Rumors continue that Oly 300mm Pro will be announced Jan 6

[RMills]

I hope it comes in at or under $2,000 USD, maybe the rumored price is includes some import taxes for other countries. I've been debating over this or the 7-14 2.8 for months. I guess the price will be my deciding factor.

 

[50orsohours]

I hope it comes in at or under $2,000 USD, maybe the rumored price is includes some import taxes for other countries. I've been debating over this or the 7-14 2.8 for months. I guess the price will be my deciding factor.

Mills, if you chose the 7-14 instead of the 300mm, those birds will look very tiny!

 

[Ross the fiddler]

I hope it comes in at or under $2,000 USD, maybe the rumored price is includes some import taxes for other countries. I've been debating over this or the 7-14 2.8 for months. I guess the price will be my deciding factor.

Simon says, "For Germany it will be 2.599 €"

 

[RMills]

Yea not sure what impact exchange rate and taxes will have.

 

[mcasan]

If the European price is 2,599 Euros, that does not mean the US price will 2599 Euros converted to USD. The conversion currently would equal something like $2841.36 IMHO, that price level would not generate significant sales in the States. I think $2000 is pushing it very hard in the States.

 

[NoSeconds]

If the European price is 2,599 Euros, that does not mean the US price will 2599 Euros converted to USD. The conversion currently would equal something like $2841.36 IMHO, that price level would not generate significant sales in the States. I think $2000 is pushing it very hard in the States.

Yeah but that's like saying if it was $1500 USD it would convert to about $2000 AUD when the reality is it would be closer to $4000 AUD given the complex socioeconomic formulae our distributors and retailers in Australia use to rob us blind...

 

[Ross the fiddler]

Yeah but that's like saying if it was $1500 USD it would convert to about $2000 AUD when the reality is it would be closer to $4000 AUD given the complex socioeconomic formulae our distributors and retailers in Australia use to rob us blind...

Come on! That used to be the case. Before the Aussie $ dropped the mark up wasn't much but may be about AU$300 above the US$ value, but we shall see. Whatever the case you can bet our AU$ price won't be revealed until sometime after everyone else has their price.

 

[NoSeconds]

Come on! That used to be the case. Before the Aussie $ dropped the mark up wasn't much but may be about AU$300 above the US$ value, but we shall see.

Most of my lenses have been imported from HK or the States for 1/2 the Aussie equivalent, when the dollar was near parity...

It's across the board too, not just camera gear...

Whatever the case you can bet our AU$ price won't be revealed until sometime after everyone else has their price.

Doesn't really bother me, I've long resigned myself to a good two year wait (from the actual release date) before I pickup some "new" bit of M4/3's gear...

 

[Speedliner]

I hope it's under $2000 USD. If over $2000 it might be worth buying a used Oly 300mm,2.8.

 

[mcasan]

With luck both the Leica 100-400 and the 300 Pro are announced next week. If so, we will know, not guess, at the list prices. And just maybe a few reviews will start to emerge from folks who have shot with early versions of those two lenses.

Performance at two key focal lengths are important:

• 300mm: something near F5.6 for the Leica vs F4 for the Pro
• 400/420mm: 400@ F6.3 for the Leica vs. 420@F5.6 for the Pro plus the TC

Obviously the Leica has the advantage of doing 100-400mm while the Pro is fixed at 300mm. That could be important depending on what other lenses you own or plan to purchase. Also if you already own an a 40-150 Pro and TC that could play a part in the decision making.

(FT5) First official pictures of the Leica 100-400mm MFT lens! | 43 Rumors

 

[hoodlum]

I already own the 100-300 so the faster and sharper 300mm is the one for me.

 

[dhazeghi]

Performance at two key focal lengths are important:

• 300mm: something near F5.6 for the Leica vs F4 for the Pro
• 400/420mm: 400@ F6.3 for the Leica vs. 420@F5.6 for the Pro plus the TC

I think lots of folks are looking forward to the 300 + TC combo, but after seeing the results from the 40-150/2.8 with the TC, I'll be very surprised if the Panasonic 100-400 is not ahead on image quality at 400mm.

 

[nstelemark]

The Panasonic is due for official release on Jan 5. One day before the 300 f4. I am looking forward to both.

 

[mcasan]

I already own the 100-300 so the faster and sharper 300mm is the one for me.

Faster as in aperture size or in AF speed? The 300mm Pro is F4 so it has an aperture speed advantage at that focal length if the Leica does something like F5.6 at 300mm. As for AF speed, that is TBD.

The wife and I had 100-300 units on a trip in November. Even the wife complains about 300mm being way too soft. But for a $350 fleabay lens, what does one expect. The day we take delivery of either the 300 Pro or the Leica 100-400, the 100-300 units go back onto fleabay or a club auction.

 

[RMills]

I've got the 40-150 2.8 pro +tc, not really impressed with the tc. Wouldn't surprise me if the PL is better at 400mm. I'm hoping the 300 f4 is so great that it carries the tc to "really good" IQ at 420.

 

[BobbyTan]

With luck both the Leica 100-400 and the 300 Pro are announced next week. If so, we will know, not guess, at the list prices. And just maybe a few reviews will start to emerge from folks who have shot with early versions of those two lenses.

Performance at two key focal lengths are important:

• 300mm: something near F5.6 for the Leica vs F4 for the Pro
• 400/420mm: 400@ F6.3 for the Leica vs. 420@F5.6 for the Pro plus the TC

Obviously the Leica has the advantage of doing 100-400mm while the Pro is fixed at 300mm. That could be important depending on what other lenses you own or plan to purchase. Also if you already own an a 40-150 Pro and TC that could play a part in the decision making.

(FT5) First official pictures of the Leica 100-400mm MFT lens! | 43 Rumors

I believe the Pan-Leica lens is not weather-sealed, as it's an extending lens - which means also that when it's extended, the center of gravity or balance changes. Also, being about a stop slower could mean that AF may not be as quick or it may hunt in low light. I am going with the faster prime!

 

[Ross the fiddler]

I believe the Pan-Leica lens is not weather-sealed, as it's an extending lens - which means also that when it's extended, the center of gravity or balance changes. Also, being about a stop slower could mean that AF may not be as quick or it may hunt in low light. I am going with the faster prime!

An extending zoom lens doesn't mean it isn't weather sealed because I have two Oly lenses that are exactly that, but it is likely the cost that will prevent me from enjoying either.

 

[Speedliner]

The 4/3 150mm with the EC-20 2x TC would equate to 300mm, f4. I wonder how that will compare to the 300,f4 Pro.

It's been posted on this forum previously that the m43 Pros are more equal to the 4/3 HG lenses than the SHG lenses. I can't tell, but if true, I wonder why. What to do....what to do. I look forward to the reviews, but unfortunately comparisons with the 4/3 SHG lenses don't seem likely by the usual reviewers.

 

[RMills]

So I guess I'll be sitting at my computer 1am Wednesday to see the price. If it's in the realm I'll get a preorder in at B&H

 

[hoodlum]

Faster as in aperture size or in AF speed? The 300mm Pro is F4 so it has an aperture speed advantage at that focal length if the Leica does something like F5.6 at 300mm. As for AF speed, that is TBD.

The 300 f4 will let in 1.5ev more light so I would expect af to be faster in less than ideal light.