Olympus 18-180mm f/3.5-6.3 Zuiko Lens for E Series DSLR Cameras

by Olympus

Product Details

• Item Weight: 15.5 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000BTFZMS
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: 261054
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 19, 2005

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Receive sharp and colorful images from this lightweight all-digital lens, from less than 18 inches away or as far as its 10x telephoto will take you. Weighing less than 16 oz., this durable, extremely portable lens is perfect for wide group shots or "zooming in" on your child's soccer game, and delivers a distortion-free view and outstanding results thanks to ED glass lens elements and its built-in CPU that automatically corrects lens, shading and exposure information.

The sophisticated line of Zuiko Digital lenses is designed to professional standards to provide professional results in every facet of their use. Coreless motors provide impressive speed. A dedicated computer processor supplies intuitive image data transfer. A wide focal range gives you the flexibility to perfectly frame and capture detailed images near and far. Precision crafted optics--including fine aspherical and ED glass elements--produce the finest image results. And a digital specific design based on the Four Thirds System makes this lens virtually effortless to carry and use. This is not a lens built specifically for the E-1 Digital SLR; it is a lens built specifically for you.

Product Description

OLYMPUS 261054 Zuiko Digital 18-180mm f/3.5–6.3 ED Lens

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

65 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Less than ideal "one lens" solution, July 31, 2007

By 

J. Boutilier "Jim Boutilier" (Thornton, CO United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Olympus 18-180mm f/3.5-6.3 Zuiko Lens for E Series DSLR Cameras (Electronics)

The overall size and weight of the Olympus D-510 2 lens kit (14-42 and 45-150) offered a small, light kit that is very versatile. My only issue is I find myself in a lot of situations where a rapid lens change is required with this combination so I was looking for something in a single lens that offered a larger zoom range.

This lens offers the zoom range I was looking for, but its almost the size and weight of the two kit lenses put together and is slower than either. I did not have any color or clarity problems attributable to the optics in this lens and in theory its a step up from the kit lenses.

Unfortunately, largest aperture falls off to f6.3 rapidly and that makes for a slow lens over the majority of its zoom range, which also causes a dimmer viewfinder image, and slower auto focus.

Its not quite disappointing enough to return, but in general you are better off with the kit lenses from a size/weight/quality standpoint. If you REALLY need the zoom range in a single lens, this is worth considering, but the compromises that come with this lens are greater than I've seen in other third party lenses with a similar zoom range (admittedly for other lens mounts).

I think I'll look towards the 50-200mm f2.8-3.5 Olympus lens next.

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The E-510 finally makes this lens a keeper, August 6, 2006

By 

M. Olson "olsons36" (Tucson, AZ) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Olympus 18-180mm f/3.5-6.3 Zuiko Lens for E Series DSLR Cameras (Electronics)

I had previously owned one of these lenses and as I noted in an earlier review no one could have wanted this lens to be the great single lens "travel lens" more than I did, but alas the lens just came with too many shortcomings to work well with my E-500. Enter the E-510 with built in image stabilization and much better high-ISO performance and in my opinion a new day has dawned for this lens.

This is not a fast lens and that will never change but finally this is no longer a deal breaker. The lens has been performing very well indeed on my E-510 as long as I keep the design limitations of the lens in mind.

Points to consider:

- This lens is not super sharp wide open (maximum aperture) the way a Zuiko 12-60mm or 50-200mm lens would be - it's "acceptable" for some but not for my needs.
- Stopped down about two notches or simply set to f/8 or f/11 this lens is very sharp indeed - it sharpens up nicely - however the depth of field at shorter focal lengths might be too generous for some shooters needs.
- The lens is not weather sealed and is not made to the same quality as the mid-grade or top pro-grade Zuiko lenses. It's built to pretty much the same standards as a kit lens, which is to say just fine (it has a metal base).
- It focuses much closer than the Zuiko 50-200mm lens and makes a very good general purpose walkabout lens for use in strong lighting.
- The lens uses 62mm threads at the front and as a result several lens attachments from the old Olympus E-10/20 DSLRs will fit.

If you're using an older E series Olympus camera I can't recommend the lens without reservation, but for those shooting with the new image stabilized Olympus DSLRs I think that this lens can work very well as a travel lens or a general walkabout lens high on the convenience factor.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No More Lugging Around 2 Lenses With Your Olympus Digital SLR!, January 1, 2008

By 

bobbewig (New Jersey, USA) - See all my reviews
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I've loved my Evolt Camera and its lenses -- but I've wished that I didn't have carry my two Olympus lenses with me when I was going to be taking images at both shorter and longer focal lengths. Having received the Olympus Zuiko 18mm-180mm ultra zoom lens (which is the equivalent of 35mm-350mm) as a present this Christmas, I no longer have to. This lightweight all-digital lens, made especially for the Olympus four thirds system, receives very sharp, very colorful, distortion-free images. Its weight is a little heavier than either of the two separate lenses that came with the camera and it's not quite as fast a lens. However, neither of these differences diminishes the value this great lens has afforded me. If you are like me and have been inconvenienced by having to lug around all your lenses to assure yourself of being able to capture all the images you want, then the Olympus Zuiko 18mm-180mm lens is for you! I think you'll be very happy with the high quality results you'll get and I know you'll be happy with the convenience it will provide. Enjoy!