HI,
After seeing so many people happy with this 100-300mm lens, I have decided to order one. I've never had such a reach and will probably never have it with a full dslr system, but with the compact size and light weight of mft, it is a unique occasion to try it.
I'm not a birding person and I got it mainly for landscape photography (granted the lens may not be so sharp, but I've decided to live with it and adapt the choice of subject in consequence).
I've hesitated for a few weeks before taking the plunge, because I don't trust my rather shaky hands. Plus at the bottom of the valley, where I live, there is always a little haze. My best results were using a tripod, or resting my tow elbows on a table or on the windowsills.
Here are some results :
Valère : about 1.7 kilometer away
La Maya : 2916 m (9567 ft), as seen from the bottom of the valley (500m) and on a rainy day :
Chrysanthèmes (looking down to the terrace, one floor below)
I'm quite happy with this lens and thanks both Terry and Big Louis, without reading their numerous comments concerning that lens, I won't have dared to take the plunge, but I'm happy I did, even if the lens isn't so easy to maste.
If you want to know more about the settings which were used you can see them in my gallery at Dpreview :
http://www.dpreview.com/members/9037920827/galleries and if you have suggestions concerning how these pictures can be improved, you are welcome (I'm never sure about the choice of tones in the B&W conversions, they often look "muddy" IMO).
Have a nice week-end all and take great pictures !