Panasonic LUMIX G Leica DG Vario-Elmar 100-400mm f/4-6.3 Aspherical Lens for Micro Four Thirds

2023-09-13T13:16:27

Perfect zoom range for wildlife. A wide zoom range allows for locating subject, then 800mm equivalent to get close to subject. I have this lens attached to a Lumix G9. The quality of photos is excellent. The close focus distance also allows for excellent for smaller creatures such as butterflies and bees. You will not be disappointed.

THOMAS T.

2022-11-13T03:54:29

Go to lens for wildlife photography. Good reach. Works best at 800mm (35mm equivalent) in bright sunlight. I put a small piece of tape to cover 3 switches on the lens so I don?t accidentally turn them off. Not A problem for me. Great lens to take pictures of birds in flight enjoy the outdoors and hike

Joey D.

2022-11-12T21:52:31

Must have for Wildlife photographers with m43 gear. It?s not a large or heavy lens compared to other full size dslr lens out there for wildlife. It?s a m43 lens so get a crop factor of 2. Good reach from 200mm-800mm. I handhold and shoot so with my LUMIX G9 with this lens I?m at around 3lb of weight. I have the camera and lens OÍS turned to on, l have the auto focus Af turned to on and switched to 5m-infinity on. Tip I put a piece of tape over the switches so I can?t accidentally turn them off which has happened before. I?m an amateur photographer of landscapes but recently after a trip to the Smoky Mountains I wanted to try my hand at wildlife pictures of birds in flight here in Florida where I live. For my first time out I was very satisfied with my results and ready to get better. Enjoy the pics, it?s a great way to get out and combine photography with the great outdoors and get some exercise hiking.

Jose G.

2022-04-04T10:18:32

I am an amateur nature photographer and wanted more reach than my Lumix 100-300mm, which I like except for fringing at 300mm wide open on high contrast subjects. I have learned to work around it. I decided to purchase the Panaleica 100-400mm lens if I could find a decent used copy. I read numerous reviews from pros and non-pro users and found a variety of likes likes and dislikes about the lens. I purchased a used copy from Adorama rated E- for a decent price and it came with the standard 30 day return policy. When I received it the lens looked new externally and the front and rear elements looked pristine. There was one very small scratch on the zoom ring and the detachable lens hood had a few hard to see scuffs on the outside but the inside baffling was just fine. Zoomed out to 400mm I held it up to a light and saw no obvious blemishes. But when I held it up to a very bright light I could see some dust on some of the lens elements, thus the E- rating. I wanted to share this to alert used lens buyers of what to look for in the optics. So, I ran the lens through a long battery of tests and the picture quality was just fine. I could not find any indication of fringing wide open at 400mm. Some users complained about softness at 300-400mm but I didn't see a problem. I am not sure if the lens is still splash and dust proof but I guess time will tell. Zoom ring stiffness was a common complaint but mine was not very stiff until about 200mm, but even then it did not hinder use. I am arthritic and older and I am disabled and somewhat weak but found I could hand hold it, just not for a long time. A grooved rubber coating on the zoom ring would be a welcome addition. I think adding this, making it freeze proof, fixing the zoom ring problem, would make this more attractive to pro photographers where low light is not an issue. The lens meets my needs and I think image quality is very good. I do not regret buying it for the price I paid and a more serious photographer would see value at full price if small improvements were made, I believe. If you are not sure about dropping the money for a new one, try a used one and if you score a good copy you may be happy with that option.

WILLIAM V.

2022-03-23T14:19:37

I love the extra reach my 100-400mm panasonic lens provides.

VIVEK C.

2021-08-13T14:36:46

Great lens. I recently shot two triathlons with it. Nearly 1000 shots of swimmers, bikers & runners. Great autofocus, tracking and sharpness. A bit on the heavy side...monopod can come in handy. Guess I'll be selling my old Panny 100-300.

scott r.

2020-08-02T10:22:52

Excellent lens. So light for such great reach and I can even hand hold and get good photos.

Rachael I.

2020-07-30T08:46:12

It's hard to understate the size to power comparison for micro four thirds zoom lenses. With a full frame equivalent of 200-800mm, you have excellent versatility with this lens for wildlife shooting. It's on the heavier side of micro four thirds lenses (just over 2 pounds I believe), but still FAR lighter than a comparable full frame zoom with the same range. Image quality is very good throughout, and the bokeh is surprisingly good looking, fairly round and creamy. Pixel peepers will find softness in the corners at times (you can google in depth reviews to see photo comparisons), but in real world use this has never bothered me. If you're focusing on a single subject the corners are likely to be blurred anyway. I suppose if you were hoping to do super close ups of architecture from far away this could be a problem? Up to you to decide. Great lens, and the image stabilization is amazing. Can handhold shots at 1/15 of a second on still subjects. Can't beat that!

Aaron C.

2020-03-17T07:12:45

After concentrating on using my Fujifilm GFX 50s and all its lenses for the last three years, returning to my Olympus OM-D, EM1 and now EM1, MIII, I am quickly reminded of the versatility and lightness of the four-thirds system The Luxix G Leica DG Vario-Elmar 100-400 F4-6.3 is an outstanding addition to M. Zuiko lenses. It moves smoothly and clearly to all my adjustments. Probably the best telephoto lens I bought in recent years.

AllanR P.

2020-02-21T16:20:56

Used this lens with my GH4 on my trip to Yellowstone. Got some amazing pics of wildlife from long distance. Grizzly bears looked like they were right next to us! Highly recommend. Can't wait to use it again when we go to Alaska this this summer.

jon p.

2020-01-06T09:16:56

Summary: glad I bought it and would buy again. The bad: in common with Panasonic photography products in general, it takes too little pressure to move the switches. Lost a large number of images to vibration due to bumping off the stabilization. So like many others, I've taped the switches to my preferred position. The good: 1) Optically it's definitely very good for the price, would have to spend a lot more for a noticeable improvement. 2) used on a Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark 1 without the advantage of dual-is, I get 100% keepers at 1/50th sec at 800mm and over 50% keepers at 1/25th. Amazing. That's 4 EV for 100%, better than the standard measurement.

William F.

2019-10-31T08:23:50

It does a great job outdoors. Indoors need to bump up the ISO.

DAVE K.

2019-08-31T12:57:01

Soft 300-400mm

michael s.

2019-04-20T07:29:38

Love this lens - I use it on my Olympus mirrorless camera and it takes great sharp shots - would definitely recommend this lens.

Patricia V.

2018-12-11T06:14:37

This lens is light enough to go with me on a hike, whether hand held or on a travel tripod. It "gets me closer" to birds and people without disturbing them. I can fill the frame. Very sharp!

Suzanne H.

2018-07-19T20:00:00

Have the Panny 100-300, which has been a good lens. Still is. But for our trip to Yellowstone this year we wanted more reach. So we bought the 100-400 and paired it with our G5. My wife loved it. Wouldn't let me use it. Luckily we have another G5. So we bought a second 100-400, went to Yellowstone and we were very satisfied with the results from these lenses. Fast focus. Sharp to 400.

nickroberts

Originally posted at

2018-05-22T18:42:25

Love this lens. Nice, crisp photos. I particularly like the zoom lock that keeps me from accidentally reframing my shot.

Mary B.

2018-04-09T20:00:00

Awesome for Bird Photos and other wildlife

Barleymm

Originally posted at

2018-03-28T14:09:41

I have had this lens just under 2 years and have used it a lot but carefully. Just recently I noticed the autofocus seemed inconsistent- some images were in sharp focus and some were not which was a change for this lens. I sent it in to the Texas service center to be checked over and they were able to duplicate my complaints. They estimated the cost of repair to be just under 1800.00 (yes, the cost of a new lens) and cited that dust inside the lens was affecting focus. They further said that seals inside the lens had failed allowing dust to enter. Since it was out of warranty I was told basically that I could fix the lens or purchase a new one. While the lens functioned properly I had no complaints about image quality. A Leica branded, pricey lens should last longer than 2 years so I will not be purchasing Panasonic equipment in the future.

YVONNE B.

2018-03-20T20:00:00

I've been disappointed with this lens. I would like a refund. My first copy would miss focus quite often for no apparent reason. Also, the zoom ring had a lot of resistance, making it difficult to use. I would have to grip the lens and rotate the camera, making it impossible to zoom while using the EVF. I sent the lens to the dreaded repair facility in McAllen, TX. I've had poor experiences with it in the past. The lens was swapped for another. The zoom friction was improved. However, there appeared to be a defect in the rear element. I returned this copy. The third copy had severe zoom-ring resistance and the apparent defect. I've been waiting five days for the repair facility to acknowledge my email request for a return authorization. I called yesterday and was told one would be sent yesterday but that didn't happen. I doubt I will buy anymore Panasonic products.

Mac

Originally posted at

2018-02-10T19:00:00

I've had this lens for awhile, but only recently had a chance to really put it to the test, having spent 3 weeks in Costa Rica. I also own the 100-300mm and while it is fantastic at the short end, it's not good enough for serious work at the long end. The 100-400 reverses that. Its image quality is definitely optimized toward the longer end-- a very good thing for the bird photographer, but not so great for landscapes. I even use it to replace a scope. That hawk way across the valley... I can't make out much through the bins, so I take a few shots, and blow them up on the LCD. It's about like having a 20x scope on a tripod, with the added advantage that you have documented the evidence. Instant field notes! There is a crispness about the images at the long end that, until now, has only been possible with massively heavy and expensive full frame gear. But don't kid yourself: it still weighs a lot more than a superzoom, and after a few hours around your neck, you may start to think that an FZ would be more fun! The Dual II stabilization system allows you to shoot at ridiculously slow shutter speeds. I've managed to get reasonable results at 1/10 of a second, which is mind-blowing. But before you get too excited, consider that most of your subjects are not going to sit still for even that long, so you'll probably need to boost the shutter speed and ISO. Fortunately, modern sensors, like in the G85 that I'm using, can easily handle 1600 ISO with very little degradation in image quality. So, is it the perfect lens for the serious birder? Well, not quite. I would have liked to see a 200-500mm with max apertures at least as fast (more weight, but worth it IMO). The zoom is not smooth to operate, which is no big deal for stills, but don't even think about trying to use it while shooting video. The worst thing, though, is that it can easily fall off if you happen to touch the camera's lens release button! It happened twice to me before I added a safety string!

VM

Originally posted at

2018-01-07T19:00:00

I've had this for more than a year. It's heavy, expensive and hard to use. From reading photog forums, it takes a lot of getting used to its idiosyncrasies. I've had better shots with shorter lens that cost less.

Mac

Originally posted at

2017-05-11T15:05:03

The lens did not talk to my Olympus OM-1 Mark II body for image stabilization / focus until I updated the firmware on both the lens and camera body. Once the firmware was updated, the system worked well. However, the included polarizing filter interfered with focusing on the Olympus body, but the UV filter worked well. The attachment of the lens to camera body is looser than I expected. The lens is heavier than I initially wanted for a mirrorless camera, but it is much lighter than my comparable Nikon setup.

FRAN P.

2017-05-08T16:39:59

Sharp photos handheld at 800mm equivalent! The stiffness of the zoom ring is not an issue when properly unlocked. Works great on my Lumix GH5, with fast autofocus and image stabilization.

Dustin T.

2017-02-25T08:50:59

I've been very pleased with the quality of my photos handheld. they are even better on my tripod. I'm over 70 and was concerned about the handheld clarity but with my Olympus OMD-E1 it does the job. It was worth the cost.

JANE T.

2016-12-12T08:31:04

Compared to the Olympus 300mm f4 Pro, this is a second-rate lens. Sharpness at longest length is soft, soft, soft. The Olympus with 1.4x is at least twice as sharp. And, the ergonomics are inferior, starting with the poorly designed lens hood to the extremely stiff focal length ring making zooming a chore. The tripod foot is always in the way because you cannot rotate it to the top of the lens; it's either sticking out the side or bottom. Removing it (compare how the Oly works with the removable foot and trim ring to cover the "nubs') doesn't improve things because you still have a big square mounting sticking out. Oly has three different focal length limiters, the PL 100-400 only two. And, forget about shooting it at F4.0 because you will soon find yourself at F6.3 when you start zooming! If you were expecting something as good as the fantastic PL 42.5mm F1.2 in a telephoto zoom, you can forget about it. While less critical shooters may like the lens, if you are serious about a telephoto for your MFT system, you will probably be disappointed with the PL 100-400mm. I have tried two examples of the lens thinking that I must have a bad copy, but, sadly, it's the lens. I returned both of them.

DEAN S.

2016-11-17T10:18:04

I rented this lens for a birding weekend in Cape May in late October. I was considering buying one, but being a small woman, I wasn't sure if I'd be able to manage it hand-held. I am more than happy with the results. Paired with an Olympus OM-D EM-5 Mk2, I opted to turn off the IBIS and just rely on the lens' OIS; the images were outstandingly sharp. The autofocus snapped in almost instantaneously. I was so impressed that the following week I ordered one for myself. Using a bandolier style strap, I am able to carry this combination around for an entire day without issues, so nice not to have to deal with a tripod and excessively heavy lenses! The lens/camera combination is compact enough that I can fit it in a medium/large sized padded lens case for safe transport in my backpack when I don't want to carry extra equipment around. Some reviewers have found the zoom mechanism to be too tight, but I have no issues with mine. I set the lock ring all the way to "unlock" and leave it there. I can't imagine NOT having this lens in my bag!

Susan S.

2016-11-09T09:28:25

Overall a good lens for me. Light weight, robust build, good image quality. Auto-focus is slower than my DSLRs (Nikon D500), but I suspect my Panasonic GX8 is the limitation, not the lens. Expect it to be improved with the recently announced Olympus OMD E1 MkII. Image stabilization is very good although I have experienced motion blur on some shutter speeds. Again, I suspect it has to do with the GX8. I have not been able to see a difference between Dual IS on the GX8, vs using OIS alone. They are both good. I think the IS on this lens does not need any help. I have not tried the video with this lens on account of high winds the whole week I was at the national refuge. On my Pana/Leica 100-400, the zoom ring is not as smooth as on my Nikon and Sigma lenses. But not objectionably so. Image quality is better than the Tamron 150-600 (generation 1), but a shy less sharp than the SIGMA 150-600mm Sport. I am happy to trade the slight IQ loss for this light weight lens which I can hike all day without back pain and arm numbness. The relatively slow aperture makes this most suitable for sunny and bright overcast days, out in the open. This is no different from my SIGMA. For shade and low light situations, you'll still better off with a f/2.8 lens. But then it will be a lot heavier.

Vincent K.

2016-11-09T03:03:38

I rented this lens for a weekend birding trip to Cape May and was blown away by the images. Within a couple of days of our return, I bit the bullet and bought one of my own. I had been shooting with an M Zuiko 75-300 on my Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark 2. The Panasonic fit to my camera without a hitch. The zoom is smooth and not too stiff, and the autofocus locks on almost instantaneously. While it is definitely heavier than the M Zuiko, I was still able to get images of excellent quality hand-held at all focal ranges by turning off the camera's IBIS and just using the lens' OIS. I am small and not very strong, but I could carry this set-up all day without any issues by using a cross-body camera strap. As an added plus, it fits perfectly into a Pro Master Deluxe LC-6 lens case with the body attached, enabling me to tuck it safely into my backpack when I don't want to take my entire kit. I would buy this lens again in a heartbeat.

Susan S.

2016-10-10T10:46:36

I have tested the capabilities of this lens extensively during our recent vacation in Sequoia National Park. On our daily hikes among the magnificent Sequoias we also saw many small critters such as chipmunks, various kinds of squirrels and marmots. Five to six mile hikes can get a bit much at my age of 73 when carrying a tripod and camera equipment on top of water, food and sweater. Therefore, I left the tripod in the car and shot handheld. This lens has OIS and works in conjunction with the camera's stabilization. Fantastic! Even at full extension of 800 mm, which is needed for these small and often shy critters, there is very little, if any, evidence of camera shake. Due to the forest canopy the light is not very bright and requires wide open apertures and higher ISO to be able to shoot at shutter speeds of 500th sec or less. After the first few shots I noticed camera shake and decided to set the camera to high speed burst shooting. This seems to work very well for me and I simply discard the first one or two exposures that show camera shake due to pressing the shutter. I'm also very happy with the nice bokeh this lens is producing. I often test apparent camera shake with "shake reduction" Photoshop Elements and have not ad to apply any. I'm very glad I bought this lens and it exceeds my expectations. Otto

Otto R.