ROBIN WONG : OM System 50-200mm F2.8 PRO Goes To KL Bird Park

This is a follow up test to the original mini review done here (click). In this second round, I brought the OM System 50-200mm F2.8 PRO with my OM-1 to the Kuala Lumpur Bird Park and got some bird shooting action done. I emphasized on testing the image quality (both sharpness and bokeh) as well as the effectiveness of 5-Axis Sync Image Stabilization and the use of Olympus MC_14 1.4x teleconverter. I made a video for this session, you can find it here (click).

ƒ/41/250220mmISO400 MC-14

IMAGE QUALITY

Consistent with my findings from the previous testing session, the OM System 50-200mm F2.8 PRO performed incredibly well shooting birds. The lens manages to resolve very good sharpness, plenty of fine details and excellent contrast. Images look very sharp even shooting at wide open aperture F2.8, and the level of sharpness can easily be rated one of the best among Micro Four Thirds lenses.

Bokeh rendering is also beautiful. It is not distracting or nervous, the bokeh looks smooth, pleasing and just beautiful, resulting in the 3D depth that gives the organic and realistic appearance of the image. I notice no traces of chromatic aberration, distortion or vignetting, those issues could have been corrected by software, but that was not an issue as long as I don't see them in the images.

IMAGE STABILIZATION

When used with compatible cameras (eg OM-1), OM Digital Solutions claimed that the 5-Axis Sync IS can yield about 7 stops EV compensation. That is a bold claim, and I find it to be not impossible. I hand-held the OM System 50-200mm PRO at the longest telephoto end, zooming out to 200mm and could get away confidently at the slowest shutter speed of 1/4 second. That is mind-blowingly good. I am not saying we can and should use the lens at such dangerously slow shutter speeds, no, that is not the point. Having such powerful stabilization ensures that slower than usual shutter speeds from the range of 1/30-1/80 seconds can be confidently executed hand-held. without the cumbersomeness of support systems like tripods of monopods. That is a huge bonus for hand-held photography, you just want to convenience and agility to move around quickly with minimal setup.

MC-14 TELECONVERTER
I also tested the OM System 50-200mm F2.8 PRO with the OIympus MC-14 attached, effectively giving me 280mm telephoto reach at the longest end (from 200mm without teleconverter). I find the MC-14 works optimally with the OM System 50-200mm PRO and can give satisfactory results. Image sharpness still looks very good, and contrast is decently maintained. However, there is a noticeable from of overall image quality, though not a serious matter or dealbreaker, but it is visible. The sharpness when used with teleconverter is just nowhere as incredible as the sharpness when used without. I won't hesitate to use the MC-14 if I have to, to extend the reach when 200mm isn't enough.

It is also important to note some compromises when using teleconverter, besides the drop of overall sharpness:

1) Flare and Chromatic Aberration - when shooting against strong sources of light or in high contrast scenarios, the MC-14 teleconverter amplifies the technical flaws of the lens, and some traces of flare and purple fringing can be seen

2) Image Stabilization effectiveness - attaching a teleconverter can reduce the effectiveness of the stabilization, based on my test, I can hand-hold the lens with teleconverter at 280mm down to about 1/30 second shutter speed, which is still quite impressive.

3) Autofocus - though I did not see and drastic negative impact on AF performance, the AF generally won't be as quick or reliable when used with a teleconverter.

I personally think the OM System 50-200mm F2.8 PRO is an excellent lens for wildlife photography. I acknowledge shooting birds in a zoo like environment does not quality this to be a wildlife test, but hey, I am not a wildlife photographer, and this is a supplementary test I have done to add on to my previous sports shooting test. I hope you have found my sharing here useful!