Tamron Review of the 14-150mm Micro Four ThirdsTamron 14-150mm f3.5-5.8 Di III zoom lens for Micro Four Thirds |
Article & Images by Jon Sienkiewicz |
The Micro Four Thirds camera system is perfect for folks who want to shoot high quality digital images and video and want to be able to change lenses, but do not want to deal with the bulk and weight of conventional digital SLRs. For the very same reasons, Tamron's new 14-150mm Zoom Lens is the best possible lens for Micro Four Thirds users. |
M43, as it's also known, was introduced by Panasonic and Olympus in the summer of 2008. It's based on the original Four Thirds System and uses the exact same size imaging sensor. |
Aside from compact portability, the system has gained followers for other reasons. Image quality is outstanding. In fact, some say that the Full HD 1080p video produced by M43 cameras is as good as it gets. Because the design includes a technical characteristic known as the "reduction in flange back length," M43 cameras can be used with old, so-called legacy lenses left over from the film camera days when fitted with the appropriate adapter. That's fun, but those old lenses must be focused manually, and auto exposure options are limited. |
For all lenses attached to M43 bodies, the effective focal length is exactly double the physical one. In other words, a 14mm lens on a M43 camera covers the same angle as a 28mm lens does on a full frame or 35mm film camera. And using a 150mm lens is exactly like using a 300mm super telephoto. So a lens that zooms from 14mm to 150mm provides the expansive and very functional zoom range equivalent to a 28-300mm lens in the film camera world. |
Enter the Tamron 14-150mm f3.5-5.8 Di III zoom lens for Micro Four Thirds. For many people who shoot M43, this is the lens they've been waiting for. For those who are starting out with a new M43 camera for the first time, this is the lens to buy instead of the common "kit lens" that's packaged with the camera body. |
The zoom range is incredible-it provides a true wideangle 28mm all the way out to a dramatic 300mm. So whether you're shooting landscapes, soccer games, people or parties, all you need is this one lens for everything. Portrait and family photographers should note that shooting at the long telephoto end allows the user to isolate the subject from the background-to get those dramatic shots with the area behind the subject out-of-focus. Plus, the aperture blades (seven of them) form a smooth, round opening for beautiful bokeh.
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While the extensive zoom range is the biggest attraction, this lens is very small (less than 3.25" long) and light. And it has a strong, solid feeling of quality. It accepts common 52mm filters and comes with a flower-petal lens hood. Grooves on large zoom ring are comfortable and secure, and make the lens quick to use. It's easy to recommend this lens wholeheartedly. |
Beauty is as beauty does, of course, and this stunning lens is also a gorgeous performer. The autofocus is very fast and quiet thanks to Tamron's innovative technology. The 14-150mm benefits from a specially designed stepping motor that drives the lens rotation directly without noisy reduction gears slowing things down. This delivers smooth, fluid-like autofocus for video capture (who wants to hear gears grinding when they're recording video and sound?). |
The 14-150 zoom is sharp at all focal lengths and very sharp in the close-up range. This All-in-one focuses closer than 20 inches and delivers a magnification ratio of 1:3.8 (at 150mm), that's much closer than most would expect. It's ideal for flowers and other small objects. |
There's something else on this 14-150mm zoom lens that means a lot, and that's the Tamron brand name. I trust in the Tamron name because I've heard so many professional wedding photographers, photojournalists and editors say how good they are. More importantly, I trust from personal experience-honestly, I can use any lens I want-but when I shoot for money I reach for Tamron. In my case, Micro Four Thirds becomes a serious professional tool now-and much more fun to use casually-because of the 14-150mm Tamron zoom. |
I'm trying to think of a reason why I'd ever remove this lens from my camera. The zoom range is way more than adequate for everything from street shooting to wildlife. And with the superlative, noise-free, high ISO performance of today's digital cameras, I can shoot at ISO 800 all day long and not be hindered by the lack of a faster f-stop. |
Changing lenses less often means being ready to shoot pictures more often. And leaving the lens on the camera reduces the number of times the camera's sensor is exposed to airborne contaminants. It also means having fewer things to carry when I venture out-which my neck and back appreciate! |