Flexible Ultra-Telephoto Zoom. The Panasonic 100-500mm f/5-7.1 S OIS’s focal length, superb rendering power, and compact build make it an excellent choice for capturing an array of subjects, such as landscapes, fast-moving vehicles, and distant wildlife. The eleven-blade diaphragm produces smooth, circular bokeh. Its f/5-7.1 maximum aperture is plenty fast for daytime use, but you probably won’t want to shoot too much in low light with this lens.

L-Mount Alliance. This wide-diameter lens mount is a joint collaboration between Leica, Panasonic, and Sigma that’s focused on a line of premium cameras and lenses in a mirrorless format. At 51.6mm mount diameter and just 20mm flange distance, the L-mount is well-suited for fast-aperture full-frame optics with compact dimensions.

Dual I.S. 2 Image Stabilization. The five-axis in-lens Dual I.S. 2 image-stabilization system gives you up to seven stops of stabilization to help combat camera shake, allowing you to shoot razor-sharp, blur-free photos at slower shutter speeds. An on-lens switch lets you instantly enable and disable image stabilization.

Dual-Phase Linear Autofocus Motor. The motor provides fast, accurate, and nearly silent autofocus performance for stills and video. You can use the AF/MF switch to easily toggle between autofocus and manual focus modes. The 100-500mm is designed to minimize focus breathing, and you can choose between linear or nonlinear focus-ring settings. You get a 2.6-foot minimum focusing distance at 100mm and a 4.9-foot minimum focusing distance at 500mm, so you can get in reasonably close for a lens with this range.

Advanced Optical Design. The twelve-group/nineteen-element optical formula includes two ultra extra-low dispersion elements, two extra-low dispersion elements, and two Ultra-High Refractive Index elements to reduce chromatic aberrations and distortion.

Durable Build. The 100-500mm’s 7.7-inch length and 2.8-lb. weight make it compact for a lens with this focal length. Its dust-, splash-, and freeze-resistant construction lets you work in adverse conditions, including temperatures down to 32°F. A fluorine coating on the front element helps keep oil- and water-based substances from sticking to the lens.

Teleconverter Compatible. If you need even more reach without noticeably losing sharpness, you can use the Panasonic DMW-STC14 Lumix S 1.4x and Panasonic DMW-STC20 Lumix S 2x teleconverters to extend the focal length to 700mm and 1000mm, respectively.