digital Solutions (Europe) and I was mentally prepared to wait for the 7th of July which was written as delivery date in my order confirmation. But two days ago on Wednesday I got a mail with tracking number from OM Digital that they they have already shipped my order. It comes by UPS from Germany. The lens is now in Denmark and should be in my hands on next Tuesday. S
Some sellers in EU inform that the lens will be available late June and some the early July. I am sure that you will receive yours before mid-July.