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 24-105mm F4: Review & Sample Photos
Lumix 50mm F1.8: Review & Sample Photos
Lumix 24-70mm F2.8: Review & Sample Photos
Lumix 16-35mm F4: Sample Photos from a Trip
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-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
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 