I'm of two minds here:
Mind #1: The 300/4.5 is an incredible lens and produces exceptionally sharp
images with a most lovely Bokeh. In fact, the Bokeh is almost to beat
somebody of the head and take their lens. For a 300mm, it is very compact
and relatively lightweight. The focusing is usually a bit stiff, but at
least it doesn't creep on you. As CH Ling points out, there is a very slight
bit of C/A, but in reality it is so slight as to not be an issue or even
visible to most of us pikers. I haven't found any C/A in images from my
recent arrival. Of course, the silvernosed versions are probably better.
:) My only real gripe with the 300/4.5 is the blackening of the split-image
viewfinder. As the 2-13 focus screen's "matte" image area is actually a
field of micro-micro-prisms, it's like the focus screen just suddenly loses
oomph and focusing is more difficult. Still not as dark or difficult as a
1-series screen, but there is a marked difference in the focus screen
between F4 and F4.5. On the E-1, this lens is easily handheld.
Mind #2: The Tokina AT-X 100-300/4 lens is a bargain when you can find
them. I bought mine from a fellow list-member and feel like a bandit for
getting it so cheep--but the going price just is so low. I have ONLY two
gripes with this lens. First gripe is that it's a one-touch zoom. I really
dislike one-touch zooms because any change in focal-length screws up your
focus and vice-versa. The second gripe is that it is soft wide-open.
(actually, it's not necessarily "soft", it's just lacking contrast). Unlike
the Zuiko 300/4.5, this is not a lens to be shot below F5.6 for fine work.
However, at F5.6 to F16 the lens is exceptionally sharp, contrasty and
well-controlled. The lens is not nearly as well balanced as the 300/4.5 and
much harder to handhold without vibration. But, I must remind myself that
I'm trying to handhold on the E-1 the equivalent of 600mm!!!! I suppose I
must "get real".
The following is an article illustrated with images taken only with the
Tokina AT-X 100-300/4 on the E-1:
http://zone-10.com/cmsm/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=335&Itemid=1
My preferred method of shooting either of these lenses is on a monopod, but
for landscapy shots, I much rather be shooting the 300/4.5 on a tripod
mounted to the nose of an OM-2S, OM-3Ti or OM-4T.
Tamron probably made the best 300/2.8 in OM mount. The Tamron 300/2.8 is one
of those lenses that will get you noticed! Don't plan on handholding it,
though. Tokina made a 300/2.8, but you never hear about them. The Sigma
300/2.8 was typical Sigma build quality. (ugh).
I've been rearranging my camera bags and my current "go kit" (used to cover
the typical grip-n-grin and generic shoot) contains the E-1 with 14-54,
OM-4T with 35-80 and the Tokina 100-300/4 Zoom. A pair of 285HV flashes and
wireless remotes round out the bag.
The second bag holds the OM-3Ti, 24/2.8, 35/2.8 and/or 35/shift, 50/3.5
macro, 100/2.8, 200/4 and 300/4. Amazingly enough, all this fits in a small
LowePro Elite III shoulder bag.
So, short answer: Get the Zuiko 300/4.5 and enjoy!
AG
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