I just want to confirm... (Panasonic 100-300 II)

Hello.

I just want to confirm that the focus ring on the Panasonic 100-300 *version II* is as stiff or almost as stiff as the ring on the precursor. For me, it does not matter if it has better AF motor or weather sealing. If I can't use the MF on this lens, then it's not worth buying. I'm just curious - why did not Panasonic fix this issue from the first version? I'm so disappointed. It actually get worse as the temperature outside decreases. I guess this is the exact same problem as Panasonic had with the first version. Yay...

I have seen many questions regarding this issue. Now you all know. If any one of you have found an example of this lens with smooth focus ring - please let us know.

I guess I'll go for the 100-400 Leica instead.

Regards,
Fredrik, and his G80.

Perhaps it needs some use to break in. If it doesn't get better i would return or exchange.

Spacedebree wrote:

I just want to confirm that the focus ring on the Panasonic 100-300 *version II* is as stiff or almost as stiff as the ring on the precursor.

I have no idea how stiff the first version was.

But comparing it to my other lenses, it is less stiff than my 20/1.7 and a lot less stiff than Tokina 300mm Reflex. Almost all the old legacy manual lenses I have are significantly stiffer (except for one Russian Mir which is silky smooth). Samyang 7.5mm is by far the stiffest one.

It is however nowhere near as smooth as the PanaLeicas I have, which are simply the best of all the lenses I own. It is still stiffer than my other primes, like Oly 45mm or Panasonic 25mm.

What I can feel might be an issue is that it might be stiff enough to make it hard to do large rapid movements with it. I mean, if you want to turn it just slightly, it takes very little effort and there is no stickiness of any kind, so precise manual focusing is very easy. But if you try to rapidly make a 1/4 rotation, you're gonna have some significant friction to fight against. It is not effortless like with the Leicas.

On my 10 point scale with 1 being silky smooth and 10 being a "I need a lever to rotate it" it is a 4.

Astrotripper wrote:

Spacedebree wrote:

I just want to confirm that the focus ring on the Panasonic 100-300 *version II* is as stiff or almost as stiff as the ring on the precursor.

I have no idea how stiff the first version was.

But comparing it to my other lenses, it is less stiff than my 20/1.7 and a lot less stiff than Tokina 300mm Reflex. Almost all the old legacy manual lenses I have are significantly stiffer (except for one Russian Mir which is silky smooth). Samyang 7.5mm is by far the stiffest one.

It is however nowhere near as smooth as the PanaLeicas I have, which are simply the best of all the lenses I own. It is still stiffer than my other primes, like Oly 45mm or Panasonic 25mm.

What I can feel might be an issue is that it might be stiff enough to make it hard to do large rapid movements with it. I mean, if you want to turn it just slightly, it takes very little effort and there is no stickiness of any kind, so precise manual focusing is very easy. But if you try to rapidly make a 1/4 rotation, you're gonna have some significant friction to fight against. It is not effortless like with the Leicas.

On my 10 point scale with 1 being silky smooth and 10 being a "I need a lever to rotate it" it is a 4.

The problem with mine (orig version) is that it is just stiff enough that you want to squeeze it more to gain better purchase on the ring.  In other words I feel if I don't give it a good squeeze my fingers will slip on the ring.  Unfortunately, the more you squeeze the tighter it gets so basically it requires a lighter touch on the ring which is slightly unnatural considering the stiffness to begin with.  I always though it strange that people complained about the zoom ring on the 100-300 and not the focus ring.  The zoom ring on mine is just fine.

The two only examples I have tried so far (both brand new, should be added) had a very stiff focus ring to move; both the older and the newer lens. My guess is that the ring, materials and construction is the same, with some weathersealing added on the newer version. I've used all sorts of lenses - as most of us have - and I can say that no other lens is giving me such a....well...bad felling of the focus ring. It's also too easy to press too hard on the ring(s), making it even harder to work with. It feels a bit cheap in that matter (for it's price, especially the second version). BUT -  If I have been unlucky to find lenses with this problem, and if there are better working copies - that's perfect since I have not bought any telezoom yet.

I'm very curious to hear what owners of these lenses are saying.

Regards

Ranlee wrote:

Astrotripper wrote:

Spacedebree wrote:

I just want to confirm that the focus ring on the Panasonic 100-300 *version II* is as stiff or almost as stiff as the ring on the precursor.

I have no idea how stiff the first version was.

But comparing it to my other lenses, it is less stiff than my 20/1.7 and a lot less stiff than Tokina 300mm Reflex. Almost all the old legacy manual lenses I have are significantly stiffer (except for one Russian Mir which is silky smooth). Samyang 7.5mm is by far the stiffest one.

It is however nowhere near as smooth as the PanaLeicas I have, which are simply the best of all the lenses I own. It is still stiffer than my other primes, like Oly 45mm or Panasonic 25mm.

What I can feel might be an issue is that it might be stiff enough to make it hard to do large rapid movements with it. I mean, if you want to turn it just slightly, it takes very little effort and there is no stickiness of any kind, so precise manual focusing is very easy. But if you try to rapidly make a 1/4 rotation, you're gonna have some significant friction to fight against. It is not effortless like with the Leicas.

On my 10 point scale with 1 being silky smooth and 10 being a "I need a lever to rotate it" it is a 4.

The problem with mine (orig version) is that it is just stiff enough that you want to squeeze it more to gain better purchase on the ring. In other words I feel if I don't give it a good squeeze my fingers will slip on the ring. Unfortunately, the more you squeeze the tighter it gets so basically it requires a lighter touch on the ring which is slightly unnatural considering the stiffness to begin with. I always though it strange that people complained about the zoom ring on the 100-300 and not the focus ring. The zoom ring on mine is just fine.

Hello, Randy!

I'm glad to hear that your seem to function well. I guess there might be different batches of this lens. I hope I can a copy of the lens that works to my likings, before I go too hasty and get the 100-400. Have yours been working well the whole time? Witch version do you own?

Regards

Albert Valentino wrote:

Perhaps it needs some use to break in. If it doesn't get better i would return or exchange.

Hello Albert!

Please tell us more about your example; is it the first och second version, and was it like this from the very beginning? Maybe it needs som use as you say - then one I have tried was brand new.

Regards

Ranlee wrote:

Astrotripper wrote:

Spacedebree wrote:

I just want to confirm that the focus ring on the Panasonic 100-300 *version II* is as stiff or almost as stiff as the ring on the precursor.

I have no idea how stiff the first version was.

But comparing it to my other lenses, it is less stiff than my 20/1.7 and a lot less stiff than Tokina 300mm Reflex. Almost all the old legacy manual lenses I have are significantly stiffer (except for one Russian Mir which is silky smooth). Samyang 7.5mm is by far the stiffest one.

It is however nowhere near as smooth as the PanaLeicas I have, which are simply the best of all the lenses I own. It is still stiffer than my other primes, like Oly 45mm or Panasonic 25mm.

What I can feel might be an issue is that it might be stiff enough to make it hard to do large rapid movements with it. I mean, if you want to turn it just slightly, it takes very little effort and there is no stickiness of any kind, so precise manual focusing is very easy. But if you try to rapidly make a 1/4 rotation, you're gonna have some significant friction to fight against. It is not effortless like with the Leicas.

On my 10 point scale with 1 being silky smooth and 10 being a "I need a lever to rotate it" it is a 4.

The problem with mine (orig version) is that it is just stiff enough that you want to squeeze it more to gain better purchase on the ring. In other words I feel if I don't give it a good squeeze my fingers will slip on the ring. Unfortunately, the more you squeeze the tighter it gets so basically it requires a lighter touch on the ring which is slightly unnatural considering the stiffness to begin with. I always though it strange that people complained about the zoom ring on the 100-300 and not the focus ring. The zoom ring on mine is just fine.

Here's odd -- my focus ring isn't too stiff, maybe just a little more than "stiff enough", but it's not quite smooth. I haven't used it much. I also haven't noticed a lot of complaints about the focus ring on these lenses. Maybe I wasn't looking.

Spacedebree wrote:

Albert Valentino wrote:

Perhaps it needs some use to break in. If it doesn't get better i would return or exchange.

Hello Albert!

Please tell us more about your example; is it the first och second version, and was it like this from the very beginning? Maybe it needs som use as you say - then one I have tried was brand new.

Regards

Sorry. I do not have this lens but was speaking in general terms. I can say this. I purchased a 12-40 f/2.8 with my EM1 last Nov and the lens was wonderfully smooth throughout the range. However, the camera had problems and I had to exchange it. BH Photo asked me to return the lenses as well since they were sold as a set. Anyway, after the swap my new 12-40 f/2.8 lens was noticably stiff in the center zoom range. Over the next month it seemed to break in and the stiffness softened to a more acceptable level.

However, a stiff zoom, especially a long zoom is not tolerable. As a side note I did play with the PL 100-400 lens at a trade show. It seemed good but then the zoom got unacceptably stiff during my five minutes of playing. Turned out the culprit was the zoom lock which if not turned fully will not lock but stiffen the zooming. Fortunately i figured this out while playing with it as I had read about this issue in a few places. I also remember the Camera Store video review of this lens which cited a very stiff zoom - I suspect he did not have the lock turned fully off, which is easy to do.

Hen3ry wrote:

Ranlee wrote:

The problem with mine (orig version) is that it is just stiff enough that you want to squeeze it more to gain better purchase on the ring. In other words I feel if I don't give it a good squeeze my fingers will slip on the ring. Unfortunately, the more you squeeze the tighter it gets so basically it requires a lighter touch on the ring which is slightly unnatural considering the stiffness to begin with. I always though it strange that people complained about the zoom ring on the 100-300 and not the focus ring. The zoom ring on mine is just fine.

Here's odd -- my focus ring isn't too stiff, maybe just a little more than "stiff enough", but it's not quite smooth. I haven't used it much. I also haven't noticed a lot of complaints about the focus ring on these lenses. Maybe I wasn't looking.

Sorry Geoff.  Since you and Space both misunderstood me a bit I take it it's me.  I haven't seen a lot of complaints about the focus ring either.  The vast majority I have seen have been about the zoom ring and there have been quite a few.  The zoom ring on mine has always worked very well (again, the original version of 100-300).  My focus ring is stiff but not overly unless I squeeze it too hard when it can become very stiff.  I also rarely use the focus ring so I never really cared enough to complain.  I was just explaining why mine can become stiff.

I figured I could run a more reletable test. I tried operating the focus ring just using my thumb. Like, having a camera to my eye, holding the lens from the bottom and trying to change focus with just my thumb. It is doable, but there is enough friction to the ring that I don't feel comfortable doing it that way. It has this feeling that I need to put more force into it or that my thumb will slip on it. With two finger operation, I have zero issues. I can rotate it freely and precisely and while it is not silky smooth, it is perfectly usable.

My 100-300 II arrived yesterday. The focus ring was a bit stiff at first - I couldn't turn it with the tip of one finger. It got easier to turn after a while - now I can one-finger it. It is comparable to the 20mm prime and some other lenses I have. But it is cheap compared with the rest of the lens. It's mostly smooth - just a little scratchy now and then. Unfortunately, mine has some play in it, too. The ring makes a little click when I change its direction of rotation or gently rock it back and forth. And like others have said, squeezing it even a little makes turning it harder.

I probably won't try to exchange the lens. I tried that road before with another lens and ended up keeping the original.

mine works perfectly smooth on the focus ring, exactly like the 14-140.

I got a very early lens in february.

The zoom ring could operate a bit smoother, but then lens creeping would start to become a problem.

... as the actress asked the bishop