PANASONIC

Panasonic adds 100-500mm extreme telephoto to its LUMIX S series

With a max focal length of 500mm (or 1000mm via 2x teleconverters), Panasonic's latest addition to its LUMIX S series may not have the longest L-mount zoom on the market but is a strong new option for full-frame mirrorless shooters.

Panasonic has expanded its full-frame lineup with its first-ever ultra-telephoto zoom lens. Designed for wildlife and landscape shots, the LUMIX S 100-500mm f5-7.1 O.I.S supports 1.4x and 2x teleconverters, which can increase optical zoom up to 1000mm.

The lens is housed in a fingerprint-resistant fluorine coating and is dust and splash proof. Panasonic has organized 19 separate lens elements in 12 groups to control chromatic aberrations and spherical distortions while keeping the lens surprisingly compact at 7.72 inches (196.1mm) and 2.83 lb (1,285g).

With Dual I.S. 2, this lens is capable of seven stops of image stabilisation - comparable to that offered by flagships from Canon and Olympus. This should translate to stable handheld shots and produce steady documentary-style footage without a tripod. Videographers will appreciate the fast, silent autofocus and minimized focus breathing made possible by Panasonic’s Dual Phase linear motor.

Manual focus is also supported via a customizable control ring. There is a focus button that can be assigned functions such as hybrid zoom to push the LUMIX S 100-500mm lens beyond its optical telephoto limits. And the tension in the zoom ring is adjustable via a third ring just behind the focus ring. 

Panasonic LUMIX S 100-500mm lens is available for pre-order for $2099.99 starting September 25th and will start shipping in October. It comes with a removable Arca-Swiss tripod foot and lens hood.

As the first ultra-telephoto zoom lens in the LUMIX S Series lineup to cover a focal length of up to 500mm, this lens supports lens teleconverters (sold separately), enabling ultra-telephoto shooting with a combined focal length of up to 1000mm. It delivers high resolution and beautiful bokeh across the entire zoom range, enabling photographers and videographers to capture stunning images and footage in a wide variety of shooting scenarios, including wildlife, motorsports, and landscapes.

With an optimized lens element arrangement and Dual Phase Linear Motor, the lens achieves a remarkably compact design with an overall length of just 196.1mm, while delivering impressive ultra-telephoto performance. High-speed, high-precision, and silent autofocus, combined with Dual I.S. 2 image stabilization supporting up to 7.0 stops, ensures exceptional portability and handheld shooting support, expanding creative possibilities in the field.

The lens is also designed for intuitive operation, featuring a customizable focus ring and a focus button. The focus ring can be used as a control ring, by assigning preferred settings such as aperture or other customizable parameters, while the focus button allows users to assign their preferred functions, enabling a highly personalized and responsive shooting experience. To meet the growing demand for video production, the lens also incorporates features such as focus breathing suppression and micro-step aperture control for smooth exposure transitions, supporting high-quality video performance.

With this product, Panasonic aims to expand the creative scope by providing a compact yet powerful ultra-telephoto shooting experience for both enthusiasts and professionals.

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