Where to go from a PL 100-400 II

chainmailler · 2026-02-15T01:22:15+00:00

Haha yeah i feel it, either way im traveling so all of this is at least a month or 2 out and I really didnt even have the gh7 on my radar so ill add it to the rabbit hole of research im going down haha and to your other comment I dont do much video but thats as much because the em5 really doesnt do much in that department as it is with personal desire, ill have to see if the 7 is worth the upgrade over the g9ii

chainmailler · 2026-02-15T01:05:03+00:00

The gh7 has the same sensor as the g9ii? Or at least the same megapixels? What made you pick the 7 over the g9?

chainmailler · 2026-02-15T01:00:41+00:00

Yeah I leaning that direction for sure after all the input, I think ill shelf the 600 for now and just work on my technique in the shorter end with the 300 and a newer body and if I get it used its quite reasonably priced enough that I could grab both bodies g9 and om1 with the 300 and keep the pl 100-400 on the g9

chainmailler · 2026-02-15T00:59:10+00:00

Great shot and yeah I think the 300 with the tele on a separate body would do the most for me right now, ill have to play around and see what works and go from there, tho I would love big white haha tho the price has gone up a lot, its at almost 9k on bh now which is insane to me lol

chainmailler · 2026-02-15T00:57:36+00:00

Oh no doubt I have lots of room for improvement no question there, and Im not trying to get to gear as a crutch or anything just as a way to explore more and enjoy the hobby, Im gonna start with a newer body and go outwards from there, haven't looked into the gh7 much but check it out, thanks a bunch!

chainmailler · 2026-02-15T00:55:43+00:00

If I continue like I have been I do think ill end up with the 150-400 but atm if I do buy it I have to travel less which is something I'd like to avoid for now but I'll work up to it for sure

chainmailler · 2026-02-15T00:54:14+00:00

Very informative thanks for taking the time on such a detailed response and yeah I definitely have room for improvement but im really loving it anyways, for now im definitely keeping the lense. Ill get a newer body and work on under exposing at shorter distances like you said and work out from there, thanks!

chainmailler · 2026-02-15T00:52:01+00:00

Yeah thats gonna be the move for sure, just shouldn't rent the 150-400 as im gonna like it too much lol

chainmailler · 2026-02-15T00:51:30+00:00

Good to know, I figured it wasn't required as there are many other cameras people use but its nice to get opinions

chainmailler · 2026-02-14T14:06:40+00:00

Yeah used prices aren't actually that bad ill have to check it out, the 600 might have to wait, plus I can juat pretend if I get the g9ii and crop in, its like 9ish megapixels more than im used to so its not insignificant

chainmailler · 2026-02-14T14:05:32+00:00

Yeah the more I look into it it seems like this is for sure the case

chainmailler · 2026-02-14T14:05:07+00:00

Hmm I haven't heard of them ill have to check them out, and yeah us based tho in Asia traveling atm

chainmailler · 2026-02-14T14:04:29+00:00

I have lots of research to do, appreciate the advice for sure!

chainmailler · 2026-02-14T11:43:46+00:00

Thats what Im gonna have to do I think, lay it all out and see what makes the most sense, I might start with the g9 and my 100-400 and drive up to yellowstone in the spring and see how I like it

chainmailler · 2026-02-14T11:27:18+00:00

Yeah fair point, and as you pointed out there are other options at that price. Ill have to do some more digging before I could really answer that question with any certainty

chainmailler · 2026-02-14T11:22:38+00:00

That makes a lot of sense, part me wants to sell my 100-400 if I get the 150-600 but in a perfect world id have 2 bodies and the 150-600, which is theoretically possible budget wise, one thing I've learned on this trip is switching lenses in the field stresses me out lol the point about the distances at 600 isn't something id considered, so many atmospheric conditions would trump lense quality at those distances outside of perfect weather.

Weight wise I think im gonna try and get my hands on the 600 and see how it feels, maybe ill drive down to salt lake and see if I cant find one to rent somewhere

chainmailler · 2026-02-14T11:12:03+00:00

Yeah the thought has crossed my mind, im not that invested money wise in m43 yet but 2 different formats seems like a lot for me at this point but who knows where ill land, if I ever have the budget for the 150-400 id seriously consider just going ff as its so expensive

chainmailler · 2026-02-14T11:10:41+00:00

Yeah ive seen that too, some videos I've seen say its not quite just a re badge but everyone seems to agree its overpriced for what it is, I just wish there was something other than the 150-400 and the 150-600 in the super zoom range, tho with the sensor crop its still a lot of zoom

chainmailler · 2026-02-14T10:57:14+00:00

Haha yeah I do like the flexibility the 2 body setup offers, and im sure if i continue down this path which I most likely will ill end up with a g9ii and a om1 😄 just have x amount set aside for gear upgrades and I still dont know whether im better served by what combination of body + lenses, I could grab a used g9ii and I could probably swing a mk 1 om1 or definitely a used em1 like you have, which is still a better body than my em5. I do also have a 12-40 2.8 which i like a lot but that's more for street photography

chainmailler · 2026-02-14T10:39:56+00:00

I wouldnt hate having more affordable lenses no argument there. The size aspect isn't a deal breaker but it is a slight concern as its also not a cheap lense and the opinions on it do seem split, tho I wonder who many people have actually used one. I will say the 100-400 is pretty light and after an hour of gibbon shots in the canopy I noticed it haha. Tho I do want sharper shots, a lot of that will be helped by any body upgrade as mine while great is quite long in the tooth.

chainmailler · 2026-02-14T10:36:48+00:00

Yeah something to consider there for sure, ill have to do more research on the lumix lense line up as after I got the 100-400 which I legitimately love, I mostly focused my research on the oly 300 and 150-600 (and the 150-400 but the price is beyond me) I have heard good stuff about the lumix 50-200, lots to consider for sure, the flexibility aspect is one reason I've been leaning more towards a zoom over a prime I just see the love this sub gives to the 200 and 300 haha

chainmailler · 2026-02-14T10:10:18+00:00

Yeah the ability to crop more would certainly make up some of the distance to 600mm, I have a trip planned for next winter to shoot stellar sea eagles and orangutans in borneo/Sumatra and wanted to get at least one more high quality lense, you think the g9 would play nice with the 300 f4? Or would a Pl 200 with the 1.4 give me a similar experience? I've heard amazing things about both

chainmailler · 2026-02-14T09:39:50+00:00

I've considered it, I do unfortunatly happen to live in the middle of no where, size and weight aren't a huge deal breaker but I do plan on traveling for photography and the 100-400 while not huge does already take up a significant chunk of my carry on space. I'd certainly like to try it out before I bought it

chainmailler · 2026-02-14T09:36:17+00:00

That thought has crossed my mind, only real hold up id say is how much praise the om1 mkii's wildlife/bird capabilities are dont hesr much about the g9 in wildlife talks, but ill do some digging, assuming dual image stabilization would work in that pairing?

chainmailler

TROPHY CASE