The big question of whether to buy the 100-400 OM or the Lumix 100-500, turned into a larger look at my system, the things that need addressing and how.

The OM lens was bought, a special magically arriving in my lap, even from a local dealer, so a return option. Lucy, my lovely Lab/Pointer cross decided we liked the lens (before I had even tested it) and ate the box.

Bit random, but a thing and as it turns out, all good.

Pondering the 100-500, I came across the 70-200 f4, an older but well respected lens, and probably a more logical addition to my full frame kit than a slow supe tele, especially if that meant not getting the more practical OM lens.

The two Lumix 70-200’s were never on my list because they were simply too dear for what they offered in a kit aimed mostly at video. The Sigma maybe, but not the Pana’s. It was however, at a price that surprised me ($1200au).

Long story short, in a little over a week, I have managed to fill two holes for a little more than the big Lumix, or less than “little white”, the Oly 50-200.

Fears of “dud” lenses are pushed aside by taking many nice images, where the OM and Lumix have already impressed.

The OM lens matched to my newest firmware EM1x (Green Goddess) is in the league of my other professional lenses, maybe not on par with the 300 f4, but not much is. The stabe makes a difference as the lens feels lighter than the 300 by size and not much fun without the stabe or a tripod (800mm is vastly different to 600).

My Oly sports kits are the *Green Goddess* above, *Old Yeller* (EM1x and 40-150’s) and *Big Blue* (EM1x and 300), all sticker identified (and rarely separated).

The AF on the Lumix was a surprise.

The S5II is nothing like an EM1x, that is know, but this lens with it’s dual motors is actually very smooth and fast, probably better than my 85mm. It does not “snap” into lock from cold, sometimes it can be just stubborn about shifting from an error especially in close (and the close focus is a little ordinary), but when you have a clean grab, it holds it and drifting around things at similar distances is smooth.

The other thing is, it is gorgeous. Tight, smooth, solid feeling. This is my best made full frame lens outside my Vespids, no doubt.

When the box arrived, it was huge. I opened the outer and found a similarly massive Lumix black box, which on inspection took away my suspicion that it was the 2.8 model by mistake.

I opened the Lumix box and found…. a neat little lens, a little larger than my Oly 40-150 f2.8. One third of the box length and most of its width was the hood!