Safari with the M.Zuiko 50-200mm F2.8 PRO – Experience Report

Since I first visited Zimbabwe and Botswana in 2017, these two countries have drawn me in. This year, during my trip to Zimbabwe, I had the M.Zuiko Digital ED 50-200mm F2.8 PRO with me. OM Digital Solutions lent it to me for the trip. I had to test it in practical use. Due to its optical proximity to the M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm F4.5 PRO, my expectations are very high. Whether the lens meets my expectations will be revealed here. I was especially curious about how it would work together with the M.Zuiko Digital 150-400mm F4.5 IS PRO, since, unlike the M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F2.8, it has an overlapping focal length range. My hope was that this would mean I would need to change lenses less often. plenty of time for the lens we

My Safari Camera Setup: OM-1 and the Trio of Lenses

During my trip to Zimbabwe, I flew into Mana Pools National Park on a small propeller plane with only 12 seats. For this flight, the total weight limit for camera gear and clothes was 20 kg. I had to limit myself to the camera equipment. That’s why I only took three lenses along with my OM-1. In addition to the 50-200 mm F2.8, I also brought my beloved 150-400 mm F4.5 and the wide-angle 8-25 mm F4. With this setup, I was able to capture not only wildlife but also landscape images. The total weight of the equipment was about 4 kg.

M.Zuiko Digital ED50-200 mm F2.8 in Practice

Of course, I took most of the pictures on the safari with the 150-400 mm F4.5 lens. I didn’t expect it to be any different. After all, you can’t always get close enough to the animals, and a long focal length helps a lot in choosing the right shot. Still, I took about a quarter of the photos with the 50-200mm lens. I used it whenever we were close to the animals or when I was photographing them in their natural environment. This provides the viewer with more context and a sense of the habitat in which the animals reside. Here’s a small comparison.

The 50-200 mm F2.8 also has a significant advantage in twilight. With a brightness of 2.8, it is 1 1/3 stops brighter than the 150–400 mm F/4.5. This allows you to use lower sensitivities or keep the exposure time shorter. Additionally, you can also better isolate the subject you want to highlight. to either work

On the last day in Mana Pools, I went on a walking safari. A special experience because I was able to take pictures from a completely different, deeper perspective. For this trip, I also chose the 50-200 mm F2.8 lens because it’s simply lighter. With 35 degrees in the shade, you also want to have enough water with you, and the gear should be lightweight. It was a very s

All in all, the lens combined with the 150-400 mm F4.5 is really fun to use. As hoped, the overlap in the zoom range reduces the need to change lenses. This is especially advantageous if, like me, you only have one camera body. On a safari, where you can never predict what will happen, this can save your shot.

M.Zuiko Digital ED 50-200 mm F2.8 Image Quality

Not only the exterior but also the price fuels expectations for image quality and autofocus speed. After a week in Zimbabwe, I can say one thing. The image quality is beyond any doubt. I have no photos where I thought there was a lack of sharpness, contrast, or vignetting at the edges. Even at wide open aperture, the image quality is excellent. The autofocus speed is also excellent and nothing short of that of the 150-400 mm F4.5. However, it feels not faster than the 40-150 mm F2.8. Honestly, I expected more here, after all, the 40-150 mm lens has been around for several years.

Functionality and Haptics

The manufacturing quality is high-end, providing a very stable impression. The lens also offers versatile adjustment options. It is possible to set the area in which it should focus. This further increases the already high focusing speed. Additionally, it provides the option to set the focus to a specific distance, which can be recalled with the push of a button. I have it set to infinity, which helps me especially when I want to photograph a bird in the sky and the camera doesn’t find the focus right away. The option to turn off the image stabilizer and autofocus is one that I use rarely. I also wouldn’t know in which situation I should, for example, turn off the image stabiliser.

Conclusion

The M.Zuiko Digital ED 50-200 mm lens is consistently well-made. Image quality and autofocus speed are in a range that leaves nothing to be desired. Of course, this also comes at a price. I’m not sure if it needs to be over €3,000. I think it would be more successful if OM Digital Solutions had managed to keep the price below €3,000. For those who don’t already own a 40-150 mm F2.8 Pro and need a medium telephoto zoom, this lens is definitely worth considering. It has certain advantages over the 40-150specially because it covers a larger focal length range. For me, someone who already owns a 40-150 mm F2.8, it doesn’t make much sense to get the new lens. The benefits aren’t significant enough. After all, the 40-150 mm F2.8 also offers excellent image quality. What do you think? What are your experiences with the new one?