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Panasonic announced new 100-300mm ii lens (1 Viewer)

hoodlum

Well-known member
https://www.dpreview.com/news/28406...s-improving-autofocus-and-image-stabilization

LUMIX G VARIO 100-300mm / F4.0-5.6 II / POWER O.I.S. (H-FSA100300)
*A successor to the H-FS100300

・Achieves handheld telephoto shooting with POWER O.I.S. and 5-axis Dual I.S.2.
・Max.240-fps sensor drive for high-speed, high-performance AF.
・Rugged, splash/dust-proof design for heavy field use.
・Supports high-quality video recording(as described above).
・The lens system comprises 17 elements in 12 groups including 1 ED (Extra-Low Dispersion) lens.
・Multi coating to minimize ghosts and flaring.

The FSA100300 will be available in black for $649.99 in February.
 

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And I know some people have complained about dust in their 100-300 - never affected me, though. I still expect that the upgrade for me will be the 100-400.

Niels
 
I had the old 100-300 mm out on the GX8 today. I've had it since it came out and have used it a lot, especially for video.
If the new one is only 5% better it will be good.
Here are some from this morning with the old one.
Neil.
 

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Neil, the images do not allow me to view exif data. Am I right in guessing you are at a little less than full 300 mm with these images?

Niels
 
Neil, the images do not allow me to view exif data. Am I right in guessing you are at a little less than full 300 mm with these images?

Niels

Niels, the first one was at 258 mms , second at 300 mms, third at 246 mms, fourth at 127 mms and fifth at 300 mms.
I normally do prefer to be around 250 mms for best results but the 300 mms can be ok. I have been using the full screen zoom for manual focusing adjustment which works well in difficult situations e.g. Through bushes.
Neil.
 
Thanks Neil,
I use the same lens with the GH2. I have found that 275 is better than 300 mm and that the ability to crop is so similar at those two that I very rarely use 300. It is, however, also possible that you have a better lens than mine.

Niels
 
Thanks Neil,
I use the same lens with the GH2. I have found that 275 is better than 300 mm and that the ability to crop is so similar at those two that I very rarely use 300. It is, however, also possible that you have a better lens than mine.

Niels

Niels,
I suspect the difference is the GX8. It is a much better camera than my GH3 for stills and a little better than the GH4.
It might be time for an upgrade.
Neil.
 
I had the old 100-300 mm out on the GX8 today. I've had it since it came out and have used it a lot, especially for video.
If the new one is only 5% better it will be good.
Here are some from this morning with the old one.
Neil.

Did you use a tripod to take these photos?
 
Niels,
I suspect the difference is the GX8. It is a much better camera than my GH3 for stills and a little better than the GH4.
It might be time for an upgrade.
Neil.

thanks Neil,
I expect to upgrade both at the same time, to the 100-400 and one of the recent bodies: em1-ii, GH5, or G80. Difficulty deciding and cost is also an issue.

Niels
 
Niels, the first one was at 258 mms , second at 300 mms, third at 246 mms, fourth at 127 mms and fifth at 300 mms.
I normally do prefer to be around 250 mms for best results but the 300 mms can be ok. I have been using the full screen zoom for manual focusing adjustment which works well in difficult situations e.g. Through bushes.
Neil.

Neil

I would also be interested to know if you shoot in RAW or jpeg and whether you use the Optical Zoom at all. I struggle to get satisfactory images with my mk I on a G5. I'm trying to decide if it's the camera lens or photographer!

Cheers

David
 
Neil

I would also be interested to know if you shoot in RAW or jpeg and whether you use the Optical Zoom at all. I struggle to get satisfactory images with my mk I on a G5. I'm trying to decide if it's the camera lens or photographer!

Cheers

David

David,
As you know,most times it's the photographer, but there are occasionally bad copies of the lenses. If you post some of your photos I'm sure we could work out what the problem is.
 
David,
As you know,most times it's the photographer, but there are occasionally bad copies of the lenses. If you post some of your photos I'm sure we could work out what the problem is.

Neil

Here are a examples; it may be I'm expecting too much given the distance

macaws: 1/640sec,f/5.6, ISO 400, 264mm and 2x optical zoom

Heron 1/500sec, f5.6, ISO 400, 300 mm and 2x optical zoom



Thanks

David
 

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I shoot in RAW and have been doing so for a good long time now. I realize that excludes the options of some of the fancy crops that can be done if using jpg, but that is a choice I have made. I have also found that focusing on distant birds is not perfect in all cases. My routine used to be this (with camera set at medium burst, single AF, and "AF+MF" chosen in the menu):

AF the bird, shoot 3-4 frames, refocus + 3-4, repeat couple more times. When I have time I would then AF by half-press, turn the MF ring until I get the enlarged middle section, and slowly go back and forth until it looks great on focus to me -- then 3-4 frames. This last part repeated a couple of times. Most often some of the early frames were great, but in grey weather or difficult situations overall, the MF step helps. Getting used to the MF step also helps with birds behind branches.

There is no doubt to me that the new lens (PL100-400) is sharper: see latest images in http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showgallery.php/cat/500/ppuser/7427

Niels
 
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