The Olympus M.Zuiko ED 14-150mm F4-5.6 II (with the OM-D E-M5 II): An easy-going (outdoor) zoom lens

Is the Micro Four Third sensor remains pertinent for its compactness and for its image quality?

After all what we may like the most in photography is going out and have pleasure doing some pictures with a compact well-designed camera body and lens combination (which should be also good looking!). Are Olympus the only manufacturer does nice and refine photo equipment? No for sure but they have their own signature for a long time since the event of the famous Pen analog series.

And we are speaking about compactness first which a paramount quality for photographers on the go. Small cameras at first but also small lenses to be coherent with the concept. And the Micro Four Third sensor format is may be the only one that can guaranty that without letting down any technological (automated) advancement. If you are speaking about other sensor formats like the 24 X 36mm or APS-C, you cannot put aside the fact that their optics are often large and heavy comparatively from the equivalent MFT ones.

And how about the image quality of the Micro Four Third format? I think we have reached an MFT sensor development that can now deliver the quality level needed in most of the general photographic situations. Yes, in specific cases the larger formats (especially the medium ones) are still doing an outstanding job but we can leave them to the few pros and enthusiasms that can afford and justify their use. What is important is what you do with your pictures and what final purpose you intend with. Even for the fairly large print (like 13X19 inches or A3 format), a modern MFT format sensor will fulfill the task nicely if your picture-taking parameters are correctly set.

Source: Olympus.com

And is the Olympus OM-D- E-M5 Mark II still a pertinent camera choice for today?

And what about using a second generation (16MP sensor) like we find into the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II considering that a third itineration (Mark III w/20MP sensor) is already available on the market? Why not since the E-M5 Mark II is still a remarkable photographic camera device, very well built and designed for an everyday use under many various (and adverse) picture-taking conditions. The Olympus OM-D E-5 Mark II is also a mature product that have been updated a few times. For sure we are assisting to its last days of front selling life but with Olympus, you never know when it will be really no more available.

The Olympus M.Zuiko ED 14-150mm f4-5.6 II zoom lens is a kind of extreme optic that can be used for all-around photographic purposes. It is a compact design and construction along with a maximum 150mm focal length giving a six-time magnification compare to our naked eyesight. At its widest 14mm focal length, the Olympus zoom lens can fulfill many proximate photographic tasks and can perform panoramic views. With a very modest maximum variable aperture of F4-5.6, the M.Zuiko ED zoom lens is for sure a less flexible tool when you are facing low light situations or moving subjects. In those cases, you may rely on a higher ISO setting and on an internal camera body stabilization system (if available) with a higher deep of field, we must add.

The zoom ring is fairly large and have a good tempering turning resistance. The focusing ring can be reached easily and don't turn too freely although it is "by-wire". The Olympus M.Zuiko ED 14-150mm II zoom lens is not part of the Olympus Pro line of optics but it has the splash proof feature which can be a great help when using the lens in adverse conditions (providing that the camera body have the same characteristic). A dedicated bayonet mount lens hood is furnished with the lens which is always appreciated by the owner who have already spent good money to get the optic. The 58mm filter accessory size is moderated and allows you to buy good protection filter or special effects filters if you wish to do so.

All the official specifications regarding the Olympus M.Zuiko ED 14-150mm F4-5.6 II are here.

In daylight or well light contexts, the Olympus M.Zuiko ED 14-150mm II is handy optic especially if you couple it with a camera model such as the Olympus OM-D or Pen series which are featuring internal sensor stabilization capability. Having a fast access to bigger telephoto setting give to the zoom lens a greater flexibility that prevent continuous permutation between different lens models and that can be hazardous in many circumstances. Even more it is a faster optic to operate when you are framing your subject. At its widest focal length of 14mm, you are reaching the upper limit of a "real" wide angle lens with 75 degrees of angle of view.

Doing close photography is possible with the Olympus M.Zuiko ED 14-150mm II considering its high magnification capability although you have to respect a minimum distance between you and your subject of half a meter (1.6 ft). If you are expecting to take pictures of regular size objects like flowers, the Olympus M.Zuiko ED 14-150mm II will allow you to get very interesting results and again its versatility will be appreciated. It is not a "macro" intended optic and the Olympus M.Zuiko ED 60mm F2.8 or ED 30mm F3.5 macro premium lenses should be your best choices to do such specialized and small subjects.

Having worked with the Olympus M.Zuiko ED 14-150mm II zoom lens for some table top subjects has giving me the opportunity to check the image quality output of the optic in a more optimum picture taking condition in using a low ISO and having the camera tripod mounted. And this M.Zuiko ED zoom lens is offering usual Olympus optical "standard" lens quality level ( acknowledging that the Olympus Pro lenses are still their best products in that sense). Color rendition, contrast, image definition are good and on average compare to their less focally stretched standards zoom lenses.

If you are a photographer that is bringing your camera almost everywhere in the city, on travel, in your surrounding or doing outdoor trecking, the Olympus M. Zuiko ED 14-150mm II should be a serious lens option to consider for its versatility and its image quality. It is compact, well built and ready to cope with almost any kind of subjects. A very pleasant lens mate.

Antoine Desilets (1927-2019): une influence au-delà des images.

Photo Jeannine Alain
Source: Le Devoir

Il ne faut pas réduire l'influence d'Antoine Desilets à son rôle de photographe car il était éminemment un homme de paroles à l'image de cette génération de québécois qui par la chanson, par le théâtre, par le journalisme et les autres médias ont caractérisé cet effort de se débarrasser du carcan de la "petitesse canadienne-française de leur temps" et entrer de plein pied dans la globalisation humanitaire.

Certes Antoine Desilets avait ce charme des mots qu'il employait mais aussi son propos pouvait être incisif à sa manière en ce sens qu'il provoquait en vous une recherche plus profonde d'émulation et de dépassement car c'est bien d'en parler mais surtout c'est beaucoup mieux de le faire.

De son œuvre iconique, je retiens l'universalité des thèmes et des sujets et plus encore l'ironie et la justesse de son irrévérence qui, sans être maligne, nous procurait cette distanciation humoristique nécessaire à la tragédie grande ou petite de l'humanité.  De sa démarche pédagogique, il n'y a qu'à saluer sa profonde influence dans l'univers des amateurs de photographie à titre personnel ou professionnel. De son implication humanitaire, il faut aussi retenir sa grande modestie.

Admirateur et émule comme tant d'autres d'Antoine Desilets, j'ai eu l'occasion de le côtoyer pour l'élaboration et la réalisation d'une exposition rétrospective il y a plus de 25 ans. J'en garde le souvenir d'une personne humble et rayonnante pour son entourage et surtout je conserve l'image indélébile de son sourire si particulier. Oui il aimait bien vivre et aujourd'hui, il continue de le faire à travers nous.

Daniel Marchand

Ancien président

Corporation lavalloise pour le développement de l'art photographique

Pour en savoir plus sur Antoine Desilets:

Article-hommage du journal Le Devoir

Wikipedia

2019: the turning year in photo equipment!

2019 will be the year marked as the definite separation between the "mass market" industrial philosophy and the return of the traditional "niche" photo enthusiasm market. That turning point was already inevitable since the Photo equipment industry cannot really compete with the smartphone electronic manufacturers. 

What is interesting and we are now knowing is that a technical fusion between traditional photo equipment and the newest smartphone products are not and cannot easily mergeable to get commercial success. For many years photo equipment reviewers were appealing for a such thing but consumer experiences had proven that many attempts to do so were almost always some kind of failure.

So traditional photo users’ market is still demanding for a ... traditional photo equipment at least in its design and presentation. All the efforts to divert from the classic ergonomics seem to not attract the photo equipment consumers. All major photo equipment manufacturers have quietly agreed to adopt a more orthodox approach for their camera line up. Today most camera models might be confused to analog (film) camera devices offered thirty years ago.

The none-event of the 2019 year might be the cancellation of the renew Photokina first planned in spring 2019. The Photokina organization have tried to recreate a photo industry gathering based of the past fast changing rate of the digital photo equipment of the last ten or fifteen years but without acknowledging this era was already finish. Now the big photo equipment shows are doomed to short presentations that are not able to compete with the strength of the Internet power of attraction. Can Photokina will be capable to reinvent itself without the contribution of the Nikon, Leica, Olympus or Fujifilm of this world? It appears to be a very difficult task.

The photo manufacturers are entering into a turmoil of indecision regarding the photo equipment evolution. Manufacturers like Nikon or Canon are skeptical to invest further into new technologies such as mirrorless cameras without knowing what the photo equipment market state in would be the next few years. In fact, they apprehend the worst with a constant disaffection of the traditional photo field. The last photo equipment consumer statistics are not looking conclusive. We are facing a mature market in “reflexion” and that is tempting to return to their obvious past (recent) choices as we are seeing from some prominent photo web reviewers. 

iPhoto Manon Paquette

At the end, the great era of the frenetic digital photo equipment consuming (at a fast rate of changing) have now went to its finality. Many are now welcoming to the return of more reasonable approach of choosing and buying their photo arsenal. In a more responsible eco world, that can be the real good news of this 2019 year!