Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmar 100-400mm f/4-6.3 ASPH. POWER O.I.S. Lens

Best lens I ever bought in my life. No more comments! Note: the "stiff" zooming is caused by the customer's mistake: the lens is supplied with its zoom-lock-ring put into the "lock"-position. Please, unlock, turning it to the left (anti-clockwise).

This lens, after having used it on a wildlife shooting trip to South Africa and Botswana for two months on a Panasonic GH 4 body for video and stills, was disappointing my expectations and sometimes even frustrating.

Optically this lens exceeds my expectations; which is why I give it 5 tars. However some of the design features I question. 1. The lock and unlock switch really doesn't work that well and it's confusing when your locked or unlocked. 2. Has anyone used this lens in winter?

I photograph birds primarily. I can't afford an 800mm prime. This lens on my micro 4/3rds camera gets me close. I have been using it for a week and have had no problems.

Three years ago I decided to switch from a Canon DSLR with an APS-C sensor body to an Olympus OM-D E-M1 micro 4/3 body. My favorite subjects were wildlife using a Canon 600mm, f4 lens.

I felt that this was a bit of a risky purchase, based on some early reviews regarding zoom stiffness and of course the usual M43 skeptics. This lens was meant as an upgrade for the Panasonic 100-300, which has been a serviceable lens for the past couple of years, used with OM-D 5 and now a 5 MkII.

I bought this lens to complete my kit and use with my GX8; I had previously tried some of the Panasonic 100-300 options, but found them lackluster. So I decided to give this a whirl, and am I glad I did!I admit, when I first received it, I wasn't particularly impressed.

I have been very pleased with this lens. It is amazingly compact for it's range and reach, and very light as well. I like the cleverly designed tripod foot and controls. Optically it is quite good.It tested very well for me.

Fantastic image quality at all f stops including wide open. Perfectly balanced for mtf bodies, well build, and build to go were you go, hot cold, rain of snow. I have problem taking this lens out in any weather.

One star because I found the lens to be unusable...the zoom action was way too stiff. Basically, youset the focal length and you are stuck with that setting. I have other zooms, the Leica Lumix 12-35, the Leica lumix 35-100, the pany 45-200 and the pany 100-300.

Optically, this lens surprised me and it is better than I expected it would be. At 400mm wide open, I don't really notice much difference, center to edge, on a GX8 shooting at distant mountain scenes.