Panasonic Canada has announced the LEICA DG ELMARIT 200mm (400mm equivalent) F2.8 POWER O.I.S. ultra-telephoto fixed focal length lens. A 1.4x telecpnverter is included in the box, extending the focal length to an equivalent 560mm. (You can also optionally purchase a 2x teleconverter for an equivalent focal length of 800mm.)
It has built-in optical image stabilization which works with the Dual I.S. (Panasonic GX85) or Dual I.S. 2 (Panasonic GH5, G9, G85) on compatible Panasonic mirrorless cameras. It’s a LEICA branded lens, so you can expect the highest image quality. It features two UED (Ultra Extra-low Dispersion) lenses for high-resolution, high-contrast images from corner to corner while suppressing distortion and chromatic aberration.
(Note that some functions of the lens are not usable as yet on the GH5. A firmware is scheduled to be released by the end of March, 2018 to bring the GH5 up to date.)
The LEICA DG ELMARIT 200mm F2.8 POWER O.I.S. is rugged, dust/splash proof and freeze proof down to -10 °C.
The following video presents LUMIX G9 By Bence Mate in Zimbabwe:
“Lumix Ambassador and wildlife photographer Bence Mate takes the Panasonic LUMIX G9 camera and Leica DG Elmarit 200mm f2.8 lens on his journey through Zimbabwe to discover how a professional photographer benefits form the unique features of this amazing mirrorless Micro Four Thirds camera by Panasonic LUMIX. Video by Lumix Ambassador Bence Mate“
PRESS RELEASE
PANASONIC CANADA INTRODUCES THE NEW LEICA DG ELMARIT HES200 LENS
New Compact and Lightweight Ultra-Telephoto Lens with Wide Aperture
Mississauga, ON (November 8, 2017) – Panasonic Canada is proud to introduce its latest telephoto single focal length lens, the HES200 Lens. This LEICA DG ELMARIT 200mm / F2.8 / POWER O.I.S. (35 mm camera equivalent: 400 mm) lens is the first large-diameter ultra-telephoto fixed focal length lens in the LEICA DG family. Lightweight and durable, it boasts the sharpest image quality in the history of LUMIX digital interchangeable lenses, even when using it handheld on a camera body. The HES200 Lens will be available at select Canadian retailers and at the Panasonic eStore in January for a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $3,899.99.
Outstanding Image Quality
With its 400mm equivalent ultra-telephoto focal length and responsive performance, the LEICA DG ELMARIT 200mm HES200 Lens is suitable for wildlife or sports photography. The included 1.4x Teleconverter (DMWTC14) is bundled with the lens to extend the focusing distance to 560mm (35mm camera equivalent) for longer range.
The F2.8 fast aperture allows users to capture fast-moving subjects while the POWER O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) effectively compensates for the hand-shake movement, making it easy to shoot even without a tripod or in low-light situations. The lens works with Dual I.S.*2 (Image Stabilizer) and Dual I.S. 2*3 systems when mounted on the compliant Panasonic LUMIX DSLM (Digital Single Lens Mirrorless) camera for more powerful hand-shake suppression.
Clearing the stringent quality standard of LEICA, the lens system is comprised of 15 elements in 13 groups, featuring two UED (Ultra Extra-low Dispersion) lenses. The use of UED lenses and the crystallization of Panasonic’s cutting-edge optical technology achieve high-resolution, high-contrast images from corner to corner while suppressing distortion and chromatic aberration.
Incorporating a triple linear motor system and max 240 fps sensor drive, the new LEICA DG ELMARIT 200mm HES200 Lens achieves high-speed, high-precision contrast AF for both photo and video recording. This stunning AF performance can record 4K video, even when precise focusing is severely required. In addition, the micro-step drive system in the aperture control section helps the camera to smoothly catch up to brightness changes when panning.
It boasts a rugged, dust/splash proof design and is even freeze proof down to -10 °C to withstand professional use under harsh conditions. The all metal body weighs in at only 1245 grams – a fraction of the weight of other comparable lenses.
LEICA DG ELMARIT 200mm F2.8 Power O.I.S. with 2.0x Teleconverter DMWTC20
The LEICA DG ELMARIT 200mm HES200 Lens can also be used with the 2.0x Teleconverter DMWTC20 (sold separately MSRP $599.99), which extends the focusing distance to 800mm (35mm camera equivalent) to capture far away subjects with precision, sharpness and accuracy.
*2 Dual I.S. is available on GX85
*3 Dual I.S.2 is available on GH5, G9, G85
– Some functions of HES200 cannot currently be used with DCGH5. The firmware for DCGH5 to fully comply with HES200 is scheduled to be released by the end of March, 2018.
– Design and specifications are subject to change without notice.
– LEICA is a registered trademark of Leica Microsystems IR GmbH.
– ELMARIT is a registered trademark of Leica Camera AG.
A subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation of North America, Panasonic Canada Inc. provides a broad line of digital and other electronics products and solutions to meet consumer, business and industrial needs. Consumers seeking more information on the company’s products can visit Panasonic’s home page at www.panasonic.com.
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