Got the ultimate zoom lens for my camera today! It was delivered last Friday but I didn’t notice it until Sunday so I went across the border to pick it up today. This $9xx piece of glass has solid build quality and optics so it will probably be the last long range zoom lens that I’ll get. It comes with a really nice bag (see pic) with shoulder straps~ Also for some reason the Ebay seller popped in a F-PRO 67mm UV filter with the package so I got a free filter to use! Even though now I have this long range zoom, I don’t plan to sell my cheap Zuiko 70-300mm F3.5-5.6 though since the 300mm range is still very useful for objects that are really far away.

Here are a couple shots of the lens:

This lens is really bulky! it’s 2.5 pounds on its own and it barely fits in my tiny Lowepro Slingshot AW100 camera bag. I have to put the lens hood in the top storage compartment while storing the lens itself in the lens compartment. Consider its zoom range, I’ve heard that the size and weight of this lens is not really too bad compared to ones from Canons and Nikons which is good~ I think this lens will bring me years of fun~

At Point Roberts today where I picked up the lens, I was lucky enough to see a bald eagle catching this average sized bird and devoured it on top of a wooden post~! I took a couple pictures of it and as I walked closer, it flew away and I took another couple pictures. It was so cold down there so I didn’t really feel like doing too many test shots. I will go out again on a sunny day and I know I will come back with a full memory card~

A couple more shots at the beach:

Went to Dunne & Rundle to get my travel camera backpack. There were lots of choices like Tamrac, Lowepro, M-Rock…etc. I didn’t want to get Lowepro since I already got a Lowepro Slingshot 100 camera bag, but this Primus AW bag turned out to be too good to be missed. It has an eight-point strap system, way more than what I would have thought of being used on a camera bag. It’s super comfortable, I can totally see myself wearing it for an extended period of time. It has a side opening so I can take my camera out without having to take off my bag. Also, huge compartment at the top level so it’d be great for travelling when I carry around shit like food, maps, drinks…etc. It even has an outer covering which can be used to hold say a jacket or something. For $110 I think this is a steal. I’m looking forward to using it so much for the trip to Japan next week!

Here’s a full review of the bag.