Compact, lightweight, and versatile
This compact Olympus zoom lens gives you flexible wide-angle to long-range telephoto shooting capability in a portable, lightweight package that tips the scales at just over 9 ounces. With an equivalent zoom range of 28-300mm, you'll be viewing the beach seascape at the wide end, and getting close-ups of frolicking dolphins or lazy pelicans at the telephoto end. And if you have an unplanned travel agenda, this is the perfect lens to keep when you only have room for one, because it's up to any challenge a freewheeling day on the road may present. A dust-, splash-, and freeze-proof design makes it a solid companion for the Olympus OM-D E-M1 which is similarly rated.
With its quiet, Movie & Stills Compatible (MSC) autofocus system, this lens also excels at enabling you to gather excellent sound while capturing video. Of course, the superb optical performance you've come to expect from Olympus is still here, as well. An extra-low dispersion glass lens element makes your images as sharp and artifact-free as they can be.
This lens covers a wide range, equivalent to 28-300mm. 28mm is moderately wide, while 300mm is pretty tight. It's the kind of lens that you think of for travel, when you want to pack lightly. It would also be good for a kids' soccer game — tight enough to capture action from the stands, and wide enough for a team photo afterward.
Due to its smaller max aperture, this is a lens best suited for outdoor use. In outdoor light, I found it fast to focus and plenty sharp. I used it during a kids' birthday party and got some great shots. For a lens that covers such a wide range, it's compact and easy to carry. I wouldn't hesitate to bring a lens like this if I were traveling.