Live Science Verdict
The Panasonic Leica DG Elmarit 200 mm f/2.8 POWER O.I.S is a highly up to performing artist offering excellent epitome quality and a 400 mm equivalent focal duration , and derive complete with a 1.4x teleconverter .
first-class image timbre
400 mm equivalent focal duration
The 200mm f/2.8 features an Arca-Swiss-compatible tripod foot.
1.4x teleconverter include
Expensive
Lens lens hood is deep
Direct access controls aid with shooting.(Image credit: James Abbott)
Fixed focal distance
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Type : MFT prime lensFocal length:200 mm ( 400 mm equivalent)Maximum aperture : f/2.8Lens mount : Micro Four ThirdsWeight:43.92 oz / 1,245 gDimensions:6.85 x 3.44 in / 174 x 87.5 mmFilter thread:77 mmRelease date : November 2017
All controls are well-positioned for easy access.(Image credit: James Abbott)
When it comes to lenses , it ’s fair to say that in most situations , the more you pay , the secure the character of the lens . Of of course , there are exceptions to this rule of thumb , but with the Panasonic Leica DG Elmarit 200 mm f/2.8 POWER O.I.S you really are get a lens that performs at a mellow stage .
Like most Micro Four Thirds ( MFT ) lens system , this telephotograph is incredibly compendious and lightweight deal the focal distance on offer . But do n’t be fooled by the 200 mm aspect : MFT has a harvest element of 2x , which set the equivalent focal length of the 200 mm f/2.8 at a wildlife - friendly 400 mm .
As the name evoke , this lens of the eye is a collaborationism between Panasonic and Leica , so as you ’d expect it delivers excellent double quality and fantastic handling . What ’s more , the autofocus is fast , still and reliable , while the build timber and feature film on offer are what you ’d gestate from a high - closing genus Lens .
The manual aperture can be used manually or set to A for camera control.(Image credit: James Abbott)
For lend gadget , the tripod taking into custody features an Arca - Swiss - compatible foot , so you may attach the crystalline lens to Arca - Swiss - compatible tripod heads . Plus , the lens system come in with a 1.4x teleconverter in the box that extends focal duration to a 560 mm equivalent — making it even more suitable for wildlife picture taking and shots of the moon , for example .
The 200 millimeter f/2.8 is an expensive lens at $ 2,999 / £ 2,699 , but that ’s still less expensive than like full - frame lenses . It ’s also much smaller and lighter . Another great feature of MFT lenses is that they ’re compatible with both Panasonic Lumix and OM System ( Olympus ) MFT cameras , so you’re able to merge and tally genus Lens between the two manufacturers .
Panasonic Leica DG Elmarit 200mm f/2.8 POWER O.I.S: Design
When you first see the 200 mm f/2.8 you ca n’t aid but be amazed at the compact size and swooning weight , considering the effectual focal distance is 400 mm . The genus Lens is only 6.85 x 3.44 in / 174 x 87.5 mm , so almost half the length of a football , with a weight of just 43.92 oz / 1,245 g. The humiliated weightiness also means it balance well with Panasonic Lumix cameras such as the GH7 .
Whether you ’re shooting wildlife with the tv camera and lens attached to a gimbal point , or the Sun Myung Moon and Nox sky attached to a standard tripod caput , the tripod foot can be attached to any tripod plate . well still , if the tripod head is Arca - Swiss - compatible you could attach the foot on the rotatable neckband directly to the head for greater appliance .
add further gadget , direct accession controls let in a manual focus / autofocus switch , a Power OIS switch for Optical Image Stabilization , an autofocus limiter substitution for mark the full grasp or from 3 MB to eternity , an Fn button and a store substitution .
The 200mm f/2.8 is incredibly compact and lightweight.
The Fn clitoris can be programmed using a compatible camera body , while the memory permutation can be used to coiffure a pre - determined focusing distance that can be recollect when required .
There ’s also a manual aperture ring that cover f/2.8 to f/22 with increments between . This can be used manually or set to A , where the aperture can be adjusted via the camera trunk or else .
The ocular expression consist of 15 elements in 13 mathematical group with two UED element . The orbitual aperture practice nine contraceptive diaphragm blades and the front element feature a 77 millimetre filter thread , making it a great size for rotary and square filter if and when required .
Being a professional - horizontal surface lens , build up quality is absolutely firm with a weather - resistant , splash- , dust- and freezeproof construction . This is to be expected because a lens of this eccentric this is most potential to be used for landscape , wildlife , summercater and nighttime sky picture taking , where cold temperatures and poor weather condition are commonplace .
Panasonic Leica DG Elmarit 200mm f/2.8 POWER O.I.S: Functionality
Teleconverters are most often an add - on that you either buy or not bet whether you need one . The 200 mm f/2.8 does , however , derive with a 1.4x teleconverter included that can be sequester to the lens system . This will extend the focal length from the 400 mm tantamount to a 560 mm equivalent .
The great matter about this is that it basically provides two focal lengths with a individual prime lens , which undoubtedly bestow value and versatility . One stop to note here is that when using the 1.4x teleconverter , the maximum aperture is reduced from f/2.8 to f/4 .
If you ’d prefer to extend the reach of the lens of the eye further , to an 800 mm eq , there is a 2x teleconverter that ’s available separately . This makes the lens even more suited for wildlife and moon shots , but the only caveat is that the maximum aperture in this situation is reduced by 2 stoppage to f/5.6 . But for an 800 mm , this is of short consequence for depth of field , although light - gathering capabilities are by nature reduced .
Aperture f/4, shutter speed 1/400 sec, ISO 1600. Shot with the 200mm f/2.8 lens and 1.4x teleconverter handheld.(Image credit: James Abbott)
Autofocus is fast and silent and , when partner off with a G - serial or OM System cameras with capable detection set to Animals , it ’s improbably effective for wildlife photography and undoubtedly assist with capturing piercing shots . The understood aspect is also useful for video capture in situations where autofocus is required , although manual focus is more usually used for video capture .
The minimum focusing distance of the lens of the eye is 3.8 ft / 1.15 m , which is quite telling for a crystalline lens with a 400 mm equivalent focal duration . This does offer near - up possibilities , which is double-dyed for natural earth picture taking , and thoe capabilities can be further enhanced using a third - company close - up lens / filter if close - up / macro picture taking is something you enjoy .
The 200 mm f/2.8 features Optical Image Stabilization that works well to offer up to 7.5 stops of recompense . This allow you to shoot at shutter accelerate much slower than you could without , and it can be paired up with in - trunk Image Stabilization ( IBIS ) for even more successful stabilization .
Aperture f/2.8, shutter speed 1/800sec, ISO 500. Shot with the 200mm f/2.8 lens handheld.(Image credit: James Abbott)
Panasonic Leica DG Elmarit 200mm f/2.8 POWER O.I.S: Performance
In received mental process at 200 mm , effigy timbre is fantabulous and the fast f/2.8 aperture help to keep ISO level lower than when stopping down the aperture . Images taken at this maximum aperture are nice and sharp , with the f/2.8 to f/5.6 reach producing the sharpest result .
The sweet spotlight , the pointedness where detail is resolved at its acute , is around f/4 , although the deepness - of - field is n’t at its largest . f/5.6 is , in most post , the narrowest aperture that produces a big profundity of champaign before stopping down further begins to introduce diffraction .
What ’s impressive with the lens is that there ’s little to no discernible chromatic deviance or distortion present in image . There is a small amount of vignetting at f/2.8 which is easily off manually in Lightroom since there ’s no genus Lens profile available , but the amount present is tiny . This quickly disappear as you begin to intercept down the aperture .
Aperture f/4, shutter speed 1/800sec, ISO 2500. Shot with the 200mm f/2.8 lens and 1.4x teleconverter handheld.(Image credit: James Abbott)
Teleconverters always boil down image quality to a arcdegree , as well as reduce the maximum aperture by a factor of stops that depend on the military capability of the teleconverter . But even when the 1.4x teleconverter is sequester to the lense , the autofocus here do well and the decrease of the maximal aperture to f/4 does n’t get any issue . Detail remains crisp even when shooting at high ISO options such as ISO 4000 .
The 1.4x teleconverter that takes the equivalent focal duration to a 560 millimetre eq is n’t quite enough to capture the moon without trim the photo . It work just fine , but cropping remains as essential as when shooting without the teleconverter . For synodic month photography , the 2x teleconverter that extend the tantamount focal length to 800 mm is the better option if your budget extends that far .
Should you buy the Panasonic Leica DG Elmarit 200mm f/2.8 POWER O.I.S?
The 200 millimetre f/2.8 is a fantastic lens for wildlife , nature , landscape painting and night sky picture taking where a long focal distance is require . Image timbre is fantabulous and its summary , lightweight build is a breath of brisk melodic line for a lens of this focal length .
If you ’re reckon for a long telephoto lens of the eye , this is a wild choice to count , but it ’s not cheap at $ 2,999 / £ 2,699 . That being said , it is a high - timbre professional lens and the inclusion body of the 1.4x teleconverter and the accessibility of an optional 2x teleconverter make this a extremely various option .
If the Panasonic Leica DG Elmarit 200mm f/2.8 POWER O.I.S isn’t for you
The Panasonic Leica DG Elmarit 200 mm f/2.8 POWER O.I.S is expensive , so if you ’d like a more low-priced telephoto crystalline lens there are a duo of telephotograph zooms that are deserving moot .
The Panasonic 100 - 400 mm f4 - 6.3 Leica DG VARIO - ELMAR ASPH POWER O.I.S II offers a various equivalent focal range of 200 - 800 mm and is less expensive than the 200 mm f/2.8 .
Another pick is the Panasonic 100 - 300 mm f4.0 - 5.6 II LUMIX G VARIO , which offers an equivalent focal reach of 200 - 600 mm and is the least expensive telephoto soar available .
Cropped image. Aperture f/11, shutter speed 1/250sec, ISO 800. Shot with the 200mm f/2.8 lens on a Three Legged Thing PUNKS Brian 2.0 tripod.(Image credit: James Abbott)
Cropped image. Aperture f/11, shutter speed 1/250sec, ISO 800. Shot with the 200mm f/2.8 lens and 1.4x teleconverter on a Three Legged Thing PUNKS Brian 2.0 tripod.(Image credit: James Abbott)
