Ultra-telephoto zoom lens Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmar 100-400 mm F4.0-6.3 II ASPH POWER O.I.S.

The Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmar 100-400 mm F4.0-6.3 II ASPH POWER O.I.S. is an ultra-telephoto zoom lens for mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras. Developed to Leica quality standards, the lens is built with 20 elements in 13 groups and features a Nano Coating System to reduce flare and ghosting. Its compact construction and stabilisation make it suitable for handheld use when shooting distant subjects such as wildlife and sports.

Advantages

This Leica DG lens delivers high edge-to-edge sharpness and minimal distortions thanks to its optimized optical design and combination of ASPH, UED and ED elements. The lens offers a 100–400 mm focal range (35 mm equivalent: 200–800 mm) in a compact, lightweight body, plus POWER O.I.S. for image stabilisation. A zoom lock and orientation switching allow stable operation and flexible composition in the field. The design supports teleconverter use to extend reach when required.

Suitable for

• Wildlife photography
• Sports and action photography
• Bird and insect close-ups
• Any long-reach telephoto applications

Key specifications

• Focal length: 100–400 mm (35 mm equivalent: 200–800 mm)
• Aperture: F4.0–6.3
• Optical construction: 20 elements in 13 groups (including 1 ASPH, 1 UED, 2 ED)
• Maximum magnification: 0.5x (closest focus 1.3 m)
• Image stabilisation: POWER O.I.S.
• Length: 171.5 mm (compact design)
• Compatibility: mirrorless cameras; supports DMW-TC20 teleconverter for extended reach (up to 800 mm / 35 mm equivalent: 1600 mm)

How to use

Mount the lens on a compatible mirrorless camera body and set the focal length within the 100–400 mm range according to the subject distance. Use POWER O.I.S. when shooting handheld to reduce blur from camera shake. Lock the zoom with the zoom lock ring when carrying or to prevent creep during long exposures. For composition changes between vertical and horizontal formats, rotate the camera or use the lens features that assist quick orientation change. When closer magnification is required, focus down to the minimum focus distance of 1.3 m and adjust aperture and shutter speed for the subject and light conditions.

Usage recommendations

The lens is teleconverter-ready: attach the optional DMW-TC20 teleconverter to extend the maximum focal length (35 mm equivalent up to 1600 mm). For close-up nature subjects, use the 0.5x magnification capability and consider a monopod or tripod with a gimbal head for extended shooting sessions to maintain sharpness.