Olympus has announced its new 2X teleconverter, the MC-20, which is compatible with the company’s 40-150mm F2.8 Pro and 300mm F4 Pro lenses, as well as the 150-400mm F4.5 that will be arriving in 2020.

Like Olympus’ pro lenses, the MC-20 is weather-sealed and should function down to -10°C/+14°F, according to the company.
The MC-20 will be available this summer.

Just like the M.Zuiko Digital 1.4x Teleconverter MC-14, this product maintains the excellent imaging performance of the master lens while doubling the focal length. Extending the lens to double its original focal length makes it possible to capture intense shots of subjects that are usually difficult to approach, including small birds and animals. When attached to the M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm F4.0 IS PRO, handheld super-telephoto shooting at 1200mm equivalent (35mm equivalent) is possible.

When attached to the M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm F4.0 IS PRO lens, this converter makes it possible to shoot near actual size at 0.96x (35mm equivalent) from the maximum shooting magnification of 0.48x, allowing the photographer to capture close-up photos from far away without disturbing subjects that are sensitive to people, such as insects.

Utilizing Focus Stacking can result in photos that are in focus across the entire image, even while using super telephoto lenses, which tend to have a shallow depth of field.

9-element, 4-group lens construction with an HR lens helps suppress various types of aberrations including chromatic aberration while maintaining the optical performance of the master lens to double the focal length. The design also helps prevent ghosts and flares for superb imaging performance.

The master lens is designed to deliver excellent performance even when a teleconverter is attached. This means that there is virtually no loss in autofocus speed, making it possible to capture split-second photo opportunities with fast AF. The dustproof, splashproof, and freezeproof design for shooting in severe environments and the powerful 5-axis image stabilization result in a highly reliable product.

More info on Olympus’ press release.