M.Zuiko 100-400mm f/5-6.3 for WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY REVIEW
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- Опубліковано 24 лип 2024
- This is a review of the M.Zuiko 100-400mm f/5-6.3 lens from Olympus and how it performs for wildlife photography. I've had this zoom telephoto lens for a few weeks on loan from Olympus and in this video, I share how it has performed for me as a wildlife photographer.
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Jump to:
0:00 Intro
0:39 Intro Video
1:20 Lens Specs
3:13 Performance in the Field
4:56 Sharpness
5:40 Auto Focus
6:29 Tele Macro
7:18 My Main Issue with the Lens
7:34 IS Doesn't Sync with IBIS
9:27 IS Video
10:40 300mm f/4 of 100-400mm f/5-6.3 for Wildlife Photography?
12:54 Photos taken with the 100-400mm
12:39 Watch Next
Other Videos using the Olympus 100-400 lens:
M.Zuiko 100-400mm as a TeleMacro: • Tele Macro with the Ve...
M.Zuiko 100-400mm in the Rain: • Olympus 100-400mm in H...
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In my opinion, this is the best and most comprehensive review of this zoom lens. Thanks @espenhelland for taking the time to do and sharing it.
Thank you very much Oriol 🙂
A very good unbiased real world review. Thanks Espen.
I’ve watched two of your videos just now and this is an easy decision to subscribe. Excellent content and just awesome imaging. Thanks.
Thank you 🙂
Another great review , thanks
Great review and lovely photos Espen, I've tried the 300 f4 which are a lovely piece of gear!
Love the lens. I use it with the 2.0 teleconverter. 1600 mm (ff) reach.
You are the only one who I have ever heard use the phase " circle of fear" in bird photography. So true. Olympus gear will keep you in reach. Thanks again.
I already have the 300 f4 pro but in terms of reach, this lens with the mc20 can get you to 1600mm which is quite attractive if u r shooting water birds which can be very far away. Even 1200mm on that 300 f4 with 2 times can’t sometimes be not long enough. How did you find that 100-400 lens with mc20 ? The image quality and autofocus performance?
Beautiful photos. Thank you.
I’m looking both at this lens and the 300mm. As a starting wildlife photographer this video told me exactly what I wanted to know. Thanks so much!
Very helpful and useful video, thanks for sharing.
Thank you :)
This lens is definitely on my list of things I need in my gear bag and I've just found your UA-cam channel while researching it.
I actually have the 70-300 Zuiko lens from the 4/3 system that I presently use with a 4/3 - m4/3 adapter for dedicated wildlife photography.
It was great paired with my old E-5 but it's a bit on the heavy side; even with an E-M1 Mk III body.
I hate to part with good glass but I think it may be time.
What a great review.
I look forward to checking out your Instagram feed and more of your videos.
Nice information sir🔥🔥
Wathed your clip 2 times, the first time forget to subscribe, and now subscribed. Great details explanation, hope you can get a 2x teleconverter and take a few demo short at different light condition. Thanks and great job.
Great flexible lens so light and versatile Awesome review 👍👍👍
Absolutely! Thanks :)
Great revue and honest - I appreciate!
As always a very informative video also just an idea would a beanbag not help with handshake being a large lens at ground level, it’s only a thought.
I have the 100-400 Panasonica Leica, the OM lens wasn't available when I got it. I have both Panasonic G9 and OM-D cameras and the lens works great, the dual IS works with the G9, but the OM-D 5 III also works great albeit with a grip added. A long lens like this really can use the dual IS, maybe someday I'll spurge on the 150-400 and a EM1-X or it's replacement.
Hi Espen, love your blogs, before you were an OM ambassador you did this review on the 100-400 5.6, im not a full on bird photographer but like to do some now and then and am thinking of getting the 100-400 and was wondering of how it would fare with the new OM1! and new software, could be another short video. keep up the good work Claude
Make sure to have latest fw on body and maybe lens so stabilization can work with body. You might also need to have IS on auto/some different setting
I would really love seeing a comparison from you between the new olympus 150-400 pro lens and this one! Thanks very much for the hands on video, it eager me to get a tele lense like this so i can make wildlife photos in a respectful distance to the animals.
I hope to try that lens out one day!
Good balanced review, I have had the lens for three weeks and I get better each time I use it. At the moment I can not afford the 300 and certainly not the 150-400 so this lens will have to do. It has taken my bird photography up a notch or two but nowhere near yours. Thanks again.
Thank you :)
Great summary review of the Olympus 100-400/5.0-6.3. I own this lens and also the 300/4.0 lens. I pre-ordered both and also currently have the 150-400/4.5 on pre-order. Using the 300/4.0 for a reference point is logical. I agree that the 300/4.0 is a better lens with better resolution, better low light ability and faster AF. Still I love the 100-400/5.0-6.3 because of it is more versatile and not having to use a teleconverter to get out to 400mm. My current kit has the 100-400/5.0-6.3 paired with the 12-100/4.0. With these two lenses in a small backpack I can go out hiking out in nature and have everything covered. I can see the upcoming 150-400/4.5 as being a "game-changer". It should I hope have the image quality of the 300 and the versatility of the 100-400. Yes I don't know if I will want to go out hiking out in nature all day with the 150-400/4.5 lens as part of my kit. It is so great to have so many good to great choices. I enjoyed the video.
Thanks! Just got the 12-100 as well, such a nice edition to my gear 👌
@@EspenHelland Ever since I paired the 12-100/4.0 with the 100-150/5.0-6.3 I have really been using both lenses a lot. I enjoy you videos. Stay healthy and wishing you a great 2021.
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.
Nice review Espen! The lens hood is also working on the 40-150mm F2.8 Pro.
Thanks! 👍
Thank you a lot. I am going to buy the 300mm. 150-400 is out of my budget. Now, I have only a EM5mk3 body (and no planes to upgrade soon). I wanted to ask you how the 300mm handles with the EM5. Is it usable?
I think your review is spot on, the 300mm is a cracking lens super fast focus and better in low light but I do really appreciate the flexibility of the 100-400mm when photographing birds in flight.
The 300mm was on loan but so easy to use, I have to work a little harder with the 100-400mm but it is far more flexible and in view of the £6500 required for the new 150-400mm pro I will have to be content with 100-400mm.
Love the videos!
Thank you very much John! the high price of the 150-400mm is far away from my budget as well
@@EspenHelland Have you tried it out yet (150-400)?
Olympus' pricing on the 150-400 verges on the "incredible". And yet there seem to be plenty of photographers who have bought it, e.g. Simon Eardley and Mike Lane. Since I have been a Canon user from the beginning, considering the switch to 4/3rds took me to OM Systems. I would be wanting to buy the OM-1 camera, for sure. That would be $2,000, and then to add to that $7,500....well now we are talking about serious money!
A really interesting lens. An interesting system that I will take a closer look at soon. After owning many different full frame cameras. Nice video - and photos that inspire me personally to try wildlife. Best regards SLEH
Great to hear! Good luck
awesome video ive got my order in for the new olymus om1 and the 100-400 but have t wait for camera body boohoo but ok at least still keep my nikon setup as i was originally looking at canon r6 with ef adapter ef extender and ef 100-400 lens but feel in long run still be a bit heavy and i have to sell nikon so ive compromised and getting new om1 and still use nikon too have u got the new om1 whats opinion of it how deep is the grip and also how bright can u make the lcd screen and is the text a large size as well never had olympus so need figure out how to set up
Hi Tim. Great review! I would like to ask you for advice. What telephoto zoom would you choose for a Safari trip in Africa: the Zuiko 100-400mm f5-6.3 OR the Zuiko 40-150 f2.8 PRO + MC-20 2X? Thanks!!
Sorry never tried the 40-150 x2 combo
Ok so I agreed with you and went with a 300mm f2.8 considered in excellent shape from a major used camera reseller and saved a third. So my next question is 1.4 or 2.0 teleconverter. Or does it matter with the exception of distance.
Yeah I think they’re both supposed to be good, I have the 1.4 but will probably get the 2x at some point.
Robin Wong reckons the Lens takes care of pitch and yaw. The Olympus body takes care of roll.
How do I go about to set up my camera for this? I have mine set to setting 1 - stabilization in all direction on the camera and get good results, but I'd like to try my way around.
So who has the auto throttle?
I think only for the top models, incl E-M5III
Great video, looking at Olympus in 2021, do you feel that the future of Olympus is still solid? I am older and really looking to continue my wildlife shooing at a lighter weight system.
Looks like it to me, but you never know for sure with any company these days.
I should have commented earlier, but this was very very helpful as I was getting into the Olympus system for my photography. I started with the 100-400, but found that in Costa Rica, I was really wishing for a faster aperture lens. As a side note, I was also in the Drake Bay area and used your videos there to help frame my thought processes. At any rate, based on your commentary at the end, I finally was able to find a used 300 F4 at a good price and have been very pleased with the results. My question for you is that I've noticed you frequently used the 300 with the 1.4x teleconverter. If I have both the 100-400 and the 300, is there much utility to also getting the teleconverter? My thought is that 300+1.4 = 420mm @ F5.6. vs 400mm @ F 6.3 isn't much difference. But if I still get the excellent sharpness/contrast of the 300 at that focal length, it might be very very useful. And I can always try the TC on the 100-400 for a lot of reach in bright light.
Any thoughts from someone who's much more experienced than I am?
Thanks for the videos.
Thanks a lot, glad you found use of the videos for your Costa Rica trip! Strictly speaking I don’t think you need to get the converter as well, but it depends how you shoot. If you’re taking your 300 in your camera bag it’s a lot extra to carry the 100-400 as well instead of just a 1.4x. Just a personal choice really. Though probably a bit better quality on the 300 with 1.4
I am just wondering on the IS for this lense. I have the E-M1 III with this lense, and i am wondering if it is more beneficial to run the IS on the lense only, or the IS on the camera body only. I found that if i ran both the image was a bit more blurry in general. I was wondering what your thoughts were on this and if you can give me any insights with it! :D Also great video, very informative!
Dual IS can be used in Panasonic G85 or newer Pana bodies.
Can you recommend monopod/tripod and ballhead for smooth bird tracking in 800mm equivalent?
Sorry, not familiar with many tripod brands. I mostly shoot handheld.
Awesome and instructive video!! When you had to choose between this (or the Panasonic) 100-400mm and the 40-150Pro 2.8 (incl. MC-20), what would be your choice???
Thank you 🙂 good question, the 40-150 f/2.8 is an amazing lens, but I haven’t tried it with the 2x converter. If you photograph mostly small birds I’d probably for for the 100-400mm, but if you also photograph larger mammals and perhaps landscapes I’d probably go for the 40-150mm
@@EspenHelland I just added the 100-400 to my collection!!! Now hopefully the bad weather in the Netherlands will clear up, and I'm allmost good to go!
Amazing image at 8:50. Love it. My God. Image at 13:26 is award winning to me. Precious. I totally share same taste like you. I do love to reach the subject very close, but I do love capturing the surrounding. In fact, in my opinion, it is wat makes it different from one picture (moment) to another. Just capturing a portrait of an animal is somehow boring and there is an "obsession" to do it so when I watch pictures. I use a 70-300 from many years ago and for sure I want to have more reach, but during the years I have learnt to appreciate how important is to include the subject in its habitat, at a point that a protrait image has to be very good to tell me something. But including the surrounding involves you in Nature completely, in that moment where you were taking the image. Regards.
Thank you very much 🙏🙂 yea my it’s easy to get repetitive with the standard close up
The lens ois also overrides the ibis. So you can't even turn off the ois, and use the cameras ibis on itself. I had the 75-300mm, and I think it's at 6.7 on 300mm. So puffins in low light, didn't go well 😬 I did manage to get a photo in flight, only a little bit blurred 💪 I love to shoot the moon at F8-11. Do you think I should get this, or also go for the 300mm? Or wait to see if Oms comes with a rumored 400mm f2.8? 🤔
Hard to say what’s best for you, but I love my combo of a 40-150 and a 300mm! 🙂
Espen, great video. Have a youtube channel as well and long time shooter of m43. I am curious how to contact Olympus for a loaner camera? USA based. Really want the longer reach. I shoot the 100-400 Panasonic mostly or an adapted 150-600. Thanks Stafford.
Thanks! They might have regional offices, I'd try to get in touch with someone local. They do promotional testing of their gear sometimes. On this occasion they approached me.
@@EspenHelland ahh awsome, thanks again !
I have both lenses. My experience is exactly the same as yours. The 300/4 is “better”, but I really like the versatility of the zoom. Rather than buying both lenses, I wish I had put the money towards a 150-400.
Yeah I want the 150-400 too!
Yeah I want...no, NEED, the 150-400 too!
I have recently purchased an EM10 mk3 kit with the ED40-150R (good for Dragonflies), a 75-300 (a bit disappointing at 300) and was thinking about the 100-400. Is it too heavy for the EM 10 if so why ?
It’s a light lens, might look a bit weird on such a small body, but I quite liked it when I tried it on a em5iii.
@@EspenHelland I have ordered it, hopefully arriving Xmas Eve. Cheers
Espen, a bit off topic - are you reviewing the 150 400 Pro lens from Olympus? Please do let know.
If Olympus gives me the chance I will 🙏😃
Hello panasonic chassis works with double stabilization? Frame + lens?
Don’t know
Engelska
Hi and thanks for your educational videos! A question: Have an Olympus em1 markIi and 300mm f4.0. Have access to a very good location to photograph house swallows. A challenge I think. Do you think that a more accurate C-AF and following focus only marginally improves the ability to get an accurate focus on these master pilots as they are very fast? IF 1 and middle price and, I think, very marginal blame in this case? If I think wrong, I risk ending up far outside my budget...
It’s a big step up to get the OM-1 or OM-1ii when it comes to AF for birds in flight. I have so many shots that I wouldn’t have got before without the superb bird ai. Saying that the house martins are fast and will be challenging no matter what. I think if you have a far away background and set a focus limiter in camera you should also be able to get it with your current gear. Don’t give up 🙂
@@EspenHelland w
Once again a nice video.
Is the min and max focal length of the lens 35mm eqv or made for 35mm?
Thanks! It's a 100-400mm lens it's just that the camera sensor crops by x2 so it appears as it would be 200-800 if you were on a full frame
@@EspenHelland so the image is half the size and if it could fit a full frame camera it would be 800. totally confused
@@brianstark3578 not quite. Imagine we were standing next to each other aiming at the same bird, I have an Olympus mft and you had a full frame camera body. The bird fills the frame on my mft with my 400mm reach, you would then need an 800mm lens in order for the bird to fill the frame on your camera. Your lens has a longer reach, but my sensor crops the image kind of like we do in post processing, but without losing the pixels. Maybe I’ll do a video on this to try and explain it better 🙂
Great pictures. Just a suggestion, put the name of the species pictured. Not familiar with all the critters in your area.
Hi, may i ask why you switch to olympus from canon for wildlifephotography? i have been thinking whether purchase this lens or switch to canon Ef
Weight and the cost of getting a 500mm f4 for my canon. The portability suits me perfectly when I’m vlogging a lot of the time as well.
@@EspenHelland I agree with this thought and bought the EM1mii+100-400mm which is affordable for me as an pensionado. I will sell a new 25mm lens en buy the 12-100mm. Lightweight is beautiful and practical to!
Thank u for the video. Which is better for the price? Both the 100-300 pro and 100-400 non pro are about the same price. Which is the better choice? 🤔
Sorry never tried the 100-300
Are you likely to get hold of the new 150 - 400mm f4.5? Its release has been scheduled in AU for $11,999AUD.
😅 I wish! A bit to pricey for me at the moment.
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 :)
Nice! Congrats 👍
If I didn’t own the 300mm I would most likely go for this one. Save some money and get a little more reach. In the forest shooting elk as much as I do the 300 is sometimes way to zoomed in for those big bodies. Looking right now to add the 40-150 maybe.
Is just got the 40-150, love it! The higher f stop on the 100-400 could be a bit problematic in a darker forest.
@@EspenHelland I really have to get the 40-150. Yesterday I was in the rainforest and it was raining of course. Really dark heavy clouds. I was shooting some elk and a dark morph red tail hawk with the 300mm. The hawk was so close I had trouble putting his entire body in the viewfinder at times. It was so dark I had to raise the ISO way up. The 40-150mm would have been a big help in both cases.
So it would be better to use the camera IS and turn the lens IS off? Or the lens IS and body IS still work, just not together?
It's just that they don't sync so not as good IS as eg. 300 f4
No es un objetivo pro pero por el precio que tiene y la calidad de imagen que da es una referencia para los tiradores de olimpus que no pueden gastarse una importante cantidad de dinero en el 150-500 pro. Te planteas hacerte en un futuro con esta última lente Pro, me refiero al nuevo 150-500. Conozco personalmente a las personas que lo probaron aquí en España y la verdad es que hablan maravillas de el. Me alegro por todos los tiradores de olimpus pues ahora tienen una muy buena herramienta para naturaleza. Por cierto que tal funciona la nueva actualización para el enfoque de aves. Un saludo
¿Puedes explicar esto más? '¿cómo funciona la nueva actualización para el enfoque de aves?'
Can you compare it with Panasonic 100-400mm, it is there for a long time.
Sorry the lens was just on loan from Olympus. Don’t have it anymore
Espen, how does this lens pair with the new OM1?
I don’t have the lens so I haven’t tried it I’m afraid.
Are you planning on getting the 150mm-400mm? I’m a Nikon shooter but that lens has got my attention.
I wish I could afford it. Maybe one day 🙂
Looks like a great lens , but like you i went for a secondhand 300mm f4 .I can see a lot of souls being sold to the Devil for the 150 to 400 Haha
Just curious how this would do as an astrograph lens for moon, planets, stars and deep sky objects.
I’ve only ever tried it for the moon, works great!
When you said you were using a 2x converter, I could see a slight smile break out as you stated it's 1600mm equivalent reach haha. If that's not something to smile about idk what is, that's insane especially for how incredibly compact it is!
😅👍
Thank you for your realistic evaluation of this lens. I have also watched your video about how to sharpen wildlife images using Topaz Sharpen AI. I cannot afford the 300mm, and certainly cannot afford the new 150-400mm. That leads me to ask this question.
Although the 100-400mm is not as fast or sharp as the 300mm, based on your experience with Sharpen AI, do you think that having to bump the ISO up to use higher shutter speeds in certain lower light situations can be successfully addressed with Sharpen AI (and/or Denoise AI)? Your thoughts would be appreciated.
Not sure why you have not replied with your thoughts to this question. I am sure MANY others like myself are interested in your opinion/answer to this question. It will make a BIG difference whether we proceed to purchase the 300mm or or the 100-400mm. Thanks.
In several of the reviews of this lens on B&H Photo, the reviewers complained of a slight "wobble" between the lens and the camera. The lens was not rock steady when mounted on the camera body. Did you notice this? Also did you say what camera you have here? I don't recall.
Apparently Mr. Helland does not read comments on his videos.
sometimes takes me a while to get through them all. It’s a while since I had this now, I don’t remember having that problem though. It’s was on an em1x
@@EspenHelland thank you sir. I have not yet acquired your rhythm, I apologize if I seemed impatient. I am considering buying the 100-400 and mating it to the new OM-1. I believe the problem with the wobble was on that camera but not sure. I am not familiar with the Olympus brand. Just beginning to get into it. So the way they number their models is odd to me. As a Canon user I got used to the simple manner in which Canon names its cameras.
Hey there. I know you did this video on the 100-400, but would you consider getting a 300 f/ 4 pro for $2000 a deal?
Hey, sorry for the delay, been travelling. Not too bad, I got mine used for about £1500. Well worth it, such a good lens.
@@EspenHelland thank you. Now, I'm starting to see them for about $400 less (about $1500USD). I will grab the 300 sooner or later to compliment the 40-150 pro and 60mm macro.
R6 or R5 with RF 100-500. It is slow. But, those bodies do well at high iso. Or, big bucks for the prime and yes, both would be wonderful.\
Planning to try the 150-400mm? 🤔
I can only hope 🤞and pray to the gods of Olympus 😉
@@EspenHelland I had the opportunity to try out the new 150-400 pro a little before the official announcement, and I am sure that this lens is able to completely replace the 300/4 pro, if you do not look at the price difference. The image quality and stabilization at first glance is not inferior to 300/4 pro.
You can get a 9- condition EF 500 f4 MK2 for £5K off Wex currently, if you're interested.
Unless you completely ditched Canon for some reason.
I don’t have my canon gear anymore and that would still be more than I have a at the moment.
£5000 second-hand for a 500mm Canon lens!!!! Wow, I can buy 5 of the 100-400mm Olympus for that, and it is still a far far smaller lens to carry.
@@TL-xw6fh Your 100-400 Olympus isn't comparable in quality at all, that's a ridiculous comparison.
@@frostybe3r Really??? Check out this guy testing an Olympus 100-400 in the rain. ua-cam.com/video/oIgdqS-NJVY/v-deo.html. Do you "Olympus"?
so, which one you prefer? the 300 or this one?
300 for me
How’s it compare to Leica 100-400
Not tried it
$2000 G9 1.45 lb+100-400mm2.17lb
= 3.6.2lb
$4000 Em1x 2lb 300mm 2.8 lb
= 4.8lb
$9500 em1x 2lb +150-400mm 4.08lb
= 6.07 lb
Why didn't they put sinc IS in 100-400mm
because they save the best for the pros and put it in the 150-400mm lens this is why Olympus isn't #1camera company
I bought this lens to use with Blackmagic Micro Cinema Cameras ... for video. Very disappointed to discover that it is not compatible with Blackmagic Pocket and Micro Cinema Cameras. Although I think it is actually the BM cameras that are at fault, because it works just fine with Panasonic GH3 and GH4. With the BM cameras the Focus, Iris, Auto-Focus and even Manual Focus simply do not function.
That’s a shame, but good to know
Olympus had sinc IS it would be the best camera
I'm not going to carry a tripod
Ill pass and keep my g9 100-400mm which has sinc IS
A shame they didn't put it in the 100-400
@@EspenHelland it truly is a shame i would buy a 100-300mm f4
Dprevieq and sony southruf hated this lens. They just want the perfect lens
I Do not get it! I have this lens and it is sharp. To me a picture is either sharp or IT is NOT. So if this lens takes a sharp photo why compare it. I know you say you use the 300m f4 as a marker, but this lens is either sharp or NOT!
If you say so
Why so much time spent talking about "pulling back"? It's no surprise that it's a zoom lens.
9:26 the chances of me being better at it than you ... nope, not at all likely my friend.
I don't want to disturb anyone's comfort zone, but these bird photos are not of the best quality....
Espen i know the video is about the lens but can i ask why you ended up with the EM1X ? Did you trade in your EM1? . So tempted to get the EM1X especially with the new firmware coming out soon.
Upgraded when I could afford it, I still have the em1ii to vlog with and as a backup. I went for the x as I like the bigger grip and more custom buttons, but I still use the em1ii sometimes when just walking with my camera, love the small size of it.
@@EspenHelland think i will do the same and keep my em1 mrk 3 aswell👍