Review on 📷 Panasonic LUMIX G VARIO 100-300mm F4.0-5.6 MEGA O.I.S H-FS100300 - International Version (No Warranty) - Professional Telephoto Lens for Stunning Captures by James Roberts

Before I pretty much switched to a Micro 4/3 system I was a full frame professional photographer with a Canon 5D MK 3 and a beefy Canon L 100-400mm lens. As I got older, this gear got heavier and harder to carry. Looking for something lighter but better quality, I bought a Panasonic GH3 with 12-35 and 35-100 Lumix lenses: an expensive combination but a simple marvel of image quality. For wildlife and bird shots, you still need a long telephoto lens. , I decided to try the Lumix 100-300mm lens, although I was put off by the relatively low price compared to the flagship 12-35 and 35-100 lenses. When the lens arrived I found that it was made in Japan (a good mark of quality), well built, with a smooth slide frame, sturdy although relatively light, and ergonomically designed to fit the GH3 in a hand-permitting manner easy to hold, even when fully extended. Even more surprising was that I was able to get very clear handheld shots at full muzzle extension (equivalent to 600 full frames) at 1/250 second. This made me realize that the stabilization system built into the lens really works. The real advantage of this lens, however, is its incredibly high resolution in the central focus areas. Since I almost always crop images in Photoshop CS6, I haven't had the opportunity or need to evaluate the sharpness at the edge of my images when digitally processing raw photos. Suffice it to say I can do excellent 11x17 enlargements with 50% crop at a full 600 handheld equivalent, which is an amazing feat for this lens.