The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Olympus ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS and the Panasonic DG 200mm F2.8 for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Size and Weight Comparison The size of a lens is a crucial factor to consider when comparing two lenses. Olympus ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS is the longer of the two lenses at 206mm. The Panasonic DG 200mm F2.8 with a length of 174mm, is 32mm shorter. On the other hand, the Panasonic DG 200mm F2.8 has a larger diameter of 88mm compared to the Olympus ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS's 86mm diameter.
Below you can find a scaled side-by-side image of Olympus ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS and Panasonic DG 200mm F2.8 to get a better idea of how their sizes compare in real life.
Comparison image of the Olympus ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS and the Panasonic DG 200mm F2.8 Size and Weight The weight of a lens is equally significant as its external dimensions, particularly if you intend to handhold your camera and lens combination for extended periods. Olympus ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS weighs 1120g, which means it is 125g (10%) lighter than the Panasonic DG 200mm F2.8 which has a weight of 1245g.
Filter Threads
The Olympus ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS has a filter size of 72mm whereas the Panasonic DG 200mm F2.8 has a 77mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 72mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Olympus ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Panasonic DG 200mm F2.8:
Lens Mounts
Both the Olympus ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS and the Panasonic DG 200mm F2.8 has the same Micro Four Thirds lens mount . Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Micro Four Thirds lenses are OM System OM-3 Astro , OM System OM-5 II and OM System OM-3 .
Focal Range
Olympus ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS has a focal range of 100-400mm and
4.0X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
200-800mm when used on a FourThirds format camera.
On the other hand, the Panasonic DG 200mm F2.8 is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 200mm which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 400mm when used on a FourThirds format camera.
