OM System 50-200mm/2.8 IS evaluation | Petr Bambousek

OM System OM-1 II, OM 50-200mm/2.8 IS, Pantanal, Brazil 2025

“Listen! Gandalf has had a baby”

It’s right here! Gandalf has a baby. On the roadmap of upcoming lenses, a mysterious white telephoto with a variety round 50–200 mm appeared again in February 2025. After a lot hypothesis, we now know the reality. Today, on September 10, 2025, the OM System 50–200mm f/2.8 IS was born. It’s a boy, 22 cm lengthy and weighing 1 kg.

Disclaimer

As lots of you already know, I’ve been a comfortable OM System shooter for the previous 9 years, and I’m additionally an ambassador for the model. In my critiques, I attempt to keep as goal as doable and share my actual impressions from subject use. These generally differ from what you learn in boards, particularly the place discussions are based mostly purely on evaluating specs on paper. If you desire a real, unfiltered impression of recent gear, my suggestion is easy: strive it your self. I obtained the OM 50–200mm f/2.8 IS for testing simply earlier than leaving on a photograph journey to Brazil (Pantanal + Atlantic Forest). At the time of scripting this, I’ve spent three days with it within the subject—which means hundreds of frames of parrots, anteaters, owls, and plenty of different superb creatures. And our journey has solely simply begun. The accompanying pictures listed below are in decrease decision, as a result of I by no means publish remaining edits from my cellphone. Think of them as beta previews—I’ll share polished outcomes after the journey. For now, I simply wish to present the type of topics I’ll be utilizing this lens for.

If you’d wish to observe together with the expedition in actual time, examine my Instagram profile and Stories. I attempt to submit no less than as soon as a day.

For measurement comparisons of lenses proven right here, I used the superb web site Camera Size Comparison.

OM System OM-1 II, OM 50-200mm/2.8 IS, Pantanal, Brazil 2025

Parameters

So how does the brand new OM 50–200mm f/2.8 IS appear and feel? It’s primarily a “little Gandalf”—my long-time nickname for the OM 150–400mm f/4.5 IS TC (and sure, I’m amused that the nickname has caught on broadly).

The design follows the identical DNA: white barrel, black zoom/focus rings, and a blue accent on the entrance.

Key options:

• Range: 50–200 mm, equal to 100–400 mm in full body angle of view.
• Constant f/2.8 aperture throughout the vary, making it appropriate for quick motion even in low mild.
• Internal zoom: the lens doesn’t lengthen or shift its stability level—distinctive amongst present 100–400 mm lenses.
• Depth of subject: roughly equal to f/5.6 on full body, however publicity instances correspond to f/2.8.
• Stabilization: excellent synchro IS; I can reliably handhold 1/3 s at 200 mm.
• Coatings & hood: optimized for capturing into the solar, with minimal flare.
• Close focus: 78 cm from the sensor aircraft (~55 cm from the entrance aspect), delivering 1:2 magnification at 200 mm—distinctive for this vary. With the two× TC, it reaches 1:1.
• Teleconverter assist: appropriate with each the 1.4× and a couple of× converters.
• Tripod foot: detachable, Arca-Swiss built-in, no further plate wanted.
• Size & weight: 22 cm, 1 kg—mild and nicely balanced.
• Compatibility: absolutely helps OM-1 II options together with 50 fps bursts and focus stacking.
• Build: PRO sequence; weather-sealed towards mud, water, and freezing.

 OM SYSTEM TELEZOOMS COMPARISON

BOKEH COMPARISON ON 200 MM

OM 50-200mm/2.8 | OM 150-400mm/4.5 IS TC | OM 100-400mm/4.0-6.3 II IS

How I Use It within the Field

This lens enhances Gandalf fantastically in conditions the place the massive lens is much less sensible. The velocity and vary of the 50–200 f/2.8 IS make it splendid for:

• Birds in flight (examine my new video-course)
• Larger animals at nearer distances
• Wildlife as a part of a wider composition with smoother bokeh
• Action photographs requiring very quick shutter speeds

In Pantanal, I discovered myself steadily utilizing it for flying birds and mid-sized animals. Gandalf (150–400) I saved for smaller, distant topics the place I wanted attain and element. The first adjustment was the beneficiant aperture. Normally, for motion in good mild, I dial in 1/2500 s. Here, with f/2.8 in brilliant Pantanal solar, Auto ISO 80 saved flashing at me—I may push to 1/5000 s or sooner with ease. The lens can also be a pleasure for tame species like hummingbirds, toucans, or tanagers, and I can simply see it interesting to sports activities photographers as nicely. I haven’t absolutely examined its close-focus macro potential but, however I’ll quickly—suppose dragonflies, butterflies, or hummingbirds. With Gandalf, such topics are trickier as a result of dealing with.

OM System OM-1 II, OM 50-200mm/2.8 IS, Pantanal, Brazil 2025

Alternatives within the MFT World

Within the Micro Four Thirds ecosystem, just a few lenses come shut, however every has its compromises:

OM 40–150mm f/4 – extra compact, however with weaker brightness, so it misses the benefits of f/2.8. It can’t work with teleconverters and has no picture stabilization. In actuality, it belongs to a unique class altogether.

OM 40–150mm f/2.8 – house owners of this lens will most likely have the toughest dilemma. It’s pure to suppose: my wonderful lens is sufficient, I don’t want the brand new one. And actually, that’s a good conclusion, no less than if you happen to follow paper specs. If you wish to preserve your peace of thoughts, I strongly advocate not borrowing the “little Gandalf.” Its advantages present up in a short time. A 300mm focal size just isn’t the identical as 400mm, and with a teleconverter that distinction turns into even clearer. Add within the stabilizer, which amplifies the hole much more, and out of the blue a bit of worm begins consuming at your mind. Within a yr it tunnels straight into your pleasure facilities and triggers a spiral of arguments that ends, inevitably, with shopping for the lens.

Panasonic 200mm f/2.8 – an excellent lens. I used it myself for just a few months earlier than getting the 150–400. Optically wonderful, with an exquisite bokeh. But like every prime lens, it lacks the pliability of a zoom (every thing between 50–199mm is just gone). Its stabilization isn’t as sturdy on OM our bodies, and it doesn’t assist OM/Olympus methods like 50fps or focus stacking. The minimal focusing distance is 115cm.

Panasonic 50–200mm f/2.8–4 – a small, compact lens with the benefit of measurement, however at the price of f/4 on the lengthy finish. That places it in one other class. On OM our bodies, stabilization is weaker, and once more, many OM-specific options can’t be used.

All in all, the “little Gandalf” is known as a class of its personal. In the Micro Four Thirds world, it presently has no direct rival. The different lenses every lack one thing, whereas the brand new OM 50–200mm f/2.8 IS combines all of those talents in a single package deal. Compared to full-frame 100–400mm lenses, it additionally stands sturdy. If I’m not mistaken, it’s the one one which doesn’t lengthen when zooming, gives a singular magnification ratio, and has the bottom weight. And you’d be looking out in useless for f/2.8 amongst full-frame zooms on this vary. Depth of subject, nevertheless, is virtually the identical throughout the board.

SIMILAR RANGE TELEZOOMS COMPARISON

Optical Quality

In phrases of sharpness, this lens is gorgeous—on par with Gandalf. It pairs fantastically with the 1.4× TC. With the two× TC it nonetheless works, however right here the outcomes are much less convincing. Compared facet by facet with the native OM 100–400mm f/4.0–6.3 II IS, the devoted telephoto is sharper at 400 mm. So if you happen to purchase the 50–200 f/2.8 IS anticipating a 2-in-1 with the two× TC as a “shortcut,” you’ll be dissatisfied. On paper the specs look related, however optically the 100–400 nonetheless wins on the lengthy finish. The actual power of the 50–200 lies in its native efficiency. Use it to its fullest there, and reserve TCs—ideally the 1.4×—for infrequent wants.

OM System OM-1 II, OM 50-200mm/2.8 IS, Pantanal, Brazil 2025

Summary

The OM 50–200mm f/2.8 IS is a triumph. It combines vary and aperture in a means unmatched in Micro Four Thirds. Its compact measurement and lightweight weight make it splendid for motion with out fatigue, whereas its optical efficiency is top-tier.

If I had been pressured to nitpick, I’d level on the tripod foot: Arca-Swiss built-in (which I like), detachable (not like Gandalf’s), however lacking the extremely sensible 90° click-stops. And when carrying it on my facet, the tightening screw pressed extra noticeably into my leg than Gandalf’s. But actually, it is a minor grievance—and rotating the foot solves it anyway. For anybody who will profit from its vary and strengths, that is an impressive device with only a few weaknesses.

It’s now 4:20 a.m. In an hour I’ll stand up to search for anteaters. And the little Gandalf can’t wait.

OM System OM-1 II, OM 50-200mm/2.8 IS, Pantanal, Brazil 2025

OM System OM-1 II, OM 50-200mm/2.8 IS, Pantanal, Brazil 2025

PS: It’s 5:30. Before we even acquired into the automobile, an anteater appeared simply 100 meters from our lodge. The subsequent half-hour is tough to explain—it was merely epic. A reminiscence I’ll carry deep in my coronary heart. Thank you, Mother Nature.

OM SYSTEM AMBASSADOR | I’m knowledgeable wildlife photographer who over the previous 20 years undertook greater than 40 picture expeditions to tropical rainforests the world over. You might have seen my pictures in numerous exhibitions, on the Internet and plenty of Czech and international magazines and books. A lot of my pictures had been awarded at native and abroad competitions such because the Czech Press Photo, Nature’s Best Photography, Bird Photographer of the Year, Sony World Photography Awards, Big Picture Awards, Nactus Awards or probably the most acclaimed one – the Wildlife Photographer of the Year. At this explicit competitors, my pictures weren’t solely within the Final but additionally, one among my finalist pictures turned a central promotional piece of the entire 2015 WPY travelling exhibition. If you get pleasure from my work, don’t neglect to go to my Photogallery and connect with my Facebook profile.