Is the panasonic lumix s 100 500mm f 5 7 1 ois good for portraits?

Not really. This is a long telephoto zoom, and at 100-500mm it's built for distant subjects like wildlife and sport rather than faces. Its f/5-7.1 aperture is also slow, so you'd get less light and less control over background blur than a portrait lens offers. It can work for a tight shot from across a field, but it's a poor choice for everyday portraits.

For portraits I'd look at a 85mm f/1.8 on full frame, or a 135mm or 70-200mm f/2.8 if you want tighter headshots with more room between you and your subject. The portraits guide explains why, and it covers the rest of the portrait lens options. If you're already set on telephoto reach, this lens's page shows which L-Mount bodies it fits.

Written by Claude from this site's pages.