Reading mode: Light Dark

Why don't Panasonic add DFD to the 100-300 or release a mk2

Go to last post
The 100-300mm problem is caused by the lens diaphragm mechanism which can't open and close fast enough for high speed continuous AF and limits the C-AF shooting speed to 3-4 fps. This affects several other early Panasonic lenses, most notably the 45-200mm, but other newer lenses are fine.

Panasonic have known about this problem for several years but haven't fixed it. That is one of the reasons that I have switched from Panasonic to Olympus.
 
Seems to me that the bottom line = like the 20mm f1.7, AF doesn't keep up with newer lenses.

(however, i love them both:)
 
rashid7 said:
Seems to me that the bottom line = like the 20mm f1.7, AF doesn't keep up with newer lenses.

(however, i love them both:)
Click to expand...
Rashid, you're very close to the truth. Just keep in mind that AF and AS are not the same.

Auto focus of 1.7/20 is old fashion screw drive which prevents fast moves for burst mode.

Aperture setup has nothing to do with this.
 
This is the most remarkably incoherent thread I've seen in this forum for a while.

Starting with the OP and the title - clearly wrong because lenses don't have DFD, cameras do. Whether lenses can take advantage of this is a different matter, and the 100-300 has been demonstrated to not benefit from DFD on some bodies, and been clearly demonstrated to benefit with the G7 and will most likely also work better on the GX8. I've seen this myself (despite initial skepticism) and Trevor Carpenter has ably demonstrated he sees an improvement as well.

The OP is confusing DFD with DUAL IS capabilities, which Panasonic has said will not be available on the 100-300 as well as two other old lenses. Dual IS has nothing to do with DFD; they are completely different functions.

Then we have burst rate thrown into the mix, which has absolutely nothing to do with DFD as such, especially when pointers to evidence are discussion about burst rate on an Olympus camera (hint - Olympus cameras do not have DFD!)

Give the guys at Panasonic a break - they don't need advice on marketing (in fact, they really seem to be ramping things up recently - look at Daniel Cox's posts, for example) and they are well aware of the shortcomings of their own hardware. Which is why they are making better hardware now.

TBH, the absolute last thing I would want would be an updated 100-300II - a proper new lens that reflects all that has been learned from the breakneck speed of development of the whole m4/3 platform is the way to go.
 
hindesite said:
TBH, the absolute last thing I would want would be an updated 100-300II - a proper new lens that reflects all that has been learned from the breakneck speed of development of the whole m4/3 platform is the way to go.
Click to expand...
Yes. That proper lens is coming. The Panasonic 100-400mm f4.0-6.3 to be released next year.

And Pana 100-300II is also coming. Later. After all those who can buy the expensive 100-400 actually buy it, Panasonic will make a better 100-300II for those who can't... :-)

And thanks for your explanatory comments.
 
Last edited:
Chris R-UK said:
Panasonic have known about this problem for several years but haven't fixed it. That is one of the reasons that I have switched from Panasonic to Olympus.
Click to expand...
How do you suppose they fix it? Should they announce a worldwide recall of all 100-300mm lenses to have the iris mechanism replaced with a better one, including all the circuitry?

The 100-300 is what it is. An old lens that can not provide a 9 fps burst rate at f16. It is a feature... :D
 
Trevor Carpenter said:
G7 and 100-300 is better than GX7 and G6. If I can focus on subjects like this then I don't think many people should have a problem.

fd549a51cfb6457e9c5930e56543dabf.jpg

7cf22cdbf41a4e12845aa3c040f8ca88.jpg

--
My Galleries are at
http://picasaweb.google.com/trevorfcarpenter
Click to expand...
In my gallery you'll find images like these shot with gh2 and with saf. The problem for actionshooters is that burst mode with caf does not get youmalot ofkeepers insituations like seen above. And you can tell it is the lens as the 45 175 does amuch better job, as does the 35 100 f2.8
 
hindesite said:
This is the most remarkably incoherent thread I've seen in this forum for a while.

Starting with the OP and the title - clearly wrong because lenses don't have DFD, cameras do. Whether lenses can take advantage of this is a different matter, and the 100-300 has been demonstrated to not benefit from DFD on some bodies, and been clearly demonstrated to benefit with the G7 and will most likely also work better on the GX8. I've seen this myself (despite initial skepticism) and Trevor Carpenter has ably demonstrated he sees an improvement as well.

The OP is confusing DFD with DUAL IS capabilities, which Panasonic has said will not be available on the 100-300 as well as two other old lenses. Dual IS has nothing to do with DFD; they are completely different functions.

Then we have burst rate thrown into the mix, which has absolutely nothing to do with DFD as such, especially when pointers to evidence are discussion about burst rate on an Olympus camera (hint - Olympus cameras do not have DFD!)

Give the guys at Panasonic a break - they don't need advice on marketing (in fact, they really seem to be ramping things up recently - look at Daniel Cox's posts, for example) and they are well aware of the shortcomings of their own hardware. Which is why they are making better hardware now.

TBH, the absolute last thing I would want would be an updated 100-300II - a proper new lens that reflects all that has been learned from the breakneck speed of development of the whole m4/3 platform is the way to go.
Click to expand...
 
I find when shooting a high-speed burst with the GH4 (with AF, so 7.5fps) the rate goes down impressively as the aperture goes down. Actually the 35-100 f2.8 does this to some degree too.
 
Last edited:
I really wouldn't agree the 100-300 is a really good lens, it's very consumer-level and drops off in performance noticeably above 200mm. It's not so bad at 100mm, but that's not why people buy them. I do have one and use it fairly often BTW.

See the graphs here for example:
https://www.ephotozine.com/article/...io-100-300mm-f-4-0-5-6-zoom-lens-review-17763

It's really cool that it's only 5" long collapsed, but m43 could really really do with some better long lenses, where the size/weight advantages would be at their best. (I suspect O/P think there is a limited market for them so haven't rushed, looking at the sales numbers for m43 cameras I see their point, alas.)
 
Last edited:
The hardware stops it doing 240fps focusing. I fail to see why it would affect DFD as all that does it look at the blur and move the lens' focus to where it thinks the correct focus will be. It's actually less work than normal 120fps focusing.
 
Dr_Jon said:
The hardware stops it doing 240fps focusing. I fail to see why it would affect DFD as all that does it look at the blur and move the lens' focus to where it thinks the correct focus will be. It's actually less work than normal 120fps focusing.
Click to expand...
Try moving a heavy focusing element using an underpowered motor 240 times a second.

When this lens was being designed, they did not even dream of any DFD. They did not even dream of a 9 fps burst on a m43 body.

Give this lens a break, please. It is what it is. One of first m43 lenses.
 
I still think it supports DFD and haven't seen anything in this thread to dissuade me...
 
Robiro said:
hindesite said:
TBH, the absolute last thing I would want would be an updated 100-300II - a proper new lens that reflects all that has been learned from the breakneck speed of development of the whole m4/3 platform is the way to go.
Click to expand...
Yes. That proper lens is coming. The Panasonic 100-400mm f4.0-6.3 to be released next year.

And Pana 100-300II is also coming. Later. After all those who can buy the expensive 100-400 actually buy it, Panasonic will make a better 100-300II for those who can't... :-)
Click to expand...
Awesome, everyone will be happy, then.
 
Jorginho said:
hindesite said:
This is the most remarkably incoherent thread I've seen in this forum for a while.

Starting with the OP and the title - clearly wrong because lenses don't have DFD, cameras do. Whether lenses can take advantage of this is a different matter, and the 100-300 has been demonstrated to not benefit from DFD on some bodies, and been clearly demonstrated to benefit with the G7 and will most likely also work better on the GX8. I've seen this myself (despite initial skepticism) and Trevor Carpenter has ably demonstrated he sees an improvement as well.

The OP is confusing DFD with DUAL IS capabilities, which Panasonic has said will not be available on the 100-300 as well as two other old lenses. Dual IS has nothing to do with DFD; they are completely different functions.

Then we have burst rate thrown into the mix, which has absolutely nothing to do with DFD as such, especially when pointers to evidence are discussion about burst rate on an Olympus camera (hint - Olympus cameras do not have DFD!)

Give the guys at Panasonic a break - they don't need advice on marketing (in fact, they really seem to be ramping things up recently - look at Daniel Cox's posts, for example) and they are well aware of the shortcomings of their own hardware. Which is why they are making better hardware now.

TBH, the absolute last thing I would want would be an updated 100-300II - a proper new lens that reflects all that has been learned from the breakneck speed of development of the whole m4/3 platform is the way to go.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top