If you are not a Lumix S1 user yet and planning to buy Lumix DC-S1, their first full-frame mirrorless camera on the offering, let me help you with my experiences with this camera as a user and share the results I could achieve with its various L-mount lens combinations.
Before I share some sample photographs and test shots taken from Lumix S1, let me share my reasons to choose this camera over the competitive products from rival camera manufacturers. I have summed up these in my earlier posts featured here.
LUMIX S 85 mm F1.8
Why you should buy this lens?
- If you are into portraits, fashion or wedding photography, this is the best L-mount lens you can buy, given its reasonable pricing and superb optical performance.
- The lens gives you smooth background blur and separation with eye-catching bokeh.
- It is very sharp even when wide open at f/1.8 and also at other apertures.
- The alternative to this lens for candid wedding photography (i.e., 70-200 mm f/2.8) is four times more expensive.
- It is light and easier to use on gimbals when taking videos.
Why you should not buy this lens?
- If you need a faster lens with wider aperture (f/1.4), you may consider Sigma L-mount 85mm F1.4 DG HSM Art lens.
- If you need optical image stabilization in the lens as well, as this lens does not have this feature.
Most useful for: Portraits, Fashion and Wedding Photography
LUMIX S 50mm F1.8
Why you should buy this lens?
- It is smaller, lighter (300 g) and more compact.
- It is much more affordable (four times cheaper) than its super rich cousin Lumix S PRO 50mm F1.4 lens.
- It can be used on gimbals with so much ease.
- Its colour rendition is vibrant and quite appealing.
Why you should not buy this lens?
- If you need a faster lens with wider aperture (f/1.4).
- If you want more noticeable sharpness in your images, you should go for Lumix S PRO 50mm F1.4 lens.
- If you need optical image stabilization in the lens as well.
Most useful for: Environmental* Portraits and Nature Photography
*Portraits in the subject’s usual environment with elements of the subject’s life and surroundings.
LUMIX S-X50 50mm F1.4
Why you should buy this lens?
- It meets stringent Leica standards, which is one of the best (and my most favourite) lens makers in the world.
- It is a faster lens with wider aperture f/1.4.
- It has excellent resolution and noticeable sharpness even at wide-open aperture f/1.4.
- Its focus clutch mechanism lets you instantly switch from auto to manual focus and enables accurate manual focusing.
- Its fast auto-focusing helps you lock onto the subject quickly.
Why you should not buy this lens?
- It is super-expensive as compared to Lumix S 50mm F1.8 lens.
- It is much heavier (955g) than Lumix S 50mm F1.8 lens (300g).
- It may be difficult to use this lens on gimbals.
- If you need image stabilization in the lens as well.
Most useful for: Wedding Photography and Environmental Portraits
LUMIX S PRO 24-70mm F2.8
Why you should buy this lens?
- The lens is certified by Leica having gone through exceptionally strict Leica standards.
- It has wide apeture of f/2.8 throughout the entire zoom range which is quite useful for low lighting conditions (weddings and events).
- It offers a versatile zoom range from 24mm wide to 70mm with which you can cover the entire wedding (traditional) without changing your lens.
- It has focus clutch system which enables instant switching from auto to manual focus and helps in accurate manual focusing.
Why you should not buy this lens?
- This lens offers only 84° angle of view at its widest 24mm focal length. If you mostly take ultra wide angle shots (landscapes or architecture), you should consider either: (a) Lumix S PRO 16-35mm F4.0 lens which offers 107° angle of view at 16mm focal length, or (b) Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG DN Art lens, which can give you 114.2° angle of view at 14mm focal length.
- If you use a focal length below 50mm on this lens, even at the widest aperture of f/2.8, you may not get a very smooth background blur or separation that usually comes with a typical tele-photo lens.
- If you need in-built optical image stabilization in the lens as well.
Most useful for: Wedding Photography
Explore other useful Lumix Lenses
- LUMIX S PRO 16-35mm F4 – Most useful for landscapes
- LUMIX S PRO 70-200mm F2.8 O.I.S. – Most useful for candid wedding photography
- LUMIX S 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 MACRO O.I.S. – Most useful for travel photography
Your choice of the lens should always depend on your specific need and the budget. Here are my expert recommendations for the best full-frame Lumix lenses for some of the popular genres of photography I have been into.
If you are a Lumix S1 (or S5) User, please let me know in the comments, which L-Mount lens do you use and for which genre of photography?
WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY
Lumix S PRO 24-70mm F2.8 (Traditional) │ Lumix S PRO 70-200mm F2.8 O.I.S. / Lumix S 85 mm F1.8 (Candid) depending on your budget.
TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY
Lumix S 24-105mm F4 (Wide)│ Lumix S 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 (Telephoto)
PORTRAITS & FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY
Lumix S 85 mm F1.8 (Outdoor and Beauty) │ Lumix S-X50 50mm F1.4 / Lumix S 50mm F1.8 (Indoor) depending on your budget.
PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY
Lumix S 24-105mm F4 MACRO O.I.S.
WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY
Lumix S PRO 70-200mm F2.8 O.I.S. with 2X Teleconverter DMW-STC20 which allows you to shoot at 400mm.
FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY
Lumix S 24mm f/1.8 (Tabletop) │ Lumix S-X50 50mm F1.4 / Lumix S 50mm F1.8 depending on your budget.
Creative Genes 