Well it was long overdue but my old trusty M.Zuiko Digital ED 75-300mm F4.8-6.7 II lens has been traded in for the OM Systems 100-400mm zoom lens.  I prefer zoom lenses when I shoot and I have been wanting this new OM System M.Zuiko Digital ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS for a while now. I was able to find a used version of the lens from Roberts Photo (Used Photo Pro) for a very good price.  The quality of the used lens from Roberts Photo (Used Photo Pro) is excellent. The used lens looks like it is brand new and everything functions as expected.  The image quality from this new lens is amazingly sharp and the image detail-sharpness is there even when zoomed all the way in at 400mm.  Below I will show you some of my birding images I was able to take with the lens.  

Lens sharpness and detail is beautiful!  Some of the features that I am enjoying with the new 100-400mm lens that my older 75-300mm did not have are listed below.

* Auto focus limiter 

* Weather Sealed construction

* Longer focal length 100-400mm (Full frame equivalent is 200-800mm)

* Compatibility with the MC-14 and MC-20 teleconverter for even more reach when attached

* Builtin lens image stabilization (no Sync-IS)

* AF/MF switch

I have only been using the lens for about 2 weeks now and I have to say I am extremely impressed with the features and image quality - sharpness I have been able to get with it.  My birding photos have greatly improved and each time I go out with the lens I am surprised by what I have been able to capture with it.  Investing in good glass before upgrading your camera body is always a good idea.  

I am proud to announce starting on July 21, 2023 I will have 4 photos in the 11th Annual Photography and Digital Art Competition for the Middletown Art Center.  Also I would like to announce that one of my photos received second place in the “People” category for the Middletown Art Center Photography competition.  The photo that  received second place is the black and white photo titled “Through the Door” and was taken while on a trip I took to Pittsburgh, PA.  All four photos will be on display in the main gallery area from July 21 - August 24.  

The MIDDLETOWN ARTS CENTER  is located at 130 N. Verity ParkwayMiddletown, OH  45042.  If you have time or are in the area please stop by and view the gallery.  All four of the photos are for sale in the gallery, please contact the Middletown Art Center if you are interested in purchasing one of the photos hanging in the gallery.

Here is a short right up on my camera and macro gear setup for the GDPG (Greater Dayton Photography Group) May 2023 photo challenge. If you are interested in shooting Macro you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get into it. Or buy an expensive Macro specific lens. You can use any lens you already have and some extension tubes.  Extension tubes are exactly like it sounds a tube that attaches to back of your lens. This tube moves the lens further from the image sensor, which causes the lens to focus more closely or magnify the focus. I am using 2 extension tubes a 10mm + 16mm for a total of 26mm of extension. Extension tubes don’t have any lens optics in them so they are very inexpensive. The extension tubes I have can be purchased on Amazon for approximately $30. The extension tubes I am using have the electronic contacts on them so the lens auto focus feature still works. Provided you get close enough to your subject to bring it within view. The extension tubes will change the lens focusing distance (you will need to get closer).

When shooting macro the focal plane is razor thin which can make it difficult to focus on your subject. I find myself shooting mostly at f7-f11 to have enough depth of field. Also since this is a telephoto lens I generally shoot around 70-150mm. I find the advantage to shooting with the telephoto lens is it allows me to shoot my subject without having to get to close to it. Which could scare my subject away or I might be covering the subject with my shadow if I am standing to close.

The extension tubes are attached to my OM Systems M.Zuiko ED 40-150mm f4.0-5.6 R lens. Which in full frame terms would be equivalent to 80-300mm lens. The camera body I am using is the OM Systems OM-D EM-1 Mark III which is a 20 megapixel micro four thirds sensor. The photo was taken hand held, below is the EXIF data from the photo.
ISO 800 1/250s f5.3 120mm