Panasonic has launched the LUMIX S 100-500mm F5-7.1 O.I.S., the first ultra-telephoto zoom lens in its LUMIX S Series lineup.

The lens is designed for photographers and videographers who need reach, portability and precision.

Covering focal lengths from 100mm to 500mm, the lens is compatible with Panasonic’s teleconverters, pushing the focal length up to 1000mm with the 2x STC20.

Panasonic says the lens is ideal for wildlife, motorsports and landscape shooting, offering sharp detail and smooth bokeh across its entire range.

Aaron Waters, Product Marketing Manager Imaging at Panasonic, said the compact design makes it especially suited to field use.

“This lens is incredibly mobile in its class, allowing photographers or videographers to carry a telephoto zoom in remote locations where portability is paramount,” Waters said.

Measuring just 196.1mm in length and weighing around 1.28kg, the lens achieves its size reduction through an optimised lens element arrangement and Dual Phase Linear Motor.

It also features fast, silent autofocus and Panasonic’s Dual I.S. 2 image stabilisation, which supports up to 7.0 stops of compensation for handheld shooting.

The lens also includes a new “tight-smooth” ring to adjust zoom resistance, a customisable function button, and a control ring that can be assigned to settings like aperture or zoom.

For videographers, the lens incorporates focus breathing suppression and micro-step aperture control for smooth exposure transitions.

Built for Australian conditions, it is dust, splash and freeze-resistant down to -10°C, with a fluorine coating to repel moisture and oil.

The LUMIX S 100-500mm F5-7.1 O.I.S. will be available in Australia from early November, with an RRP of $3,699.

Key Specs

  • Focal length: 100-500mm (up to 1000mm with teleconverter)
  • Max aperture: F5 (wide) – F7.1 (tele)
  • Optical construction: 19 elements in 12 groups
  • Closest focus: 0.8m (wide), 1.5m (tele)
  • Weight: Approx. 1,285g
  • Filter size: 82mm