Boxed Panasonic Lumix Leica DG Vario-Elmar 100-400mm (equivalent to 200-800mm Full Frame) f/4-6.3 ASPH Power OIS Super (Ultra) Telephoto Lens ⌀72 - Micro Four Thirds Mount [Model
Optics Excellent, Autofocus Prompt & Silent, Body Very Good Condition, Lightly Used. Power OIS Excellent (like an invisible hand holding the lens, but environmental vibration & wind take their toll at longer focal lengths obviously). Best Use a Heavy Tripod plus High Shutter Speeds for Wildlife.
~ supplied with attached Tripod Mount
~ plus Extra Panasonic DMW-H100400 Hood (beside the integral short hood)
~ and replete with Both Lens Caps & UV Filter
~ and all within the Original Retail Box
~ plus (because the Lumix pouch is absent and they feel more symbolic than protective anyway) a Brand New Zip-Up Padded Soft Carry Case with a Carabiner Clip for extra attachment
Condition Note: Lightly used. Excellent condition optics (the only discernible dust was transient surface matter, not internal), very good condition body. Autofocus prompt and silent - great for keeping a low profile while photoing wildlife. A note about videography: Any number of tele lenses can take photos but videography is next level. The manufacturer's product description below states that the lens is great for shooting wildlife in 4K video. Videography with this lens at super / ultra tele focal lengths is facilitated by the quiet autofocus, but it would further require a good stable tripod to minimise shake, even with the Power OIS switch activated on the lens (Power OIS is a step up from Mega OIS). Also you'd need the tripod to have a fluid head or a camera gimbal as the actual head (you don't really need a pro variant gimbal as you then won't need to balance the lens when sat atop a heavy tripod, you would just need the gimbal to smoothly pan and tilt while shooting video). To shoot stills is straightforward of course, the tripod just needs to be moderately stable, not a <1kg carbon fibre type. Actually, l can mount my DJI RS4 (regular version, not pro) on a cheap light carbon fibre tripod. If balance can be achieved with your camera on a gimbal mounted to a carbon fibre tripod, then this lightweight setup may give smoother video than a heavy tripod with fluid head - and you may be able to carry it all in a backpack! It all depends whether you can balance it on the gimbal with your camera (the lens is just under the 1kg maximum people say a camera can bear without needing the tripod foot on the lens!), and of course bear in mind you might just about exceed the circa 5-8kg weight limit of a <1kg carbon fibre tripod - so a fully freely moving lens balanced on a gimbal depends on your camera weight and how much your tripod in turn can support. In short: yes, videography with this lens is possible, even as a backpacker without a car!
ISSUES:
No issues affecting the lens have been observed.
The flap seal on the topmost cover of the box was torn during handling as l had caused it to hermetically seal (as shown in the closeup image of the box).
DETAILS:
From the manufacturer's spiel:
LEICA DG Lens – ultimate optics
Opt for a LEICA DG lens and get the ultimate in optical quality and performance. They naturally meet the strict quality standards set by Leica Camera AG. Thanks to the sophisticated design of these lenses, you will enjoy brilliant clarity all the way to the edges of your photos. At the same time, distortions of all kind are prevented to enable precise, sharp picture rendering. This means you have the ideal tool for pro-level images in the palm of your hand.
This 100-400mm (35mm camera equivalent: 200-800mm) LEICA DG lens pulls distant activities up so close they appear to be happening right in front of your eyes, in all their natural beauty. This advanced lens is filled with functions for nature photography, including a splash/dustproof design, agile mobility, a zoom lock ring, and intuitive operation with easily switchable framing in vertical and horizontal directions.
Dust and splash-resistant design:
LEICA DG VARIO-ELMAR 100-400mm / F4.0-6.3 ASPH. / POWER O.I.S. is designed to keep shooting in the toughest conditions thanks to its dust- and splash-resistant construction.
Dust- and splash-resistant does not guarantee that damage will not occur if this lens is subjected to direct contact with dust and water.
O.I.S. for ultra-sharp photos:
Capture what you see on the spur of the moment. Optical image stabilization (O.I.S.) technology built directly into the lens ensures your photos will look great, with sharp, blur-free contours across the entire image.
Ideal for video recording:
The lens offers fast, accurate autofocus and smooth aperture changes, critical for the modern content creator, allowing you to record beautiful 4K video and stills without disturbing your subject.
H-RS100400 lens construction:
The optimized configuration has 20 elements in 13 groups, including 1 ASPH/ED, 1 UED and 2 ED lenses to minimize aberrations and ensure superb resolution.
H-RS100400 MTF chart:
They meet the strict optical standards set by Leica Camera AG and offer outstanding sharpness and resolution throughout the zoom range. Demonstrates uncompromising expressiveness.
For lenses that are capable of compensating distortion, the horizontal axis shows the distance from the center of the corrected image.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Lens Construction:
20 elements in 13 groups (1 aspherical ED lens, 1 UED lens, 2 ED lenses)
Nano Surface Coating
Mount: Micro Four Thirds mount
Optical Image Stabiliser: Yes (POWER O.I.S.)
Focal Length: 100-400mm (35mm camera equivalent 200-800mm)
Aperture Type: 9 diaphragm blades, circular aperture
Maximum Aperture: F4.0 (Wide) - F6.3 (Tele)
Minimum Aperture: F22
Closest Focusing Distance: on FULL setting: 1.3m/4.27ft, on LIMIT setting: 5.0m/16.4ft
Maximum magnification: Approx. 0.25x (0.5x 35mm camera equivalent)
Diagonal Angle of View: 12° (Wide) to 3.1° (Tele)
Filter Size: 72mm / 2.8in
Max. Diameter: 83mm / 3.3in
Overall Length: Approx. 171.5mm / 6.75in (at the minimum 100mm focal length, from the tip of the lens to the base side of the lens mount)
Weight: Approx. 985g / 34.74oz (excluding lens cap, lens rear cap, lens hood and external tripod mount)