New Oly 100-400 at the zoo

Overall, I am very pleased with the sharpness of the 100-400 with and without the teleconverters. It’s perhaps not laser sharp, but I have absolutely no complaints. Maybe my technique needs improving or maybe I really should have used a monopod or even a tripod…or maybe I should have spent five times as much. Who knows. In any event, Olympus has a winner with this lens.

I shot each of the lion images while standing and carrying perhaps 7 pounds (3 kg) on my back (LowePro Flipside 300, the original version, plus a few pounds of additional gear).

We start with the female lion at three different focal lengths and three different distances.

Here the lion was about 100 feet (30 m) away and I used a focal length of 361 mm. I was shooting through the same steel cable fence you see in the third image.

Here the lion was about 80 feet (24 m) away and I used a focal length of 400 mm. I was able to shoot over the fence on this side of the lion enclosure because the fence now runs along the bottom of a swale. Kitty cats look so harmless this way, but looks can be deceiving.

Finally, the female lion likes to move back and forth along the fence for tens of minutes at a time. This is because lunch is right on the other side of the fence (e.g. 63-year-old amateur photographers). Here I was about 12 feet (3.6 m) away from the fence and I used a focal length of 560 mm (400 mm and the MC-14). Now, THAT’s a portrait.

Now for the male lion, who hardly moved a muscle while I was there. I guess he’s got it figured out. In all four images, he was about 100 feet (30 m) away, lazing on top of a rock that lets him survey his entire domain…when he can be bothered to survey it. For all four images, I shot through the same steel cable fence mentioned above.

Starting at 400 mm, I was able to get most of the lion in the frame and lots of detail in his mane.

Next, using the MC-14 to get to 464 mm. I included this image because it looks like the lion is scrutinizing my gear. I’m pretty sure he rarely sees Olympus, and when he does it’s probably attached to some member of my family.

Now, using the MC-14 to get to 560 mm. The details are holding up really well.

Finally, using the MC-20 to get to 800 mm. I am amazed. Handholding an equivalent focal length of 1,600 mm (which is longer than my smallest telescope, which is 1,250 mm) and being able to count his whiskers. I will NOT be returning this lens.