Last Updated on January 10, 2020
The year may still be wrapping up but Panasonic is already getting ready to kick off 2020 with a bang.
Video credit: Richard Wong
Staying true to its commitment of developing 11 or more lenses focusing on its Lumix S Pro class by March 2021, the company announced last November that it would be releasing two new lenses to its S-series for L-Mount full-frame mirrorless cameras, the Lumix S Pro 70-200mm F2.8 OIS and Lumix S Pro 16-35mm f/4 lens.
These two lenses will be added to more than 46 interchangeable L-Mount lenses from Panasonic, Sigma and Leica Camera AG.
Release of Lumix S Pro 16-35mm f/4 lens
To start the year, Panasonic will be releasing the Lumix S Pro 16-35mm f/4 lens in January for $1500. The Lumix S Series is already known for its ability to produce crisp quality images and this latest addition is expected to live up to the hype.
Here’s what we know so far:
- The Lumix S Pro 16-35mm f/4 lens is designed to deliver wide-angle excellence in both photo shooting and video recording. Expected to be a staple in professional photography, this lens’ Optical Image Stabilizer (OIS) is the perfect complement to Panasonic’s camera Body I/S and 5-axis Dual I.S, allowing for up to seven stabilization stops in both handheld and low shutter speed shooting.
- Combining crisp quality imaging with portability, this L-mount wide zoom lens boasts of an optimized optical design that features 12 elements in nine groups including three aspherical lenses, an Ultra-High Refractive Index (UHR) lens and an Extra-Low Dispersion (ED) lens that allows for excellent MTF performance while maintaining its compact and lightweight form. This lens composition also enables better control of color fringing, aberrations and distortion for the most accurate images throughout different zoom ranges, making it the perfect choice for architecture, street or landscape photography.
- The Lumix S Pro 16-35mm f/4 lens boasts of a double-magnet linear motor focus system allowing it to capture up to 480 frames per second to ensure accurate autofocusing. It also features a rounded nine-blade diaphragm for excellent quality bokeh and a focus clutch that allows for easy switching from auto to manual focusing modes to help address the issue of focus breathing in shooting videos.
- To make sure that the Lumix S Pro 16-35mm f/4 lens will deliver in every shooting condition, Panasonic designed it to be dust and splash resistant even in the harshest weather. IT has been proven to withstand up to 10 degrees below zero to ensure high mobility and worry free shooting for professionals.
The verdict
The Panasonic Lumix S Pro 16-35mm f/4 lens kit comes with the camera, front lens cap, rear lens cap, lens hood, lens bag and a limited one-year warranty.
Although it’s still too early to tell if this newest addition to Panasonic’s power lenses will live up to expectations, those who tested it offer promising reviews that have professional photographers buzzing over it. At $1500, it may not be the cheapest lens out there but it will surely be worth the investment.
