Finally a real super telephoto from Lumix:
The new S 100-500mm at a glance
For many L-mount photographers, the desire for a native super telephoto lens from Panasonic has long been present. Until now, the company's own line-up only went up to 300 mm, and beyond that you usually found what you were looking for at Sigma or Leica. With the new Lumix S 100-500mm F5-7.1 OIS, this is now changing and not just as a stopgap, but as an independent, compact and powerful telephoto solution in the system.
Classification in the previous line-up
The L-mount alliance, founded by Panasonic, Leica and Sigma, offers one of the most diverse Lens line-ups for mirrorless full-frame cameras. In the area of long focal lengths, however, Panasonic has so far been rather reserved. The popular 70-300mm Macro O.I.S. already covered many applications well, but this was not always enough for wildlife, sports or distant details. So far, the Sigma 150-600mm or the Leica 100-400mm have been used here - both excellent Lens, but not directly from Panasonic.
With the new Lumix S 100-500mm f/5-7.1, Panasonic is now closing this gap and delivering a super telephoto lens that is not only particularly light and compact, but also fully integrated technically.
Panasonic Lumix S 100-500mm f/5-7.1 L-Mount
Features of the Lens
The new Lens gets to the heart of what many nature and wildlife photographers are looking for: Reach without back pain. Here are the most important key data:
- 100-500mm focal length
- Aperture f/5-7.1 (common in this class and sensible for the weight)
- Teleconverter-compatible from 150mm (with 2.0x even up to 1,000mm)
- Image stabilization with up to 7 f-stops (Dual I.S.2)
- Autofocus with dual-phase linear motor
- Zoom limit switch
- Smooth/tight zoom ring
- Weatherproof and cold-resistant
Particularly exciting: despite its enormous range, the Lens remains compact and light enough for a photo backpack, even with a teleconverter attached. This makes it the perfect companion for a safari or a day in a national park, even without a tripod. Panasonic has also given the Lens some video-friendly features - including a more customizable focus ring, the suppression of focus breathing and an aperture control in micro steps for smooth exposure transitions.
Our impressions from the practical test
We have already had the opportunity to work with a pre-production model of the Lens and can say that the handling really surprised us in a positive way. Despite the massive focal length, the Lens does not feel bulky or cumbersome. When shooting outdoors, we didn't feel like we were lugging around a "classic" heavy super telephoto lens. The weight of around 1,285 g plays a major role here - one of the Lens's greatest strengths for us. Another pleasant feature is the freely assignable function button on the Lens. Especially with moving subjects or in wildlife use, such a shortcut is extremely practical, e.g. for quickly changing the AF mode or subject tracking.
What we first stumbled across, but then really appreciated, was the zoom limit switch. When we tried it out, it became clear that the switch is intended for safe operation with teleconverters. This is because below 150 mm, the Lens operates internally in a range that is not mechanically compatible with the teleconverter. The zoom limit switch therefore ensures that you don't even get into this range and thus protects the Lens (and the converter) from possible damage or impairment - Panasonic has thought this through particularly well.
One detail that we also tried out was the "Smooth/Tight" zoom ring switch, which can be used to adjust the resistance of the zoom ring, for example for smoother zooming or a fixed setting for longer focal lengths. On our model, however, the difference between the two settings was hardly noticeable, but this may have been due to the pre-production model. We assume that the final production version will be improved in this respect and will update this article accordingly as soon as we have a final model in our hands.
Does it really make a difference for Lumix users?
A common thought when buying a lens is: Is this the best fit for my camera? In the L-mount system, the answer is yes in the vast majority of cases: Yes, across all manufacturers.
This is because Panasonic, Leica and Sigma not only develop their own products, but also regularly coordinate with each other via a joint L-mount committee. Only products that meet the detailed specifications of the L-mount standard are allowed to carry the L-mount logo and are therefore functionally reliable and fully compatible across the entire system. In concrete terms, this means that a reliable basis for image quality and functionality is guaranteed, regardless of whether the Lens is from Sigma, Panasonic or Leica.
And yet: each manufacturer can implement additional functions within its own product world, provided these go beyond the common standard. These optimizations, e.g. in AF algorithms, camera-internal lens profiles or image stabilization, are brand-specific.
What does this mean for the new Lumix S 100-500mm? Quite simply: the Lens is fully compatible with all L-mount cameras, so it works without any problems, e.g. on a Leica SL3 or Sigma BF. At the same time, however, it unfolds its maximum performance in combination with Panasonic cameras, for example with Dual I.S., AF tracking or the operating options. So anyone using a Lumix S5II or S1 RII will benefit from a particularly well-rounded overall package.
Who is the Lens made for?
The new Supertele is aimed at anyone who needs long focal lengths but does not want to carry a heavy lens. Typical target groups are:
- Wildlife photographers who want to remain flexible
- Sports photographers who appreciate fast autofocus and long range
- Travel photographers who prefer to have a lightweight, compact supertele in their backpack rather than a 3 kg monster
The combination with teleconverters is particularly exciting: If you work with the 2.0x converter, you can achieve up to 1,000mm and still keep the total weight under 1.5 kg.
Our conclusion
The Lumix S 100-500mm f/5-7.1 is Panasonic's first super telephoto lens for the L-mount system and delivers a lens that is practical, well thought-out and powerful. It closes a gap in its own line-up, so that anyone traveling in the Lumix universe now also has a native tool in the supertele range. Of course, f/7.1 is no light giant at the long end, but this is a deliberate compromise in favor of weight, size and handling. For many photographers, this is likely to be the decisive advantage.
We are looking forward to the final production version and are excited to see how the Lens performs under real-life conditions. As soon as we have been able to test the production model, we will of course provide an update here in the blog.
