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Summary

The Panasonic Lumix S PRO 70-200mm f4 OIS is a telephoto zoom designed for full-frame mirrorless cameras employing the L-mount. Delivering a classic range for portrait shooters or nearby sports and wildlife, it’s the most affordable telephoto for the L-system to date. It features dust and splash-proof construction, a constant f4 focal ratio, optical stabilisation (that can work alongside sensor-shift in Panasonic’s Dual IS compatible bodies), a closest focusing distance of 92cm, and comes with a detachable tripod foot. It’s priced higher than equivalent zooms for several rival systems, but costs a great deal less than the only other L-mount telephoto zoom at the time of writing: Leica’s own APO Vario Elmarit SL 90-280mm f2.8-4 may zoom longer and boast a brighter aperture at the short-end, but costs over three times more. Ahead of my full review, check out my sample images.

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Panasonic Lumix S PRO 70-200mm f4 review so far

Intro

The Panasonic Lumix S PRO 70-200mm f4 OIS is a telephoto zoom designed for full-frame mirrorless cameras employing the L-mount. Originally announced in September 2018 alongside the Lumix S1 and S1R bodies, it’s one of Panasonic’s first three lenses for the L-mount system.

Like the Lumix S PRO 50mm f1.4, the S PRO 70-200mm is a collaboration with Leica on the optical design. The 70-200mm focal length is a classic range taking you from short to medium telephoto, making it perfect for portraits or close-range sports or wildlife, while the maximum focal ratio of f4 is available throughout the range and adjusted with a nine-blade diaphragm system. The lens employs 23 elements in 17 groups, including one aspherical, one UED, three ED and one UHR element. There’s optical image stabilisation which thanks to Dual IS can work alongside the sensor-shift stabilisation in the Lumix S bodies. The closest focusing distance is 92cm. The lens is also compatible with Panasonic’s L-mount tele-converters.

The barrel itself measures 179mm in length, has a maximum diameter of 84mm and weighs 985g. The construction is dust and splash resistant, there’s a pull-back manual focusing ring, a 77mm filter thread and Panasonic supplies a detachable foot for secure mounting on a tripod. In terms of pricing, the retail on the Lumix S PRO 70-200mm f4 is roughly 20% higher than equivalent lenses for Canon, Nikon or Sony, but this could settle over time and it remains a great deal cheaper than the only other long lens for the L-mount system at the time of writing: Leica’s APO Vario Elmarit SL 90-280mm f2.8-4 may zoom longer and boast a brighter aperture at the short-end, but costs over three times more. To find out if the Lumix S PRO 70-200mm f4 is worth the asking price, I tested it on the demanding 47 Megapixel Lumix S1R body. Ahead of my full review, here are a bunch of sample images showing what it’s capable of. Also see my Panasonic Lumix S1 review and Panasonic Lumix S1R review for details on the bodies.

 

 

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Above: Panasonic’s first three full-frame L-mount lenses.

 

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Panasonic S PRO 70-200mm f4

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