Panasonic announces compact, lightweight ultra-telephoto LEICA lens with Power OIS for handheld 400mm equivalent shooting: LEICA DG ELMARIT 200mm / F2.8 / POWER OIS (H-ES200)

First LEICA DG large-diameter ultra-telephoto fixed focal length lens boasts sharpest ever image quality from corner to corner in the history of LUMIX digital interchangeable lenses.

Panasonic has announced the introduction of a new telephoto single focal length lens, the LEICA DG ELMARIT 200mm / F2.8 / POWER OIS (35mm camera equivalent: 400mm).

This ultra-telephoto lens offers outstanding high speed and low light performance in a lightweight design. The lens achieves stunning results for action photography, while still attaining compact mobility at a 200mm focal length – unheard of in other camera systems. For even greater versatility, a bundled 1.4x Teleconverter extends focal length to 560mm (35mm equivalent).

Scott Mellish, Product Marketing Manager, Imaging, Panasonic said: “The new H-ES200 lens is designed to be the perfect partner for the LUMIX G9. The F2.8 aperture is designed for low light shooting at dusk or dawn, while the 200mm focal length is a staple for sports and wildlife photography.”

The H-ES200 has a rugged dust and splash-proofi design for field use and is freeze-proof down to -10 degrees Celsius. The new lens, in stylish metallic black, will be available in Australia in January 2017, priced at $4299RRP from photographic specialists.

Key Features

The highly mobile lens supports handheld ultra-telephoto shooting. With its 400mm ultra-telephoto focal length and stunning descriptive performance, the H-ES200 is suitable for wildlife or sports photography. A 1.4x Teleconverter (DMW-TC14) is bundled with the lens; and the H-ES200 can also be used with the optional 2.0x Teleconverter (DMW-TC20) to extend focal length to 800mm (35mm equivalent).

The fast F2.8 aperture captures rapidly-moving subjects, while the Power OIS (Optical Image Stabiliser) compensates for hand-shake to enable shooting without a tripod and in low-light situations. For powerful stabilisation, the lens works with Dual I.S.ii (Image Stabiliser), and the Dual I.S. 2iii system when mounted on compatible Panasonic LUMIX DSLM cameras.

The lens incorporates 15 elements in 13 groups, including two UED (Ultra Extra-low Dispersion) lenses. These lenses and Panasonic’s cutting edge optical technology achieve high-resolution, high-contrast imaging from corner to corner while suppressing distortion and chromatic aberration.

Incorporating a triple linear motor system, the LEICA DG ELMARIT 200mm / F2.8 / POWER OIS is compatible with the LUMIX G sensor drive at 240fps to take advantage of the high-speed, high-precision Depth From Defocus (DFD) focusing system. This stunning AF performance supports the precise focusing required for 4K video.

i Splash-proof is a term used to describe an extra level of protection this lens offers against exposure to a minimal amount of moisture.
ii Dual I.S. is available on GX8, GX85
iii Dual I.S. 2 is available on GH5, G9, G85

*Some functions of the H-ES200 cannot be used with the DC-GH5. The firmware allowing the DC-GH5 to fully comply with the H-ES200 is scheduled to be released by the end of December 2017.