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A Day at the Lake

7/29/2020

26 Comments

 
Testing Out the Olympus 100-400mm 5.0-6.3 IS Lens F5.0-6.3 IS lens
Disclosure: I am an Olympus Visionary and as such, receive compensation from Olympus America. However, no compensation was paid for this review. I endorse their products because I truly believe in the quality of their gear. ​​
"Hi Peter,
I’m reaching out about an opportunity to be one of the first people to shoot with the new telephoto lens that’s coming out very soon."

This was the start of an e-mail that I received from Olympus asking if I would be interested in testing out the new 100-400mm lens. Needless to say I was very interested! The timeline would be tight, but they could ship the lens 'overnight' and I would have it in a couple of days (overnight shipping is never 'overnight' when you live in northern Ontario). The problem was that I was heading to our cottage the next morning for a 10-day visit. Located on a very small island in a wilderness park, our cottage has been in the family for over 90 years. This was going to be my annual 'maintenance' trip - anything that old needs some regular TLC. I would have to rely on my wife to bring in the lens on the following weekend. This would give me only one full day to try out the lens in this beautiful spot before I had to head back home. Just one day to get some high quality shots? Oh, the pressure! Deep breath... I can do that!

"You bet", was my response. "I would love to try out the new lens!"
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In Brief
​As many of you are far more interested in the lens than in my day of shooting (and I totally get that), here are some of the key specs;
  • 205.7mm long, with a weight of 1102g and a 72mm filter thread
  • Lens construction - 21 elements in 15 groups including 4 ED lenses, 2 Super HR lenses and 2 HR lenses
  • ZERO coating to reduce ghosting and lens flare
  • Focusing system - high speed imager AF (movie and still compatible)
  • closest focusing distance - 1.3m
  • AF-MF switch
  • Focus Limiter switch providing 3 AF operating ranges (1.3 - 6m, 1.3 - ∞, 6m - ∞)
  • Built-in image stabilization
  • supports in-camera focus stacking (with the latest firmware)
  • weather sealed to the same standards as the PRO lens lineup;
  • compatible with both the MC-14 and MC-20 teleconverters providing super telephoto shooting up to the equivalent of 1600mm; 
  • includes lens hood (bayonet mount)
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The 100-400mm f/5-6.3 IS is equipped with in-lens image stabilization. A rear focusing system utilizes lightweight focusing lenses to enable fast, high-precision AF.
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There are three control switches on the left side of the barrel and a 'Lock' switch on the right side, which prevents the lens from being extended. There are no lens function buttons on the 100-400mm 5.0-6.3 IS.

Let the Adventure Begin!
"Hi, honey. I love you... Now, where's the lens?"
Okay, it didn't quite go like that, but after waiting a week to get the lens in my hands, that pretty much sums it up. My wife arrived to the cottage late in the evening and after some unceremonious unboxing, I ogled the lens, attached it to my E-M1 Mark III, pointed it through the trees at a sailboat that was moored near our island, and took my first shot. 
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(ISO200, 1/640s @ f/5)
The next morning I awoke at 5 am, packed up my gear, hopped into my kayak and hit the water. My goal was to get to Muriel Lake, about 4 kilometres away, where I knew I would be able to photograph some loons that I'd seen earlier in the week. It would require paddling (and portaging) through two other lakes. I chose to use my kayak instead of my canoe because it was light, easy to handle and would allow me to move quickly. These are some of the same reasons why I like my Olympus gear. The 100-400 is about an inch shorter than the 300 f/4 PRO that I was used to shooting with, and about 170g lighter. Even though it has a more obvious plastic construction than the 300, it still has a very rugged feel to it. The zoom and focusing rings offer just the right amount of resistance, yet turn smoothly, and the switches engage firmly. Most importantly I could rest the camera and lens comfortably on my lap while paddling, and with the exceptional weather sealing, I knew it didn't matter if I splashed water into the cockpit. 
As I reached the final portage, about 30 minutes after setting out, I rounded a bend and was thrilled (and a little shocked) to see a beautiful barred owl staring down at me from the branch of an old white pine. Panic set in. Oh, crap, I'm not ready for this, and the light sucks! I mean, the light really sucked!!! I was under a cover of branches and the sun hadn't risen over the trees yet. Plus I was still drifting in my kayak. I dug the paddle into the water and gave a quick backstroke in order to slow the kayak and then picked up the camera. Thankfully I had set the ISO to 2000 prior to heading out just in case I saw something worth shooting, but that was set for the middle of the lake where it was brighter, not for here, under this darkened canopy! Breathe deep, hold steady, frame the shot, and... click, click, click, click, click, click, click. I shot a burst of 7 images and realized that my shutter speed was coming up as 1/25s. I also had the 1.4x teleconverter on so I was now restricted to a maximum aperture of f/9. I was in aperture priority (as I usually am) and thought, "you can't photograph wildlife at 1/25s. That'll never work". I quickly switched to ISO3200, reframed the shot... and the owl was gone.
Such a brief encounter. I psyched myself up to be disappointed and reviewed my shots. To my surprise several were quite usable!
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I was thrilled to see this barred owl, but really didn't expect to get a good quality shot given the very dim light. (ISO2000, 1/25s @ f/9)
This shot alone proved to me that I was holding a great piece of glass. Even under very challenging light it quickly acquired focus and with the incredible image stabilization of both the lens and the Mark III there was little to no motion blur even when shooting from a very unstable platform, my kayak. It was a good start to the day.
After catching my breath I carried my kayak into Muriel Lake and prepared myself to photograph some loons. It wasn't long before I saw a group of seven. By this point, the lighting had improved, but I still kept the ISO fairly high so that I would be able to capture any action that might occur. ​Generally, loons can be quite cooperative subjects and will often come up fairly close while I'm paddling. It was time to get shooting.
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When I arrived at Muriel Lake I could see the loons off in the misty distance. (ISO1000, 1/1250s, f/9 @ 308mm with the MC-14)
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(ISO1600, 1/1600s, f/8.9 @ 434mm with the MC-14)
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After shooting for about 30 minutes several loons came up fairly close and did their 'water dance', a sure sign that it was time for me to move on. (ISO1000, 1/1600s, f/8.5 @ 308mm)
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I set a custom focus target of 3x11 on my E-M1 Mark III when I'm shooting birds on the water. I positioned it near the top of the frame so that I could ensure that the birds head was sharp. The 100-400 acquired focus quite easily during these action sequences. (ISO1000, 1/1250s, f/8.5 @ 308mm)
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(ISO1000, 1/2500s, f/7.1 @ 140mm)
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(ISO1000, 1/800s, f/8.5 @ 293mm)
Even in my own hands, I found myself comparing this lens to the 300mm which I have been shooting with since it came out in late 2015. The 100-400 is noticeably lighter than the 300  and as such it maintains a very comfortable feel. It balances very nicely with the E-M1 Mark III that I was shooting with. The auto-focus is very quick, and I found the resulting images to be incredibly sharp. It did take some time for my brain to realize that I was holding a zoom lens. After years of shooting with a fixed super telephoto lens it took a few minutes of photographing these loons to become comfortable with quickly zooming in and out in order to frame a shot. This allowed me to capture the 'water dance' shots and have the entire bird in the frame. With the 300 I would have ended up cutting off a wing or the head given the proximity of the birds. 
Although the loons didn't seem to mind my presence I knew that I was adding a bit of stress to their day, so after about 30 minutes I decided to head back to the cottage. Along the way I grabbed a few shots of some of the local flora and fauna. 
Picture
(ISO200, 1/320s, f/10 @ 328mm)
Picture
(ISO200, 1/500s, f/10 @ 314mm)
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I was very pleased with the softness of the defocused areas while shooting with the 100-400 lens. (ISO200, 1/1000s, f/5.4 @ 123mm)
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(ISO400, 1/500s, f/9 @ 269mm)
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(ISO1000, 1/1250s, f/8.5 @ 400mm)
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(ISO1600, 1/1250s, f/8.7 @ 381mm)

A Mini Safari
After lunch I decided to do some shooting just around the cottage, starting with the hummingbird feeder. This was the real test to see how well the lens could acquire focus. Often when I'm shooting any birds around a feeder I will manually focus on the point where they will enter the frame, but for this exercise I decided to rely on the auto-focusing system. I used the 5x5 focusing grid and was very pleased with how quickly (and accurately) the lens grabbed the little subjects. 
Picture
(ISO1600, 1/2000s, f/5.7 @ 150mm)
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(ISO1600, 1/2000s, f/5.7 @ 150mm)
One of the things I like most about all of the Olympus telephoto lenses is their great minimum focusing distances. This allows me to do some macro style shooting without getting too close to my subject. I love the fact that the 100-400 has a minimum focusing distance of 1.3m regardless of the focal length. None of the images below are cropped (as a matter of fact, of all the images in this article only the two hummingbird shots are cropped and they have only been reduced by about 20%). 
For several of these shots I also decided to see how well the lens focused manually. The AF-MF switch is easy to access with your thumb, but I have to admit that I really do like the clutch system on the PRO lenses. If you want to quickly switch from AF to MF and back again you can't beat the pull-back focusing ring. That said, one of my biggest complaints about the 300mm lens is how tricky it can be to get good, accurate manual focusing. Making fine adjustments can be a challenge. That is not the case with the 100-400. I was very impressed with how easy it is to finely adjust the focus. The focus by wire system works incredibly well in this lens. 
Picture
(ISO200, 1/320s, f/6.3 @ 400mm)
Picture
(ISO400, 1/1000s, f/6.3 @ 400mm)
Picture
(ISO640, 1/160s, f/6.3 @ 400mm)
Picture
(ISO1600, 1/80s, f/6.3 @ 400mm)
Picture
(ISO400, 1/250s, f/6.3 @ 400mm)
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(ISO200, 1/200s, f/6.3 @ 100mm)
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(ISO640, 1/80s, f/11 @ 100mm)

Final Thoughts
​​Every piece of art requires planning to create. In photography however, sometimes that planning has to happen very quickly otherwise you'll miss the shot. Having the right gear certainly makes that job easier. The new 100-400mm f/5-6.3 IS lens is one such piece of equipment that I know I will continue shooting with. Over the years I've been very happy with the results I've gotten using the 300mm lens, and there will certainly be times when that will still be my lens of choice. But when it comes to my day-to-day adventures on the hiking trail or the waterways I will now be packing the 100-400 lens. It provides the flexibility that I want, provides great image quality and, with the two available teleconverters, I get an incredible equivalent focal length range, from 200 - 1600mm. 

After a long day of shooting, it was time to relax by the water's edge with my wife and enjoy the beauty around us. Of course, that didn't stop me from turning the camera to the sky and taking one last shot.
Picture
(ISO400, 1/160s, f/9 @ 560mm with the MC-14)
26 Comments
Francois DesRosiers link
8/4/2020 10:07:44 am

Thanks PETER for that article, Now, on choice, i née to tet One and home to go in Ontario to se you One day.
Thanks again for your gorgius work.
Francois

Reply
Peter Baumgarten
8/4/2020 01:12:13 pm

Thanks, Francois. If you are ever in my neck of the woods, let me know. I'd love to go out kayaking and shooting with you! Cheers!

Reply
Richard
8/4/2020 10:32:01 am

Excellent adventure!

I've been looking forward to a well written review of this lens, and here it is.

Thank You Sir.

Reply
Peter Baumgarten
8/4/2020 01:12:50 pm

Thanks, Richard. I'm pleased that you liked the article.

Reply
Dave Hutchinson link
8/4/2020 11:21:51 am

Peter, a very refreshing article. Glad to see Olympus continuing with their great innovative equipment. Now it’s a question of what do I want- the 300 or the 100-400. I admit that I am addicted to the manual focus clutch on many of the Olympus lenses.

Reply
Peter Baumgarten
8/4/2020 01:14:27 pm

Dave, thanks for taking the time to read and comment. The focusing clutch on the PRO lenses is awesome, and I do miss it on this lens. That said, the 100-400 is a very impressive piece of glass.

Reply
Paul link
8/4/2020 11:58:52 am

Another beautiful lens from Olympus by the looks and sounds of it! Loved the photographs. Particularly the loons! Not to mention the owl!! An effective focal length of 1120mm at 1/25th of a second handheld. Impressive! Thanks Peter.

Reply
Peter Baumgarten
8/4/2020 01:15:55 pm

Thanks, Paul. Much appreciated. (And we've had quite a population boom with loons in our area. Such a beautiful bird!)

Reply
Simon
8/4/2020 12:00:29 pm

This is by far the best article I’ve seen for this lens on launch day. Really appreciate the back story and of course the lovely photos.

Reply
Peter Baumgarten
8/4/2020 01:16:47 pm

Simon, I really appreciate the feedback. It's always good to hear a positive response. Cheers!

Reply
Gordon
8/4/2020 02:00:24 pm

Many of us have been anxiously awaiting the release announcement for this lens. It looks nothing like the white prototype in the advance notices.
I was surprised to learn a few things in your write up; the size being about an inch shorter than the 300mm, the weight being 170 gms lighter than the 300, and that this lens had some plastic components.
Perhaps more surprising is how quickly you were able to become comfortable with the new lens, its versatility and other capabilities. As you mention in your article, wildlife does not often give you lengthy opportunities to plan the shot and for that reason the wide variety of subjects captured on this day clearly demonstrates your ability to adapt on the fly and the gift of tremendous engineering by Olympus to assist you with your photography.
This article conveys great confidence that Olympus has our backs as amateur photographers and that we too should give consideration to making this lens part of our kit.
Thanks for a great write up on this long awaited lens. Thanks for sharing some great photos of the Northern Ontario woods. I wished I could be there - it looks like a great 'natural' studio.

Reply
Peter Baumgarten
8/4/2020 02:07:01 pm

Hi Gordon,
Thanks for the detailed comment. This is a fantastic lens, but I don't think it's the one that you have been "anxiously awaiting". Later this year Olympus is planning on releasing a 150-400mm PRO lens that is white in colour. The lens announced today is a step down from that lens, but is still a very fine lens.
Cheers!

Reply
Gordon
8/4/2020 02:23:19 pm

You are correct - I was thinking the 150-400mm !
I'm curious to know how you secure your gear when in the kayak. Many kayaks come equipped with watertight compartments however having a camera at the ready makes this a less than ideal storage location. You indicated you had your camera on your lap. Is it tethered to you or the kayak in the event of capsize? If so, do you do anything to prevent the tether from getting in the way of shooting?

Peter Baumgarten
8/4/2020 02:45:21 pm

Gordon,
On smaller lakes that are fairly calm I don't tether my camera. I just have it sitting on my lap or between my legs in the cockpit. When I'm out in rougher water I will attach a tether from camera to one of the bungie cords. I attach the cord to the ring on the base of my tripod quick release plate and therefore it doesn't get in the way while I'm shooting.

Walter Ikehara
8/4/2020 06:03:28 pm

Hi Peter,

Mahalo for the wonderful review of the new 100-400. I have been waiting eagerly for this lens, especially since I know I couldn't afford the 150-400 Pro. I was hoping for performance comparable to or better than the PL 100-400. Your article and shockingly good images were utterly convincing. The loon photos were impressively sharp and contrasty even with the MC-14. I was thoroughly impressed with your beautiful shots. So much so that I pre-ordered the lens already. Thank you, I think. :-)

Reply
Peter Baumgarten
8/4/2020 07:04:19 pm

Thank you, Walter for the wonderful comment and for taking the time to read my post. I am far more impressed with this lens than I thought I would be. I'm sure you will be too (I think). Cheers!

Reply
Deborah Burd
8/4/2020 11:21:03 pm

Wonderful information...I was waiting for the 150-400 but reading on how you enjoy this lens with more range having second thoughts...great photos too!

Reply
Valerio
8/6/2020 09:53:23 pm

Very nice story-telling review! I was very excited for this lens when I saw the updated lens roadmap by Olympus. I wonder how does it compare with Olympus PRO 40-150 + MC-20 teleconverter in the comparable focal length (i.e 100-300)?

Thank you!

Reply
Dirk
8/12/2020 12:44:02 pm

Wat een prachtig verslag en mooie fotos die je met de 100-400 mm gemaakt hebt. Ik twijfel om hem aan te schaffen. Heb de 40-150 pro en converters. Pro lens inruilen en dezen kopen, mmm. Ik weet het niet. De foto's zijn fantastisch, toch heb ik nog een vraagje. Zijn deze foto's veel bewerkt of weinig?

Reply
Walter Meissner link
8/19/2020 12:15:18 am

For the uninitiated ...

What a wonderful report and beautiful photos that you have made with the 100-400 mm. I hesitate to buy it. Have the 40-150 pro and converters. Trade in a pro lens and buy it, mmm. I do not know. The photos are fantastic, but I still have a question. Are these photos edited a lot or little?

Reply
Wilhelmien link
8/16/2020 04:21:27 am

What a wonderfull pictures you made with this lens. I bought the f4 300 mm pro a few months ago, Now I think it was better I'd waited for this lens. Grrr! Because buying this lens too may be I'll never use the 300 mm then? What are your thoughts about that?

Reply
Walter Meissner link
8/19/2020 12:25:13 am

Very nice photos taken in beautiful light.
Much sharper than I would have expected.
Also very pleasing out-of-focus effects.


Wish I had such nice scenery in my locale.

This lens has the advantage over the Panasonic Leica 100-400mm f/4-6.3 Asph OIS lens
in that the Olympus 100-400mm can take the 1.4x and 2.0x teleconvertors bring the focal length out to 800mm.

Reply
Randall S Dunphy link
9/11/2020 01:52:48 pm

Great review. I'll stick with my 40-150 pro, and the 300 f4 pro. I'm NOT supposed to buy anything now that I'm retired, and I have a full setup. It's good to see you writing, as I have not seen much from you on your youtube site. Cheers :)

Reply
Pete Coady link
11/21/2020 08:35:43 am

Peter,

I love this post and it is one of the reasons I ordered this lens.

Thank you,
Pete

Reply
Sam
4/26/2021 05:34:11 am

Great review. Is Starry sky AF available for this lens? For E-M1.3 is written that Starry sky AF is not available for maximum aperture over f/5.6.

Reply
Olympus Camera Repair link
4/20/2022 05:23:44 am

Thank you for sharing such useful information!!

Reply



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    Peter Baumgarten is a professional photographer and educator. He is also an Olympus Visionary and NiSi Official Photographer. 

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