I'm looking for the best possible IQ in a reasonable size and price.
Criteria:
1) excellent IQ
2) price - under $1000 would be nice
3) relatively small size - much smaller than the Canon 300f4
4) I don't care if it's MF and needs an adapter
I simply love the Panasonic 100-300. That's probably not what you had in mind, but it's very small, AF is rather snappy, fits your budget, and the IQ actually suprised me... My husband shot it while I was taking photos of puffins, and the results he got (from my E-P3) were excellent.
What kind of telephoto are we talking about? I mean, the Olympus 75mm F1.8 is telephoto but I suspect you're after something longer, right?
Must is be 300mm or should it be 300mm equivalent? In theory one could say that everything above 40mm or so on the EM-5 would count as telephoto, 40mm = 80mm in terms of 35mm film so short telephoto.
I'm using a Nikon AF 180mm F2.8 on the EM-5, of course manual focus but it works nicely. It's 360mm equivalent.
I was never impressed by the zuiko 300f4.5; though some liked it. I think canon L offering (fd 300f4L ?) was a bit better.
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There is the 4/3 50-200 and 300f2.8 which are both very good If 200 is long enough then perhaps the pre swd 50-200 is the best bet with regards to size/resolution. I think they can be found for $600.
Antje wrote:
I simply love the Panasonic 100-300. That's probably not what you had in mind, but it's very small, AF is rather snappy, fits your budget, and the IQ actually suprised me... My husband shot it while I was taking photos of puffins, and the results he got (from my E-P3) were excellent.
I seldom see the Oly 75-300 mentioned. Is it because nobody buys it because it it costs more or because it isn't as good as the Pany 100-300? It does appear to be a bit more compact, has the 25mm extra on the short end, but a fraction of a stop slower at the long end. People either hate the Pany or love it, but nobody seems to care either way about the Oly I'm still sticking with the Oly 45-150, which is so-so, and a Pentax 200, which has promise if I can learn to use it, but waiting for a native long prime. I also had a thread on this subject: https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1141136/2#10894654
I recall seeing comparisons where the Oly is the best one but it has kind of cheap build from the looks of it and it has no OIS so almost useless for Panny shooters.
From what I've seen/read the m43 zoom long lenses (200 or 300mm) are good in the center, but poor across the frame, especially at the longer focal lengths.
So I'm really looking at alternatives that can be adapted. I might try the Oly 75-300 or Pany 100-300 to see if it is "good enough" for me, before messing with all the alts.
Antje wrote:
I simply love the Panasonic 100-300. That's probably not what you had in mind, but it's very small, AF is rather snappy, fits your budget, and the IQ actually suprised me... My husband shot it while I was taking photos of puffins, and the results he got (from my E-P3) were excellent.
Thanks for the link.
After looking at the 100% crop, I'm thinking that it may be what I'm looking for.
When I consider that the 100-300 zoom is the full frame equivalent of a 200-600mm lens, I get some perspective on what is actually being achieved for a relatively low price. It really is impressive, even if it doesn't compare to the IQ from full frame with the supertele lenses.
I just wish that they made a 200f4 or 300f4 prime for m43 with the best possible IQ for a reasonable price.
The more I think about it the more I want something like the Canon 200mm f2.8 L.
Superb IQ, fast AF, fast aperture, relatively light, relatively inexpensive - now I just need an Oly version for micro 4/3 that's smaller. Add an extender and you have my perfect long telephoto kit.
surf monkey wrote:
Thanks for the link.
After looking at the 100% crop, I'm thinking that it may be what I'm looking for.
When I consider that the 100-300 zoom is the full frame equivalent of a 200-600mm lens, I get some perspective on what is actually being achieved for a relatively low price. It really is impressive, even if it doesn't compare to the IQ from full frame with the supertele lenses.
I just wish that they made a 200f4 or 300f4 prime for m43 with the best possible IQ for a reasonable price.
Keep in mind though that this was at ISO1600 on an E-P3 when you compare IQ.
It is cheap and weight around 3 pounds. It has aperture ring so you can use any adapter. Sharp wide open and really really sharp at f5.6. Manual focus has a looooooong throw. That can be good or bad depending on your preferences.
It can focus really close in case you are into bugs and flying/crawling stuff.
Optically the 75-300 is the better of the two in regards to the Panasonic 100-300. The Panasonic is more popular because its cheaper. The Panasonic has has some fringing issues. But the cost difference makes it hard to ignore.
Show me some of your better shots with the 75-300 and I will show you mine with the 100-300.
Steve Beck wrote:
Optically the 75-300 is the better of the two in regards to the Panasonic 100-300. The Panasonic is more popular because its cheaper. The Panasonic has has some fringing issues. But the cost difference makes it hard to ignore.
Bobby and Steve - I'd really like to see that shootout between the Oly and Pany long zooms - perhaps not in this thread but in a dedicated thread? Please do!
Steve Beck wrote:
Optically the 75-300 is the better of the two in regards to the Panasonic 100-300. The Panasonic is more popular because its cheaper. The Panasonic has has some fringing issues. But the cost difference makes it hard to ignore.
Also the Oly is the slower lens. f4.8 - f6.7 doesn't appeal to me. But if at 300mm the Oly makes up for the onset of diffraction by simply being a sharper lens, then that would change things a bit.
I'm still sticking with the Oly 45-150, which is so-so, and a Pentax 200, which has promise if I can learn to use it, but waiting for a native long prime. I also had a thread on this subject: