Due for release in early November, Panasonic’s first ultra-telephoto L-mount zoom lens is highly portable, weather-resistant and supports up to seven stops of in-built stabilisation.
Angled view of the new Panasonic Lumix S 100-500mm f/5-7.1 O.I.S. lens with the detachable tripod collar fitted. (Source: Panasonic.)
Designed primarily for photographers and videographers who shoot wildlife, sports (particularly motorsports) and landscapes, the new Lumix S 100-500mm f/5-7.1 O.I.S. (S-R100500GC) lens is remarkably compact for its zoom range. Weighing just 1,285 grams (without the detachable tripod mount) and only196.1 mm long at the 100mm focal length, it features a dust, splash and freeze-resistant design (see below) with a fluorine coating on the front element to repel moisture and dust. Its optical design consists of 19 elements in 12 groups and includes two UED (ultra-extra-low dispersion), two ED and two UHR (ultra-high refractive) elements, arranged in a way that maintains high resolution across the entire zoom range, aided by a Dual Phase linear motor focus drive.
This diagram shows the positions of the weather-resistant seals within the lens barrel. (Source: Panasonic.)
High-speed, high-precision, and silent autofocus, combines with Dual I.S. 2 image stabilisation to provide up to seven stops of built-in shake correction, enabling the lens to be used for handheld shooting in bright ambient lighting. The lens has a minimum focusing distance of 80 cm at 100mm or 1.5 metres when zoomed in to 500mm. Its maximum magnification of 0.36x is at 500mm. The lens is designed for intuitive operation and features a customisable focus ring that can double as a control ring plus a function button that can be set to adjust functions such as Hybrid Zoom – but only with certain cameras and only when the AF mode is selected. A new tight-smooth ring adjusts the zoom ring’s feel for optimal control, depending on different user requirements. The lens also includes video-focused features such as focus breathing suppression and micro-step aperture control for smooth exposure transitions.
The removable tripod collar is easily set for switching between horizontal and vertical orientations. The lens is also compatible with Panasonic’s optional Lumix STC20 2x teleconverter, which can double the effective focal length while reducing the light reaching the sensor by two stops. The Panasonic Lumix S 100-500mm f/5-7.1 O.I.S. lens is expected to go on sale in early November and can be purchased from photographic specialists and participating consumer electronics retailers for an RRP of AU$3,699. Click here for more information.
Photo Review was provided with an early-release copy of the lens to review and we will be publishing a full review in the near future.
