Panasonic 24mm and 85mm S lens reviews at ePhotozine

Panasonic L-Mount S 24mm F/1.8 Lens Review:

Some considerable thought seems to have been invested in this set of three matching lenses, aimed not only at stills photographers but also at videographers. In the case of the 24mm, the quality is high, the handling excellent and the price reasonable. There have also been improvements in the small design details, such as the lens hood release catch.

24mm is in itself a very versatile general-purpose wide-angle focal length, which can encompass street photography and environmental portraits, as well as landscape and architecture.

In terms of performance, apart from lower edge sharpness that is more apparent in shooting flat test charts than shooting three-dimensional subjects in the field, it delivers quality images. In terms of handling, it is a beauty and has no vices. Focusing and exposure are both spot on and as an old favourite, a 24mm lens fits with so many subjects with complete ease. In summary, the lens is a pleasure to use.

‘Highly Recommended’.

Panasonic S 85mm F/1.8 Lens Review:

The 85mm lens has often been considered the lens most likely to be the pinnacle of performance in any given manufacturer’s range, and it certainly looks as though the Panasonic Lumix S 85mm f/1.8 lens has aspirations to fulfil that position.

It has a remarkably high and even performance, no vices in terms of handling and an attractive price tag. The maximum aperture is of course not as fast as the f/1.4 lenses available, but the slightly slower speed may be well worth the more modest pricing level, and indeed a considerable reduction in size and weight. The difference between f/1.8 and f/1.4 in practical use is arguably very small.

In summary, a lovely lens to use and one capable of really excellent results, all at a very reasonable price, and therefore a clear ‘Editor’s Choice’.