OM-System M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-600mm F5.0-6.3 IS Thoughts, Photos and “Review”

I swear, I have written what’s in this blog post over and over again in various OM-System Facebook Groups that it warrants me just writing it all in one spot. So here it is :)

TLDR - Is the M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-600mm F5.0-6.3 a good lens? Should I buy it instead of the 100-400?

Pros:

The reach to 600mm (1200mm full frame equivalent) is unmatched. Great for ethical wildlife photography and photographing smaller animals and birds at distance.
The quality is fantastic as long as you know how to use it:
- Stop down to f7.1 when near or fully zoomed in to improve sharpness.
- Reduce any shake/movement by resting it on something (bag, side of kayak, leg, tripod) as any shake is exacerbated when zoomed in that far.
- When shooting at long distance, other factors such as haze come into play. Sometimes you just have to accept that you are too far from the subject.

Cons:

It is big and heavy for a micro four thirds lens. It is essentially a full frame lens (the Sigma 150-600) that is made to work with the micro four thirds sensor.
- The weight can be alleviated by using a cross body strap onto the lens.

Should you buy it over the 100-400?

Yes if you are photographing birds and animals over longer distance and want high quality photos without spending the extra money on the Pro lenses, AND you’re ok with the slightly bulkier and heavier kit.
No if you need a more portable setup. The 100-400 is a more portable lens. There is also the 300 f4 Pro which has god-tier optics but it is a prime lens.

My Thoughts and Photos

People moving to the micro four thirds system, specifically with OM-System, for wildlife photography and birding, have a whole lot of options to choose from. At the budget end there are two zooms, hence why it’s confusing.

M.Zuiko Digital ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS II
M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-600mm F5.0-6.3

Both are solid choices for wildlife and birding.

At the high end, there are the Pro lenses. These lenses have god-tier optics. They are also expensive.

M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25X IS PRO
M.Zuiko Digital ED 50-200mm F2.8 IS PRO
M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm F4.0 IS PRO

I will just focus on the 150-600, because that is the one that generates a lot of interest. It has extra reach than the 100-400, but it is also a larger and heavier lens.

I have had the privilege of owning the 150-600. I also tested the 100-400, and returned it in favour of keeping the 150-600. I then bought the 150-400 Big White, and sold the 150-600 when it became clear that I would never need to use it again. :) I also own the 300 f4 prime which is also god-tier and excellent.

Is the 150-600 just a full frame Sigma lens that is rebadged?

It is based on the Sigma 150-600, but it is not rebadged. It has been engineered to work with micro-four-thirds, and has dual Sync IS image stabilization on compatible OM-System bodies. The image stabilization is needed because this lens has huge reach and benefits from the Sync IS.

OM-1 MKII, with the 150-600 on the left. Lumix S1RII with the Sigma 150-600 on the right. Yes, they are pretty much the same lens. But I wouldn’t call it a rebadge as it’s been engineered to work with Micro Four Thirds and have dual Sync IS.

Is the M.Zuiko 150-600 good?

Yes! Yes it takes AMAZING pictures. Here are some of my shots with the lens on my OM-1 MKII. I was VERY happy with it, and the only reason I sold it was that I didn’t need it after buying the 150-400.

My Tips for getting the most out of the 150-600

Tip #1: Stop down to 7.1 when zoomed nearly or all the way, light permitting of course, to improve sharpness.

When fully extended, the 150-600 stops down to 6.3. The lens does suffer from a slight sharpness degradation. Slight enough that most people on social media won’t notice. But you will as the photographer. Stopping down to 7.1 does improve the sharpness.

Tip #2: Rest it on something, especially when fully extended.

A lot of people forget that when you zoom in that much, any shake is exacerbated and can contribute to a blurry image. I rest it on my leg, my bag, or the side of the kayak to get a more stable shot.

Tip #3: Use a cross body strap tied to the lens to make it easier to carry.

Yes, it is a heavy lens, and this really helps.

Tip #4: You don’t need to use the zoom ring, you can just grab the zoom and pull it out.

That was one of the nice things about this lens was being able to just whip it out, and extend it out as needed.

How does it compare to the 150-400 Big White? Is the 150-400 price justified?

The bang for your buck of the 150-600 is truly amazing. Yes, it’s a fantastic lens and you can get amazing images with it.

My rationalization for the 150-400 came after I spent time with photographers shooting full frame kits with lenses such as the 600mm f4, which costs 1.7x the 150-400, on flagship bodies costing 2-3x the OM-1 MKII. Not to mention, it’s far more portable and lighter. The OM-1 MKII + 150-400, and 300 f4 prime is an elite level wildlife photography kit in a very portable handheld setup. The folks shooting on Canon R1/Sony A1 + HUGE lenses are hauling their gear around, and locking it off on a tripod, and missing shots because the bird moved to another tree. Furthermore, the OM gear is weather-sealed. I shoot in Canada, in the snow in winter, and in my kayak in the Summer where I get splashed. No issues whatsoever and no fear.

After I purchased the 150-400, I found that I had no reason to use the 150-600 anymore. The 150-400 is so sharp that I could crop in more aggressively, negating the need for the extra focal length.

Here you can see the relative sizes of the 150-400 Big White vs the 150-600. The 150-400 is a larger lens, but is lighter and easier to carry. The 150-600 is more compact when zoomed out, and extends to slightly longer than the 150-400.

Conclusion

There you have my honest opinions about the 150-600. Great lens. Try it out. If you are ok with the bulk and weight of it, it’s a fabulous lens with amazing quality. Best of luck.