Panasonic LUMIX G VARIO 100-300mm F4-5.6 II
Panasonic

LUMIX G VARIO 100-300mm F4-5.6 II

$549~
MSRP (prices vary)
Check price on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases — at no extra cost to you.

Released: December 24, 2015
100-300mm
Focal Length
f/4
Max Aperture
Micro Four Thirds
Coverage
Stabilized
520g
Weight
67mm
Filter

Who the Panasonic LUMIX G VARIO 100-300mm F4-5.6 II is for

The Panasonic LUMIX G VARIO 100-300mm F4-5.6 II is a Micro Four Thirds 100-300mm f/4 super-telephoto zoom.

Best for

  • Wildlife, sports and distant subjects — reach to 300mm.
  • Handheld stills and video — optical stabilisation smooths shake.
  • Outdoor and travel use — a weather-sealed build.

Keep in mind

  • Aperture tops out at f/4 — less low-light headroom and background blur than faster lenses.

How the Panasonic LUMIX G VARIO 100-300mm F4-5.6 II compares to other Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds telephoto lenses

Every figure below is measured against the 15 Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds telephoto lenses in the catalogue, so you can see where this lens actually sits rather than reading its spec sheet in isolation.

SpecThis lensWhere it lands
Weight520g (1.15 lb)joint 7th heaviest of 15
Price (MSRP)$5495th cheapest of 15
Maximum aperturef/4joint 7th widest of 15

What 100-300mm at f/4 actually gives you

100-300mm is the classic portrait range — long enough to compress features flatteringly without forcing you across the room. On the Micro Four Thirds bodies it covers, it frames like 200mm would on full-frame.

f/4 is a moderate maximum aperture. There is less low-light headroom and less background blur than an f/2.8 lens gives, which is generally the trade for lower weight and cost.

Size and filters

At 520g (1.15 lb) it sits in the middle for handling: substantial enough to feel planted, light enough not to dominate the kit.

Filters are 67mm — worth checking against what you already own, since polarisers and ND filters at this size are reusable across any other lens sharing the thread.

Autofocus, stabilisation and weather sealing

Autofocus is driven by a Stepping motor.

Optical stabilisation is built in, which stacks with in-body stabilisation on bodies that have it and does the work alone on bodies that do not.

The barrel is weather-sealed, so rain and dust are a manageable risk rather than a reason to pack up.

Full Specifications

Optical Design

Focal Length100-300mm
Lens TypeZoom
Optical Elements17
Optical Groups13

Aperture & Iris

Maximum Aperturef/4
Minimum Aperturef/22
Aperture Blades9
Rounded ApertureYes

Coverage & Angle

Format CoverageMicro Four Thirds
Lens MountMicro Four Thirds
Angle of View12° – 4°
35mm Equivalent200-600mm

Focus

AutofocusYes
Focus MotorStepping
Focus LimiterYes
AF/MF SwitchYes
Min Focus Distance150 cm
Max Magnification0.21x

Stabilization & Video

Optical StabilizationYes
Aperture RingNo
Declickable ApertureNo
ParfocalNo
Internal ZoomNo

General

Price (MSRP)$549
Filter Size67mm
Diameter73.6mm
Length126mm
Weight520g (1.15 lb)
Weather SealedYes
Tripod CollarNo

Browse Micro Four Thirds Lenses

All MFT Telephoto ZoomMFT Standard ZoomMFT Standard PrimeMFT Wide-Angle ZoomMFT Wide-Angle PrimeMFT Telephoto PrimeMFT Macro