A few days with the L100-400 ... Impressions

Some representative samples of what I use my long telezoom for.  All hand-held from my vehicle.  I've had the lens for less than a week.

Day One: On the way back from the camera store before sundown ...

https://brtthome.wordpress.com/2016/05/04/20160502-a-new-lens-burwash-in-late-afternoon/

Two examples from above:

Close up of wild hazelnut "blossom"

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Mallard Drake at about 25 m, very late afternoon.

Day 2:   https://brtthome.wordpress.com/2016/05/05/20160503-new-lens-captures-some-wildlife-wild-flowers-and-wild-critters/

Two examples from above:

First (and so far, only ) butterfly of the season --- glimpsed and quickly photographed.  One try before it flitted away.

Northern Flicker at moderate distance. One try before it flew off.

Day 3: https://brtthome.wordpress.com/2016/05/07/20160504-spring-is-moving-right-along/

Pussywillow going to catkin, with visitor

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Uncommon Blue Cohosh:  First day of blooming.

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Day 4: https://brtthome.wordpress.com/2016/05/08/20160504-06-wildlife-awakening-quickly/

First American Black Bear of the season.  Still woozy and "hiding" behind some brush about 40 m away from road (and camera in car).

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First snapping turtle of the season, up close.

Day 5:  https://brtthome.wordpress.com/2016/05/08/20160507-a-rainy-day-in-britt/

Ugly Turkey Vulture surveying the scene from the far side of a cemetery from near the top of a high poplar tree.

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Width of a lawn away ... about 10 metres.

Impressions (from a rank amateur who used a P100-300 up until now):

1  Quite heavy but nice to use on the GH4.  Haven't tried it on the GX7 yet as I keep the Oly 60 mm Macro on that box.

2  Faster AF than my P 100-300 and good IS, down to 1/15 sec hand-held, propped on window sill of car with ignition off.  I think that the heaviness gives it some inertia, reducing my elderly shakes.

3  I am taking longer shots of wildlife and getting more detail.  Can't wait to see the first migrant Warblers in a week or two.   (IF we ever get some non-snowy, non-freezing weather!)

4  I am seeing more (in the EVF) of close-up opportunities and getting quite excited as the spring ephemeral wild flowers will really ramp up over the next week or so.

5  This is my first really expensive lens.  I had some high expectations and am not disappointed.

I hope, with some practice, to get close to some of the quality that folks who use this lens and the OLY 300 f/4 PRO demonstrate here.  I think that I'll roust some seagulls and practice some BIF with this lens soon.

I'd suggest that anyone considering this lens to go to the above links to see a broader variety of its performance in the shakey hands of an old f@rt who is a relative beginner in photography.  [Click on those images in the blog a couple of times to get a full res version.]

Advice welcome!