Because Olympus adopted the Four-Thirds system, the company developed a completely new lens system to everybody else. The smaller sensor means that focal length values need to be multiplied by two to gain the 35mm equivalent – so the 40-150mm length of this lens equates to 80-300mm in 35mm film terms.

This enables the lens to be smaller and lighter than comparable lenses in the group, as well as having a shorter reach when used on digital SLRs. It’s also fast thanks to the f/3.5-4.5 maximum aperture, and one of the few that is dedicated to, and will only work with, digital cameras. In use, the lens has a nice solid feel, despite its small size and light weight. The rubber grip of the zoom is secure, while the manual focus ring is quite deep with a smooth action.

This is not one of Olympus’s top telephoto zooms, and the results reflect its budget status. While chromatic aberration is better controlled than on comparable lenses from other manufacturers, it’s still present. Resolution is good, but only marginally better than some other lenses, though the lens is more consistent throughout the focal range – if not the highest in terms of resolution.