Panasonic, today, are also announcing a new Leica 200mm f/2.8 lens for Micro Four Thirds cameras. Panasonic say it offers the “sharpest-ever corner to corner image quality in Lumix history”. They also say that it’s designed with high speed and low weight in mind for handheld shooting.
With the launch of a new superfast 60fps camera, a new lens obviously aimed squarely at sports and wildlife shooters shouldn’t be much of a surprise. It has the equivalent field of view to a 400mm lens on a full frame sensor, with a fast aperture, fast autofocus, image stabilisation and it even comes supplied with a 1.4x teleconverter.
The new Panasonic Leica DG Elmarit 200mm f/2.8 POWER O.I.S. lens will be very welcome for those sports & wildlife shooters looking for some good reach. The benefits of a crop sensor in these sorts of genres is commonly touted on the web. The addition of the 1.4x teleconverter turns this into an f/4 lens with a field of view equivalent to 560mm on a full frame sensor.
- Focal Length: 200mm (400mm field of view full frame equivalent)
- Maximum aperture: f/2.8
- Minimum aperture: f/22
- Format: Micro Four Thirds
- Angle of view: 6.2°
- Minimum focus distance: 3.77′ (1.15m)
- Lens elements/groups: 15/13
- Diaphragm blades: 9, rounded
- Image stabilisation: Yes
- Autofocus: Yes
- Tripod collar: Yes (removable, rotating)
- Filter thread: 77mm
- Dimensions: 3.44 x 6.85″ (87.5 x 174mm)
- Weight: 43.92oz (1245g)
Two of those 15 elements are “ultra extra-low dispersion elements” to minimise aberrations. Panasonic also say those coatings help to produce high clarity, sharpness and colour accuracy. A Nano Surface Coating also further help to reduce flare and ghosting for improved contrast and colour.
The is splash, dust and freezeproof, working in weather conditions down to -14°F (-25°C). So, whether you’re shooting crocodiles along the Nile, or penguins in the Antarctic, it should stand up to the job. It also features the POWER Optical Image Stabilizer, which helps to minimise camera shake, and it will also work in conjunction with the 5 axis IBIS found in the G9, GH5 and other Panasonic cameras. So, if you are shooting those penguins in the Antarctic, it’ll help control some of your shivering.
This kind of performance doesn’t come cheap, though. The Panasonic Leica DG Elmarit 200mm f/2.8 POWER O.I.S. is available to pre-order now for $2,997.99. Shipping is expected to begin in January 2018. Find out more on the Panasonic website.
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