Panasonic 100-400mm vs others

Denjw wrote:

Surely based on the specs the Panasonic is going to be comfortably hand held? The photos and comments in the hands on preview would seem to support this.

http://www.dpreview.com/news/5337706458/hands-on-with-the-panasonic-leica-dg-vario-elmar-100-400mm-f4-6-3-lens?slide=2

http://www.dpreview.com/news/5337706458/hands-on-with-the-panasonic-leica-dg-vario-elmar-100-400mm-f4-6-3-lens?slide=3

Panasonic are certainly marketing it as a such.

Yet this comment from one of the first users of this lens in this thread

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/57099561

has me intriqued.

"All need to realize that this is a larger lens than most use. It's heavier and while it can be hand held (as I did) at least a monopod is advised. This definitely transforms your camera into a nose heavy monster."

Notwithstanding aperture range I would have assumed that most people interested in this lens would be using it hand held to shoot wildlife. With IS and or Dual IS this should be easily achieved.

Or is the issue more to do with balance when zoomed out to full focal length?

Maybe people who are interested in the versatility/reach of this lens are going to be put off by its size/weight or find it harder to use then expected.

Those coming from a background of using larger telephotos should have no issue.

In my experience the Oly 40-150mm f2.8 + MC14 (slightly smaller/lighter) on the E-M1 is easily handheld.

As is the Oly 4/3 50-200mm F2.8-3.5 + EC20 (slightly bigger/heavier with external zoom) is easily hand held.

There are users of the larger/heavier SHG 4/3 lens such as the 300mm 2.8 who can shoot with them hand held.

Just interested to know what others think.

"Hand held or tripod?"

There's a lot of ifs and buts in that one Dennis and you probably already know the answer

For someone that's not used to looking down the barrel of a 400mm on m4/3, get a monopod IMO at least. On fine days I would have no problem. Then again, I don't exactly throw the camera into Iauto mode or use auto ISO either. Those things and settings all come with time as you know. We are all different though, but those that already take shots like that, already know what to do.

Experienced users will have no issue in good daylight, but if you want to shoot in darker conditions, use some sort of stable platform for sure. OIS, IBIS or a combination of both can be a benefit, but its not entirely needed in good light, higher shutters speeds are more than capable of getting the shot. Once again though, that's a time and experience thing.

If people think they can take a shot at 1/30 of a BIF and stop the wings and not get movement even with all the stabilisation in the world applied, then good luck with it I actually expect to see a few shots from these lenses at ISO 1600 - 2500 and slow shutter speeds with some fairly daft questions. The likes of yourself, Trev, Martin, Peter, Vas, Ray, etc, etc, already know exactly how to shoot with these focal lengths and settings and that's a huge difference, hand held or not.

Still others will take a shot of a bird or BIF from 100-300 meters at 400mm thinking they can crop in "Hey the lens is not that sharp, there's no real details" Ya think !!

Some people are going to be in for a shock with what they see at 400mm on an m4/3 sensor, while other will take it in their stride. Just get the BIF in the frame and worry about it later sort of thing. No time for ..... pretty and fancy composition, just click the darn thing.

All the best Dennis and you folks will have no issue in knowing what to do, others, get at least a mompod.

Danny.