100-300mm Panasonic lens

[Clyde Coman]

I had been waiting for this lens, the price of $600 US was about what I figured it would be. Count me in for one with my G1. I may still use a Olympus Tcon17 at times just not near as much as with the 45-200mm lens.

 

[Jim T]

I ordered one here from Vistek.ca and they now list shipping for my birthday in November. Can't wait.

 

[Clyde Coman]

My Birthday is in Noverber also. Maybe I should get one for my Birthday. Na I need to wait till next spring , when the money will not be so tight.

 

[fta]

I was a the local Henry's Photography Fall Show today and they had the GH2 and 100-300mm on display and to try.

1. The 100-300mm did feel lighter than the 14-140mm
2. Felt just as solid as the 14-140mm
3. Nice build quality!

4. Even though it's Mega OIS, it worked REALLY well at 300mm! Not sure how much of a difference there would be with POWER OIS. But hand held @ 300mm and indoors was not an issue.
5. The AF was fast! I was using a G2 to test it.

Mind you I didn't take any photos with my own SD card. I keep forgetting to bring one, maybe if I go tomorrow. So far it looks like a very good and reasonable priced lens.

The GH2 was also there

1. I really like the new faux leather or what ever that plastic cover is. Feels nice. Doesn't feel as soft as the GH1, more like the D90.
2. I didn't see much difference in the EVF, looked the same as my GH1

3. It had the 14-140mm on and I didn't notice the speed up AF????? I gotta look again.

I think the GH2 will be a tough sell for GH1 upgraders.. But for jumping into a GH line, it's great.

 

[SHood]

I was also at the show and had them put the 100-300 on the GH2. The AF was very fast indoors. I was also looking at the A55 and tried the 70-400mm for fun as it provides the same 600mm equiv. at the long end. The comparision was almost laughable. The a55 was smaller than the GH2 and the grip was too short for all of my fingers to wrap around it. The Sony lens was at least twice as large and 3 times the weight of the 100-300mm. After holding the lens for 5-10 minutes I really started to feel the weight and wondered how long I could hand hold it outdoors. I will wait for reviews to see how the IQ holds up wide open on the 100-300mm as this Sony lens is know for great IQ.

 

[SF Photo Gal]

I thought the GH-2 and the LX-5 were nice upgrades but neither one of them made me want to sell my GH-1 or LX-3 to upgrade. And that's OK too. Nice steady progress and nice new lenses will keep m4/3 alive.

SF Photo Gal
Canon 1DsIII & 5DII/Panasonic GH1-GF1-LX3

 

[apicius9]

Looks like I am easy prey for the marketing people, I have the GH2 on order and the GH1 will go up for sale next week. I have also put up the LX3 for sale, but after a few days with my new-used GF1 I am wondering... They are so different, maybe the LX3 will stay as a small pocket backup and the GF1 will go once the GH2 comes in. I mostly shoot with manual lenses and my eyes are getting too old for fine-focusing on the LCD screen (and I don't like an external VF).

As for the 300-600: I was wondering whether that one has a thread for a tripod plate, but if it is so light it may not even need one. Any comments from those of you who have handled it?

Stefan

 

[fta]

I looked for some kind of tripod mount, but I found no thread or ring (should have asked). And it really was surprisingly light. I don't think you would need a mount. Just make sure you have a good ball head to reduce creep. The 100-300mm will be an easy buy, the GH2? Thats a tough one.

 

[verbiage]

I was a the local Henry's Photography Fall Show today and they had the GH2 and 100-300mm on display and to try.

Did you by any chance notice what the minimum focus distance was? Would it work as a bug-friendly close-up lens? (not a true macro, obviously, but maybe with 1:3 - 1:4 magnification or thereabouts?)

I cannot recall seeing any information about MFD here...

Edit: just saw the specs on B&H: Magnification approx. 0.21x. So I guess it's a no.

 

[Michael J Davis]

Did you by any chance notice what the minimum focus distance was? Would it work as a bug-friendly close-up lens? (not a true macro, obviously, but maybe with 1:3 - 1:4 magnification or thereabouts?)

I cannot recall seeing any information about MFD here...

Edit: just saw the specs on B&H: Magnification approx. 0.21x. So I guess it's a no.

See:-
http://www.dpreview.com/previews/panasonicdmcgh2/page6.asp

Min focus distance 1.5m

Mike
--
Mike Davis
Photographing the public for over 50 years
http://www.flickr.com/photos/watchman

 

[pcb_dpr]

I think the GH2 will be a tough sell for GH1 upgraders.. But for jumping into a GH line, it's great.

I only had a few minutes with the GH2 at a similar show, and my two strongest impressions were significantly better high ISO performance and significantly faster AF. I'm very much looking forward to finding out what shipping GH2s can do.

If cleaner high ISO files and faster AF won't help your photography, and I suppose there are plenty of folks who primarily shoot static subjects in good light, or use flash exclusively in low light, the GH2 upgrade may not offer much. For me, a couple stops of cleaner output and faster AF would relegate my G2 to hardly-used status, and could end my need to hang onto a DSLR for sports.

And SF Photo Gal, I don't pretend to understand digital video, but wouldn't clean video at ISO 1600 make the GH2 more useful than the GH1? Or do you jump right to the 5D for lowlight work?

 

[SHood]

I will wait for a few major reviews first. I was hoping that this would be a better quality lens than the 45-200mm. I just noticed that the kit lens has 3xED lens while the new 100-300mm has 1xED. Now I know that these are different designs but I am concerned that this is just a slightly longer kit quality lens. I am hoping for something better, especially at the long end.

 

[Carnivore99]

Any update on the shipping date for this lens yet? I've had one on pre-order since the day it was announced, hoping to recieve it in time for my forthcoming safari trip to Africa. We leave November 13th so it's looking pretty tight.

 

[verbiage]

Thanks, Michael!

(D'uh - how could I not find that?)

Did you by any chance notice what the minimum focus distance was? Would it work as a bug-friendly close-up lens? (not a true macro, obviously, but maybe with 1:3 - 1:4 magnification or thereabouts?)

I cannot recall seeing any information about MFD here...

Edit: just saw the specs on B&H: Magnification approx. 0.21x. So I guess it's a no.

See:-
http://www.dpreview.com/previews/panasonicdmcgh2/page6.asp

Min focus distance 1.5m

Mike
--
Mike Davis
Photographing the public for over 50 years
http://www.flickr.com/photos/watchman

--
Don't bash the gear, bash the photog!

 

[fta]

Any update on the shipping date for this lens yet? I've had one on pre-order since the day it was announced, hoping to recieve it in time for my forthcoming safari trip to Africa. We leave November 13th so it's looking pretty tight.

I was told by the Panasonic rep that the lens would ship mid-November (for Canada). And the GH2 about 3 weeks after. Not sure for other countries.

 

[Carnivore99]

Ugh, it's not sounding very promising to get my hands on it before Nov 13th then. What is my best option as a "Plan B"?

I haven't followed any threads about telephoto zooms for the GH1 until now. The Panny 100-300 looked perfect for my needs. I know Olympus has something with 300mm reach but IIRC it's pricey and might not AF on the GH1, is that right?

I'm going to stop into the PDN PhotoPlus Expo in NYC next week so maybe I can explain my situation to a Panasonic rep there and see if they can help me out. Otherwise I work close enough to B&H that I should be able to stop in and get something for the trip that week if all else fails.

 

[Clyde Coman]

You can walk right in B&H I don't think of them as a store. I buy my stuff from them if given a chance, they seem up front and will tell you if what you need to know not what you want to hear. If I am ever in the NYC area I would stop buy just to look around. It seems they take a lot of holidays off.

 

[Clyde Coman]

I am flat busted right now or I would try to get a 100-300mm befor winter but I will have to wait till next spring.

 

[StevenN]

I'm going to stop into the PDN PhotoPlus Expo in NYC next week so maybe I can explain my situation to a Panasonic rep there and see if they can help me out. Otherwise I work close enough to B&H that I should be able to stop in and get something for the trip that week if all else fails.

Panasonic did not have a booth at last year's PhotoPlus Expo, much to my dismay. I hope they have one this year because I'd like to try out a GH2 and other cameras.

--StevenN