LENS REVIEW
Lenses are expensive and we cannot afford all. This makes it all the more crucial to get some hands-on experience and useful insights from somebody who has used a lens over longer period and tested it in different conditions, not for the sake of a review, but actual day-to-day utilities and real satisfaction.
Today, I am going to share my hands-on experience with using Lumix S series lens S-R24105, on my Lumix S1 camera over a period of more than 1.5 years, as a landscape and travel photographer. I have used it occasionally for product shoots as well at home studio.
1
Thanks to its macro capabilities, it can capture tack sharp details, as you can see in these photographs.
I am a detail lover and this lens is just magical when it comes to sharpness and fine details, be it for products or beautiful intricacies of the nature.
Shot at 105mm ⮝
Shot at 60mm ⮝
💡Using this versatile lens also helps me travel light with a single lens and avoid dust particles from entering the camera sensor and the lens.
2
Offers great flexibility to use much longer focal length range from 24mm wide to 105mm mid-telephoto, without having to change the lens every now and then.
Shot at 24mm ⮝
Shot at 97mm ⮝
When travelling, I use this lens to get interesting variations in my shots by clicking three shots of the same view, first at the widest (24mm), second at a mid-zoom (50-70mm) and lastly at the highest focal length (105mm).
3
Supports excellent image stabilization, meaning you can shoot at at 6-stop slower shutter speed, hand-held without shakes.
When travelling in a car, I always try to capture the beautiful view from the window. This lens has never disappointed me with any shaky pictures or ugly motion blur, due to reliable optical stabilization.
➤ These three images (left to right) are captured at shutter speed 1/125, 1/50 and 1/100 seconds respectively, and you can still notice the clarity and details the lens was able to capture.
4
So long as you can keep the camera and lens steady, this lens gives you superb low-light capture, despite an aperture of F4.0.
⮝ This photograph was taken only with the ambient moon-light at a very slow shutter speed of sixty seconds to capture the movement of fleeting clouds.
These four images were captured either using a tripod or support to keep the camera steady. You may also notice the aperture ranges from f/20 to f/22 to attain slowest shutter speed possible.
Slow shutter speed helps in capturing the details even in low lighting conditions.
⮝ You can observe the low light performance of this lens in this shot taken from our hotel room in Bangkok. Here again, the telephoto focal length of this lens was extremely helpful in capturing the giant wheel from such a great distance.
5
The lenes is super sturdy and dust, splash and weather-proof.
Yes, I am guilty of dropping this lens once from the hotel bed (thankfully with lens cover) without any damage. I have also used it in drizzling rain worry-free.
6
This lenes has not disappointed me with its black and white imagery either. Here are a few examples.
Camera Used for the Test:
Panasonic Lumix S1.
Detailed Review by DXOMARK
Still have queries on this lens? Contact me here.
7
Lastly, if you do not want to spend more than INR one lakh for a premium wide-angle lens, this is a great choice at this price range, given its versatile use and focal length.
Why this lens may not be for you?
– If you mostly take ultra wide angle shots (landscapes or architecture), as its angle of view at 24mm focal length is 84° as compared to Lumix S PRO 16-35mm F4.0 which offers 107° angle of view.
– If you mostly work in low lighting conditions (like, wedding or events), as the widest aperture it can offer is f/4.0 which may not be very useful in these conditions.
– If you are a professional landscape photographer and can accept nothing less than the premium optical performance.
My Rating
✉ You can also contact Mr. Yogesh Kunte from Lumix Mumbai team at +91 98217 64275
Pros
– Macro capabilities;
– Versatile focal length range;
– Excellent image stabilization;
– Low-light clarity;
– Weather and dust proof;
– Fair pricing.
Cons
– Not the best/’Pro’ lens for wide-angle shots;
– Heavier.
Creative Genes 