Panasonic Leica 100-400mm Lens Video Review

According to David Thorpe, the Panasonic 100-400mm f/4-6.3 zoom optimises what the MFT system has to offer and he's definitely not alone as when John Riley put the huge zoom lens to the test for ePHOTOzine, it received high praise. 

David describes the lens as a 'handsome beast' that's similar to the Olympus 40-150mm Pro zoom in style. He also says it's a solid and serious workman-like lens that's perfect for those who photograph wildlife. 

Commenting on the design of the lens, David says there are more knobs and switches than usually found on most and this list includes an on / off switch for built in IS, a manual AF switch and a focus range limiter. There's also a separate knob so the camera can be switched to a portrait orientation which is useful. 

David also praises the weight and size of the lens, as even though it's powerful, it's not a burden to carry around, plus there's a built-in sliding lens hood to use at longer focal lengths and another one that comes as an accessory when working with much shorter focal lengths. 

The lens has a long trombone-like slide movement and a lock ring stops it extending when carried. One slight niggle David has with the lens is that the zoom ring is a little stiff but after doing some research, this doesn't seem to be a problem with every 100-400mm lens. 

When it comes to performance, David says that IS is excellent and images don't show CA. Focus is also worth talking about as you can literally press the shutter and the lens is instantly in focus. AF is also superb offering 'critical sharpness' and 'stunning accuracy'. In fact, David says there is no reason to be hesitant about using the longest focal lengths and there's no real need to stop down. 

A 16x magnification is a seriously long reach and David says when in use, he sometimes finds himself zooming back out to 100mm to locate his subject then zooming back in once he has them in frame. Having said that, David says the dramatic perspective the lens delivers is 'thrilling'. 

All-in-all, David's very impressed with the design and performance of the Panasonic 100-400mm f/4-6.3 zoom lens, praising the thoroughness that was put into designing the lens. Switches are nicely to hand and zoom rings are wide and grippy. There's also a handy tripod extension that's also handy for when working hand-held as it gives the user something to grip onto. 

You can see what else David Thorpe thinks of the Panasonic 100-400mm f/4-6.3 zoom in his video above. 

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmar 100-400mm f/4.0-6.3 ASPH Sample Photos

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmar 100-400mm f/4.0-6.3 ASPH Photos of Equipment