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Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmar 100-400 mm f/4.0-6.3 ASPH. POWER O.I.S.

Pictures:
Specifications:
Manufacturer Panasonic
Model Leica DG Vario-Elmar 100-400 mm f/4.0-6.3 ASPH. POWER O.I.S.
Lens style Telephoto zoom
Focal length 100 - 400 mm
Maximum aperture f/4 - 6.3
Angle of view 12 - 3.1 o
Closest focusing distance 1.3 m
Maximum magnification 0.25
Minimum aperture 22
Number of diaphragm blades 9
Auto focus type AF / MF
Lens Construction 20 elements / 13 groups
Filter diameter 72 mm
Macro No
Available mounts Micro Four Thirds
Dimensions 83 x 172 mm
Weight 985 g
Additional information Announced: 5.01.2016
2 ED elements, 1 UED, 1 aspherical ED
Average rating (6 owners reviews)
Build quality
Optical quality
Value for money

Overall

4.06 Good
Owners reviews (6)
  1. NZm43
    NZm43 23 February 2020, 05:05
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 122.56.x.x
    Owner since: 2 years
    Price: NZ$1400
    User profile: Semipro

    Cons: The zoom ring is quite stiff and sticky, which can be annoying. It would be a problem for zooming while filming.

    Pros: Very sharp even at 400mm, especially if stopped down to f/7.1 or f/8. Spectacular reach. The stabilisation is very effective, no problem hand-holding it even at 400mm for wildlife shots with a half-decent light. AF/MF switch and AF range selection switch.

    Summary: For someone who wants both the reach and image quality, that\'s the lens. For shooting at long-range, all regular precautions apply if sharpness is the goal. It doesn\'t take much to blur a few pixels on a high-resolution sensor at an 800mm equivalent focal length! AF is not super-fast, but certainly fast for such a long lens.

  2. Tim
    Tim 22 January 2018, 17:35
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 72.22.x.x
    Owner since: 6 months
    Price: 1700
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: Expensive, optically \"slow\". Focus does hunt sometimes (on G7).

    Pros: Really is *much* better than my 100-300 Mk1. Out-resolves it at any focal length. 400mm gives much more detail of the same scene that at 300mm, despite lenstips implying it doesn\'t. The light weight is great.

    Summary: Very nice lens, but for the price I do wish it was a little better optically. Sure the Oly 300mm is optically far better, but it doesn\'t collapse down for a small bag and costs much more. I did not have the zoom issues others reported. Perhaps lenstips received a poor copy. I look forward to seeing what it can do on a G9 shortly.

  3. jwdw
    jwdw 26 February 2017, 13:06
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 80.113.x.x
    Owner since: 1 month
    Price: 1228
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: disappointing lens , used on EM1 , not much better then 100-300 in that reach and certainly not better at 400 mm. differences with 100-300 are so minor that it just doesn\'t justify the price.

    Pros: It compact with an enormous reach. not to heavy. nice design.

    Summary: I tried the lens for one week and compared it with my panasonic 100-300 and my olympus 40-150 with extender. From image quality standpoint it wasn\'t satisfying for the price. so I returned the lens. maybe I had a bad copy . I don\'t know. But I am going to save money for the Olympus 300 mm f4.0 .

  4. Bing Song
    Bing Song 22 February 2017, 11:26
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 112.10.x.x
    Owner since: 3 months
    Price: 1500
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: 1. f6.3 at 400mm; 2. without realtime manual focus; without fucus distance windows. 3. the zoom ring is on the back of the lens, make it hard to move. it should be set on the front side of the lens.

    Pros: 1. It is only 985g, much lighter than canon 340is and Olympus 340 pro: 2. The focal length from 100mm to 400mm (200mm-800mm compare with full frame camera) is more flexible than prime lens. 3. Very sharp from 100 to 400mm wide open. The resolution in 400mm is higher than canon 300mm plus 1.4 teleconveter (maybe it is because Panasonic gx8 is more accurate than canon 70d), but worse than Olympus 340 pro. 4. Stabilization system of the Panasonic dg 100-400 is effective than canon 300mm f4 is. Can get sharp pic with 1/100 s shutter. But not so good as oly 340pro. 5. Cheaper than oly 340 pro, more expensive than the canon ones, all most the same as Nikon 340 PF VR. But if you consider the price of 1.4 converter, the DG 100400 is not so expensive. 6. splash proof, good build quality

    Summary: If you are a birder wandering all the day in the field, It\'s just the lens for you. very light, flexible, water proof, stalbe, and with good bulid quality.

  5. Bridgeport Mike
    Bridgeport Mike 1 July 2016, 15:25
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 108.235.x.x
    Owner since: 1 month
    Price: 1800 USD
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: I am renting this lens from LensRentals.com. I am using it with an Olympus EM5MarkII. I would have to agree with the Lenstip findings. The images at 400mm are far from tack sharp. I am going to have to save my money for the Olympus 300mm. f4

    Pros: Great telephoto range for a lens that can be hand held.

    Summary: Just too much money to not get sharper images at the longest focal length.

  6. aku
    aku 14 June 2016, 02:32
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 118.37.x.x
    Owner since: 1 month
    Price: 1500USD
    User profile: Semipro

    Cons: One held

    Pros: Price-performance ratio Excellent picture quality 800mm equivalent telephoto Relatively light weight

    Summary: LensTip was very disappointed in the reviews. The camera body with a review E-PL1? Are you kidding me? Since it does not have a body chogihyeong also sustained resolution was properly test the latest lens is nonsense. Is the picture quality is so undervalued see a sample posted on Korea camera community. http://www.popco.net/zboard/zboard.php?id=dica_forum_panasonic&page=2&sn1=&divpage=4&sn=off&ss=on&sc=off&select_arrange=headnum&desc=asc&no=17143