Panasonic Leica 100-400mm f4-6.3 review

Panasonic Leica 100-400mm f/4-6.3 reviews roundup: should you buy it?

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmar 100-400mm f/4.0-6.3 ASPH reviews roundup: is it worth the price?

Released in 2016, the Panasonic Leica 100-400mm f/4-6.3 is a super-telephoto zoom lens designed for Micro four thirds cameras. It’s designed for bird, wildlife and sports photographers who need a very long focal length.

Specs: 

  • Mount: Micro 4/3
  • Optical stabilization: Yes
  • Weather sealed: Yes
  • Weight: 985 grams
  • Min. aperture: f/4
  • Max. aperture: f/
  • Minimum focus distance: 130cm
  • Filter size: 72mm
Sale
PANASONIC LUMIX G LEICA DG VARIO-ELMAR PROFESSIONAL LENS, 100-400MM, F4.0-6.3 ASPH., MIRRORLESS...
  • Experience a Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds camera lens design with a significant reduction in size and weight; Up to two thirds smaller and one fifth the weight of comparable DSLR 35 millimeter long...
  • 100 to 400 millimeter F/4.0-6.3 LEICA VARIO ELMAR high performance lens for nature photography (200 to 800 millimeter 35 millimeter camera lens equivalent), Closest Focusing Distance : FULL:1.3 meter...
  • Ideally suited for the outdoors with a splash and dustproof sealed body. (When combined with splash and dustproof LUMIX G Mirrorless camera models)

What do the critics think of the Panasonic Leica 100-400mm f/4-6.3?

Overall, most reviews on the web agree that the Panasonic Leica 100-400mm f/4-6.3 is a fantastic lens for nature photographers or sports photography. It measures 17.2 cm and weighs 985 g so it’s relatively heavy, but when you realize that it offers an impressive focal length equivalent to 200-800 mm, it’s actually quite compact and lightweight. The quality of the lens construction is also excellent.

Alternative:

If the Panasonic Leica 100-400mm f/4-6.3 is too expensive for you, the closest and most competitive lens in the same category would be the Panasonic 100-300mm F4.0-5.6. It costs one-third of the 100-400, so you’ll be able to buy additionnal lenses with the money you’ll save and it’s a good zoom lens to start with.

Most reviews like…

  • 200-800mm equivalent on full-frame (that’s HUGE)
  • Good image quality throughout the focal range
  • Well suited for close-ups
  • Lens design is good
  • High-performance optical stabilization (Dual IS)
  • Weight/capacity ratio
  • Integrated, retractable lens hood

Most reviews don’t like…

  • Not cheap
  • Low maximum aperture
  • At 400mm sharpness is correct but the image is a little soft

For more infos about the positive and negatives sides of the Panasonic Leica 100-400mm f/4-6.3, check out the selection of reviews below:

Websites Reviews

  • Photographyblog.com★★★★½ (‘The Panasonic 100-400mm is testament to the advantages that Micro Four Thirds offers in terms of size and weight – we can’t think of another 200-800mm equivalent lens that weighs under 1kg!‘)
  • Digital-photography-school.com★★★★½
  • Ephotozine.com✪✪✪✪✪ – Highly recommended (‘If we want a high quality optic for sports, birding, wildlife, photo-journalism and other long range applications then this is it. The close focusing that brings closer subjects into range is a bonus.’)
  • Imaging-resource.com – 9/10 – (‘It may be expensive, but it’s amazing to consider just what you’re getting for the price: one of the lightest ways to get an image-stabilized 800mm image.‘)

Amazon users reviews

Sale
PANASONIC LUMIX G LEICA DG VARIO-ELMAR PROFESSIONAL LENS, 100-400MM, F4.0-6.3 ASPH., MIRRORLESS...
  • Experience a Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds camera lens design with a significant reduction in size and weight; Up to two thirds smaller and one fifth the weight of comparable DSLR 35 millimeter long...
  • 100 to 400 millimeter F/4.0-6.3 LEICA VARIO ELMAR high performance lens for nature photography (200 to 800 millimeter 35 millimeter camera lens equivalent), Closest Focusing Distance : FULL:1.3 meter...
  • Ideally suited for the outdoors with a splash and dustproof sealed body. (When combined with splash and dustproof LUMIX G Mirrorless camera models)

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