GH3 or GX7: Telephoto setup with Panasonic 100-300mm

I use the 100-300 with a GX7 and have not had any problems with the small body.  Regardless of the body the 100-300 is the sort of lens you hold with your left hand holding the lens and right hand holding the body.  As the other posters have mentioned even though this is much lighter than a 600mm FF lens it is just as susceptible to motion blur so high shutter speeds and/or a tripod are needed for consistently good results.  At questionable shutter speeds it helps to use burst mode so if only some of the pictures are sharp you have a few to choose from.  Using the electronic shutter also helps to reduce vibration.

If you look in this forum you will see a few threads about whether the 100-300 or Olympus 75-300 is the better lens.  The general consensus seems to be that they have about the same performance at 300mm but since the Olympus lens lacks image stabilization it is best used on Olympus bodies with their effective 5 axis image stabilization.

For $500 the 100-300 is a good lens.  But it is no match for a $10000 prime when it comes to image quality.

jalywol wrote:

With both cameras, with this lens, you would want to shoot with the electronic shutter when possible, as it helps reduce blur. You do also have to be careful with technique, as even small movements get amplified at the longest end.

The OIS is very good, but a good steady hand (or tripod) and keeping the shutter speed up will give you the best results. This is not to say you can't get good shots at 1/250 (and sometimes even less!), but if you stay above 1/500 (and better over 1/1000) you will definitely get more keepers.

When I first got this lens I shot some handheld video at 300mm with and without the stabilization system turned on. The difference was unbelievable.   Using stabilization and high shutter speeds with this lens are essential.

jalywol wrote:

mfahim27753 wrote:

Hello everyone,

Hope you are well.

I want to have a small setup that I can take with me when I am shooting with my D800E. I do not want to keep changing lenses, and a 600mm equivalent lens is going to be really heavy, really expensive and really big. Also the time and inconvenience of changing lenses.

So anyway, I was thinking how this lens would go with either GH3 or GX7? Both bodies have their strengths and weaknesses, and I was wondering if anyone using this cameras with the lens in question (Panasonic 100-300mm) can shed some light in regards to performance of the lens and the body too? Also there's the weight balancing issue.

Also is this the best super telephoto zoom for m4/3 or are there any other alternatives?

My last m4/3 camera was a GH2 and it seems that m4/3 have come a long way from then so would love to hear your advise.

Many thanks everyone.

The 100-300mm works great on either the GH3 or GX7. I have used it on both and really like it.

In terms of balance on the camera...it does balance better on the GH3, but it's not bad on the GX7. With both cameras, with this lens, you would want to shoot with the electronic shutter when possible, as it helps reduce blur. You do also have to be careful with technique, as even small movements get amplified at the longest end. The OIS is very good, but a good steady hand (or tripod) and keeping the shutter speed up will give you the best results. This is not to say you can't get good shots at 1/250 (and sometimes even less!), but if you stay above 1/500 (and better over 1/1000) you will definitely get more keepers.

J., I have to argue against use of the electronic shutter in any situation other than a locked down camera and an fairly immobile subject at longer FL's. Remember, the sensor scan takes 1/10 sec, so regardless of shutter speed, you will have movement handheld during that time. I lost or had degraded virtually all my tele shots from the rim of Canyon de Chelly due to the electronic shutter.

It's one of the lenses I use most frequently, and I enjoy it a lot. I'd love a 300mm prime, but for size, cost, and performance, this is a very good deal.

-J

+1

Early on I blamed poor optics, poor OIS for my mediocre results with the 100-300 handheld, thinking 1/250th would guarantee sharp results at 600mm EFL with OIS. Closer to 1/1000 for me, with the lens stopped down to f/6.3-8.0 at 300. In lower light, open it up to 5.6 keep your shutter speed up, and don't worry about going up on the ISO to 800 if you need to. But above all, use a tripod for best results. I find that leaving the OIS engaged makes no difference in sharpness on the tripod - in fact I tape over it to prevent inadvertent turning of the switch off.

Pete

Pete Berry wrote:

J., I have to argue against use of the electronic shutter in any situation other than a locked down camera and an fairly immobile subject at longer FL's. Remember, the sensor scan takes 1/10 sec, so regardless of shutter speed, you will have movement handheld during that time. I lost or had degraded virtually all my tele shots from the rim of Canyon de Chelly due to the electronic shutter.

No, I would not advise using the electronic shutter for moving subjects, but in the GX7, the sensor scan time is faster than 1/10 sec (and in the GM1 it's a fair bit faster).  If you have a relatively static shot, though, I have found it does make a significant improvement in clarity at the long end especially.

It's one of the lenses I use most frequently, and I enjoy it a lot. I'd love a 300mm prime, but for size, cost, and performance, this is a very good deal.

-J

+1

Early on I blamed poor optics, poor OIS for my mediocre results with the 100-300 handheld, thinking 1/250th would guarantee sharp results at 600mm EFL with OIS. Closer to 1/1000 for me, with the lens stopped down to f/6.3-8.0 at 300. In lower light, open it up to 5.6 keep your shutter speed up, and don't worry about going up on the ISO to 800 if you need to. But above all, use a tripod for best results. I find that leaving the OIS engaged makes no difference in sharpness on the tripod - in fact I tape over it to prevent inadvertent turning of the switch off.

Actually, OIS has made things worse for most people when the camera is on a tripod, so I think your experience is not universal. (Panasonic also says to shut it off when on a tripod, in the owner's manual).  I did find it ok when using a monopod, but not a tripod, myself.

-J