Panasonic unveils its first L-mount zoom lens that reaches 500mm, with industry-leading stabilization performance

• Panasonic's longest-reaching telephoto zoom, up to 500mm
• Works with 1.4x and 2x teleconverters, extending reach up to 1000mm
• Industry-leading 7EV optical image stabilization performance

Panasonic finally has a super telephoto lens in its L-mount lineup following the introduction of the Lumix S 100-500mm F5-7.1 O.I.S.

Designed to work with full-frame cameras such as the Lumix S1 II, the 100-500mm is the first lens by Panasonic that zooms up to 500mm, plus it works with Panasonic's 1.4x and 2x teleconverters, increasing that zoom range up to 1000mm.

I've used numerous telephoto zooms with this sort of focal length range before – including the Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S – and they are a versatile choice for enthusiast wildlife photography and grassroots sports.

The 100-500mm has multiple features that grabbed my attention when Panasonic presented the lens to me. For one, it is particularly compact and lightweight for this type of lens, measuring just 7.72inches / 196.1mm in length and tipping the scales at 2.83lb / 1,285g.

It also looks like it will handle really well, with a rugged weather-resistant design, an array of useful external controls for zoom and focusing, plus what Panasonic says is industry-leading optical stabilization (OIS) performance.

Thanks to a new dual-ball support, OIS is rated up to 7EV. Paired with a Lumix camera and sensor-based stabilization, I would expect unmatched image stabilization performance (in the full-frame sensor format), ideal for handheld use.

An all-new Tight-Smooth ring adjusts the zoom tension, providing the response you need based on the scenario, from delicate smooth zooms for filming to fast changes. The lens can also switch between a linear and non-linear response, meaning it's possible to manually focus while zooming.

Minimum focus is 2.62ft / 0.8m at the wide end or 4.92ft / 1.5m when zoomed in, delivering a 0.36x maximum magnification – that's some decent close focusing skills. Autofocus is supposedly quick, accurate, and silent, while focus breathing is suppressed, too.

Overall, the lens looks like it will handle beautifully for stills and video and for a range of scenarios. However, there's one major drawback for me – the maximum aperture.

At 100mm, the maximum aperture is f/5, while at 500mm it's reduced to f/7.1. I have no problem with the aperture regarding depth of field – it'll be shallow enough to isolate subjects and make for lovely background blur at those focal lengths.

The problem I have is the shutter speeds available at those focal lengths. If I'm photographing wildlife, I want the biggest possible aperture for the fastest possible shutter speeds to freeze the action, and the 100-500mm is limited in this regard.

That maximum aperture also limits the usefulness of the teleconverters, which only further reduce the maximum aperture available by 1 and 2 stops, respectively.

I've not had my hands on the lens yet, so I cannot comment on the optical quality either, but let's review its price and where it sits among the other telephoto lens options now available for L-mount cameras.

A compelling telephoto?

The Panasonic Lumix S 100-500mm F5-7.1 O.I.S lens costs $2,099 / £1,799 and sales start in October (Australia pricing TBC). That pricing, when considering the limited maximum aperture, indicates the kind of super-sharp optical quality I'd expect.

It fills a big gap in Panasonic's full-frame lens range, becoming the top super telephoto L-mount Panasonic lens, with the longest reach. However, the L-mount alliance comprises 10 members, most of which make lenses that are directly compatible with Panasonic cameras. These included Sigma, Leica, and, most recently, Viltrox.

Sigma alone offers a number of alternatives: the 500mm F5.6 prime, which is just a little heavier and longer than Panasonic's, but way pricier by 50%.

Then there's the versatile 150-600mm F5-6.3, which is much heavier and much larger, but around 50% cheaper – don't expect optical quality to match Panasonic's either.

Probably the most obvious alternative is the Sigma 60-600mm F4.5-6.3, which costs just 10% more and has a wider zoom range. However, it is 100% heavier and 50% longer.

When you consider those alternatives, it's clear that Panasonic has prioritized a compact and rugged design and excellent handling, at the cost of a bright aperture. If that major drawback doesn't put you off, then Panasonic's 100-500mm could well be worth looking into.

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