Panasonic 100-400 mm f 4-6.3 lens- Initial Impressions (Page 2): Glad to read the positive comments. I'm not expecting perfection but close to it :) It is the compact solution I have...

suntouched Loc: Sierra Vista AZ

Glad to read the positive comments. I'm not expecting perfection but close to it :)
It is the compact solution I have been looking for. And I really wanted a zoom.
I bought the Gx8 for this lens- had I owned the M-1 I probably would have opted to stick with that (I have the M-5) but while the M-5 is a great little camera it's a little undersized for the lens. Certainly usable but the Gx8 fit is better. Regardless how the lens works the Gx8 is mine- time is up to return. And that's ok. The Gx8 touch focus is awesome- I have not experienced anything that compares. And I finally got the colors right out of the camera- Olympus does that better!
I read all the reviews/links - professional and otherwise including Daniel Cox's Blog- thank you Daniel! And I picked up an e book specifically on the Gx8 menu system that has been very helpful. There is a fellow on Flickr posting with this lens with excellent results. He is also using 400 and 500 mm primes and the Panny looks to be holding it's own.
Off to visit the birds-

Jerrin1 Loc: Wolverhampton, England

burkphoto wrote:

Try this:

http://naturalexposures.com/birds-in-flight-settings-for-panasonic-lumix-cameras/

Thanks a lot for that link: unfortunately, I already have my EM1 set up in that way. The problem I have with both EM1's with the 100 - 400mm and the 300mm is that they rarely obtain focus lock. Initially, they seem to lock on to the BIF then start to hunt so I lose the BIF in the EVF. I have tried continuous/single shot AF, manual focus, single large segment AF point, 9 segment AF point and rarely achieve more than about 10%. I obtain far better results with the 40 - 150mm f2.8 + 1.4TC. It was all so easy with a 7D mark 11 and 300mm f2.8 and 100 - 400mm mark 11.

tdekany Loc: Oregon

imagemeister wrote:

Before passing any judgements on this lens, and even though this lens is only f6.3 at 400mm, it will still be wise to do a MFA check and adjustment if necessary.

What are you talking about?

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

tdekany wrote:

What are you talking about?

I am talking about DSLR s - of which this is NOT - and which I guess, does not have nor need MFA because of the way it focuses. - But, I could be WRONG ........so please let us all know.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

tdekany wrote:

What are you talking about?

Thanks for letting me clarify this - but you still might give a good check - cause you might have a faulty lens - even though new.

tdekany Loc: Oregon

Being that it is a mirrorless system, we don't need to MFA. UI'd say you are alone with this one, mirrorless users know it.

imagemeister wrote:

I am talking about DSLR s - of which this is NOT - and which I guess, does not have nor need MFA because of the way it focuses. - But, I could be WRONG ........so please let us all know.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

tdekany wrote:

Being that it is a mirrorless system, we don't need to MFA. UI'd say you are alone with this one, mirrorless users know it.

Yes, I forgot we were talking mirrorless here ....so sorry.

tdekany Loc: Oregon

imagemeister wrote:

Yes, I forgot we were talking mirrorless here ....so sorry.

:thumbup:

lukan Loc: Chicago, IL

imagemeister wrote:

Yes, I forgot we were talking mirrorless here ....so sorry.

That'll be 40 lashes with a wet noodle and no Chianti for you. :oops: :lol:

tdekany Loc: Oregon

lukan wrote:

That'll be 40 lashes with a wet noodle and no Chianti for you. :oops: :lol:

LOL!!!!

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

If we are back on track about using this new lens, here is another positive review with good samples. It is written by a person who describes himself as "not a professional reviewer, or even photographer, just an enthusiast". He is using the lens on an Olympus body.

http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2016/05/02/the-mighty-panasonic-leica-100-400mm-lens-review-by-bob-towery/

Jerrin1 Loc: Wolverhampton, England

bsprague wrote:

If we are back on track about using this new lens, here is another positive review with good samples. It is written by a person who describes himself as "not a professional reviewer, or even photographer, just an enthusiast". He is using the lens on an Olympus body.

http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2016/05/02/the-mighty-panasonic-leica-100-400mm-lens-review-by-bob-towery/

Good link, which mirrors my experience with the 100 - 400mm. From my point of view his assumptiom that the Olympus 300mm f4 is a sharper lens is correct. There is a caveat here, though: my Olympus 300mm f4 PRO cost £700 more than my Panasonic 100 - 400mm. Personally, I don't beleive that I can see £700 worth of difference between the two. Having said that, I would not want to be without either lens. They compliment each other very well for my style of photography.

tdekany Loc: Oregon

Jerrin1 wrote:

Good link, which mirrors my experience with the 100 - 400mm. From my point of view his assumptiom that the Olympus 300mm f4 is a sharper lens is correct. There is a caveat here, though: my Olympus 300mm f4 PRO cost £700 more than my Panasonic 100 - 400mm. Personally, I don't beleive that I can see £700 worth of difference between the two. Having said that, I would not want to be without either lens. They compliment each other very well for my style of photography.

If you are using an Olympus budy that has the silent shutter option, please try the 100-400 with that setting and see if you also notice a big enough difference in sharpness - thank you

Jerrin1 Loc: Wolverhampton, England

tdekany wrote:

If you are using an Olympus budy that has the silent shutter option, please try the 100-400 with that setting and see if you also notice a big enough difference in sharpness - thank you

No problem. I have never used the silent option on either of my EM1 bodies but I'll give it a go.

tdekany Loc: Oregon

Jerrin1 wrote:

No problem. I have never used the silent option on either of my EM1 bodies but I'll give it a go.

I can't believe how much extra sharpness I see using the silent shutter. Could be imagining things but I don't think so.