Olympus 90-250mm f/2.8 Zuiko Lens for E Series DSLR Camera

by Olympus

Product Details

• Item Weight: 2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 13 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000BTHPDK
• Item model number: 261013
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 19, 2005

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Sports and nature photographers will love the versatility of this powerful yet easy to handle super-telephoto zoom lens, built specifically for digital photography. Its fast f2.8 aperture and impressive zoom range let you shoot moving subjects with confidence while its splashproof, dustproof design and all-metal barrel construction provide extreme durability in any environment. Three ED glass lenses provide outstanding image quality with optimal resolution and contrast. A built-in computer microprocessor communicates directly with the camera's software to correct lens distortions, shading, and exposure information for even further image accuracy.

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

The Zuiko Digital ED 90-250mm f2.8 lens is a versatile and durable high-performance lens that offers high performance in an easy-to-handle size with superb edge to edge sharpness, detail and color. This Digital Specific Lens delivers light directly to each of the sensor s pixels. From center to edge, each image is filled with rich, accurate color, high contrast and subtle gradation. Designed exclusively for digital photography, Zuiko Digital Lenses provide a level of precision thats unattainable from a digital body using a traditional 35mm film lens. The ED glass and fast f2.8 aperture of this performance telephoto zoom give you the flexibility to shoot sports, nature and more close at 90mm (the 35mm equivalent of 180mm) out to 250mm (500 mm equivalent). Splashproof and dust-proof, with all-metal barrel construction, this is the lens you can depend on, in any environment.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Adequate, with Trade-offs, October 26, 2008

By 

James D. DeWitt "Alaska Fan" (Fairbanks, AK United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Olympus 90-250mm f/2.8 Zuiko Lens for E Series DSLR Camera (Electronics)

I already own Zuiko's excellent f2.8 300mm fixed lens, Olympus 300mm f/2.8 Super Telephoto ED Lens for Olympus Digital SLR Cameras. It's a superb lens, and works very well with both Zuiko's 1.4X teleconverter, Olympus EC14 1.4x Teleconverter Lens (for at f/2.8 on E-System lenses), and its 2.0X teleconverter, Olympus Zuiko EC-20 2x Teleconverter for Olympus Digital SLR Cameras.

But there are situations in which you need more flexibility; the bird or the animal is too close for a fixed 300mm, for example. So I purchased the 90-250mm. And after two weeks of field photography, I have to say it's a decidedly mixed bag.

On its own, without a teleconverter, the lens is good. For a wide range, powerful telephoto, it gathers an impressive amount of light, and has the same f2.8 aperture across the entire zoom range. It's simply not as razor sharp as the fixed 300mm, but it's still quite sharp. The teleconverters are a different story, however. The 1.4X is adequate, unless you want exceptional detail. With the 2.0X teleconverter, though, results are generally unacceptable for my work. I suppose that the additional lensing required for a zoom cross some tipping point.

And the lens is definitely slower-focusing than my 300mm on my E-3 body. Birds in flight are possible with the lens by itself, but combined with a teleconverter, the lens can't keep up, even in bright light.

Which leaves the lens in a special, fairly niche: if you need just a 90-250mm, wide aperture lens, this is a fine product. If you are looking for a bit more flexibility, or if you are photographing rapidly moving targets, perhaps not. And teleconverters significantly impair sharpness, especially the 2.0X. It will have a place in my camera bag - a large space. But it's simply not as useful as I hoped.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My most used lens, July 25, 2010

By 

Joseph Kinney "Chief Engineer" (New Jersey USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Olympus 90-250mm f/2.8 Zuiko Lens for E Series DSLR Camera (Electronics)

I shoot in door events in NYC with no flash and I'm often more than 100 feet away from my subject. about 1/4 of the time I'm using the 2X converter.

The 2.8 aperture and the long reach give me capabilities that most other photographers don't have.

As far as I know a telephoto for a Cannon or Nikon would cost 4 times as much.

It takes time to learn how to use this lens and to get the auto-focus to focus accurately in low light. There are challenges especially with the 2X adapter.

This glass is why I invested in the 4/3 system and I'm glad I did.

1 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Okay but not a great lens, April 8, 2010

By 

Tony "Tech Guru" (PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Olympus 90-250mm f/2.8 Zuiko Lens for E Series DSLR Camera (Electronics)

I rented this lens for a weekend and found that the focusing on this lens was extremely disappointing in low light.
Compared to the 35-10mm f2.0 I felt like I was using a f4 lens and even using the focusing limiter switch found it to hunt a lot.
I am sure for outdoor use it is an excellent lens, especially for sports photography, but the pricepoint and indoor problems I experienced are reasons enough to not purchase this lens.