Compare lenses

Leica Vario-Elmar-SL 100-400mm f/5-6.3 vs Panasonic Lumix S 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 Macro OIS

The Leica Vario-Elmar-SL 100-400mm f/5-6.3 and the Panasonic Lumix S 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 Macro OIS side by side, computed from this guide's catalogue.

Which to pick

Pick the Leica Vario-Elmar-SL 100-400mm f/5-6.3 if you want more reach (to 400mm equivalent) and the flexibility of a zoom. Pick the Panasonic Lumix S 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 Macro OIS if you want a brighter f/4.5 (0.3 stops more light), for dim light and softer backgrounds and a wider view (from 70mm equivalent).

Still torn? Ask the guide about the Leica Vario-Elmar-SL 100-400mm f/5-6.3 and the Panasonic Lumix S 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 Macro 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 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 Macro OIS
Maker	Leica	Panasonic
Focal length	100-400mm (zoom)	70-300mm (macro)
Full-frame equivalent	100-400mm	70-300mm
Maximum aperture	f/5-6.3	f/4.5-5.6brighter
Made for	Full frame	Full frame
Mounts	L-Mount	L-Mount
Stabilised	yes	yes
Autofocus	yes	yes
Zoom range	4.0×	4.3×
Weight	not listed	790 g
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 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 Macro OIS: 70-300mm.

Aperture

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

Panasonic Lumix S 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 Macro OIS: f/4.5 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.