CameraReview
Panasonic Lumix S 100-500mm f/5-7.1 O.I.S.
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Panasonic · 100-500 mm · f/5 · Leica L mount

Panasonic Lumix S 100-500mm f/5-7.1 O.I.S.

From $2,029.99 — 1 offer
KEY FACTS
BrandPanasonic
Announcement dateSep 2025
Released2025
Production started2025
Production statusIn Production
What We Like
+Outstanding 7-stop image stabilization enables handheld shooting at extreme telephoto focal lengths
+Exceptionally compact and lightweight (1,285g) for a 500mm focal length zoom compared to rivals
+Excellent sharpness and detail across the entire 100-500mm zoom range, even at maximum aperture
+Fast, silent Dual Phase Linear Motor autofocus with minimal focus breathing for video work
+Premium build quality with weather sealing, fluorine coating, and premium optics for professional use
+Versatile 5x zoom range suits wildlife, sports, and landscape photography with teleconverter extension options
Worth Knowing
Slow maximum aperture of f/5-f/7.1 limits light gathering and depth-of-field control in low-light conditions
Non-inner zoom design causes barrel extension by 8.5cm when zooming from 100mm to 500mm, affecting balance
Tight-Smooth zoom ring adjustment offers minimal noticeable difference between settings in practice
Premium pricing at $2,099 makes it more expensive than competing L-Mount alternatives like Sigma zooms

General

Brand
Panasonic
Announcement date
Refers to the date the manufacturer publicly announced the upcoming release and general specs of this camera.
Sep 2025
Released
Refers to the year this camera was officially made available for sale.
2025
Production started
2025
Production status
Current status of lens manufacturing (e.g., in production, discontinued).
In Production
Read our notes on general
The Panasonic LUMIX S 100-500mm f/5-7.1 O.I.S., the first ultra-telephoto zoom in the LUMIX S series, combines long reach with a compact 7.7-inch form factor. Its headline feature is outstanding image stabilization, delivering up to seven stops of compensation that makes handheld shooting at extreme focal lengths genuinely viable. Image quality holds up impressively too, remaining sharp and consistent right through the zoom range. However, the lens' aperture is undeniably on the slower side, which can limit its appeal for wildlife photographers.

Optics

Minimum Aperture
f/40
Optical Design
19 elements in 12 groups
Special Elements
2 UED (Ultra Extra-low Dispersion), 2 ED (Extra-low Dispersion), 2 UHR
Coating
Fluorine coating
Min focal length
100 mm
Max focal length
500 mm
Focal range
Shortest to longest focal length of the lens (zoom range start - end )
100-500 mm
Zoom lens
Zoom allows you to vary the focal length, change between long shots and close-ups
Yes
Max aperture wide
5
Max aperture zoom
7.1
Blades
Number of diaphragm blades in aperture
11020
Autofocus mode
Yes

Autofocus

AF Speed
Fast and silent
Focus Breathing Suppression
Yes

Stabilization

System
Dual I.S. 2 (Optical Image Stabilization)
Compensation
Up to 7 stops (with compatible camera body)

Focusing

Minimum Focus Distance (100mm)
0.8m / 2.6 feet
Minimum Focus Distance (500mm)
1.5m / 4.9 feet
Maximum Magnification
0.36x (at 500mm)

Build

Tripod Collar
Rotating, removable, Arca-Swiss compatible

Video features

Micro Step Aperture Control
Yes
Focus Breathing Suppression
Yes

Teleconverter compatibility

1.4x Converter Support
Yes (extends to 700mm)
2.0x Converter Support
Yes (extends to 1000mm)

Physical

Lens length
How long the lens is from front to back.
196.1 mm
Lens diameter
Width of the lens at its widest point
92 mm
Lens weight
1285 g
Lens mount
The lens mount will tell you what type of lens range you can fit onto the camera body. Often the same camera company will have different lens ranges for different cameras.
Leica L
Front filter size
Diameter of attachable filters.
82 mm

Features

Weather sealing
Weather sealing capabilities will give you more confidence when shooting in unfavourable conditions.
Yes