Olympus Power 1000mm micro-four-thirds

A 1000mm manual focus monster that's secretly a great macro lens. Bring a tripod and a lot of patience.

The macro score surprised us. At 94th percentile, this thing is a legitimate close-up monster. The 67mm minimum focus distance means you can fill the frame with a bug's eyeball from a comfortable distance. But the optical score sits at a middling 40th percentile, so don't expect tack-sharp corners. The lack of stabilization is the real kicker. At 1000mm, even breathing near the tripod introduces shake. You'll need a rock-solid setup and a remote shutter, no exceptions.

The Tamron 28-300mm and Sony 18-135mm are actual everyday lenses with autofocus and stabilization. They're more versatile and easier to live with, but they can't touch 1000mm. The Meike 85mm f/1.4 II is a better portrait lens, period. This Olympus only wins when you need extreme reach or extreme macro on a budget. It's a specialist, not a generalist.

At $199, this is a cheap ticket to extreme telephoto and macro territory. You're not getting premium glass, but you're also not paying premium prices. If you know exactly what you're signing up for, the value is hard to beat. If you think this will replace a normal zoom lens, save your money.

This is a 1000mm telescope pretending to be a camera lens. The Olympus E-520 Manual Focus High Power is a niche tool for a very specific kind of shooter, and for that person, it's actually kind of brilliant. For everyone else, it's a frustrating exercise in missed focus and shaky shots. The one thing to know: you get massive reach for under $200, but you earn every single frame.

If you want a lens for travel, portraits, or anything handheld, this isn't it. Go get a used 40-150mm or a 300mm zoom with autofocus instead. You'll actually enjoy using those.

Buy this if you want a cheap 1000mm macro experiment and you already own a sturdy tripod. It's a fun, frustrating, occasionally magical lens. Just don't expect it to replace anything else in your bag.