Olympus 70-300mm lens - Help!

[Bianconero]

Hi All

I just bought the Olympus 70-300mm for my e-410. I got it second hand on ebay.

It generally seems to be okay, but I have a question I'm hoping someone can answer for me:

There seem to be two indicators on the lens to show what focal range you're using:

1. One is on the main body of the lens, where you turn it to zoom.

2. The other indicator is on the narrower top end of the lens.

When I zoom with the lens to the max, the indicator on the main body of the lens (1) shows that it is at 300mm, whereas the other indicator (2) shows that it is just past the the 150mm point. This doesn't seem to match up? Is this correct behaviour?

In order to get (2) to extend to 300mm, it seems I have to switch to manual focus.

Why is (1) showing 300mm, but (2) is not, even though I've zoomed in as far as I can?

Just want to know if I'm doing something wrong here. Anybody know?

Thanks All

[Foxcow]

I know exactly what you are talking about but I don't know how to explain it. When I am shooting at 300mm, depending on where I am focused, the secondary barrel will move in and out to get in focus. 300mm turns out to be 300mm every time though. I usually check using my software (Silkypix, and CS4) and what it shows on Flickr.


I hope this helps.

[fletch]

I haven't got the lens but I have seen one. From memory the second numbers may be the distance to the point of focus, different to the focal lenght which is what you see around the zoom barrel. After the largest number is there an infinity sign like this ∞ ? if so its definately the focus point.

[NormMonkey]

Originally Posted by Bianconero

Hi All

...

Why is (1) showing 300mm, but (2) is not, even though I've zoomed in as far as I can?

Just want to know if I'm doing something wrong here. Anybody know?

Thanks All

Without a picture, I can't be sure what the second mark (2) you're talking about is. Can you attach a picture?

It could be the lens hood alignment marker or a mark related to point of focus instead of focal length. The barrel will rotate depending on where you focus (e.g. 3 feet away vs. infinity). If that's the case, as FoxCow says it'll be 300mm either way.