biglouis Posted May 7, 2016 Share #1  Posted May 7, 2016 Advertisement (gone after registration) Panasonic has released yet another Leica branded lens, the Leica DG 100-400. These lenses, we are told, are designed in conjunction with, tested and manufactured under conditions approved by Leica. The lens certainly looks like-a-Leica with its handsome black metal body and Leica typeface for markings, including the yellow focal length designator and a small red dot for aligning the lens with the mount.  After five months on a pre-order list, I finally got mine a few days ago.  Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Egyptian Goose, Regent's Canal, 400mm iso200 f6.3 1/320  I bought the lens because I am a weekend and backyard birder - although I hope to spread my wings a little and go farther afield with this lens. I find bird photography an interesting challenge.  But, I am no Doug Herr (kudos!) - so I am not posting to make claims about my photographs only the opportunity the lens affords old guys like me who cannot possibly lift a N or C birding lens, let alone their associated laptop-sized cameras. The 100-400 weighs under a kilogram and matches nicely to my Panasonic GX8 (which incidentally has benefited greatly the association with Leica in both directions, imho). Together I can actually hand hold and with the crop factor I get a 800mm equivalent reach - which is almost unheard of in a zoom lens.  Gosling and parent, Regent's Canal, 400mm iso1600 f6.3 1/800  Now, I know I am not going to convert Leica purists and indeed the mods may even remove this post as not being pukka Leica but firstly, the lens produces Leica-like saturation and contrast and, secondly, there may be other members who have the same issues with weight as me and might find this lens/camera combination of interest - especially compared to their existing heavy, manual Leica R lenses. But I am not on a soap box about this - each to his own is my philosophy.  Coot (I think) with a newly hatched chick, shot from about 30 feet this is close to a 100% crop, 400mm iso400 f8.0 1/640  On the way back from photographing birds on the Regent's Canal in London today I came across this young artist having a music video shot in a favourite location under one of the railway arches. It is not such a bad general lens, either.  Underneath The Arches, 280mm iso400 f6.3 1/250  All photographs shot on my Panasonic GX8 which seems to be very Leica-like in its build... Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Egyptian Goose, Regent's Canal, 400mm iso200 f6.3 1/320  I bought the lens because I am a weekend and backyard birder - although I hope to spread my wings a little and go farther afield with this lens. I find bird photography an interesting challenge.  But, I am no Doug Herr (kudos!) - so I am not posting to make claims about my photographs only the opportunity the lens affords old guys like me who cannot possibly lift a N or C birding lens, let alone their associated laptop-sized cameras. The 100-400 weighs under a kilogram and matches nicely to my Panasonic GX8 (which incidentally has benefited greatly the association with Leica in both directions, imho). Together I can actually hand hold and with the crop factor I get a 800mm equivalent reach - which is almost unheard of in a zoom lens.  Gosling and parent, Regent's Canal, 400mm iso1600 f6.3 1/800  Now, I know I am not going to convert Leica purists and indeed the mods may even remove this post as not being pukka Leica but firstly, the lens produces Leica-like saturation and contrast and, secondly, there may be other members who have the same issues with weight as me and might find this lens/camera combination of interest - especially compared to their existing heavy, manual Leica R lenses. But I am not on a soap box about this - each to his own is my philosophy.  Coot (I think) with a newly hatched chick, shot from about 30 feet this is close to a 100% crop, 400mm iso400 f8.0 1/640  On the way back from photographing birds on the Regent's Canal in London today I came across this young artist having a music video shot in a favourite location under one of the railway arches. It is not such a bad general lens, either.  Underneath The Arches, 280mm iso400 f6.3 1/250  All photographs shot on my Panasonic GX8 which seems to be very Leica-like in its build... ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/260238-leica-dg-vario-elmar-100-400-f40-63-asph/?do=findComment&comment=3040782'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 7, 2016 Posted May 7, 2016 Hi biglouis, Take a look here Leica DG Vario Elmar 100-400 f4.0-6.3 ASPH. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
stuny Posted May 9, 2016 Share #2 Â Posted May 9, 2016 Lovely. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
biglouis Posted May 9, 2016 Author Share #3 Â Posted May 9, 2016 Lovely. Â Thanks, Stuart. Long time, no post from me - although I do occasionally post in the Leica Q thread photo thread. Â LouisB Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colmac Posted October 25, 2016 Share #4 Â Posted October 25, 2016 Excellent pictures and pertinent points about hauling gear around the countryside Louis. I've been involved in voluntary bird surveys in Southern Germany over the past years. In addition to monitoring particular species (raptors, black storks and this winter cormorants) I occasionally photograph birds by poking a D-Lux 5 into the scope's eyepiece albeit without an adapter - no time for that. This works reasonably well, but it is fiddly and quite unreliable. After missing a Pallid Harrier earlier this year I started to look at N & C APSC telephoto combos but just couldn't face that extra weight. Thanks to your post I will now seriously consider the MFT option and perhaps acquire more 'Leica' glass. Col Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iduna Posted October 26, 2016 Share #5 Â Posted October 26, 2016 Louis, Â very nice result with that lens. I think it is fun to shoot with it and its encouraging potential. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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