Panasonic 100-300mm f4.0-5.6 II Test Images

[Blaine13]

Just got the new lens delivered by UPS about 1/2 hour ago. Did some quick, handheld shots outdoors. No tripod or any manipulation to JPEG images. Looks pretty good to me without pixel peeping much.




171mm, iso400, f6.3, 1/250




250mm, iso400, f6.3, 1/80




100mm, iso400, f/4, 1/1600




300mm, iso400, f5.6, 1/640

 

[Stejo]

Thanks for the samples. Now print a chart and do them again on a tripod, hah!

Seriously, can't really tell much from these shots. Center sharpness @300 wide open seems acceptable, certainly better than the previous version. Corners seem pretty soft on all pics though. I quite like that critter at 1/80 handheld!

 

[Mebpenguin]

Congratulations! Thanks for the sample photos. They look pretty good to me. Mine should arrive on Monday, I'm excited for it!

 

[eques]

... looks very soft to me, for whatever reason.

Interesting is the last but one shot at 100mm: very sharp centre, then a softer, then sharpening again near the borders.

Peter

 

[Blaine13]

Was just trying to get a quick idea of lens performance wide open and handheld. Not a pixel peeper. For the price I think it looks quite acceptable.

 

[DDWD10]

Mine arrives this afternoon. These samples are reassuring. The fence shot wide open at 300mm looks more than acceptable, at least in the center of the shot.

 

[Tudra]

You guys can certainly discern more details than I can on my iPad.

 

[DDWD10]

As promised, here are some quick samples. In case anyone would like to compare sharpness with my sample, I used the lens box as a test target. Eliminate variables!

First, some observations on the lens itself:

First surprise, this lens is marked Made in Japan on the barrel. The lens balances well on my G85, coming in around the same weight as the bare G85 body. Please note that if you have bigger hands/fingers, they may be a touch cramped between the grip and lens barrel. The zoom ring has the expected starchy plastic-on-plastic feel, but it's possible to zoom smoothly with a steady hand. I tried some indoor shots at 300mm to see how low a shutter speed I could get away with. I managed a few at 1/6th but no slower than that. Really rather remarkable at 600mm eq.

My first impressions are promising. I look forward to giving this lens a proper workout at the zoo this weekend and will certainly post samples here.

 

[MarkyM]

Mine arrived from B&H on Friday and yesterday (Saturday) we had a beautiful near-record spring-like day! Nearly 70 degrees F in NE Ohio in February!

So I took my new 100-300 II out to the local Duck Pond. I would say optically it is very similar to the old one (which I was satisfied with for what it is) but the AF and shutter blade response is dramatically improved. I'm looking forward to trying it out in the fall at our local air show where the old one was just too slow to keep up.

The only thing missing that I would have liked is a focus limiter. But I haven't had any focus hunting issues so far.

Below are a few (mostly wide-open) test shots from home and then shots from the duck pond.

All shots handheld, EM5II, from Raw processed normally in LR. Full Size Images via the link to my Smugmug site.

I was trying both the lens' PowerIS and the EM5II's body IS and don't remember which one was used for each shot. With Panny lenses on Oly bodies, you have to pick one or the other. There is no "Sync Is" or "Dual IS" possible. No opinion yet on which may be better.

The same nice close focusing at 300mm as the old one:

300mm, 1/25, f/5.6, ISO500

286mm, 1/320, f/5.6, ISO200

286mm, 1/200, f/5.6, ISO200

300mm, 1/250, f/5.6, ISO200

300mm, 1/640, f/5.6, ISO200

171mm, 1/800, f/4.7, ISO200

100mm, 1/800, f/5.6, ISO200

100mm, 1/1250, f/4.5, ISO200

300mm, 1/640, f/5.6, ISO200

300mm, 1/400, f/7.1, ISO200

--Mark--

 

[LarryOW]

How did you get yours so soon? I ordered from Amazon and it's still showing pre-order status and won't be released until Feb 26th.

I see B&H has them in stock. I wonder why BH can sell sooner.

 

[Mebpenguin]

Great shots, thanks for posting them! I should receive mine tomorrow.

 

[DDWD10]

Here are two wide-open shots at 300mm from today. I'm more than pleased with the level of sharpness here.

 

[wonderschlang]

Hi there, Big surprise, that the lens is already out. Could you guys tell us a bit about the focus Wheel? Is it as plasticly stiff as the older one or remarkable smoother?

 

[DDWD10]

Hi there, Big surprise, that the lens is already out. Could you guys tell us a bit about the focus Wheel? Is it as plasticly stiff as the older one or remarkable smoother?

It's still plastic, but it feels pretty smooth - similar to my 12-60mm f/3.5-5.6.

 

[MarkyM]

Great shots, thanks for posting them! I should receive mine tomorrow.

Thanks! I think you'll be pleased with it.

The beautiful weather continued today so I took the new 100-300II to the Cleveland Zoo. I can't say that I've ever been there in February :-0

Through glass but I kind of like it.

Lack of contrast because shot was through a fence.

 

[Stejo]

Some fantastic images there. Are they ooc jpegs or processed raws? You applied any sharpening?

 

[DDWD10]

The shots I posted used the default +25 sharpening in Lightroom. Here is one with 0 sharpening.

 

[Stejo]

Yea ok, there goes the next paycheck. Dammit.

 

[DDWD10]

Well, considering the Leica alternative you came out alright!

 

[Blaine13]

I agree with poster DDWD10 that focusing ring is fairly smooth and similar to 12-60. I never used the previous version so can't comment on any difference.