Small Zoom with a large telephoto? Here please!

In a system such as young μFT it is common that not be the best lenses available right at the beginning. So Olympus dropped the fan base to wait long for a corresponding part, which already corresponded to 40-150mm on FT. Although Panasonic brought relatively quickly a 45-200mm on the market, but this did not meet my expectations of compact and small. In addition, there was a Lumix 14-140mm, which is a superzoom. Later, a similar but smaller version of Olympus came with 14-150mm. Super zoom posted strong and are usually not figure champion. So I avoid them as much as possible. Nevertheless, I had the Olympus 14-150mm, which is why I am also referring to the comparison.

Height and weight:
The 14-150 is almost identical to the 40-150R. Both are of equal length, almost have the same diameter and weigh both almost the same. At a PEN both act quite large, but the light weight camera is not top-heavy. At a Lumix G, the two seem more suitable, but are equally balanced to operate as at a PEN.
Overall, the 40-150R is so perfectly balanced but what it paid for the light intensity.

Performance:
The 40-105R is damn fast already at the E-P2 and G2. The AF works incredibly fast and precise. One can rely on him practically blind. Where the AF of 14-150 was fast this is struck again from 40-150. The precision is rather the camera to write well.
The imaging performance of 40-150R is indistinguishable at first glance to the 14-150. But if one looks more closely one quickly realizes that it's a little sharper. Especially when it comes to on the 150mm 40-150R is the better choice. Overall, can not complain about sharpness, contrast and color is. Especially with the price you will hardly find anything comparable!

Handling:
Almost the most important point is the handling and the feel to the touch. The "R" in which 40-150R represents "Redesign" and includes a slight visual improvement and a newer style. This was crucial for me to buy. Like it you have to decide for themselves.
But more important is the handling. The lens is when it is new, set very tight. It will be so surprised at the beginning of something that is to zoom it so difficult to move. That done after some use. Olympus it builds deliberately so tight because the push elements a slight "game" adjusts over time. This is normal and is bypassed with this design.
Zoom ring and focus ring can be but very nice touch and operate easily. So there is nothing to complain about.

Video / Photo:
Important for today's lenses is the video capability. Although lenses are like the 14-140 and the 14-150 designed for Videography, but no other objective is as quiet and calm as the μ.Zuiko 14-42IIR and μ.Zuiko 40-150R. We hear virtually nothing about the intigrated microphone. The 14-42IIR is still quieter than the ticking of a 40-150R, but that does not fall further consequence.
For the photograph it all does not matter. As is more the AF speed of concern, and which I have already addressed.

Conclusion:
The lenses does great considering the price. While there may be something like brighter, but it is also directly bigger, heavier and especially expensive!
For this price you definitely get nowhere a comparable part. From me, saying a strong buy recommendation for tele-friends and video enthusiasts.