Camera Settings for Safaris

As I was experimenting with the Pany 100-300, I have noticed that the Pany's OIS seems to give me sharper (static shot, low light 1/50 f4.0 hand held) images than using the EM-1's stabilization wide open and at both ends 100 and 300.

I will be making more tests once the EM-5 arrives, to see which camera/lens combo works best.

Next Day:

Done some more testing, hand held using a downloaded microscopy resolution test chart, printed off a laser printer and taped onto a solid panel.

Trying to use all the lenses wide opened using both A and S dial settings.

Standing approximately 20 feet from test image outside in overcast light, I ran off a series of shots on the EM-1 Mk I using both my 100-300, Oly 40-150 with and without the TC.

Based on these rough tests shots, I found that my copy of the Pany 100-300 at f5.6 resolves significantly better than the 45-150 at F2.8 when the image is enlarge to equate to the Pany at 300mm.

The images of the 40-150 with the TC and the Pany set to 214mm and f5.1 (I must have moved the zoom ring) is about the same, with the Pany perhaps just slightly better.

The Oly f2.8 40-150 without the TC is sharp wide open.

What I have concluded for the Safari purpose is to have the Oly without the TC on one camera and the 100-300 on the other (either EM1 or EM5). Depending on distance, I will need to switch from either camera. The third camera, GX-7, will have the 12-40 in case we get fairly close to the animals. Probably have my wife carry that camera leaving me handling the two.  Granted, the two lenses are not at the same f-stop, possibly giving an edge to the Pany, but the Oly pro lens should be sharper.

Next step is to conduct similar testing at the zoo with moving animals

Oly at 210mm f4.0 1/500, no editing, just converted to jpeg.

Pany at 214mm f5.1 1/320, no editing, just converted to jpeg.