First time out with the P/L 100-400mm Lens (7 images)

Hello all.

I was one of the lucky early recipients of the P/L 100-400mm lens (thank you Samy’s Camera in CA!) and have just returned from a trip to Florida where I was able to test it out a bit. This trip sadly did not have the typical ‘Sunshine State’ weather with Florida giving me mostly grey skies & drizzle for 4 days with just a wee bit of sun, but I did have a blast with my new lens!

I have just uploaded a large batch of birding photos that I took with the P/L 100-400mm to my SmugMug galleries. The photos in this Gallery are Jpegs from either the GX8 or the GH4. I did some cropping and slight adjustments in Lightroom (I have not had a chance to work on the Raws yet...). The subjects, while abundant, are all wild (with the exception of the non-native Flamingos), mostly taken at wetlands or refuges in the Orlando area & SE Florida.

If you are interested, here is the Link to my new Pany 100-400mm Lens Gallery:

http://www.vgbphotos.com/NEW-TRIAL-of-Panasonic-Leica-D/n-mjJCcd/

My experience with the new lens was quite good. The lens is hefty, yet still 1/3 less than my Canon 100-400mm and it feels comfortable on both my GX8 & GH4. The new P/L lens has a snappy AFS and improved AFC/DFD. All of the photos were shot hand-held. The lens IS is excellent as is the dual IS on the GX8. So far I am very pleased with the lens. I have been longing quite some time for a M43rds telephoto with this reach for the system, and it’s nice to *finally* see it come together.

Here are a few samples from the new Gallery:

Cheers,

LH

VGBphotos.com

Superb pictures in your album. My picture becomes clearer..

Looks like a keeper to me!

Looking good. Early days, but the bokeh seems more pleasing than the oly 300 f4?

Excellent gallery of images on your SmugMug site. Some really nice captures.

Some of the most impressive work I have seen with this lens so far demonstrating that in the very capable hands what can be achieved.

Colin K. Work wrote:

After some disappointing samples from various review sites, its reassuring to see excellent results like these. Clearly there is an issue of user competence with this lens.

Agreed.  After looking as some of those earlier posts, I was beginning to wonder if Panasonic had produced a big dud.  After seeing the images here, I'd say when the lens is in competent hands there's little to worry about.  I'm in now.

Great set - really nice - and like you, I have been waiting for a good telephoto/long zoom.

The Sandhill Crane chicks are superb!

And thanks VERY much for posting them on SugMug (or any other site for that matter) - the rendering of photos on DPR is terrible. Looking at the photos on the other site is a real pleasure and really shows them off.

Tim

Very nice shots! Nice to see some great results. Early review shots were borderline, as was the case with the Oly.

Loren, these are wonderful images! I've been looking at the posted shots and was about convinced to go with the Oly, but now will want to try both first. great that these are handheld which is how I shoot.

Also, you must be in the LA area, it's nice to find another m4/3 wildlife shooter here (I'm in Orange County).

Thank You!!!!

You have proven without a doubt the excellance that this lens is capable of provided it is used correctly!

you say the weather sucked, and you haven't even done much PP yet ?

Your too modest!  Every one of those on your page is a gem!

Simply outstanding shooting and PP.

Thanks for posting!

David

Beautiful job!

Your photos are amazing.

I like the boosted contrast, darks and saturaton.

Under the same circumstances (ie the background is pretty distant from the focused subject), I'm pretty sure the 300mm F4 would have produced the same bokeh. The nervousness is very prominent when the background is very near and from what I've seen the 100-400mm is no different.

Excellent images here.

sinkas wrote:

Looking good. Early days, but the bokeh seems more pleasing than the oly 300 f4?

Very good images.  They look a lot better on your gallery.  However, I will take a little of the Florida grey skies.  A lot brighter than what I have had this spring based on your shutter speeds and ISO.

I think you just convinced a lot of people to buy this lens. The whole collection of images in your gallery is really outstanding and speaks worlds about the optical quality and focus ability of this lens.

You've got me drooling again.

Fantastic photos.  Where in Florida were you able to see all these interesting birds?

DavidB2 wrote:

Fantastic photos. Where in Florida were you able to see all these interesting birds?

he said in his OP...

"The subjects, while abundant, are all wild (with the exception of the non-native Flamingos), mostly taken at wetlands or refuges in the Orlando area & SE Florida."