Olympus 100-400mm f5-6.3 IN DEPTH review

[@cameralabs]

My in-depth review of the Olympus 100-400mm f5-6.3 telephoto zoom! Check prices or order at B&H: bhpho.to/30reEqD // WEX: tidd.ly/2ESdY5n Buy Gordon a coffee: www.paypal.me/cameralabs Gordon's In Camera book: amzn.to/2n61PfI / Amazon uk: amzn.to/2mBqRVZ Cameralabs merchandise: redbubble.com/people/cameralabs/shop

[@fellowcitizen]

5:05 f/5.0 100mm - 122mm f/5.4 123mm f/5.6 138mm f/5.7 150mm f/5.8 169mm f/5.9 186mm f/6.0 210mm f/6.1 236mm f/6.2 269mm f/6.3 300mm - 400mm

[@MadEnglishTV]

You're awesome!

[@rossthefiddler5890]

Thanks for going to the trouble of writing it down. ;)

[@fellowcitizen]

@@rossthefiddler5890 for rapid absorption ;)

[@fellowcitizen]

@@MadEnglishTV and Gordon awesomer still for doing the ground work :)

[@MartinTwycross]

Here’s the Leica DG 100-400 for comparison 100mm f4 107mm f4.1 113mm f4.2 117mm f4.3 124mm f4.4 137mm f4.5 146mm f4.6 167mm f4.7 173mm f4.8 187mm f4.9 196mm f5 200mm f5.1 224mm f5.2 236mm f5.3 250mm f5.4 264mm f5.5 280mm f5.6 300mm f5.7 318mm f5.8 350mm f5.9 364mm f6.1 400mm f6.3

[@TITAOSTEIN]

I recently tested this lens comparing it with my Leica 100-400, and my opinion is this: I consider the Olympus the best alternative. The larger aperture on the wide side is negligible, and whoever has such a lens is more concerned with the super tele side. I found Olympus much sharper in the long end, when compared to my Leica. The possibility of use TCs cannot be overlooked and in my tests with TC 2, although with loss of quality, the IQ were of good. It's amazing to shoot at 800mm (1600mm FF) without a tripod. The only negative aspect, in my opinion, is the size. The price is very attractive. If I were to buy my first super zoom lens today, I would choose Olympus. But as I already have the Leica 100-400 and the Olympus 75-300 (super compact and lightweight) in my case I have no interest in buying the new Olympus 100-400, although I regret not being able to count TCs.

[@rossthefiddler5890]

Great review, except the OIS does work in conjunction (effectively) with IBIS (on FW updated bodies) where the body sensor will correct for roll only, leaving the lens OIS to correct for pitch & yaw correction (only).

[@buggersofoz]

For them to cooperate, do you know if I need to switch off the 'Lens IS priority' in the menu?

[@rossthefiddler5890]

@@buggersofoz What you refer to in the Menu (Lens IS Priority) is only for other brand lenses with IS, that is, Panasonic with no IS switch. It makes no difference with Olympus lenses though. Just have both lens & body IS ON.

[@buggersofoz]

@rossthefiddler5890 thanks so much! I had used Panasonic and adapted Canon EF lenses and used the switch on the lens to switch between IS and IBIS. Food to know I don't need to think about the synch here and I'm very happy with the effective stabilisation. 1/100s is easily achievable even at 560mm with MC-14

[@fleetingdays]

We love Olympus. Glad they are putting out more gear! Super review!

[@angeloregina]

One of the best reviews I have seen of this lens KZbin.

[@cameralabs]

Thanks!

[@danielcsavossy8278]

I have seen many reviews, but I expected Gordon’s to be the best and I wasn’t disappointed.

[@billrudersdorf4187]

Thanks!

[@glennobrien5039]

Hi Gordon, Love this lens. Have used it with and without the 2x converter and obtained some impressive results. Dry days are at a premium at the moment and, alas, illness has restricted my opportunities to get out and really have fun with it. However, I hope to get out more soon. While I've been housebound I've managed to get hold of your other book 'Digital Retro.' What a joyful trip down memory lane that proved to be. My first machine was a Sinclair QL, while my wife had the Amstrad CPC 464. We progressed to an Amstrad 8256 before opting for separate lap tops. Like 'In Camera' it was well laid out and easy to follow, resulting in me reading it cover to cover in less than 48 hours. Back to the plot now. Great review, can't wait to see what you make of the 150-400 Pro. Keep up the good work.

[@cameralabs]

Glad you found Digital Retro, it's a bit of a rarity!

[@glennobrien5039]

@@cameralabs Not surprised. I’ll be keeping my copy for reference and re-read.

[@craigleavitt9348]

One big advantage with the OLY lens is that it is weather sealed, that's a big deal. Also the faster speed is only at the short end, this lens is going to be mostly used more at the longer ends.

[@dmttodd9168]

A truly exceptional review by someone who knows what he is talking about...and very diplomatic regarding other products.

[@cameralabs]

Thanks!

[@Isaac________]

Great review! How much weight do you save when removing the tripod collar? Could it become lighter than the Panasonic lens that way?

[@alexrogov7186]

I believe one shouldn't be surprised that both 100-400mm lenses (Sigma and Oly) are so similar in size. Focal length and diameter of the aperture opening are the main size constraints for such telephotos unless some optical tricks like mirrors or DO elements are used. Just look at the Panasonic 45-200 for m43 which has similar FOV to the Sigma, but weighs 380g and takes 52mm filters.

[@Astrotripper2000]

"Roll compensation is available with the image stabilization function of the body, along with the pitch and yaw image stabilization function of the lens." So basically a 3-axis variant of Sync-IS (which is 5-axis). Source: Olympus firmware update release notes.

[@rossthefiddler5890]

That's how some older models work with the 300 f4 lens.

[@teridzard1776]

Hi Gordon, thanks for another unbiased, nothing left to be desired review. Great work! Assuming that the lens will come down in price rather quickly it looks like a good addition to the MFT system, if you are on a tight budget.

[@MorkusReX]

Yep, just got it brand new for $1000 on Amazon

[@asanmartinjr07]

That lens is a beast!!!! It looks sleek, too!!! I want one!!! Great review as always!

[@skakdosmer]

When you listed the “boring” (your own term) maximum apertures at which focal lengths (and thanks for that!), it would have been useful if we could also see the list on screen in print.

[@cameralabs]

I agree! Captioning these lens videos takes a very long time though, and I'm not receiving enough support to justify all the things I'd like to do. This one already took way longer than I should have spent.

[@TITAOSTEIN]

Gordon Laing It looks like you're giving up on the m43 system. Are the prophecies coming true? Or are the influences of some channels having an effect? You are part of a different type of KZbinr Gordon! Your reviews are excellent and balanced. Demonstrating a little disregard for the m43 system makes me worried about the future of that system. I hope that Panasonic will quickly launch a new GH6 line, which is excellent, and brings new perspectives to the system.

[@cameralabs]

@@TITAOSTEIN what makes you think that?! I'm still very fond of M43 and all my M43 gear! I do however feel that this particular lens doesn't exploit the system to provide something smaller, lighter or more affordable.

[@TITAOSTEIN]

Gordon Laing I got that feeling from your comment above. But I understood that this is a dissatisfaction more specifically linked to this lens. Thanks for your response. I really love your reviews. I work professionally with Nikon and Panasonic cameras, and I love Olympus lenses. Recently, after the sale announcement, I bought an em1 iii, which I use for my personal use: fun !! Specifically wildlife, macro and experiments! Impressive! What a great camera! Capable of everything a little and the perfect size, combined with robustness! I'm sorry for the Olympus decision! I hope that in September the news will be not so pessimistic for the brand and the system! Greetings from the Black Forest

[@selbyshanly6747]

Gordon, thanks for your usual thorough review. Had the firmware on the E-M1 mark ii that you were using been upgraded as per the firmware that was publicly released today that deals with image stabilization and the 100-400?

[@cameralabs]

Olympus supplied me a body to specifically test this lens, so I assume it was updated to a level they were happy for me to test it with. I don't know the actual version, as it's been returned.

[@ridealongwithrandy]

I just fitted the dress ring from my 300mm f4 pro onto my 100-400 Olympus lens. Nice! I was trying to find the dress ring for the 100-400, but it does no exist.

[@lesleytaylor8913]

As always, a really in depth, very useful review, thanks Gordon

[@cameralabs]

You're welcome!

[@tobywoolgar9517]

Great review 👏 👌 👍 how is the zoom on the Olympus? The 100 400 Panasonic had such a stiff zoom i just really didn't like it for that reason.

[@timlove49]

I was able to test the Olympus 100-400mm for two weeks on my G9, GX85, and G85 bodies. While it is a good lens I found the Pana 100-400mm better in every way. Even when I tested it on my wife's Olympus Pen F I found the Pana lens performed better focusing. The only reason the get the Olympus 100-400mm is if you already own MC-14 or the MC-20 and want the added reach.

[@drivingsports]

Gordon, can you comment on the manual focus feel? Does it have similar throw to Olympus Pro lenses? (Asking about when the Pro lens equivalent clutch isn't engaged for specific distances. I find clutched modes "step" the focus making it poor for tracking moving objects, but the un-clutched MF feel is very smooth and more consistent than many other brands. I'm hoping this one handles MF in a similar way to that unclutched Pro lens position.)

[@cameralabs]

Similar, but not quite the same. I think i commented on the rings in the video.

[@drivingsports]

@@cameralabs thanks, I’ll re-watch and pay better attention this time. :)

[@timlove49]

The manual focus is a bit jerky. Not nearly as smooth as the 40-150mm f2.8 pro.

[@przybylskipawel]

With this lens connected to the E-M1 II, will I get significantly better results in terms of sharpness and detail of the image than with the Sony RX10 IV? Significant difference for me is a difference which I can see at first glance on a large monitor at a 100% magnification or without magnification on a 5K monitor when I look more closely.

[@jeffslade1892]

At 07:00 Image Stabilisation - for comparison the G9 using the PL100-400 on Dual2 would look like it was bolted to a tripod. Olympus do know how Lumix OIS works, because they can and do use it. They could so easily have implemented a Synch-IS/Dual-IS for these lenses but chose not to. So sad.

[@Kodachrome40]

Thanks. You answered the questions I had about in body stabilization and lens stabilization working together.

[@David33316]

Thanks Gordon, I enjoyed the review. I sold my Pana Leica 100-400 because the zoom ring was impossible to use. Thinking of the Oly as a replacement. Going to try and do a test before I purchase. Appreciate your efforts and quick reply. Cheers!!

[@KLopqWRTS]

I would be interested in knowing what setting you used for getting the flying bird shots. I struggle to get successful in focus shots with birds on my olympus omd1 mk2 ... and it looked easy in your review of the 100-400 mm lense.

[@cameralabs]

Try zoned or tracking AF

[@duratorque]

Very good unbiased review. Thank you.

[@cameralabs]

You're welcome!

[@MKL_D]

Olympus makes incredible lenses.

[@grahamkilpatrick1566]

Great review keep up the good work. I have a question? what autofocus settings did you use in this test when you did the face tracking test? Cheers Graham

[@BobK58]

I was hoping to see you demonstrate the vlogging capabilities of this lens.

[@markrhodes5474]

Brilliant review Gordon

[@stevenmeisel4288]

Thanks for this review; I am obviously watching this well after you made it. I currently am using the Olympus 300 mm prime + 1.4 teleconverter. Great glass but the fixed focal length is a problem for wildlife: sometimes I am just too close to the subject and can't move back. And at other times the birds I am shooting are too far away even with the 840 mm equivalent. So I am considering changing to the 100-400 with the TC. I know I will lose some light but am more concerned about the lack of sync between the IS. You samples clearly show shake that I simply don't have with my current set-up. After you made this video I know Olympus issued a firmware update that supposedly helped the IS compatibility but still doesn't fully sync. Do you have any idea if this made any practical difference? Thanks!

[@cameralabs]

I don't know without retesting, sorry.

[@gregm6894]

I think the answer to you question depends on which camera body you are using. I am currently using the E-M1X with this lens and am amazed at the stabilization -- however, I found out early on that for me, turning off the lens IS and using only the IBIS in my M1X works best for me (I discovered this after reading a blog by Petr Bambousek, who suggested this approach). I rarely use a tripod now, unless I am shooting from a hide, or in a very low light situation.

[@The-Secret-Dragon]

Just speaking for myself here as someone with a nikon dslr, but I NEVER have IS switched on for wildlife, because it can actually make you lose sharpness. Even handholding with my 3.5kg setup. At high shutter speeds it's unnecessary. Switch it off and never worry about it again.

[@Redboxstud]

For focal lengths this long the critical part should be how quick it can acquire and track focus

[@cameralabs]

That's mostly down to the camera body. Its AF software identifies and acquires the subject then drives the lens.

[@RobShootPhotos]

Did you get the E-M10 IV? I really look forward to a full review after it comes out but also a preview from you.

[@cameralabs]

I didn't have time with all of the Sony and Canon news at the same time. I hope to check it out in the future though, if there's anything new that's significant.

[@TITAOSTEIN]

Any chance to see a review about the 150-400 f4.5 tc1.25 from you? Very interested

[@cameralabs]

I'd love to but Olympus actually has to get it in the hands of independant journalists like me first, right now they're only interested in their own ambassadors.

[@TITAOSTEIN]

@@cameralabs I think that if all the independent journalists were the same as you, they would send it. But in recent times it has been difficult to find real “independents”! And this "war" was very harmful for the m43 system and for Olympus in particular. I think they are more cautious. But I’m still hoping you’ll get your test unit soon!

[@cameralabs]

@@TITAOSTEIN they're definitely being cautious and taking greater control over their message, but equally it means all the reports so far have been by people who work for the company in some capacity which can only go so far obviously. I'm not sure this particular lens will ever make it to reviewers.

[@marcuswarren1320]

Nicely done, Gordon.

[@cameralabs]

Thanks!

[@MyNorthAmetican40]

As always great review.

[@tarjei99]

I assume that Olympus will be an excellent and reasonably priced system for bird photography. With the OM-1 we get a reasonable good system for a lot less than a Canon or Nikon might cost. If I get to the point where I must switch from EF to RF, I will have to seriously consider switching brand.

[@joonas2265]

Hi Gordon, did you test the Olympus 150-400mm PRO already? Waiting for the review :)

[@cameralabs]

No, they never sent it out for review.

[@davidwendelrobinson6080]

Thanks Gordon. This is a lense I am very interested in.

[@peterbudd1803]

did you use the focus limit switch when doing the focus test ?

[@luishecheverym56]

Muchas gracias por compartir sus conocimientos, muy profesional su video si ayuda a clarificar la pequeña diferencia entre las dos ofertas el olympus y el leica de panasonic

[@Zhiloreznik]

Seeing this announcement I was excited as 40-150 with 1.4x tele doesn’t have enough reach. Was contemplating Panasonic but was waiting for Sync IS. This is a dealbreaker for me and I’d rather trade 40-150 in for a Panasonic rather then this Olympus. Also fighting light here in the overcast UK for birding is an issue ...

[@Astrotripper2000]

Once again, Olympus had messed up on the communication front. According to notes on the firmware updates that went up today, OIS of this lens will work together with IBIS on the camera (after updating the firmware). However, it is 3-axis instead of 5-axis provided by Sync-IS. So basically a simpler, less impressive variant of Sync-IS. I wish Olympus did not force its users to dig into firmware update release notes to find this kind of information.

[@klackon1]

Zhiloreznik. I have a PL 100 - 400mm and it really is a great lens. I have been looking forward to the release of the Olympus 100 - 400mm, hoping for full Sync IS. In view of the fact that it does not have the full version, I will not be swapping my PL 100 - 400mm. If you choose the PL version I doubt you will be disappointed. The only point I would make is that the zoom ring is very stiff.

[@Zhiloreznik]

pete draper Mirrorlesscomparisons made a test comparing them and Oly seems a bit sharper. Given the price, Cannot get over the fact Panasonic gives its system all metal build and ability to sync the lens and the body. Something like 300mm F4 is more expensive then Sony 200-600 which is FF and if you halve the F stop also brighter. With so much money it make me think jumping to Sony might be better .... Although weight becomes an issue.

[@klackon1]

@@Zhiloreznik. I have been fortunate to own all the lenses you mention. I purchased a PL 100 - 400mm when it was first released and did the same with the Oly 300mm f4 (I sold my 40 -150mm f2.8, but kept the MC14). I used both lenses on my two EM1 bodies. In a side by side comparison the 300mm f4 is sharper than the 100 - 400mm, but I don't think the difference is too great. Until recently I owned a Sony A9 and A7R4 and used them with a Sony 200 - 600mm. Both cameras and the lens are excellent - the 200 - 600mm is fantastic when used with the 61MP A7R4. Cropping still leaves a lot of detail and the 26MP APS-C mode works beautifully. I swapped back to Olympus due to the weight of my Sony system, which was aggravating an old back injury. To be honest, though the Sony gear I owned was fabulous, I am more than satisfied with my Olympus EM1X and Em1 mark III, etc. If you are considering moving to Sony, however, it is a good choice.

[@Zhiloreznik]

@@klackon1 The only thing stopping me is the weight and the price. It's only a hobby and I like to travel. At F4 on 40-150 with tele I'm already pushing high ISOs but I might be a bit unreasonable with expectations. If only Olympus didn't sell of and had new sensor coming to get me excited ...

[@EridenEstrella]

As always Gordon, thanks for your reviews!!! a really appreciated!!!

[@cameralabs]

You're welcome!

[@Lucamitm]

Would you say olympus is better for bird photography than panasonic ? Thanks

[@kbruff2010]

Outstanding presentation, Thank you.

[@cameralabs]

Thanks!

[@emptyandseephotos7858]

Very nice work. Good intro sigma 100 400 full frame

[@wparo]

Very thorough review. I don't think anyone would buy this lens to shoot flies lol.

[@cameralabs]

I actually know lots of people who use 100-400s for smaller subjects- they can work well.

[@jeffslade1892]

@@cameralabs yeah, these extra-long lenses are not just for long distance wildlife. You put one of these things on, and they're not all that big to hold, and you think, "now what can I photograph with this?" Flower, tree, landscape, astro, building, oh look - bird! So, ok it's not one shoe fits all.

[@rudolfabelin383]

Cool! This one went totally under my radar!!!! I have 2 questions Gordon. 1.Does the Olympus teleconverters work with my Lumix GH5? 2. Do I understand correctly that this lens stabilization is "independent" and will work with my Lumix GH5? Thanks again Gordon!

[@cameralabs]

1: not sure but they should do. 2: yes, it'll work, but you may need to experiment to see if you need to disable IBIS or OIS for the best results.

[@danielhorvathofficial]

Hey Gordon! May I ask how do you make the camera screen video clip? I have the Pen-F and M5mIII and wonder if I can make this for reviews also. Thanks!

[@cameralabs]

I use an Atomos Ninja V to record the screens

[@danielhorvathofficial]

@@cameralabs great. Thank you!

[@Rbrocklehurst]

I love the detail f stop info great work

[@sergiomf7313]

Hi Gordon. Great review! I would like to ask you for advice. What telephoto zoom would you choose for a Safari trip: the Zuiko 100-400mm f5-6.3 OR the Zuiko 40-150 f2.8 PRO + MC-20 2X? Thanks!!

[@cameralabs]

Depends how close the wildlife will be - a 100-400 will give you great reach, but if you literally drive-up next to some animals, it'll be too long. So find out how close you'll be.

[@sergiomf7313]

@@cameralabs Well, I've never been in a Safari before, but I guess some animals will be close and others far away. Anyway if they were close I would change to other lens. But it terms of image quality would you have any preference between these two telephoto zooms? I mean, what do you consider better at the maximun lenght: a 400 mm f6.3 or a 300 mm f5.6? Thanks again!!

[@rochester212]

Great review as usual.

[@cameralabs]

Thanks!

[@tonyzhu403]

For Photo, I Prefer the IBIS. It is more stable for some parts, so you can use a Sniper Technique: Breath In, Breath Out, Hold & Shoot.

[@garybrown9719]

I learned that in scout camp

[@leoneelizabeth]

So very useful. Thanks!

[@klackon1]

Good review Gordon: thanks a lot.

[@jeffslade1892]

Apparently the PL100-400 will take the Olympus MC14 teleconverter if (!) you remove the guard plate off the back of the lens so the protrusion fits. Now the MC14 has 6 elements in 3 groups and the Lumix TC14 has 6 elements in 4 groups, they are not the same. and I can find no comparison anywhere. Any views on this? There was one longer compatible lens - the venerable 4/3 on adapter Sigma Bigma 50-500, full Sigma alphabet soup, no OIS at all and weighs a ton. Tripod job. AF slow and makes a noise like a coffee grinder but excellent glass. I have teleconverters of other lens fitments. The quality invariably suffers no matter how good they are. It's usually better to crop-in or use the camera's digital zoom. The Pro 150-400 appears to be priced at £6,500 quid. Ouch! Not many realise that contrast detection is the more accurate. They way it works it has to be, but if it cannot get a fix it will not lock, which can lead to it hunting. Phase detection may not hunt but can and will lock slightly off focus. The DFD will send the lens very quickly in the right direction. The G9 may well have far too many focus points, it has to find contrast between adjacent points, and can dither about where the GH4 with only 49 points would have been done and dusted.

[@Jawsjawsjawsrg]

I must thank you for doing this review and also giving me an idea. Been working late hours in the the morning and wanting to take some good sunrise photo. You reminded me that I have a lens that would work for this, the 75-300mm. Still want that lens but this lens I can hide in my car and use for some good sunrise photo. Thanks again.

[@SinaFarhat]

Great review of a really interesting lens! Keep up the good work!

[@cameralabs]

Thanks!

[@cameralabs]

@BurrowingBunny just set the playback speed slower.

[@adrahc]

You say it is compatable with the olympus tele converter...can you tell me if the olympus tele converter can be used on the 100-400 Leica lens as the olympus can be had much cheaper than the panasonic tele converter

[@cameralabs]

I don't know, you'd need to ask Olympus and Panasonic.

[@adrahc]

Hi,I asume this lens can be used on the em1-mk1 camera,and also can the Olympus tele convertors be used on the original mk1 + this lens...thanks

[@markolwick2223]

Yes to both

[@walterreichert5334]

Excellent review!!!!

[@cameralabs]

Cheers!

[@AmadoWildlifeVideos]

How I miss Brighton. You up near Fiveways for the shot at 3:46?

[@cameralabs]

It was taken in that area yes

[@snewell]

Gordon, please do a shootout, EM5 + 100-400mm vs RP w/800mm! What's the best for LOW-Cost wildlife shooting?!

[@spritual_enlightenment]

(1:15) Considering bulk and prices of camera and lens combo, if I replace a7R IV to a7 III, I am sold to full-frame sensor camera system. Of course, it's not fair comparing a high end model to a lesser model, but still... Prices on Aug 5, 2020 @ B & H Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III U$1699 Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 100-400mm f/5-6.3 IS Lens U$1499 total U$3198 Sony Alpha a7 III U$1998 Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary Lens for Sony E U$949 total U$2947

[@TechnoBabble]

But it's really not a comparable system. The field of view is twice as wide on the full frame system at any given focal length. The effective reach (assuming optimal conditions) is double on the Olympus system. You'd need something like the Sony 200-600 to get a similar reach.

[@artieshokin]

I think a lens without sync is is n error. They could skip the oss alltogether if it allow to reduce the costs.

[@Jay19876]

Hi Gordon, no mention of the IPX1 rated weather sealing and superior IS over the Leica 100-400mm? I will be interesting to hear about how they compare optically, my guess is the Oly will be sharper at 400mm but similar or less sharp to the Leica in the 100-200mm range. Also, what are your thought on the bokeh quality, how do they compare?

[@cameralabs]

Everything I know about the lens is already in this video!

[@MrPetebuster1]

would like a comparison between this and the leica

[@David33316]

Does the panasonic 100-400 version 2 change our opinion?

[@cameralabs]

No, the v2 is almost identical to the v1. Which still makes it a great lens BUT essentially the same in practice.

[@JoeMaranophotography]

Heard a rumour that this is a regurgitated Sigma and it looks like it too! Shame that Olympus users don't really have a compelling reason to chose a more native lens versus the Panasonic Leica

[@cameralabs]

Hmm, I hadn't heard that, but i was struck by their similarities.

[@EricGlenSnyder]

Too bad it's so large for a f6.3 m43 lens. Seems the 75-300 and 100-300 lenses are a clear step down though in IQ? The 300mm F4 is tempting but 2x more (both used).

[@skakdosmer]

You ask what we think. I don’t know how relevant my thoughts are, but very well: 1. A 200-800mm equivalent lens that weighs only - how much was it - 1.125 kg? That’s really light and much less than my 1.930 kg Sigma 150-600 Contemporary which I mostly use on a tripod with a Manfrotto gimbal head. But... 2. It's a poor fit for my Canon cameras. 3. It’s a 200-800mm equivalent. My Sigma is a 240-960mm equivalent, so I have more reach, and at a much lower price too. 4. The F5-6.3 becomes an F10-12.6 equivalent on a MFT sensor, whereas my F5-6.3 lens becomes an F8-10 equivalent on my APS-C sensors. Certainly not fantastic, but a little better. 5. It works with extenders - but how well? Often extenders gives autofocus problems with lenses this dark. I’ve given up using extenders.

[@tonyzhu403]

I have mixed feelings about this lens... It is a very nice lens, an excellent addition to the Olympus family, but it is quite disappointing in some other ways… No Sync IS Supported, which is a first and really sad. From the Video, I find the IBIS to be more usable for photos. And for video, tripod is probably needed regardless. The OIS seems quite pointless here. (Why not remove the OIS entirely for cost savings?) Then Comparing to its Rumored Cousins: (there are rumors that it is a similar lens in terms of design to the Sigma 100-400mm) The Sigma 100-400mm DG is Only $799. The DG DN is Only $949. Comparing to if you get a Sigma DG with an Adapter for around $999, you would spend the extra $500 for Close Focus + Weather Seal + Better AF (No Adapter Required) + Tripod Collar Is it really worth it? Of Course, this depends on how well the Sigma performs with an Adapter. I guess what I was hoping for is a big brother of the affordable Olympus 75-300mm, guess it is not quite the same in the terms of value.

[@drivingsports]

When filming at 300mm+ equivalent, OIS is actually really helpful to remove shake if there is even the slightest breeze while filming on even large tripods. We are considering this for use on our BMPCC4k's specifically because it does have OIS. (We also have Olympus cameras.)

[@tonyzhu403]

@@drivingsports At that point, IBIS can remove the little amount of shake effectively, and probably do a better job, since it is 5-Axis instead of 3-Axis. Making the OIS, in my opinion, pointless in this lens. A lens without OIS can be sharper, too.

[@drivingsports]

Tony Zhu You missed the point that BMPCC4k’s don’t have IBIS. Hence, the need for OIS on a lens like this for filming on a tripod with a variety of cameras.

[@tonyzhu403]

@@drivingsports Why not use the Panasonic-Leica 100-400m instead? That does have OIS. The point I would like to make is: Olympus could make the Lens more affordable, since Panasonic already has a Premium Option. For an Olympus user, this lens does not make a ton of sense, for a Panasonic user, this lens does not make a ton of sense (Dual IS on Pana-Leica). Adapted lens are excellent options for the BMPCC. (Sigma 100-400mm DG at Half the Price, or 70% with a Metabones Adapter)

[@klauslehrmann4927]

Greetings to you, from from me who gas watched many of your videos, since your videotours of Oly.-gear in 2007. Do you know if the builtin 1.25x-coverter affects the maximum aperture? I would like to know :).

[@cameralabs]

The builtin converter is not in this lens - it's in the future one which isn't out yet, so no-one knows!

[@klauslehrmann4927]

@@cameralabs Oh. You misunderstand. It is the future 150-400mm f. 4.5 I mean. Oh well, you did confirm that no-one knows, though. T.y. for your response. If you watch Robin Wong's video on this lens, regarding various questions about it, the lack of sync.-I.S., among others, it seams the only sync. is the communication between lens and body, so that the body knows to not do stabilisation, other than the stabilisation compensating for rolling blur, when the shutterbutton is pressed. That is how I have understood this so far. Hope this helps. I personally use my ED 300mm f.2.8 adapted to my EM-1 Mark II. I can report that I sense ko dif. in terms of AF-performance, so that's good. Hope you are doing well. Bedt of regards. Klaus Lehrmann Denmark

[@cameralabs]

@@klauslehrmann4927 I look forward to testing the new 150-400...

[@klauslehrmann3906]

@@cameralabs Here is a new video by Adorama, regarding the 150-400mm. I am now linking it to you, as I am watching it myself :). kzbin.info/www/bejne/i4SsfqWJoMSjmtU Watching on...

[@JBSwanstrom]

Just received mine an hour ago!

[@przybylskipawel]

From what I have seen in recent tests, Olympus is considerably sharper. What is you opinion on that?

[@casagracia]

useful video, Thank you!

[@EJGentleman]

Nice lens I just wonder if it is a benefit on the Panasonic G9 versus the Panasonic Leica 100-400. I know that you cannot get all the features to work on G9 from the Olympus. The newest Olympus Pro lens is over $7000 - too much for my blood.

[@cameralabs]

If I had a Lumix body I'd probably go for the Leica lens, plus it has some extra features too. Unless my budget couldn't reach, in which case, olympus!

[@stevenbirds2920]

Hello Gordon, Quick disclosure. It was reading your reviews years ago on the Olympus 12-60 four thirds lens which began my interest in Olympus reinforced my view that you invest in camera systems not camera bodies. All of which is a long winded way of saying I bought into the Olympus four thirds system with the E3 and 12-60, that I have remained with Olympus and that by and large I usually find your output to be extremely useful and objective, so thanks. All this said ; why would you introduce a reference and footage of the Sigma Lens, which does not have the same reach as either the Olympus or Panasonic lenses? Please don’t start going down the root of some well known American channels, your professional standards are much higher then that. Stay safe. Take care and when you get a few minutes please complete the outstanding review on the OMD EM1 Mk3 😀

[@MadEnglishTV]

Thanks for the great review! I think I'll just save a bit more for the Sony 200-600.

[@RobShootPhotos]

Then put it on a a6000 series body would really give extra reach with the same megapixels as the the A7 series body. I thought about that even with the Sigma lens for Sony.

[@cameralabs]

@@RobShootPhotos yep, the Sony 200-600 on an APSC body is pretty formidable for birds

[@ryantang8146]

But the thing is the Sony 200-600 is 2kg and this lens is almost half the weight. The lens with the camera would be around 2.6 kg and handholding that’s much harder than the Olympus combo which is around 1.8 kg

[@terryvitanza28]

@@ryantang8146 Amazing pics (even in low light) with FF > crappy pics (specially in low light) with this lens. Choice is easy.

[@jukeboxjohnnie]

ive the nikon 200-500 which is close to the Sony, but its just too damn heavy as a casual lens for a trip to the zoo. i think Im going to buy this one too.

[@alexst3333]

nice review, but you need to add captions when compare pictures with different parameters.

[@cameralabs]

Yes I know. I try to add them to my lens reviews, but they just end up taking so long. I agree they need to be there to be useful, but it's hard to make YT work as a career on these figures.

[@alexst3333]

@@cameralabs please try... it make you great reviews more great)) thank you for videos !

[@Errethakbe18]

It doesn't make sense to me that that the 100-400mm lens for m43 is as big as that for a FF Sony.

[@nerdMike]

Rremember is 200-800mm equivalent 🙃 it's not 100-400mm focal length like the FF lens, this is the power of M4/3. It's same size for double the focal length. For a similar lens and compact size that a look to Panasonic Leica 100-400 6.3, pro construction and a bit smaller than Olympus but again it's 200-800mm equivalent. (of course all the equivalent factor are involves with pros and cons)

[@cameralabs]

@@nerdMike yes but you can apply a crop to the Sigma 100-400 and it'll become a 200-800 as well. Then it becomes a case of comparing the resolution in the cropped area, which for modern M43 is 20mp, but even on, say, a 62mp A7r IV would be a bit lower. BUT my point in showing it was that the Olympus only needs to be corrected for a smaller frame area, so it should be smaller and or lighter and or cheaper. It's not.

[@nerdMike]

@@cameralabs yes Gordon, if you own a7 riv with 2x crop you're fine in comparison but on m43 with 2000€ I get the lens and a pro body, while on Sony in that way you have to spend almost 6000€ 😅 M43 pros and cons, as always, that's why it exists as you know. BTW I love the G9, the Leica 100_400 and 100-300II for the price. Nice review as always! 🙂

[@TITAOSTEIN]

Gordon Laing you can apply a crop to the Sigma and compare Sharpness. The fact that the Sigma is a FF is no advantage per se. Like the 300mm f4 from Olympus - is the Sharpest lens (300 or 600) that I ever tested, and it is a m43 lens.

[@tudorp2610]

With the x2 teleconverter = 1600 mm FF equiv.

[@DeepteshLovesTECH]

The FULL FRAME 100-400 f5-6.3 is the same size as the MFT one?!!! FF f5 vs MFT f5 is a huge difference!

[@cameralabs]

Well they're both arguably full-frame designs, but with different mounts.

[@birdingbilly]

Gordon I think you will find that the Oly is actually lighter than the Pany, I suspect the Panny you quoted excludes the foot as ny Panny weighs 1,170g.

[@MartinTwycross]

Birding Billy my PL 100-400 without the foot extension weighs 980g and 1135g with the additional hood. The foot extension weighs an extra 75g bringing the total to 1110g with foot and hood.

[@birdingbilly]

@@MartinTwycross Having investigated more I'm not sure how comparable these weights that the various reviews are quoting are, another review I have seen of the Oly says it weighs 1,400g. What I really want to know is what it weighs in my bag with both caps on, lens hood and foot, as at the end of the day thats what has to be lugged around.

[@nilsditt7962]

equivalent to a 200-800 f10-12.6...the canon 800 f11 is probably the better way to go if you desire lightweight teles with a dim aperture.

[@luyiwang5030]

consider canon 800mm f11 is a prime lens that is 1.3kg, I rather have this instead

[@davidreinhard7476]

What do you mean f10-12.6? The light gathering capability of a lens does NOT change on a smaller sensor. The relative dof is altered, but not the amount of light that hits the sensor. So you are hugely better off than the very slow Canon lens at f11 (totally useless in low light or for bif unless on a very sunny day).

[@bulbigood6558]

@@davidreinhard7476 Right, lens doesn’t change its capabilities on smaller sensor. But quantity of light by area does. 100-400 on MFT sensor gives the same FOV as 800 mm on full frame, but you should divide the overall quantity of light by 4 too, because the original F point is related to full frame sensor area. So factor 4 is 2 stops which gives very 12.6F on the 100-400

[@richardfink7666]

@@bulbigood6558 For me it is crucial that nothing chandes in the aperature,shutter speed and ISO....no matter what the sensorsize is.

[@andersistbesser]

can you adapt the sigma lense to mft?

[@cameralabs]

Only the DSLR-mount ones, ideally Ef mount. Not any mirrorless ones.

[@philipgowdy]

I have the Panasonic100-400 and in my tests the Pano gives a far better image stabilisation than the Olympus especially in Video mode. However the Olympus appears to be a touch sharper. So in my money the Pano is the better option even if you are an Olympus owner. If yo are a Panasonic owner then its defo the Panasonic. You can sharpen an image easily but its uch harder to sort movement. As ever great review and interesting how small the new Sigma for Sony is.

[@nerdMike]

What's the real price tag? I hoped for a very lower price compared to Pana Leica, If similar in price can be similar on some way.. Leica it's smaller, better built and technically sharper corner to corner wide open as I tested. Costs 1000€ import and less used.. How does Olympus compares speaking of IQ and chromatic aberration in comparison? Pana Leica seems almost perfect in this regards and on Lumix can work with Dual IS compared to this Olympus.

[@stevepersighetti3400]

UK price is £1,099 to pre-order.

[@nerdMike]

@@stevepersighetti3400 I can buy the Leica for that price 🙃 less if used. Considering you don't have a combined benefit with olympus ibis is the same to use a Lumix lens, bigger with less tech "appeal" so.

[@cameralabs]

I've linked to retail pricing in the comment and description.

[@mikewhiles4635]

What a Whopper Gordon !!! 😎😎😎

[@sabymondal]

Seems a quality lens, but same size and weight as a full frame counterpart (sigma FE), and 1.5 times the price (!) , is really disappointing. M43 should be lighter and more affordable than FF.

[@brianlaunchbury4491]

Thanks for this. I can't see how the Panasonic is a better choice. It's agricultural with good glass and it's random focussing really irritates. I'm interested in the damage that a good cheap telephoto will do to the flagships sales prospects.

[@RobShootPhotos]

As always, great review. Robin Wong in his video talking about Image stabilization mentioned that you either have both or nothing at all and wondering if he was referring to sync IS compatible lenses. You demostated a lens that doesn't have sync IS can have either or both. Interesting.

[@RobShootPhotos]

Actually, Robin does explain this in the preview video, the lens only gives 2 stops and when you have both working, the sensor only helps with roll axis giving only 3 stops of stabilization. Sync IS would use all available axis of the sensor and there is or will be a body firmware update to ensure the lens works well with the body.

[@ryantang8146]

RobShootPhotos I think they don’t want to invest further that’s why they probably won’t release any firmware update with the existing cameras to make sync is works with the exception of EM1X

[@panopsata3038]

I would expect it to be 4.5-5.6 since it's a first party pro lens. It's a little dissapointing.

[@TimSheehan]

It's not a pro lens, that's the upcoming white one shown a whole 30 seconds into the video... 150-400 f/4.5 constant

[@ahmonon4352]

IBIS only looks steadier

[@olafweyer859]

About the maximum aperture at various focal length - from a non-native speaker - what the hell does "123 mil" mean? In Spanish (which is also not my native language) it means a thousand. In German it means a million. So.....

[@cameralabs]

In English, Millimeter is commonly shortened to Mil. If I keep saying Millimeter in my lens reviews, it becomes quite monotonous. Hope that helps. I agree, it could be confusing for non-native English speakers, but if I was to say 'a focal length of 100 mil' in a video and you knew the lens had a focal length of 100-400mm, then you could probably figure out that I meant 100 millimeters and not 100,000 which would have no context.

[@olafweyer859]

@@cameralabs Thx, it's been a few hours, I had figured it out in the meantime. Silly of me. But never heard it before. Thanks again. Great review.

[@bsdgffishtuna5186]

as big almost as canon 100-400mm. What happened to MICRO 4/3? MICRO...micro means small, eh.

[@LevAizik1]

Because the Olympus 100-400mm lens is a 100-400mm lens precisely like the Canon 100-400mm. The difference is that the Olympus 100-400 on a 2X crop sensor gives you 200 - 800mm. The only way to get similar results with the Canon is to buy a 2X teleconverter, which is an additional expense and adds weight or to purchase a 50-60 MP full-frame camera and crop the hell out of your pictures or to buy a 600mm full-frame bazooka.

[@shoottosave8117]

please compare to 70-300 ii oly... and?

[@vaibhavpisal]

Going by the images taken with this lens, looks like Olympus learned a lot while developing pro 150-450 lens. They are looking really good. Wildlife images are very expressive, capturing lot of fine details in feathers and eyes. I think this is going for the big guns from Nikon, the 200-500 on d500 combination. Images are looking that good. I don't think pana Leica lens competes, despite of what specs tell you. This is first time I am considering MFT system for wild life.

[@melgross]

Vaibhav Pisal it’s a bit late to decide to just get into a system. You might want to wait to see what is going to happen.

[@JericTamayo]

I thought they were gonna make 150-400 f4.5 with internal 1.25x extension? Nvm, commented without going further than 10 seconds into the video lol

[@fellowcitizen]

Still to come

[@nerdMike]

Maybe end of the year