Panasonic Lumix G Vario 100-300mm F/4.0-5.6 OIS Lens
For getting up-close and personal with your Micro Four Thirds Panasonic camera, you can't do better than this Lumix G Vario 100-300mm F/4.0-5.6 OIS Lens. A 35mm equivalent 200-600mm range makes sports action, wildlife, and any other kind of photography where you can't get too close to your subject, a breeze. Its compact design, contrast AF system support, and MEGA O.I.S. image stabilization to prevent blurry photos from shaky hands (very common with long telephoto lenses) all make this a must-have if you want to take pictures from afar. The multi-coating and ED glass used in the lens minimize ghosting or flare from any stray light.
- Long zoom range of 100-300mm (35mm camera equivalent: 200-600mm)
- MEGA O.I.S. - Panasonic's advanced hand-shake correction technology
- High-speed, silent Contrast AF for both photos and movies with inner focus drive system
- Based on the Micro Four Thirds system standard
- Circular aperture diaphragm
- Multi-coated lens elements minimize ghosts and flare
Go To
| Performance | |
|---|---|
| Focal Length |
100 - 300 mm Comparable Four Thirds and Micro 4/3 Focal Length: 200 - 600 mm |
| Aperture |
Maximum: f/4 - 5.6 Minimum: f/22 |
| Camera Mount Type | Micro Four Thirds |
| Format Compatibility | Micro Four Thirds |
| Angle of View | 12° - 4.1° |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 4.92' (1.50 m) |
| Magnification | 0.21x |
| Maximum Reproduction Ratio | 1:4.76 |
| Groups/Elements | 12/17 |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 |
| Features | |
|---|---|
| Image Stabilization | Yes |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Tripod Collar | No |
| Physical | |
|---|---|
| Filter Thread | 67 mm |
| Dimensions (DxL) | Approx. 2.89 x 4.96" (7.34 x 12.60 cm) |
| Weight | 1.14 lb (520 g) |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 63 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
96%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Lightweight (43)
- Fast / accurate auto-focus (25)
- Easily interchangeable (19)
- Durable (17)
- Consistent output (15)
Cons
- Poor in low light (8)
- Slow focus (5)
Best Uses
- Wildlife photos (36)
- Landscape/scenery (17)
- Sports/action (17)
- Travel (11)
- Macro photography (7)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Photo enthusiast (23), Enthusiast (12), Semi-pro photographer (9), Semi-professional (7), Casual photographer (5)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (61)
Most Liked Positive Review
A Great Nature/Safari Lens!
I bought this lens at the beginning of March 2011, about 6 weeks before we set off on a 'Birding' trip to Peru and the Galapagos. Because it was going to be my ...Read complete review
I bought this lens at the beginning of March 2011, about 6 weeks before we set off on a 'Birding' trip to Peru and the Galapagos. Because it was going to be my main lens, I wanted to be comfortable operating it on my G1 before I had to actually rely on it, particularly in rain and cloud forest settings where lighting can be difficult.
Overall, I am very happy with the results. This lens produces sharp images with good detail and color saturation. Contrast is also good which helps produce nice snappy images at longer focal lengths where some competing lenses struggle. Panasonic's Mega OIS (in lens stabilisation) also worked very well and certainly improved the percentage of keepers over my previous un-stabilised 70-300mm.
Even in the rain forest, I didn't use a tripod, preferring the flexibility of hand holding. If the light was really bad, I raised the ISO or used flash depending on the subject distance. Where ever possible, I always tried to brace myself against a tree, the side of a vehicle or whatever else was available.
I think that many of the so called image quality issues that people encounter using long telephoto lenses actually result from focusing problems and camera shake. Whilst auto-focus is very reliable using shorter focal length lenses, with long telephoto lenses the problem is actually magnified. Unless you use spot focusing the camera will often focus on the closest part of the bird such as the shoulder or wing which results in the eyes and head being unacceptably soft and out of focus. This is particularly a problem with smaller species where close working distances, say 3 to 8 meters, mean that depth of field is very shallow and focusing is absolutely critical.
Overcoming the problem was actually quite easy. I changed the G-1's operating mode to Aperture Priority and reduced the focusing area as much as I could,(via the turn-wheel on the front of the camera). If you get yourself close enough to the subject, you will be able to focus on subject's head and accuracy of the auto focus is greatly improved.
On the G1, you can vary the position of the focus point in the frame by using the set & direction buttons on the back of the camera. With later models, such as the GH2 and G3 you can also use the touch screen to locate the focus point. After some wasted time and frustration, I decided to keep the focus point in the middle, slightly above the center of the frame. If this isn't close enough, press the shutter button to confirm focus, continue holding it down and recompose the picture before actually taking the shot. Once you have a couple of shots on the bag you can then move the focus point around so that focus and composition are where you want them.
The 100-300mm has become my favourite birding lens on the G-1, it snaps into focus nicely, and the subject is pleasantly isolated from its background. Sharpness, particularly at longer focal lengths is excellent. The modest maximum aperture, f5.6 at 300mm, means that this is is a nature portrait lens rather than a nature action lens and it is priced accordingly. Within these limitations it is capable of some great results.
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
Beautiful optics spoiled by mechanics
This lens is to complement the 14-140mm I've already bought from B&H. Everything looks superb: the build, the finish, the glass, the weight, the size, etc. So imagine...Read complete review
This lens is to complement the 14-140mm I've already bought from B&H. Everything looks superb: the build, the finish, the glass, the weight, the size, etc. So imagine my disappointment when I found that the zoom ring could not be turned smoothly and quietly. It feels like it has crunchy peanut butter for lubrication so it could only be moved in a jerky fashion. But I persevered and took it out for a thorough test shoot. I hoped that whatever the cause of the jerky noisy zoom, it would settle down after a while, but no luck! For still photography, it doesn't matter, but there's little hope for video work. Even with the Lumix zoom lever fitted,I could not perform a smooth zoom as the resistance is not even across the whole zoom travel. I'm not being finicky here as I'm perfectly happy with the zoom action on the 14-140mm. I hope this lens is just a poor copy and I'm just an unlucky guy[...] after having seen beautiful pictures taken with the lens - both extreme close-up, distant and in-between - (as I haven't seen such image quality from a long zoom before), I could not bear to part with it and the long wait for its replacement.[...]For now, I love using this lens for still photography. I shot all images with wide open aperture and I was overjoyed with what this lens delivers in terms of sharpness and bokeh. I just hope that the zoom ring will smooth out over time to allow some video work.Yes, I would recommend this lens for its optical performance but, if you have a chance, test the zoom ring before buying[...].I so wished I could give it a 5-star rating.
Reviewed by 63 customers
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Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
- Wildlife
Comments about Panasonic Lumix G Vario 100-300mm F/4.0-5.6 OIS Lens:
I bought this lens to use shooting waterfowl and other birds. I am very pleased with its sharpness and moderate weight.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Efficient
- Great quality
- Great size
- Lightweight
- Reliable
Cons
Best Uses
- Candid shots
- Long distance photos
- Portraits
- Team sports
Comments about Panasonic Lumix G Vario 100-300mm F/4.0-5.6 OIS Lens:
This lens is exactly what I was looking for. I am the team photographer for my son's football team and his crew team. This lens captures great detail from quite a distance. There were other parents at the last regatta carrying around those HUGE lens that are so heavy and cumbersome. I feel like I get just as good images from this lens without the weight and complicated adjustments. I would highly recommend this product!
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Focal Range
- IS
- Lightweight
- Reliable
Cons
- Plastic
Best Uses
- Wildlife
Comments about Panasonic Lumix G Vario 100-300mm F/4.0-5.6 OIS Lens:
This was my first lens purchase when I switched to the m4:3 system, to replace the Canon 300L f/4 that I'd been using for wildlife. This lens is a different creature from the Canon, but I like it even more. Although it's large for a m4:3 lens, it is still smaller than any other telephoto I've used and balances well on the camera. The range is impressive (especially with the 2x crop factor) and while the f/5.6 aperture on the long end isn't ideal, it really isn't an issue, either. I've used this lens multiple times for birding and have found it to be quick and sharp. It's earned a lasting place in my bag.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Great photos
- Lightweight
- Reliable
Cons
Best Uses
- Everyday use
- Traveling
Comments about Panasonic Lumix G Vario 100-300mm F/4.0-5.6 OIS Lens:
Availability of this Lumix 100-300mm is what convinced me to upgrade from my trusty Lumix LX5 to the Lumix GX1. I now have great zoom capabilities in a small camera format. While low light capabilities are not great, they are what I expected for a zoom like this. Overall, this is an awesome lens.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
- Traveling
Comments about Panasonic Lumix G Vario 100-300mm F/4.0-5.6 OIS Lens:
light weight telezoom. Excellent optics for m4/3 system. Unbelievably light and small. Lens weighs a little more than the camera, a lightweight tripod still handles both with ease. Bright enough for my use. Good for birding.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Reach very good value
Cons
- Poor zoom ring
Best Uses
Comments about Panasonic Lumix G Vario 100-300mm F/4.0-5.6 OIS Lens:
On my Olympus Pen EMP-1 I got a reach of equivalent to 600 mm on a full frame. At the price of this lens, it is a very good value. The only thing that needs improvement is the zoom ring. It is a bit tight and not very smooth.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
Cons
Best Uses
- Macro Photography
- Nature
- Traveling
- Wildlife
Comments about Panasonic Lumix G Vario 100-300mm F/4.0-5.6 OIS Lens:
I "Upgraded" from a Panasonic FZ100 to a GH2, but really missed the super-zoom factor. This lens gives that back, and with the combination of the larger sensor size and this nice glass, the pictures blow the FZ100 away!
A must have for nature photography, and with my new Raynox DCR-250 attached, Macro is fantastic!
I was hesitant buying this lens for about the same money as an entire super-zoom camera, but I am much happier with the quality of the M43 form factor, an it is worth the price.
Just like other reviewers, I found the zoom to be a little sticky when moved slowly, but that is not really an issue unless you want to zoom while doing video.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
- Recommended:
- Raynox dcr-250
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
- Reliable
Cons
Best Uses
- Everyday use
- Home
- Landscape Photography
- Portraits
- Traveling
Comments about Panasonic Lumix G Vario 100-300mm F/4.0-5.6 OIS Lens:
I like long tele lenses! This one is easily as good as Nikon's 70-300mm VR, but with added reach. On a Panasonic G3, it's an amazingly light/long combo.
Definitely a keeper.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Panasonic Lumix G Vario 100-300mm F/4.0-5.6 OIS Lens:
A great lens, fantastic to get such distance with such a small lens. The only downfall is the softness at 300mm. Apart from that a great lens.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Good value
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
- Wildlife
Comments about Panasonic Lumix G Vario 100-300mm F/4.0-5.6 OIS Lens:
This lens was purchased as an "upgrade" for a ~1y/o 45-200mm. Majority of the 45-200mm images were taken at 100-200mm. Bit soft at 200mm and the need for a longer reach pushed me in making this compromise purchase. Since no lens manufacture has released a mu43 prime 300mm the options are this lens, oly's zoom or an adapter + 300mm prime. As a hobbyist/enthusiast the costs for a quality adapter & 300mm are a bit more than I currently want to spend on a "specialty" lens.
The compromise & cons: Another plastic lens that's not the smoothest zooming, bit slow, not the sharpest image wide open. Bulky enough relative to mu43 camera body that a lens mono-/tripod collar would have been a nice feature. The reality & pros: It's $599 for a 600mm (35mm equivalent) f5.6 packaged in a relatively compact and light unit. Of the available mu43 lens with a 300mm reach it is probably the best currently available.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
- Reliable
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Panasonic Lumix G Vario 100-300mm F/4.0-5.6 OIS Lens:
Well, you cant beat the price or form factor for this lens. Its the fourth Micro 4/3 lens I have bought through B&H, plus the Lumix GH1 that I use also purchased here.
I rank this lens third, behind the universally acclaimed Panasonic 20mm lens and the panasonic fish eye lens.
My only criticism of this lens is the same as others have note. I can hear a whirring of gears when in use, which I am convinced has something to do with its interface with the camera body. Put the small noise out of your mind and it really can't be beat for value. Its a recommended by.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Panasonic Lumix G Vario 100-300mm F/4.0-5.6 OIS Lens:
I'd been a Canon shooter for decades with a focus on wildlife. Over the years I have owned 300L f4 non IS, 300L f4 Is, 400L 5.6, and 500L 4.5, my favorite being the 300L f4 IS. Six months ago I sold all my Canon gear and went m4/3s. As wildlife photography is one of my core interests--I've sold many framed prints and shots for publication--I bought the 100-300. While not quite as sharp or a fast as the 300L f4 IS, I am amazed at how well this lens does for the price. In good light, I regularly get sharp images at ISO200 handheld with the lens fully extended--600mm equivalent. Again, in good light the colors are rich and the detail fully there, even without stopping down. Stopped down, you would be hard pressed to say this wasn't Canon L glass. All for a price of well-less than half the cost of the 300 f4. The 300L is noticably better wide open and in low light gives much richer color, which is the only reason I give this four rather than five stars. But for a mid/low priced telephoto zoom, this is a real winner.
Pros
- Easy To Use
Cons
- Not Durable
- Quit after 1 months use
Best Uses
- Traveling
- Wildlife Photography
Comments about Panasonic Lumix G Vario 100-300mm F/4.0-5.6 OIS Lens:
Had my lens not just stopped auto focusing for no apparent reason I would have given it 5 stars. Have had the lens since the first week of Jan 2012. Worked great and was used almost daily. Took it out this morning and it worked fine, returned to my office, put the camera away. Took it back out at lunch and the auto focus no longer works. Thought it maybe my camera so switched lenses. My other lens still works fine. Since my 30 days with B&H was up contacted Panasonic. Was told I have to ship the lens back to them (at my cost) and they will determine whether to replace it or fix it - and if I am to be charged a replacement/or fix fee. I can't believe I am going to be charged even more after paying [$] for a lens. Planned wildlife shoot this weekend, not going to get many photos without a good zoom lens :(I will change this review if Panasonic Holds up to their end. OH, no reflection on B&H as they rock and I will definitely be buying from them again.
- Was this a gift?:
- Yes
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Reliable
Cons
Best Uses
- Landscape Photography
- Traveling
Comments about Panasonic Lumix G Vario 100-300mm F/4.0-5.6 OIS Lens:
Lumix delivers precise optics. OIS is very necessary for precise shots. I use a Manfrotto tripod to help my shots....
Must have for GH2.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
- Reliable
Cons
Best Uses
- Landscape Photography
- Sports Photography
- Traveling
- Wildlife
Comments about Panasonic Lumix G Vario 100-300mm F/4.0-5.6 OIS Lens:
I use this lens with Olympus PEN E-3 and the images is very sharp with excellent colors and contrast.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
- Sport events
Comments about Panasonic Lumix G Vario 100-300mm F/4.0-5.6 OIS Lens:
Very sharp images.
Quite light in the category.
The MEGA OIS function of the Lumix GFx body gives its user a great help.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Lightweight
Cons
- Vignetting
Best Uses
- Traveling
- Wildlife
Comments about Panasonic Lumix G Vario 100-300mm F/4.0-5.6 OIS Lens:
In terms of resolution, I can't tell the difference between the Panasonic 100-300 and a Nikon 70-300mm VR: both are excellent. However, the Panasonic has severe vignetting wide open. Fortunately, this can be corrected in software, otherwise I would find the lens unusable and rate it only two stars.
The zoom collar is a bit sticky, as others report.
In the end, the size, weight, 35mm equivalent 200-600 focal length, and optical performance all add up to make this lens great to use when you want to keep the weight down.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Great picture quality
- Speedy vs competitors
Cons
- Bulky
- Long term durability
Best Uses
- Birding
- Safari
- Traveling
- Wildlife
Comments about Panasonic Lumix G Vario 100-300mm F/4.0-5.6 OIS Lens:
This lens is heavy! (comparatively to most other 4/3rds cameras). Don't buy it if you don't have a viewfinder on your camera, it is extremely unwieldy to use with just the camera screen. I bought this initially for a Olympus EPL-2, but the weight of the lens coupled with the lack of grip on the camera led me to upgrade to a Panasonic GH2. On the GH2 it has better balance and is much easier to hold and keep steady. I would recommend using this lens on cameras with a larger grip like the GH2 only, as it is much easier to use.
The reach of this lens is extreme! Any other system, be it canon, nikon, pentax, or sony doesn't have a lens with this much reach (600mm eqiv) at this little weight. I cannot stress it enough, this lens is heavy. But compared to lenses of similar reach on other systems, this lens is positively lightweight. The pictures are excellent up to about 250mm, where the sharpness drops off a tad. But even then at 300mm, the pictures are more than usable by all but the biggest pixel peepers out there. Autofocus is reasonably fast and the lens stabilization is excellent.
It is possible to get birds in flight with this lens, but very challenging. Seems to me that any current 4/3rds camera does not have fast enough focus to take a great shot of a bird in flight. I primarly use it for stationary birds, ducks/swans at a park, and the occasional deer if I can find them. This lens works like a champ with this subject matter.
This lens is prone to lens creep over the long term. Lens creep is where if you put the lens upside down and let it hang, the lens element will slowly slide downward (zoom out); in other words, the lens gets looser over time. I don't think this will impede picture quality at all unless the lens will be sliding down often when you are in a dusty area (as the lens takes in air when extending in length).
All in all I thoroughly enjoy this lens. It grabs great pictures, its priced well, and is head and shoulders better than the Olympus equivalent lens. I don't know what Olympus was thinking when they designed their version of this lens.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Panasonic Lumix G Vario 100-300mm F/4.0-5.6 OIS Lens:
The good: Quite sharp stopped down to about f8.
The obvious limitations: needs light in view of the m43 sensor and Panasonic's somewhat dubious Venus (jpegs)
The not so good: Zoom ring sticky; OIS could use more MEGA
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
- Optical performance
- Reliable
Cons
- Sticky noisy zoom
Best Uses
- Everyday use
- Home
- Landscape Photography
- Macro Photography
- Portraits
- Studio
- Traveling
Comments about Panasonic Lumix G Vario 100-300mm F/4.0-5.6 OIS Lens:
I use this on Lumix GH2 and GF2 for everything from portraits to wildlife.
It's relatively light and can be handheld comfortably. The design and the finish is first-class. The optics is superb. I took most shots wide open as I love the narrow depth-of-field that separates the subject from the background - beautiful bokeh. I use it on a tripod whenever possible - and always with the hood attached. When conditions are right, the image quality in terms of sharpness, contrast and colour rendition is outstanding. Focusing is very fast and accurate even in manual mode. Even with 300mm setting, the closest focusing distance (about 1m) is quite comfortable to deal with small objects. Although it's not a macro-lens, I bet you can't tell the difference from the photos it takes.
I enjoy using this lens very much except for the rather sticky zoom ring. It travels unevenly and noisily - even with a zoom lever attached. I hope in time this would sort itself out. I also have a 14-140mm Lumix zoom and it has no such problem, so I may have bought a faulty unit.
B&H offer an exchange but I opted for a discount instead as I can't bear to part with this lens. For now I will only use it for stills and for video when zooming is not used.
Try out the zoom before you buy, or ask B&H to do so for you before buying.
If there is no zooming issue, this is a superb product. I so wished I could give it a 5-star rating.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
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