pdk42
Moderator
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2022
- Messages
- 2,611
So, I thought I'd give you all a good laugh and update you on where I am with my telephoto lens madness.
TL;DR
- My tele journey is Panasonic 70-300 => Sigma 100-400 => Panasonic 70-200 f4 => Sigma 100-400 => Sigma 70-200 f2.8 => Panasonic 70-200 f4 => Panasonic 70-300
The story so far ...
- When I got into L-mount I needed a tele lens and bought a new 70-300. My first copy was decentered but I sent it back and the replacement was perfect.
- I was mostly happy with the 70-300, but I found that I got inconsistent results on landscape shots (distant focus), esp at the long end. I don't think it was atmospheric effects or camera shake since I did some careful tripod testing on a very cold and dead winter's day. There is a thread here on the testing I did. I came to the conclusion that there was focus wander going on when nearing the infinity mark.
- So I looked at alternatives. I initially bought a used Sigma 100-400 but I found the lens a bit heavy and the sharpness just as variable as the 70-300 and also ultimately less sharp than the 70-300, so I sent it back.
- I then took a really good look at the 70-200 f4. I snagged a lens on Panasonic's "Try the Kit" free loan. I liked the images from it a lot, but it was decentered! However, I was sure this was just copy variation so I bought a used copy from a reputable dealer with a good return policy and this was actually stellar. I loved it and took lots of very satisfying images with it over a period of a year and a half.
- But then one day I mounted it on the camera and it was dead. There's another thread here on that. To say that I was mad at Panasonic would be an understatement since I discovered that basically all Panasonic lenses (even the "Pro" models) are unrepairable.
- Bottom line - in early 2026 I needed another tele zoom.
So where am I with a replacement?
- I first mused as to whether the Sigma 20-200 that I had acquired in the meantime might actually be enough. But the lack of IS and the slow max aperture at 200mm means that it's not really a solution for all my needs.
- So I bought another used Sigma 100-400 (really cheap deal on eBay), but despite me trying really hard to like it, the results at the long end are just too inconsistent for me. I've also found that the IS is notably worse compared to the 70-200 f4. It's also a big bigger and heavier than I'd like. So I sold it again!
- I then took a close look at the Sigma 70-200 f2.8 and bought a new one when they were on offer at The Photography Show in the UK. I found that its Image quality was stellar but I just didn't get on with the handling or the weight of it, so it went back.
- I then thought about all the great images I got from the 70-200 f4 and how I really liked the lens, so I softened my madness with Panasonic and bought another used copy. I also managed to sell my broken lens for "Spares or repair" at a decent price so that helped assuage my anger too!
- But despite this "new to me" 70-200 f4 being virtually mint and performing flawlessly, there was an enormous piece of debris inside! I was very close to keeping it anyhow but then I looked closer and it seemed to me that the debris was actually some dried glue which got me thinking of stories of AF motor failures on the early 70-200 f4 lenses due to glue decay (see this article by Lensrentals). So it went back.
- I mulled over buying a new 70-200 f4 (warranty etc), but in the UK the price is crazy (£1400, even more expensive than the Sigma 70-200 f2.8) and given my experience with the one I had I don't want to grace Panasonic with that sort of money for what's on offer. I really don't think the 70-200 f4 is a £1000+ lens.
- So now I've run out of options! I even considered buying an Olympus/OM body and the 40-150 f2.8 because I know that's a great combo.
Which brings me to ....
- Today I pressed the button on another 70-300 ! Fingers crossed that I can love it this time !
TL;DR
- My tele journey is Panasonic 70-300 => Sigma 100-400 => Panasonic 70-200 f4 => Sigma 100-400 => Sigma 70-200 f2.8 => Panasonic 70-200 f4 => Panasonic 70-300
The story so far ...
- When I got into L-mount I needed a tele lens and bought a new 70-300. My first copy was decentered but I sent it back and the replacement was perfect.
- I was mostly happy with the 70-300, but I found that I got inconsistent results on landscape shots (distant focus), esp at the long end. I don't think it was atmospheric effects or camera shake since I did some careful tripod testing on a very cold and dead winter's day. There is a thread here on the testing I did. I came to the conclusion that there was focus wander going on when nearing the infinity mark.
- So I looked at alternatives. I initially bought a used Sigma 100-400 but I found the lens a bit heavy and the sharpness just as variable as the 70-300 and also ultimately less sharp than the 70-300, so I sent it back.
- I then took a really good look at the 70-200 f4. I snagged a lens on Panasonic's "Try the Kit" free loan. I liked the images from it a lot, but it was decentered! However, I was sure this was just copy variation so I bought a used copy from a reputable dealer with a good return policy and this was actually stellar. I loved it and took lots of very satisfying images with it over a period of a year and a half.
- But then one day I mounted it on the camera and it was dead. There's another thread here on that. To say that I was mad at Panasonic would be an understatement since I discovered that basically all Panasonic lenses (even the "Pro" models) are unrepairable.
- Bottom line - in early 2026 I needed another tele zoom.
So where am I with a replacement?
- I first mused as to whether the Sigma 20-200 that I had acquired in the meantime might actually be enough. But the lack of IS and the slow max aperture at 200mm means that it's not really a solution for all my needs.
- So I bought another used Sigma 100-400 (really cheap deal on eBay), but despite me trying really hard to like it, the results at the long end are just too inconsistent for me. I've also found that the IS is notably worse compared to the 70-200 f4. It's also a big bigger and heavier than I'd like. So I sold it again!
- I then took a close look at the Sigma 70-200 f2.8 and bought a new one when they were on offer at The Photography Show in the UK. I found that its Image quality was stellar but I just didn't get on with the handling or the weight of it, so it went back.
- I then thought about all the great images I got from the 70-200 f4 and how I really liked the lens, so I softened my madness with Panasonic and bought another used copy. I also managed to sell my broken lens for "Spares or repair" at a decent price so that helped assuage my anger too!
- But despite this "new to me" 70-200 f4 being virtually mint and performing flawlessly, there was an enormous piece of debris inside! I was very close to keeping it anyhow but then I looked closer and it seemed to me that the debris was actually some dried glue which got me thinking of stories of AF motor failures on the early 70-200 f4 lenses due to glue decay (see this article by Lensrentals). So it went back.
- I mulled over buying a new 70-200 f4 (warranty etc), but in the UK the price is crazy (£1400, even more expensive than the Sigma 70-200 f2.8) and given my experience with the one I had I don't want to grace Panasonic with that sort of money for what's on offer. I really don't think the 70-200 f4 is a £1000+ lens.
- So now I've run out of options! I even considered buying an Olympus/OM body and the 40-150 f2.8 because I know that's a great combo.
Which brings me to ....
- Today I pressed the button on another 70-300 ! Fingers crossed that I can love it this time !