Panasonic Lumix S 70-300 f/4.5-5.6 OIS Macro In-Depth Review

In this video, we are going to look at the latest Telephoto lens from Panasonic: Lumix S 70-300 f/4.5-5.6 OIS Macro
I'm also going to do a bit of comparison with the Lumix S Pro 70-200 f/4 OIS with the 1.4x teleconverter (TC) and see how do they compare with each other
www.photobyrichard.com/reviewb...
My Instagram: / photo_by_richard
My Facebook: / photobyrichard
0:00 Introduction
2:00 Design & Build Quality
4:46 Autofocus
5:44 Focus Breathing (& Parfocal Test)
6:39 Macro/Closeup
7:45 Image Stabilisation
8:55 Maximum Aperture
9:29 Image Sharpness
13:13 Chromatic Aberration
13:34 Distortion
13:50 Vignetting
14:25 Lens Flare
14:42 Bokeh
15:33 Sunstars
16:08 Final Thoughts
#lumix #lmount

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Lumiix S 70-300 4.5-5.6, is this a lens you want to buy?

[@mohamedeltaleb]

already preordered 😂✌🏻... thanks Richard for the review..

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Thanks for watching and Enjoy Mohamed!!

[@marcusgaertner52]

I wanted the Lumix 70-200 f2.8 for (for Wedding Video/Photo) but now I don´t know. Do you have any thoughts on this?

[@philiwilli42]

@@marcusgaertner52 I'm in the same situation. The bokeh doesn’t matter so much with long focal length. On 200mm you have a nice bokeh with 1:5.6 too. So the point is how often do you shoot in dark situations? With 5.6 you need a higher Iso at the same setting. I will buy the 70-300. Mainly because of the price, weight and size. But I don’t use the long focal length not so often. The most is 35mm and 85mm. Sorry for my English, I’m German 😅

[@marcusgaertner52]

@@philiwilli42 alles klar :)

[@dorianvocalartist]

I appreciate how comprehensive your reviews are. They really support us making informed decisions. Thank you!

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Ismaeel Glad you like them!

[@Amarronada]

Thanks Richard for this enjoyable review! It looks to me like a very nice companion to my S5 with the 20-60 for wildlife photography, even that I am still happy with my GX9 an the 50-200 and the 100-400 lenses.

[@TimotheosEnterprisesMedia]

Thank you Richard. Your videos are ALWAYS very well done. I am planning a Lumix S5 purchase in two to three months, to compliment my UX-180, for documentary work and stock video work. I am looking at using Vintage lenses from my Nikon FM, an F mount, and my Canon 7D, EF mount... and now you have me looking at this new lens. I appreciate your hard work!

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Thank you Tim! Yes that reminds me I should get some adaptor to adapt my old manual focus F mount lenses on the S5 as well

[@LucaBono.Studio]

Great review Richard! I hope it will be available soon, I would love to use it for landscape photography!

[@TheRealRichardWong]

yes hopefully it will hit the shelf soon. COVID and the recent fire at the japan AFM factory really screw up a lot of product release/manufacturing!

[@NicolaFietta]

Thank you so much, this is exactly the type of review that I want to see, I will follow you for your excellent content

[@kennethlowe7330]

It's a nice looking 70-300! Thanks for the awesome review as usual!

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Glad you like it Kenneth!

[@wesvdell]

This was a very well-constructed review. Well done!

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Thank you so much, sorry only just saw your comment

[@floyd101954]

Richard thanks for the great honest review. I just preordered mine for my S5.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Enjoy and let me know your experience!

[@doogieham]

Excellent review, Richard, as always. This confirms for me the value of the Panasonic L-mount system for garden and macro photography as a result of the semi-macro mode of this lens, the little nub besides the AF/MF switch, the great OIS, and the excellent manual focus tools built into the S-system bodies.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Thanks for watching doogieham

[@marinrealestatephotography]

Thanks for the great review, Richard. In particular, thanks for the "video centric" tests, like focus breathing and parfocal ability. Your reviews seem to go the extra mile compared to other reviews.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Thanks! Glad you like the review and the video centric tests. :)

[@sleepyslawthgaming]

Thank you for this exceptional in-depth review! Very helpful as I'm currently shopping for our next camera setup.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

If you are interested in L-mount I have a few other reviews on my channel :)

[@sleepyslawthgaming]

@@TheRealRichardWong thank you! I’ll watch through more. Planning to get the S5 iiX soon, just need to figure out which lens bundle to go with. 70-300 is on my list now :)

[@frankwieczorek5112]

Thanks Richard, has anyone tried to use the lens on a Leica SL (601)

[@tomw0815]

Thanks for that review. Currently I use an older adapted Canon 70-200 and thought about the Panasonic 70-200 f4. Your examples show that the 70-300 is really good and I'm glad I waited. I think the 70-300 is ideal for my landscape stuff because I use f6.7 to f8 most of the time. And it's a bit lighter and shorter than the 70-200 too.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Thanks Tom! If you don't need the constant f/4 aperture, the 70-300 is a very good choice

[@amcripps25]

Excellent review, thanks, especially the comparison between this and the 70-200 plus TC. Since I already have the 70-200 I'll be passing on this, though that decision may have been different 6 months ago.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Thanks for watching Andy!

[@st8ofplay171]

Thanks Richard, I just got an S5 from your friends at Auckland Camera yesterday, and will be looking for a telephoto lens for it when funds allow. I appreciate the comparison to the 70-200+TC.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

awesome! Enjoy your S5. Hope the guys at Auckland Camera looked after you well! Remember to update your S5 to latest firmware as well!

[@st8ofplay171]

@@TheRealRichardWong yes they were great as usual. They gave me a fair trade-in value for my G9, which made things nice and easy. Do you know what the NZ price is likely to be for the 70-300?

[@goldstraw360]

Great review, Richard, although I'm somewhat late to the party. However, over the holidays I managed to pick up a barely-used copy of this lens, including a 5% holiday discount deal, for just a little over 800UKP, so couldn't resist pulling the trigger. Your video was a great help in making that decision too.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Awesome! Sounds like you got a great deal! Enjoy and glad the video helped :)

[@tjsound1258]

Mr. Wong, outstanding!! I am seeking to acquire a Panasonic Lumix S5 II. I definitely am sold on this 70-300mm telephoto. Thank you for your video. You truly are both an expert AND an Artist!! I am looking closely at the kit that includes the Lumix 14-28mm f/4-5.6 MACRO Lens, and then a Lumix S PRO 24-70mm f/2.8 Lens to round out the collection. I love nature, and of course everything from telephoto wildlife to incredible landscapes; both photos (JPEG & RAW) and video. I also am a musician, so recording performances, clinics, instrument demos, rehearsals, concerts etc. is top of my list. The S5 II is affording me the opportunity to increase the quality and reach of my current Nikon DSLR system. Wide zoom 10-20mm plus an 18-140mm zoom is what I use now. I really am looking forward to the upgrade! Again, thank you for your report on this lense. Much appreciated!!

[@reggietelly]

Fantastic videos on this channel.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Thank you very much!

[@richardgorski23]

Always use your reviews to make buying decisions. Real world and great reviews. Have you ever tested 20-60mm. I have seen where it isn't that good?

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Thanks richard! yes i've tested the 20-60. here is my review :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/hXPQpoKfp7xjbZI

[@NikolaosTsarmpopoulos]

Very interesting and useful video. What are the key benefits of the (much more expensive) Lumix S Pro 70-200mm f4 (with a 1.4TC) compared to the Lumix S 70-300mm?

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Hi Nikolaos, the 70-200 f/4 has constant aperture and better build quality

[@TimotheosEnterprisesMedia]

I cannot find your S5 video here on my phone, so I will ask the question here.... when younwere testing the S5s auto focus, did you go through all of the various settings or stick to just the factory default? I cannot remember if you covered those settings.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

I usually use default settings unless otherwise stated.

[@TimotheosEnterprisesMedia]

@@TheRealRichardWong ok thank you

[@isaacsloan5896]

Great review. You answered the question I was searching for everywhere. "Does the teleconverter work with it?" No! Thanks.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

haha that was the first question i had myself too when Panasonic showed me the lens!

[@AnalogMonoxide]

I was really interested in the bigma 150-600 sport but it’s so big and heavy 😅 Great information here on both the 70-300 and the 70-200, both of which I was looking at. I wish this lens had the focus clutch, and option for teleconverter. But still interesting lens, will definitely have to consider. Great review as usual thank you 👍🏻

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Thanks for watching! I think focus clutch is reserved for the Pro lenses, but yeah would love it if it supports the teleconverter, even though it maybe a bit too slow even with a 1.4x TC.

[@marcusoutdoors4999]

Fantastic review. I’ve just bought a Sigma 100-400 DG DN, so I’m naturally interested in how you think it compares, what are your thoughts? My experience is very positive so far. Obviously the Sigma is 33% bigger and heavier. However it is interesting to note that the Sigma OIS works superbly well as does the focus on my pre-IBIS Leica SL type601. I mention this as I bought the body before the S5 came out and while I love the Panasonic 24-105, the OIS at the long end isn’t great on the SL, so needs extra care.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Thank you Marcus! I havent test the Sigma 100-400 myself so can't really say much sorry. Not sure how effective the OIS works by itself, but I can only say the Dual I.S. 2 works very well on the S5.

[@aiseurnae5976]

I have the 50-200mm Leica for my GH5 but I wonder if I could replace it with this 70-300mm for my S5 ? Tonality, low light and bokeh seem better !

[@TheRealRichardWong]

You can do that .. just keep in mind the maximum focal length would be slightly shorter as it's only 300mm and not 400mm (+ you can use TC with the 50-200 but not with the 70-300). But yes you get better low light, more bokeh

[@aiseurnae5976]

@@TheRealRichardWong Thank you

[@lalilland]

Dear Richard, is this lens performing better in video AF than the 85mm f/1.8? I find the 85mm completely unreliable (for video). Is this better? Especially 150mm and up?

[@TheRealRichardWong]

It really depends on the shooting distance and aperture. With the 85 1.8 I could make it unreliable if I shoot at close distance, at near maximum aperture and moves quickly. But otherwise I found the 85 1.8 works ok for video af. This is same thing with the 70-300... You could also make it unreliable especially if shooting at 150mm+, max aperture and close distance and moves quickly. Otherwise it works ok.

[@angelvillanueva4518]

Regards Richard, do you know if LUMIX will make any 100-600 lens?

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Not that I'm aware of.

[@angelvillanueva4518]

@@TheRealRichardWong Thanks amazing channel

[@calmrelaxed7425]

I like the Panni lenses, but I went with the Sigma 150 - 600 DG DN. It's Heavy, but manageable. I am using it with my Lumix S5, and am very happy with the results.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

the sigma does provide a lot more reach than the Lumix 70-300!

[@tamilhoward9708]

Consider yourself lucky to be able to get your hands on the Sigma 150-600mm DG DN for L mount.

[@calmrelaxed7425]

@@tamilhoward9708 I ordered one the day after Sigma announced it's release. I still had to wait a month to get my hands on it though. I am looking at a Macro now, and no-one has them in stock here.

[@philclint]

Well I'm not a profesional but I find it an exciting camera. I found your review helpful but at the moment I will stay with my 100-400 and 20-60. It might be all I need.

[@geoffreybassett6741]

How is the breathing with the 70-200 +TC?

[@TheRealRichardWong]

I didn't do direct comparison but it's also pretty good

[@rohitkhetarpal2945]

Great review. TC support would have made it perfect

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Thanks Rohit!

Could this lens use with a teleconverter?

[@TheRealRichardWong]

No you can't

[@lfcmarkeb7124]

good review, but I feel, for myself the sigma 100-400 is a better option👍

[@TheRealRichardWong]

The sigma is a really popular choice for sure esp if you want the longer range

[@georged822]

Wow now I wish I preordered one for $1000 😭. Compared to 70-200 f4 + 1.4 tc the 70-300 is a great value

[@slows728]

15:33 Does this lens has a swirly bokeh ?

[@TheRealRichardWong]

As mentioned at 15:28. there is a bit of cats eye bokeh when target is at very close distance :)

[@slows728]

@@TheRealRichardWong Yes I love swirly bokeh =)

[@aiseurnae5976]

My sample is very sharp at 70mm wide open and a bit softer at 300mm. But sharpness doesn't improve at 300m when stopping down like yours (sharpness is quite good with close subjects but only OK for distant subjects). Compared to the 50-200mm Leica for M43 (with the GH5), the dual IS is on part with the S1. The 70-300mm gives more bokeh, less noise, better tonality and punchy colors. However it is only because of the Full frame sensor. The 50-200mm has better microcontrast, better sharpness uniformity, better reach and IMO better character.

[@machannel8746]

Let down by the fact they didn't allow the teleconverters to work with it. Otherwise it's excellent for the price, up there with the pro versions.

[@NikolaosTsarmpopoulos]

A teleconverter significantly impacts image quality. I needed a 600mm lens, I'd go for a 600mm lens, not a 300mm with teleconverter.

[@fredriksvard2603]

@@NikolaosTsarmpopoulos the pana 1.4x is good though

[@magnusgotander3954]

It was to bad that you didn't full filled the test with the 70-200 f4 as a comparicy. You started but didn't end it. Otherwice a good review.

[@evhomeyer5879]

Thank you for your review 👍. I will not buy it, I am very happy with my Lumix 70-200 f.4 and the Sigma 100-400 DG DN 😎.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

If you have those two lenses already, then yes probably don't need one more tele-photo lens

[@alpao74]

I am trying to choose between this lens and the sigma 100-400 for my S5... I am leaning towards the sigma, simply because it's cheaper and longer, and I already get to 105 mm with my 24-105 f4 Any suggestion? Thank you

[@007silverwings]

@@alpao74 did you decide? I've got the same decision to make!

[@alpao74]

@@007silverwings sorry nope, I haven't bought either yet :( I'll let you know if I do 😃

[@fredriksvard2603]

@@alpao74 im always in the 70-105 range on the 24-105. Considering exchanging it for a 70-300 but the variable aperture puts me off. Might get the sigma 135 instead. For supertele, i'd look into other systems altogether. Om1, sony aps-c, canon.

[@EricLouisYoung]

I'm buying a bunch of expensive panasonic lenses. I sure hope they remove their head from ass and add PDAF to their next generation of cameras though.

[@leesanghong80]

2104280205

[@rendermanpro]

Huge mistake from Panasonic - no compatibility with tele converter... 140-600mm would be great

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Thanks for watching!

[@artistjoh]

Was disappointed to see that this is for the full frame system. L-mount is okay, but MFT is what I am interested in from Panasonic. If going full frame I choose Sony.

[@fredriksvard2603]

If af and lens choices is imporant to you, that makes sense. For video quality, nothing touches pana full frame until you get to red, arri, bpm, pana, canon dedicated film cameras (at 5-10k and up). But you need to be comfortable focusing manually or adjusting to the af limitations, and think about what lenses you'll be using. I'm almost always in the 85-135 range, i want ibis and close focusing abilities - l mount has that covered both with slow zooms snd fast primes.

[@artistjoh]

@@fredriksvard2603 I started photography in 1962 and shot only 4x5, 6x6 and 6x9 for the first 12 years. Manual focus is in my blood. I am also the Bolex generation and I actually prefer the increased depth of field of 16mm and these days MFT. I find affordability (and lens choices) creatively liberating. However I would find the full frame Lumix more interesting if there was more interoperability between Lumix FF and MFT. I always liked the Canon approach to EF-S and EF, and while the Sony E-mount does give them some problems I love that there is the same mount for Sony FF and APS-C. As a result, even though I prefer Panasonic feature sets, I have Sony A7S II for my full frame and some of my APS-C needs. However, I also have a JVC LS300 which I love. Super 35 sensor with an MFT mount. A brilliant idea implemented superbly. I wish Panasonic and Olympus would think outside the box like that more often. Unlike the L mount cameras, it gives me a larger sensor but allows me my MFT mount for lens flexibility.