Compare lenses

Leica Vario-Elmar-SL 100-400mm f/5-6.3 vs Panasonic Lumix S 100-500mm f/5-7.1 OIS

The Leica Vario-Elmar-SL 100-400mm f/5-6.3 and the Panasonic Lumix S 100-500mm f/5-7.1 OIS side by side, computed from this guide's catalogue.

Which to pick

Pick the Panasonic Lumix S 100-500mm f/5-7.1 OIS if you want more reach (to 500mm equivalent). On these specs the Leica Vario-Elmar-SL 100-400mm f/5-6.3 has no clear advantage: choose it if the price, the handling or a lens you own decides it.

Still torn? Ask the guide about the Leica Vario-Elmar-SL 100-400mm f/5-6.3 and the Panasonic Lumix S 100-500mm f/5-7.1 OIS

Specs side by side

Rows that differ are in full colour; the better value is marked where one is better by any measure.
Spec	Leica Vario-Elmar-SL 100-400mm f/5-6.3	Panasonic Lumix S 100-500mm f/5-7.1 OIS
Maker	Leica	Panasonic
Focal length	100-400mm (zoom)	100-500mm (zoom)
Full-frame equivalent	100-400mm	100-500mm
Maximum aperture	f/5-6.3	f/5-7.1
Made for	Full frame	Full frame
Mounts	L-Mount	L-Mount
Stabilised	yes	yes
Autofocus	yes	yes
Zoom range	4.0×	5.0×more range
Cameras it fits	25 in this guide	25 in this guide

Focal range, in full-frame terms

Leica Vario-Elmar-SL 100-400mm f/5-6.3: 100-400mm.

Panasonic Lumix S 100-500mm f/5-7.1 OIS: 100-500mm.

Aperture

Leica Vario-Elmar-SL 100-400mm f/5-6.3: f/5 wide open.

Panasonic Lumix S 100-500mm f/5-7.1 OIS: f/5 wide open.

Each opening drawn to scale against f/1.4: a smaller f-number lets in more light and blurs the background more.

Field of view

How wide each sees, at each end, on the sensor it was made for.

Cameras they fit

25 cameras in this guide take both, so either works on the same body.