Panasonic LUMIX G II Vario Lens, 100-300MM, MIRRORLESS Micro Four Thirds, Power O.I.S, H-FSA100300 (USA Black)

Thinking of getting into wildlife photography? Can’t decide between this lens or the OM/Olympus 75-300mm lens? Read on and maybe this review will help you. I have been shooting with Micro Four Thirds since 2015. I have tried other format and brands over the years as well. I have owned 3 different Olympus 75-300mm lenses and 2 Panasonic 100-300mm lenses. As of right now, I only have the Panasonic 100-300mm lens.Comparing the 2 lenses: The Olympus lens is lighter and slightly smaller in size than the Panasonic lens. When you factor in the lens hood, they are similar in size. The Olympus lens starts at a wider Focal Length of 75mm vs Panasonic 100mm. The Olympus lens has a shorter minimum focal distance. The Panasonic has a brighter aperture of f5.6 at 300mm vs f6.7 on the Olympus. The Panasonic comes with a lens hood and the Olympus does not. The build quality feels better on the Panasonic and I like the rubber grip on the zoom ring. The Olympus lens feels like a cheap kit lens. The Panasonic has Optical Image Stabilization while the Olympus does not. The Panasonic is "Splash proof / Dustproof" while the Olympus is not.Auto Focus performance: If you’re using a capable camera body such as the OM-1, both lenses will perform about the same. The Panasonic lens AF performance will better on Panasonic bodies. When I used the Olympus lens on the Panasonic G9II I was very disappointed with the AF. The Panasonic 100-300mm AF performance was much better. But on my OM-1 Mark I camera, I don’t notice any difference between the 2 lens AF. Honestly in order to fully get the most of theses lenses for wildlife photography, you should use high-end camera bodies.Sharpness between the 2 lenses: Flip a coin! As I stated before, I have own several copies of both lenses and there’s no clear winner. One lens may be a little sharper but it’s more due to sample variation, so you better hope you’re lucky and get a sharp lens! Now, keep in the mind the cost of these lens. They are not going to be as sharp as more expensive lenses. But I feel the sharpness is fine for size and reach you get from these 2 lenses. I’ve included a crop image of a test chart that is at 100% zoom in so you judge for yourself. The image was taken with the Panasonic lens on my OM-1 at 300mm at F5.6. I found both lens sharpness is best around F7.1 to F8.So should you get the Olympus or Panasonic lens? Well it really depends on your needs. I mostly own OM lens and this is the only Panasonic lens I have. I sold my OM 75-300mm lens as I found this lens is better for my needs. This lens pair with my OM-1 is my compact & take any where wildlife setup. I love this setup and the images it can produce.When you're ready to step-up, then look at the Panasonic 100-400mm or OM 100-400mm lens. I have the OM 100-400mm and it's a better lens overall and my preferred setup. But as I stated, I won't sell this Panasonic lens due to the size, reach, and wonderful images I can get from this lens.

Just arrived today, slapped it on and nabbed a bird pic right away. Image stabilization seems to work pretty well, even for low shutter speeds. Lens is heavier than other native Panasonic and it isn’t a bad thing, feels good in a quality type of way.Amazing bokeh at any zoom level.Out of the box this lens is impressive and is delivering the type of images I had hoped for. Can’t wait to put it to the test.

Awesome lens for my EM1, Mark 2. I owned the Olympus 2.8 Pro but sold it because of the weight. I would say this Pano 100-300 II is as good as the 2.8 with greater reach. Don’t hesitate to purchase this lens.

I don't think there is a better bang for the buck lens out there for the G line of cameras. The image stabilization of this lens rivals that of my canon 100-300 and still has a very good picture for video all the way out to 300. It may not perform the best in low light but it gets the job done and doesn't break the bank. The zoom is a little tight to start with but has softened up after use to look smooth enough for video. it feels a little lens heavy on the body so make sure you have a steady tripod for video and the gorilla pod won't be very steady for zoom work. The lens shade is perfect sized and you can still use the lens caps without taking off the shade.Update jan 2018....This lens has produced some of the best long range animal footage I could have hoped for in such a small and light format. The video is crisp, clean and clear and auto focus works really fast. It produces great bokeh and the stabilization is on par or better than my big canon lenses. Totally impressed.

We shoot a lot of pressers and events. I had been using a cheap $100 canon ef lens with a metabones adapter I had and it's Ok, but not great. This lens, being a native lens really makes a difference in every category. The stabilization is excellent even at 300mm + CRz (effectively doubles zoom using 6k pixels for HD image) and color pops noticeably better. Image is a little soft but sharper than the Canon. For the price I paid, under 500, I'm pleased as it lets' me shoot across any size room and has weather sealing which is all I was hoping for. the 70-200 was on my list but I opted for the 300 just to ensure it's never an issue.It's also crazy light, which is why most people have M43 to begin with.

I have had this lens for over a month and let me start by saying this, you will not find a better telephoto in this price range with the quality of this one. With that being said, you will not get sharp images right out of the box, allow me to explain.Most negative reviews on this product are due to user error. YOU HAVE TO TREAT THIS LENS LIKE A 600MM.Tips-USE A HIGH SHUTTER SPEED! 1/640 ( depending on your system) or more.-Practice, practice, practice.-Be patient, there is a strong learning curvePros-Lightweight-Sharp images when used correctly-Excellent image stabilization-Weather sealed-Solid Build QualityCons-Iffy low light performance-Autofocus tends to hunt a lot ( Biggest drawback in my opinion)-There is a learning curve-Not the fastest lens out there-Softer images at the long endOverall, if you're looking to start wildlife, sport, etc photography without breaking the bank, this is hands down your best bet for lenses. Keep practicing and you'll eventually master this thing!

Poor picture quality.

This is a great lens for the price. You can get some food range of focus and zoom. It is probably my main lens right now for all around shooting. Small enough to put in a small pouch but versatile enough to get a large variety of shots. I use it paired with my G9 and use it is all conditions without fear of it being ruined by a little dust or moisture.