Decided to go long - but what to choose?

[paulw]

[MikeOxon]

Re: Decided to go long - but what to choose?

I decided on the 100-400 Panasonic.

The zoom adds a lot to its versatility and, for wildlife, it is often much easier to 'pick up' the subject at a 'wider' setting and then zoom-in for the shot.

The aperture is still f/5.6 at the 300mm setting and image quality is high when wide open. Since I started in photography when ISO160 was a fast colour film, I find f/5.6 is quite adequate, now that ISO1600 can give very good results.

The Panasonic also offers very close focus capability which gives almost macro results for subjects such as butterflies and dragonflies. At close distances it is necessary to stop down to get any depth of field at all.

My only concern now relates to the revelations about Panasonic's lack of customer support, as discussed in https://e-group.uk.net/forum/showthread.php?t=47481

[Harold Gough]

Re: Decided to go long - but what to choose?

At close distances it is necessary to stop down to get any depth of field at all.

I see this kind of comment all the time in lens reviews. The reader could take this as a limitation of the lens. It is a combination of aperture and magnification and is the same for any lens, long, short or in between.

Harold

[MikeOxon]

Re: Decided to go long - but what to choose?

True, Harold. I meant to indicate that any concerns "about the f6.3 at the 400mm end", as expressed in the OP, do not apply when exploiting the close-up capability of this lens

[paulw]

Re: Decided to go long - but what to choose?

Been out and about with the 300mm Samyang mirror lens and have to say that it really feels as though I need more reach and the issue of DoF when the subjects are quite close is also an issue as seen below with the picture of the Bahama Pintail where the head is nicely in focus but nothing else. Almost wondering if it would be better to crop from the 40-150 with the MC-14 fitted and not bother going any longer, then again as above the 300 feels too short for 'birding'!

[Phill D]

Re: Decided to go long - but what to choose?

Paul that's a lovely shot. I rather like the shallow dof you got there. To be honest I didn't think that mirror lens would have produced anything like such a nice image. Definitely worth persevering with I'd say. Look forward to seeing how you get on with it.

[Melaka]

Re: Decided to go long - but what to choose?

I have the 300 and the 100-400 but it is the latter which gets the most use. TBH if it had been available earlier than the 300 I wouldn't have bought the 300.

[GyRob]

Re: Decided to go long - but what to choose?

I'm not sure but don't you lose some of the image stabilization with a non Olympus lens also Pro capture .
Rob.

[Phill D]

Re: Decided to go long - but what to choose?

Rob the IS doesn't sync with a none Oly lens but is still pretty good as far as I know. Also some of the pro capture functionality has now been added with the latest firmware update.

[MJ224]

Re: Decided to go long - but what to choose?

The pro Capture H works with the Pany 100-400mm, but not the Pro Capture L.

Which is a shame as I like using the Low version...

[paulw]

Re: Decided to go long - but what to choose?

Paul that's a lovely shot. I rather like the shallow dof you got there. To be honest I didn't think that mirror lens would have produced anything like such a nice image. Definitely worth persevering with I'd say. Look forward to seeing how you get on with it.

TBH I was rather surprised by just how good this lens can be when you do manage to nail the focus point - but it is a skill I've not had to use in a long time and obviously no focus aids on the M5. Currently only getting about a 20% success rate.

[CJJE]

Re: Decided to go long - but what to choose?

Don't forget that your MC-14 can also be added to the Oly 300mm f4 making it a 420mm f5.6

[paulw]

Re: Decided to go long - but what to choose?

Here are a few more shots, plus crops taken recently with the Samyang 300mm - I even feel the edge performance is more than acceptable for such a low cost lens;
P3230074

P3230074c

P3230052

P3230052c

P3230126

P3230126c
All jpeg"s straight from camera.

[paulw]

Re: Decided to go long - but what to choose?

Don't forget that your MC-14 can also be added to the Oly 300mm f4 making it a 420mm f5.6

Indeed especially as I already have the MC-14, it's just the versatility of the 100-400 zoom that I keep coming back to.

[MikeOxon]

Re: Decided to go long - but what to choose?

I felt it was a great pity that Olympus abandoned their 'small and light' policy with the 300f4 lens.

I left Nikon partly because my 300f4 was feeling heavy and then Nikon promptly introduced their new PF lens at 'only' 755 grams, whereas the Oly weighs 1270 g and is much larger as well.

The Panasonic 100-400 weighs 985 g has more 'reach' and focuses closer, all of which I considered to be substantial advantages over Oly. If only Olympus could pull out the stops and come up with a lightweight alternative especially as Nikon have shown it can be done.