Lumix Leica 100-400mm Mkii Review: A worthwhile upgrade?
So what's new?
This is a pretty minor update on the whole, but possibly worthwhile depending on your circumstances. I was lucky enough to take both versions of the Lumix Leica 100-400mm — or, the Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmar 100-400mm f/4-6.3 ASPH. Power O.I.S. to give it its full title for the Google Gods! — To Kenya for two weeks of pure photography. So I have thoughts…
p.s. You can find the accompanying video to this post here: Lumix 100-400mm mkii !! Worth the Upgrade?
Images taken with Lumix Leica 100-400mkii lens. Edited using My Presets.
Physical Enhancements
One thing I’ve often grappled with, in the mki, is how stiff the zoom ring is. I think this can probably vary from copy to copy but mine is particularly stiff, even after many years of use. The zoom ring on the mkii seems much smoother to me.
That seems like a small thing? But when you’re trying to zoom in as a bird in flight is hurtling at you, it can really make or break your photo.
No changes with the lock and unlock dial for the zoom ring, all still present and correct.
The strength of this lens — both versions — is how relatively compact it is. It’s roughly the same size as a full-frame 70-200mm lens. This makes it incredibly portable and ideal for extended use, such as during a long day on safari.
Both versions weigh just 985 grams, they’re of course both weather-sealed, with dust and freeze resistance. So either version will be ideal for dusty safari adventures, or puffin-hunting in Iceland.
Looking for used stock? take a look at getting your hands on a MKI or MKII from MPB UK, MPB US, MPB EU
Stabilisation
Both the mki and mkii lenses come with built-in stabilisation, and that pairs nicely with the right body to give you boosted dual stabilisation.
I didn’t realise just how great this is on the Lumix side until I tried the Olympus 100-400mm mki lens, which doesn’t offer sync I.S. Consequently the viewfinder experience was super jittery and after a prolonged time, quite unpleasant. Not the case with Lumix: both the mki and mkii of their 100-400mm are super smooth in the viewfinder so long as you have a compatible camera body.
Lumix Leica 100-400mm mkii Review: YouTube Video
The Biggest Upgrade: Focus Motor
The most significant upgrade in the mkii version of this lens is its improved focus motor, which is designed to give you better tracking while zooming in.
If you’ve photographed birds in flight, you’ll know just how essential this is. You often start wider, start tracking the movement, then slowly zoom in as the bird approaches.
With the new motor, and the smoother zoom ring, this is made miles easier on the mkii version of the 100-400mm.
Image Quality… literally the same.
Nothing much to report here! You’ll get a slightly different coating on the lens of the mkii which will supposedly help with flaring and contrast. But otherwise, expect exactly the same quality.
Meaning… sort of really good, aside from the slight softness when you zoom completely in. It’s more than usable, but something to keep in mind. I like to think of it as a perfectly reasonable compromise in order to get the lens as small as it is.
Images taken with Lumix Leica 100-400 mkii lens. Edited using My Presets.
Teleconverter Thoughts… ughhh
Lumix offers both a 1.4x and a 2x teleconverter for this lens, which I suppose is also a pretty big update.
I tried the 2x teleconverter on safari — go big or go home, right? — the teleconverter doubles the effective zoom, but also aperture, meaning the lens operates at — f10 to f13. Which…. well. It’s bloody hideous, I’m not gunna lie.
You might think that in good light, like in Kenya, you’d get away with such narrow apertures, however, my friend…. we have a whole host of diffraction. I would go so far as to say it’s unusable in terms of image quality in my experience.
Bear in mind I used the 2x, and not the 1.4x so all this will be less dramatic on the 1.4x version. But still. This isn’t the most speedy lens at the best of times, and the teleconverters just bring out the worst qualities.
So. For me, one of the biggest updates really isn’t something I’d ever use. I mean, imagine trying to photograph a bird in the cloudy UK when you have an f10-13 lens. nooooo thank you.
Is the Lumix Leica 100-400mm mkii worth the upgrade?
Let’s get down to it shall we.
If you already own the mki — like me! — the decision to upgrade depends on how much you want to improve your bird in flight keeper shots, by, like, 5% with the improved motor. So, for me, the answer is no. This lovely lens will be going back to Lumix and I’ll stick with my mki… even if the stiff zoom ring does drive me quite mad sometimes.
However, for those new to the Lumix Leica 100-400mm lens, if you can find the mkii at a good price? Then go wild! You may as well get the improved motor, the better coating, and of course just physically a brand new copy of the lens.
If budget is a concern though, just check out the used market for the mki. It’s a bloody excellent lens, and I’ve even been using it more recently with my OM System OM-3, and it’s great (though that pesky jitter in the viewfinder is back because their stabilisation isn’t cross-compatible).
Check out the used market here at MPB UK, MPB US, MPB EU.
You can access all of my Presets at Micro Four Nerds Store.
… and lots of the mki version can be seen in this video where I photograph puffins with the OM-3 in Iceland!