@Cary Knoop I'm glad you're enjoying your purchase. The overwhelming majority of buyers who left comments over at B&H also felt that the PanLeica 100-400mm f/4-6.3 was exceptional. But is it really? Several users confirmed that, mechanically at least, the lens leaves much to be desired. And a few either exchanged or returned their lens because of the zoom mechanism, not something you'd expect from a product designed by Leica.
I'm amazed to read this as I've been using the 100-400 since July and not experienced anything like the zoom problems some report, particularly the user who has to zoom with two hands (!) and found the zoom better on the frustratingly bad 100-300.
I've shot a fair bit of footage while zooming without issue- my copy has a decent amount of resistance (the lock is definitely superfluous) but it is definitely smooth. Stabilisation seems fine too, but I'm not one of these users who expects to handhold at these focal lengths.
I'd describe myself as having a healthy cynicism toward camera gear (and I'm still paying for my 100-400, so I do appreciate the cost...) but every time I've got this lens out of the bag thinking "here it is- the least worst option for my system at this focal length" I've been thinking "this is actually a bit of a technological marvel" while shooting.
For the record my dislikes about the lens are the odd hood attachment system (little clampy knob rather than bayonet, just like the Nocticron but incongrously made from plastic), the single mounting hole on the tripod foot and the unecessary, hard-to-tell-if-it's-working lock.
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I'm amazed to read this as I've been using the 100-400 since July and not experienced anything like the zoom problems some report, particularly the user who has to zoom with two hands (!) and found the zoom better on the frustratingly bad 100-300.
I've shot a fair bit of footage while zooming without issue- my copy has a decent amount of resistance (the lock is definitely superfluous) but it is definitely smooth. Stabilisation seems fine too, but I'm not one of these users who expects to handhold at these focal lengths.
I'd describe myself as having a healthy cynicism toward camera gear (and I'm still paying for my 100-400, so I do appreciate the cost...) but every time I've got this lens out of the bag thinking "here it is- the least worst option for my system at this focal length" I've been thinking "this is actually a bit of a technological marvel" while shooting.
For the record my dislikes about the lens are the odd hood attachment system (little clampy knob rather than bayonet, just like the Nocticron but incongrously made from plastic), the single mounting hole on the tripod foot and the unecessary, hard-to-tell-if-it's-working lock.