kangurw Loc: Newark, NJ

Hi UHH mates,
Any one have experimented this lens, I’d like you opinion about the qualities of this lens and the picture results.
Thanks!

HallowedHill2

I have had this lens for almost two years, using it on a OM1 Mark II. It is a very good lens and I am pleased with the image quality up to 300mm. Most of the reviews note that as you move past his point to 400mm the sharpness declines slightly , and my copy is no exception: the shots are acceptable for my purposes, but their is a difference at that length.
Below the 300mm mark I couldn't be happier. Hope this helps.

kangurw Loc: Newark, NJ

Thanks for your comment, I’ll keep my mind up for more opinions and experience with this lens.

HardwareGuy

Since I got my Lumix G9 this month, I have become a "fan" of Daniel Cox and his site, NaturalExposures.com.
He's all about M43 and Lumix equipment.
He does reviews on a number of products, including one on the lens in question:
http://naturalexposures.com/leica-100-400mm-comparison-lumix-olympus/
Hope this helps.

Deanie1113

I own this and was very happy even at 400 mm -- it was very sharp and I had no complaints. However, and this is a VERY big however, this lens is VERY delicate. This lens is not light and it is held on to your mirrorless (mine is a Lumix GX8) by a quite thin and small piece of the cheapest plastic ever, like kids' toy plastic, painted silver. I've read reports of the mount breaking inside the camera case with just a jiggle of the bag. In my case, my camera and lens were inside my bag, it was dropped, and the lens separated from the camera, the mount completely cracked in two places, and it scratched the sensor on the camera. Worse, regular camera shops cannot repair it. You have to send it in. I had a Square Trade warranty on it and it is now sent off to them. I am waiting to see what will happen. If you purchase this lens, please know that it is not your normal metal mount, more delicate than anything, and cannot be fixed. My understanding is that Panasonic no longer repairs this lens. I am just hoping they'll give me a refurbished that is as sharp as my original. Good luck to me! Now, on to my second point. Know that at 400 mm you are at 6.3 and in not great light you'll be most likely at ISO 1600 or 3200. You will be getting out noise for every image. To me, it was worth the extra time to do this. Just know you will have to. Overall, I found it's just not that great at low light performance when paired with the GX8. Can't tell you about pairing it with the Oly -- maybe it's different.

Ksocha Loc: Bethesda, MD

I’ve used it for about two years. I find it very sharp and with great image stabilization. There is nothing out there like it. You get up to 800 mm in a package that is light and not too large. For use in bright light outdoors (Galapagos, Africa, etc) the aperture size doesn’t matter. I’d be happy to share results if you PM me.

BTW, coupled with the OLy 12-100 f4 you have the best travel kit around in my view. I use the Olympus OM1D mark ii and the Panasonic GX8.

suntouched Loc: Sierra Vista AZ

I had the Leica/Panasonic 100-400 mm lens for about 18 months until it tanked. I used it with a Panasonic Gx8. I used it almost exclusively, took it everywhere. I used it wide open much of the time and at it's 400 mm range with good results.
The good- great bokeh wide open, reasonably fast focus, relatively light weight, hand holdable, sharp enough at all focal lengths, good video. Loved it!

The not so good- not a secure lens mount connection to my Gx8, did not focus accurately in high contrast or low light, slow lens= high ISO, weather proofing iffy. It quit focussing accurately so I sent it to Panasonic for a look. The dust seals were/became defective - lens not fixable, no extended warranty. Out 1800.00. Buyer beware.

By the way, I take good care of my gear but I use it- I don't baby it. If it says it is weather resistant then I use it in inclement weather if that is what I run into. I only have my own experience to go by but it seems that the smaller, lighter mirrorless camera and lenses (and I have owned many and still do) are less robust and more fragile than their DSLR counterparts. Their finishes are more fragile, prone to scratches and scuffs especially if they have that pretty silver finish. More persnickety to use. So for me, for now, I find that my DSLR gear suits me better.

gordone Loc: Red Deer AB Canada

Before you buy the Panasonic 100-400 you might want to know that this is a disposable lens. If it quits or gets damaged, you basically have to buy a new one. See the discussion at. https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-558950-1.html

gordone Loc: Red Deer AB Canada

Before you buy the Panasonic 100-400 you might want to know that this is a disposable lens. If it quits or gets damaged, you basically have to buy a new one. See the discussion at. https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-558950-1.html

JFCoupe Loc: Kent, Washington

I have been using this lens for about 18 months and think it is a good lens. I do tend to zoom to about 350mm max (700 FF equivalent), although I have not done any serious testing. I also find that using a battery grip on my EM1 MK II body helps tremendously in balancing the body and lens. Otherwise the lens does outweigh the body a bit.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

I don’t know how sturdy the GX-8 is, but the Lumix GH series, from the GH3 through the GH5 and GH5s, are rock solid. Their bodies are machined from solid magnesium alloy. My GH4 seems as sturdy as my old Nikon F3.

The 100-400 build quality, however, has disappointed some users. Panasonic needs to fix that, since it’s so expensive and carries the Leica name.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

suntouched Loc: Sierra Vista AZ

I loved the Panasonic Gx8 for its video and I miss that. I considered the GH5 after my experience with the Panasonic 100-400mm lens but I couldn't see rewarding Panasonic for their lack of customer service and faulty equipment. Having said that I really really liked the video :)

gordone Loc: Red Deer AB Canada

I agree. I will not support a company that sells cameras and lens as disposable items. I just sent in a 1993 vintage 50mm lens to Canon for repair. 1 week door to door and $135 including all shipping etc.

tdekany Loc: Oregon

To be fair to Panasonic, as far as I know this is the only lens that they don’t fix.