Olympus` strength is nunmal with zoom lenses. In this lens almost puts the entire know-how of Olympus. The focal length is used as "Always-on" lens, and the focal length is unique in this area. A similar lens there are not other manufacturers. This is not possible a comparison.
Portrait Lens: With 50mm (100mm in KB) and an aperture of 2.8 it is ideally suited for portraits. Of course lenses were even better with an aperture of 1.4, but they are also much more expensive usually.
Sports Photography: The flexible focal length and the SWD, it is fast and flexible enough to provide for yourself to ice hockey best results.
Nature Photography: scan animals is never easy. With the 50-200 SWD, it is at least feasible. With a converted focal length of 100-400mm in full-frame lens is one of the extreme-Teles. At 400mm and an aperture of 3.5 it is unique in the market and well suited to capture small birds Full Frame on the sensor. With the Image Stabilizer (IS) of the current Olympus bodys the 400mm are also freehand to master.
Processing: The lens housing is as usual plastic. This plastic is, however, extremely impact-proof and does not get scratched all too quickly. The tripod mount is made of metal and not interfere when zooming. The entire lens is dust and splash proof and is with the E-1 or E-3 even in the rain coming Ströh still usable. The seal only makes the zoom ring is stiff but that does not really bother.
Optical performance: Olympus has an extremely high quality control. So you can usually leave it that the picture is good. The 50-200 mapping through the entire area with a 1+ must be assessed. And that's what makes it my favorite lens.
Finally, I want to point out that the objective is quite large and heavy. I recommend the 50-200 to a E-1, E-3 or E-30 use. I sometimes I also use on an E-620 with HLD. 5 However, the lens is considerably heavier than the body, and therefore there is a heaviness. In addition, the lens extends at least even one-third of the actual length of what the top-heaviness of small bodys exacerbated.
I give a strong buy recommendation from if you like photographed at the telephoto end or just like to indemnify. The lens is also absolutely suitable to stay up the camera. The only problem is the heavy weight which will be so worn. That's not bad, you just have to know.