BirdForum is the net's largest birding community dedicated to wild birds and birding, and is absolutely FREE!

Register for an account to take part in lively discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jim M." data-source="post: 3249557" data-attributes="member: 60675">Pre-announcement rumors discussed here: <a href="http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=3249257#post3249257" target="_blank">http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=3249257#post3249257</a>Disappointing that they are only announcing the “development” of the lens.  There is not even a tentative release date.  However, certainly sounds like it will be a considerable improvement over the current micro 4/3 birding lenses.  Better image quality, especially at the long end, and more reach.  They are even promising it will be light and usable handheld at maximum zoom.Its only competition as a birding lens will be the forthcoming Olympus 300 mm F4 prime (+1.4 teleconverter).  The latter will be somewhat better in low light situations, and even has slightly more reach with the teleconverter.  But of course you lose the flexibility of a zoom lens.  I find zooming out often helps you get birds in the viewfinder faster.  Weight and image quality comparisons will have to wait of course until the lenses actually become available.</blockquote>