I wasn’t so excited until you showed your sample photos. Beautiful pictures and great lens!

I would like to add that the 100-400mm is also great for shooting dragonflies! In addition I bought the 40-150 f/2.8 Pro because of the brightness and portability. This is also a great lens to use on my EM1X.

Late to the party. Great honest review. Your images were a good example of its capabilities. Makes me think all the negative reviews could be blamed on user error. Also, I wish the 150-400 was just $3.5k!! Cheers

@thomasreed49

4 ай бұрын

I should think the 150 to 400 mil mm will come down to about £5000 They will want to keep the factory Going. Good luck anyway hope the price comes down for you.

I have this lens for 1 month now. I have to say that it is really worth the money of Euro 1299 I paid for it. Unfortunately the firmware update did not work on my E-M1 II, but it did on my E-M1 III. I heard many people complaining who have the same problems with the E-M1 II update. Otherwise with the E-M1 III I can shoot handheld at 400 mm with a 1/ 60 s. without any problem which should correspond to 4 stops if I calculated correctly.

I’am very happy with this lens, being older it is a lightweight one, don’t need a monopod anymore except when I use a converter 1.4x. Is is easy to walk with it and BIF photography; fantastic sharp pictures.

@UnluckyNewbie

3 жыл бұрын

How about sharpness at long end with mc-14 wide open?

@rinzevnrossum

3 жыл бұрын

@@UnluckyNewbie The resolution at 400mm is not fantastic; certainly not with the converter. When I shoot BIF, I prefer not to use the converter. With Stills it is, but only if the situation requires it. I shoot BIRDS with high shutter speeds (1 / 2000-1 / 5000sec). This keeps the Auto ISO low and I keep the aperture as low as possible. This is only possible in good daylight. (Kelvin >4000). I remove noise in the photos with TOPAZ De Noise AI. This works well.

@UnluckyNewbie

3 жыл бұрын

@@rinzevnrossum thank you for info

Very nice review!! I had been using the Panasonic 100-400 for a few years while waiting for an alternative, but it didn't take me long to decide to switch. It's true that the Olympus is a little bigger, and there's a slight aperture difference at the 100mm end (which quickly disappears in use...if I need to shoot at 100mm I'm probably not using this lens anyway, and the Panasonic needs to be stepped down a little to be as sharp as the Olympus!). Though I personally never had any problems with the Panasonic lens, I have read some horror stories about lens mount failures and Panasonic lens servicing issues (e.g. must be sent to Japan, cost to fix = cost of lens, etc.) Plus, the actual hands-on reviews show the Olympus to be sharper, and while it may not exactly have "Sync-IS" like the Pro lenses, it cooperates to some degree with the Olympus in-body IS, while with the Panasonic it's "either-or." Also the ability to use the teleconverters is HUGE, though I'm going to limit myself to the 1.4x. Most importantly though, the ProCapture feature of recent OM-D bodies only works in High mode (focus first shot only) with the Panasonic lens, vs. both High and Low (focus every shot) with the Olympus lens. I sold the Panasonic for almost half what I paid for it, which is pretty much consistent with my general experience. BTW, I bought the EM-1 MkIII (my third OM-D body) just before the JIP announcement, and of course the 100-400mm even after...no regrets here!!

@ianhrp

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the reply, its a brilliant lens and I love it for my motorsport, I would also stick (most of the time) to the 1.4 the 2x seems to loose quite a bit but its good to have it when needed.

True about the MFT size moaners. If they don't like it, no one's forcing them to buy it. Also, if they already have MFT no one's forcing them to buy the bigger lenses if they want to stick to the smaller ones. Also, these people totally miss another (rather obvious, really) point. You can have both small and large bodies plus both small and large lenses in the same system and interchange them as you need to. Some lenses, like this one, need to be physically bigger. You'd swear these people don't understand basic physics... And of course the equivalent lens would have to be even bigger on a bigger sensor system! Duh! You could have an EM1X with big telephoto lenses like this, but also have one of the tiny PENs (or one of the small Panasonics) with a pancake for travel. The extreme case of having a pancake on the EM1X might look a bit silly, and having this telephoto on a tiny PEN would also be poorly balanced, but far from unusable, and there are many more intermediate lens size combinations that would look/work just fine, while still keeping the size down. It's just people moaning just to moan I think.

@MichaelRedford

3 жыл бұрын

Agreed one of the main reasons I love M43 and my Pentax Q

I agree . had many FF Monsters - and I'm in love with this lens.

Top work Ian, great shots all round.

Just bought one. After my vlog to the sydney zoo i needed that reach. This is the best review ive watched along with Gordons one. Awsome bike ohotos too. Thanks

Interesting review especially as I shoot mainly motorsport and having moved over from Canon about 18 months ago. Like you I have to shot from the wrong side of the fence and it was reassuring to your results through the fencing. I do have one on order hoping it will turn up soon!

@ianhrp

3 жыл бұрын

A bit delayed but hope the lens has arrived and you have managed to use it. Hopefully the motorsport season won't be as restricted next year.

Thanks for this review. I’ve been wanting this lens for quite a while and think I’m ready to take the plunge!

I just fitted the dress ring from my 300mm f4 pro (when not using tripod ring) onto my 100-400 Olympus lens. Nice! I was trying to find the dress ring for the 100-400, but it does not exist.

1st time watching your videos, well done on not just showing the perfect pictures and giving what i see as a totally honest review, love the comment "if you dont like it dont buy it" ps. i bought it :)

Nice review, except the 150-400 price guess, but that was a guess 😀 Good job overall! Thank you.

UPDATE: I just pulled the plug and bought the 100-400, I have to wait til the end of December, but then I got this for my critter shooting in the spring. I have the Spider Holster setup, one EM1X with the 40-150 Pro on one hip, and now I will have the other EM1X and the 100-400 on the other hip :)

@ianhrp

3 жыл бұрын

Nice, has the lens arrived yet? What are your thoughts on it?

@ridealongwithrandy

3 жыл бұрын

@@ianhrp Yep, I have the lens now and have gone out for a couple shoots. It's not as sharp as my 300pro, but then that is not fair :) I enjoy being able to zoom which with the 300 one has to zoom with your feet. I have some learnin to do with this lens, however, I am pleased with it. www.flickr.com/photos/98163474@N04/50741717267/in/dateposted/

G/day IanHRP from Melbourne Australia. Thanks for the review. I'm now looking for that 800mm equivalent lens to compliment my 40-150 pro. Looking at your bike shots, what I liked about them you were shooting in overcast dull conditions. I'm into aviation photography air shows and airport action shots. I always shoot with the sun behind me so, I gather they will be sharp with this lens.

Great video! I have the 40-150 Pro, and the 300 pro. It is somewhat difficult to zoom with my feet with the 300, and the 40-150 does not have enough reach. I am seriously considering this lens for my critter shooting. Cheers!

My Oly 2x Teleconverter has almost no negative impact, it seems I got a good version. Buy it used and when you feel it's softening the image, get another and sell the old one. You ought to get lucky at one point.

Great Review, and continued success!

How is it for astro photography or as an astrography lens ?

de stabilisatie van de camera en de lens werken niet samen met een om-1, hier moet je de stabilisatie van de lens uitzetten, anders wobbeld die wel degelijk

Thanks for sharing your comments and images Ian - very helpful. Now a question if you don't mind. I'm shooting Canon with a 7D mkii and a 1Dx, more or less always coupled to a Canon 100-400 L mkii. Like you I "shoot" mainly motorsports ( bikes and car rallies) and wildlife (birds and birds in flight usually) and I live in the Isle of Man, so very high speed focus is a must - as you can imagine. As I'm now in my mid-seventies I am starting to notice the weight of my Canon set up and thinking of making the change to Olympus. Do you know how, say, the M1 mkiii and the 100-400 compare with what I am using at the moment? Some folk seem to think the Olympus system is brilliant and others rubbish! As I can't try before I buy ( no Olympus dealer here) I am looking for all the advice I can get.

@kbroadey

3 жыл бұрын

I just flogged all my Canon kit on eBay (7D and 70-300 "almost-an-L" being of particular relevance to your question, but lots of other glass too) and got an OM-D E-M1 mkII and a set of standard lenses (9-18, 14-150, 75-135), and I'm getting some great shot - and a lot less back-ache carrying it all around! Take the leap - what's the worst that can happen?!

@ianhrp

3 жыл бұрын

Hi thanks for the comment I moved from the Canon 70d mk2 to Olympus and have no regrets. If you are shooting mainly sports/wildlife I would look at the EM1x some good deals on it most the time and it’s aimed at sports and is meant to have excellent tracking and focus.

@ericlarsen1721

3 жыл бұрын

Malcom, I'll chime in since I swapped my Canon 7D MkII + Canon 100-400mm zoom for the very same reasons - namely weight. I use the EM1- MkII and MkIII with the Panasonic-Leica 100-400mm with excellent results (you can see examples on my 500px @LDO6295). This very weekend I am testing this new Olympus 100-400mm from Lensrentals.com. I agree with everything Ian says about it. Equal or better in every way to the Panny and allows teleconverters. Outstanding lens so far. You will give up nothing except bulk by leaving Canon. I have zero regrets. Hope this helps.

$2500 in New Zealand & not available yet, I'm waiting lol

great work!

I am considering this lens, great review. Wondering if after this amount of time, you are still finding it does what you need?

Hi ianhrp Thank you for the video and your thoughts on this Lens. You said that you bought the lens aprox two weeks or so ago. Can you tell me where you bought it. I had the Lens on back order with Amazon but they told me about the same time as you purchased yours that the ones they had were all damaged and they reimbursed me. I then pre-ordered from another UK camera store and they say they are still waiting for them to come in, all a bit confusing. Cant wait for mine for wildlife. ( by the way it was a Heron not a crane LoL ) Subscribed to your channel a while back great review. Best Wishes Veronica

@ianhrp

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks you I got mine from Clifton Cameras arrived a day after release. 😁

@bonjen1

3 жыл бұрын

@@ianhrp Thank you, I have ordered mine from the same camera shop, I guess it must be coming with the second batch. Lets hope there isn't a second lockdown as I will never get to use it. Thanks again Veronica

@TheDelusionalMind

3 жыл бұрын

@@bonjen1 I ordered mine from Amazon on the 1st September and it arrived at my door the following day 2nd September.

Great review. Just watched your estimated price for the new fixed aperture lens. Way off the mark but your price estimate was in my opinion realistic

Thank you a lot, i want to buy this lens too,i am semi prof and hobby. So this is the perfect lens.

@ianhrp

3 жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

I’ve been looking at getting an Olympus camera and this lens. But as you said they have been bought out. And the company that bought them (jip) doesn’t have a good track record. :( so I’m unsure about it now.

Me! From the future! The new 150 400 is………….nearly £7.000……nice but very expensive!😢

HiYa! I'm looking at this lens- I have the Panasonic Lumix 100-400. Why did you say you hate it?? (I heard I'll be happier with AF with Olympus.) Thanks!!

@ianhrp

3 жыл бұрын

I just could not get on with the Pano lens, I found the image quality wasn't great and the stiffness of the lens when zooming was really annoying. The Olympus lens is miles better in my opinion

@deborahturski5095

3 жыл бұрын

@@ianhrp Sold! Hoping it will be available soon here.(US)

Hi Ian, I'm an enthusiast and have been shooting the Zuiko 75-300mm with an Olympus EM5 and it seems to be my favourite lens to shoot with but it can be a little soft when full out at 300mm. Not always but I have noticed it enough times. Do you consider the 100-400mm demo'd here to be a significant step up from the 100-300mm? Thanks, Rob Lol... I was writing my question out before the end of your video and yes, it sounds like it would be a a significant step up.

@ianhrp

3 жыл бұрын

Haha, yep having used the 75-300 this is a major upgrade. I would highly recommend the update :)

@kbdplr1965

3 жыл бұрын

@@ianhrp Thanks for your reply. Now to find the funds lol.

@Chris-Brown-

Жыл бұрын

I have both the 75-300 it's great, 100-400 is better

@TienTran-bi1jv

Жыл бұрын

​@@Chris-Brown-is it way better that worth the money and weight?

couldn't agree more about the pixel peeping nonsense

Just seen this October 2021 Good review but made me laugh when you guessed the price of the new 150 -400 .

Thanks for the review. I'm curious do you use continuous autofocus? Especially on the shots where the bikes were coming towards you.

@ianhrp

3 жыл бұрын

Yes they were shot using continues focus. I turn that off for panning shots most the time but the bikes coming directly towards the camera would be with continues.

@MichaelRedford

3 жыл бұрын

I’d go manual with that shot and just keep the bikes passing the apex in focus

@UnluckyNewbie

3 жыл бұрын

@@ianhrp you use c-af+tracking or just area c-af?

Excellent Review and Great Images! I love my em1.3 and use it with the Leica 100-400mm. I’m also disappointed with the PanaLeica and thinking to buy the Oly.

@iklop1478

3 жыл бұрын

why are you disappointed with the PanaLeica 100-400?

@Suabiobr

3 жыл бұрын

@@iklop1478 Not so Sharp.

@iklop1478

3 жыл бұрын

@@Suabiobr All the way or just at 400?

@Suabiobr

3 жыл бұрын

@@iklop1478 between 300 and 400

@iklop1478

3 жыл бұрын

@@Suabiobr Thank you, hope the Olympus will be better

Little did he know it will be £6500 a PRO lens

@ianhrp

3 жыл бұрын

I was only slightly off 😁

Hi! What was the issue with the Panasonic 100-400mm? I use a GH5. Thanks in advance!

@ianhrp

3 жыл бұрын

I think I got one of the versions that was very stiff and optically (for me) the Olympus is sharper and nice to use and handle.

@rudolfabelin383

3 жыл бұрын

@@ianhrp Thanks! I've only tried the Leica once in a store, after reading a lot of reviews. It sure was stiff on the zoom. I want to do video as well and zoom smoothly. In my opinion they need a Mk II.

@brianlaunchbury4491

3 жыл бұрын

I have an early panny 100-400mm it's great glass but the zoom action makes it feel like a prime. The Oly is a breath of fresh air. It's a bit bigger and heavier but it zooms, uses the t/c's and has better glass. It's an easy choice.

@michaelhall2709

3 жыл бұрын

ianhrp I’ve been using the Panasonic for two years now and have few complaints. I don’t doubt that the zoom ring issues that others have complained about are real; I just haven’t experienced them myself. The Olympus is doubtless better-made, but it’s also bigger, heavier, and slower. The only real advantage photographically is the option of using a teleconverter. That’s not enough to get me to make the jump, at least for now.

Hi Just watching this video and yet subscriber but a olympus shooter for about 3years(omd em10 mk2 and omd em1 mk2) I really like yoyr perspektive on all the moaners and doomsday prophets on olympus and mft. Will watch your videos and maybe subscribe.

Wonder why you hate the Panaleica 100-400mm lens?...I have only a GX85 and a Lumix 100-300mm and getting quite sharp images for not so fast moving subjects and it is excellent for macrophotography of bees,wasps,bugs and butterflies...The Panaleica 100-400mm is supposed to be better than the Lumix 100-300 mm and paired with Lumix G9 has the dual IS option giving an image stabilization of atleast over 6 .5 stops...and that would mean that lower shutter speeds are possible to handhold ( for still subjects)....The Olympus lens lack of sync IS is a big dealbreaker for handholding videos.

Why no synch is? ... ( because it is no pro 😤)

Great video! Did you notice the vignetting to be an issue? The samples seem pretty drastic for my preference.

@Swaggerlot

2 жыл бұрын

I suspect that quite a few of the bike shots were through the fence and that's what you are seeing.

You guessed wrong on the price of the 150-400

Pretty apparent vignetting but that can be fixed in post.

@DarwinFanF

3 жыл бұрын

If you don't mind, how do you typically fix vignetting at post?

@andreasthegreat8509

3 жыл бұрын

@@DarwinFanF there’s usually a tool for it in every raw editor

@gregm6894

2 жыл бұрын

The vignetting in the images shown was done in post. I have this lens, and vignetting is negligible.

Heron

title is wrong - says 100-500 :-(

@ianhrp

3 жыл бұрын

I know and only noticed when I uploaded and it went live 😳☹️

Looks like a heavy vignette on images from this lens.

Not a crane a heron

Chicken hairs? Aha :)

27minutes video of talking and showing just bad wildlife photos imho. if you wanna prove a point, do it without a doubt. don't show sub mediocre photos talking about how good the lens is.