Panasonic Lumix S Pro 24-70mm F2.8 sample gallery

Hi there again,

here is the Panasonic Lumix S Pro 24-70/2.8 - Real Life Samples, YouTube Review by Darryl Carey:

Part I.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yI4gmygoo4
Part II.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QuEeuCAu4c

Part II is, where the Samples from this Lens are - they do have 3D Pop, and looking LEICA-esque.

"This Lens is absolutely stunning. This Lens is unbelievable good" Darryl really loves it, he says, it does compare to the LEICA SL 24-90/2.8-4 at a fraction for it's cost. It's a full metal Lens - not plastic.

A fine, 2. Advent belated Evening Forum. Good Light.

Dec 8, 2019*permalink

manmachine242

I've never seen such a bad bokeh quality in the "transition zone". It looks like we were playing with cheap C-mount CCTV lenses and adapters.
Look at the dog's hair and nose, or the lady's hair.
This is simply unacceptable in this price range.

Dec 4, 2019permalink

aiphoto1980

You must have a clinical eye, must of the comments are praising the quality of the lens, but according to you is terrible? Yep..

Dec 5, 2019permalink

Could you elaborate? Apparently you are seeing something that I am not. What I see is stellar performance against the light, neutral bokeh and very good local contrast.

Dec 8, 2019permalink

manmachine242

O.K. So what is this?

https://ibb.co/PNBBT0m

Genetically modified dog with fish scales on its nose?

And what are these dark and light lines around the hair? This is normal for a cheap zoom lens, but in the high end?

https://ibb.co/sJb1bK7

This does not only affect the distant background. It creates stupid transitions just where a portrait should be the most beautiful. Of course, I know the answer, if you already have a $4500 fullframe body and a $2200 lens, take a portrait lens for $2000..3000.

Dec 8, 2019permalink

The dog's nose just shows the photographer's ability to choose the correct DOF, or rather lack of it thereof. Are you expecting to see flawless rendering in front of the focus plane on a lens optimized for the posterior bokeh? If you don't like it, get yourself a $100 enlarger lens and enjoy the beauty of the front OOF areas at the expense of the background.

The hair claim is utterly preposterous. A cheap lens, whether zoom or not, would produce fringing consistent with lateral CA. What I see here is just high local contrast, which is here by design in order to improve the lens' ability to render depth. If you don't like it, there is a Sigma lens galore for you where you are free to enjoy flat rendering and eye-burning edge sharpness.

Dec 9, 2019permalink

manmachine242

I accept your point of view, but there is a perceptible trend with certain lenses. Resolution is the God, everything else is secondary.
I am definitely not a romantic person when we talking about the photo quality so come on, increase the optical resolution, but that's an exaggeration and this may produce strange results at this resolution.

Dec 9, 2019permalink

I absolutely agree. Anything above 24mpix is excessive, and examining an image of a higher resolution at 100% magnification often leads to conclusions that have nothing in common with how the image looks in print. The reason is that an optimal angle of view, according to THX at least, is 40 degrees, which makes an optimal distance to enjoy a 55"-diagonal print about 7 feet. From this distance it is impossible to notice a difference between 24 and 47 megapixel file printed at 180ppi.

Dec 10, 2019permalink

There is some kind of 3D Pop, you can see it, "feel" it into the sample pictures. Panasonic also explains that with their Lumix S Lenses by Design onto their Homepage. Well done. Not like some Leica, Voigtländer & Zeiss Lenses, but still...it's being there, with this Zoom, the way it does render images. Those pictures show depth. ;)

Pana also writes further: "The optical performance of this LUMIX S PRO lens is remarkably high to clear stringent LEICA standards."

A fine Evening, and good Light.

Dec 4, 2019*permalink

in fact, what I see here is awfully close to the rendering of Leica 24-90

Dec 8, 2019permalink

looks like it controls flare much better than Leica 24-90

Dec 4, 2019permalink

PhotoKhan

Very, very good. Color me impressed. Congrats Panasonic users. :)

Dec 4, 2019permalink

misspiggy01

true, impressive color!

Dec 4, 2019permalink

aris14

24-70 and 70-200mm are the frequently used zoom lenses, a must exist for any cam manufacturer and this Pana lens seems to be a very good one.
Rather "shallow" gallery though.

Dec 4, 2019permalink

Dave Oddie

Never understood the appeal of 24-70 F2.8 zooms.

They are 20 to 35 mm too short at the long end for me seemingly because to make a 24-90 or 24-105 F2.8 would result in even bigger lenses and these 24-70's are already huge.

F2.8 is not that fast either so they all seem a bit of a pointless compromise to me. Large because they have to be, too short at the long, not particularly fast and large and heavy to boot.

Dec 4, 2019permalink

I have to agree. Panasonic do make a slower but longer zoom and the L-mount system does have the stunning Leica 24-90/2.8-4 as option.

Dec 4, 2019permalink

@Dave Oddie - 2.8/24-70 is a professional photojournalism standard. It is plenty fast, especially with these new cameras that shoot comfortably at ISO1600-3200 and covers 90% of assignments. I am not sure what kind of appeal you are referring to. That being said, 100% of jobs in 2019 I did with Leica 24-90.

Dec 8, 2019permalink

Arafura

Sorry for the OT question but does anyone know what dog breed that little fellow on the lead image is?

Dec 4, 2019permalink

Flow Friday

Sewer rat? ;)

Dec 4, 2019permalink

Looks like a cairn terrier.

Dec 4, 2019permalink

Arafura

Thanks, deep7! That's it.

Dec 4, 2019permalink

@Flow Friday:
LOL! That's what it looks like to me! :D

Dec 5, 2019permalink

Bobby V

Having recently acquired this lens, I can attest that it is sharp across the frame, has spectacular rendering, excellent build quality, and the focus clutch mechanism is simply awesome. There is no better way to switch between AF/MF in my opinion. Panasonic really knocked it out of the park with this no-compromises lens, and I look forward to them releasing more spectacular glass for the L-Mount. The CanaSoNikon's maybe getting the lions share of attention, but these Panasonic lenses are impressive. Their lens costs are about on par with everyone else despite complaints to the contrary

Dec 4, 2019permalink

Thoughts R Us

It's a great system, shame it's not getting the attention it deserves.

Dec 4, 2019permalink

This lens may be about what Nikon and Canon charge for their versions. But $2,000 (down from $2,300) for a 50mm f1.4 is pretty steep. Granted, it's a fantastic lens. But that's not the point. It costs more than 4x Nikon's 50mm f1.4G.

These Lumix S Pro lenses are superb, but I do have to go with the crowd whining about their prices.

Dec 5, 2019permalink

Bobby V

Not sure if the people who bought that lens are whining. The Panasonic 50 F/1.4 is a benchmark lens that has superior optical performance compared to the $4,600 Leica Summilux 50 F/1.4 or $5,000+ Zeiss Otus. In that case it's a total bargain.

Dec 5, 2019permalink

People that spend $5,000ish on 50mm lenses, manual-focus at that, are retarded posers. I laugh at Nikon's new Noct. These are not lenses for photographers. While superb, 2 grand for the 50mm S Pro is a stretch. Really truly pushing the bounds of a sane purchase. Frankly, i think i like the rendering of the Pentax 50mm f1.4 Star (a.k.a. Tokina Opera for Nikon and Canon) better. And at $1,000 (as low as $699 when it goes on sale) is still an expensive 50mm, but priced where it should be.

Dec 5, 2019*permalink

Clint Dunn

@Aegon - Your comment is brutal on so many levels. Some people have more money then others. Some people like buying as close to perfection as they can. You sound jealous.

Dec 5, 2019permalink

@Clint:
Define "perfection" relative to 50mm lenses. After you do, understand that that will by no means hold true for everyone, or even most people. Being manual-focus will already take the Otus and Noct out even being preferable for nearly everyone. Let alone "perfect" for them. This is going to be a rabbit hole discussion in which i have no desire to dive.

I'll just leave it at saying that I've come close to splurging on an Otus 55mm because i love its rendering even though i knew/know that I'd almost never use it, and be frustrated while actually using it. I know it's a stupid lens overall. But with a lot of sacrifice it can make beautiful images.

Thankfully now instead of it i can get an Opera 50mm, which i feel renders just as nicely and in a very similar way. And it has AF so it would be FAR superior to actually use. And currently at $849 on Amazon, it's a lens for photographers. Not collectors/posers.

Continued...

Dec 8, 2019permalink

I'm just sick of cameramakers making stupid halo products for collectors/posers instead of really good products for actual photographers who will make use of them.

Dec 8, 2019permalink

samhain

That lens has incredible rendering.

Dec 3, 2019permalink

I'm trying to figure out HOW most of those images lack the biting sharpness and resolution I'm accustomed to seeing out of the S1R samples out there. Most are slightly blurry and lack the detail I KNOW this camera can produce.

Dec 3, 2019permalink

Jack Jian

A bit on a waxy side, I would say, compared to that contrasty crispy sharpness from Canon's L or natural pleasant sharp from Nikon's S.

Dec 3, 2019permalink

Carey Rose

I'd suggest downloading some Raw files and putting them through our standard workflow. We use really, really light sharpening for these galleries.

Dec 4, 2019permalink

AngelicBeaver

If you're viewing the max resolution in the browser, and the DPReview browser still behaves the way it used to, the zoomed in view goes beyond 100%, resulting in images that look soft and mushy. If you download them to your computer and open them, you can see them with a true 100% view.

Dec 4, 2019permalink

I noticed just what ProDude noticed, so downloaded a couple of full resolution jpg files and did a light high-pass sharpen on them. They came up fine. I also noticed the sharpness was very consistent across the frame, which was nice. To be honest, I prefer the slightly under-sharpened processing here to dpreviews normal noise-accentuating processing.

Dec 4, 2019permalink

Quite frankly in Capture One it gives the best of both worlds. As far as I'm concerned Adobe can fall off the face of the planet. I don't care for their business model nor the way their software renders. Many other superior choices.

Dec 4, 2019permalink

Good point. When I used Lightroom for RAW processing, every camera had to have a preset for sharpening, with tweaks for every important image, because the default was very poor. I now tend to use Capture One and very rarely even think about sharpening/noise at all. On the other hand, I now spend far too much time recovering highlights instead...

Dec 4, 2019permalink

Yup and for what it's worth I have YET to work with ANY program (having tried them all along the way) that is capable of recovery of highlights like C1. It astounds me.

Dec 4, 2019permalink

Leicalika

assuming that the pink rose was the focus point, it's hard to say it's in focus
then again, it could be my lyin eyes

Dec 3, 2019*permalink

dust99eye

Cute dog :-) Looks like a pro level std zoom. I a few pictures bokeh is a little harsh, but that is typical also to other similar lenses.

Ultimately the biggest concern regarding the relevance of this lens is when Panasonic introduces a proper auto focus to its cameras.

Dec 3, 2019permalink

"Proper auto focus"??? It's very fast and super-accurate. Good enough for most of us.

Dec 3, 2019permalink

dust99eye

"Most of us" is not enough in a camera that is placed high in (semi)pro market segment. Even more so because competition (both mirrorless and dslr) have much better af. A real shame in an otherwise nice system.

Dec 3, 2019permalink

Daft Punk

As a multiple system owner with Sony A7R3 and now Panasonic S - I can report that you are talking nonsense.

The Panasonic AF is in many ways better than the Sony - it really depends on how you use the camera. I consider the Panny better for general shooting but give the nod to Sony for CAF. But the difference is not night and day.

You are merely perpetrating internet myths IMO.

Panny S AF is not as good at tracking as Sony BUT I find Panny is generally more accurate in general shooting. Choose your tool accordingly.

Dec 4, 2019permalink

"Most of us" aren't children, obsessed with the latest craze...

Dec 4, 2019permalink

catlyn

Why bother with it when there is the brand new Sigma DN 24-70 f/2.8 L-mount for $1000 less? :) The Sigma looks solid, and in the last few years it has proven, as a company, that it can make great lenses for good prices (and sometimes -- I mean Art series -- for huge weights and sizes, compared to peers).

And this time -- i.e., for the L-mount -- Sigma is not "3rd party", but "1st party" (or "2nd party"?)

Dec 3, 2019*permalink

Yes, Sigma looks solid on the outside, and that's basically it :)
Optically this new lens is on par with Leica 24-90, but better at holding flare at bay.

Dec 4, 2019permalink

This needs to be 1:1 tested, but the Leica is a) a 2012 Design and b) 20mm longer, by laws of physics, shorter focal range lenses need less lens elements, hence a less sophisticated lens design.

The samples do look nice - it would being way fine, if Panasonic would reach the same IQ levels, like the mighty Leica 24-90/2.8-4 - and even more would be the question, how good the all new Sigma 24-70/2.8 L-Mount would be, into 1:1 comparsion further with these other two lenses....

Sigma 24-70/2.8 FE Preview:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1YfYF549v8

Good Light.

Dec 4, 2019*permalink

Marc, I have the 24-90 lens. It is in all respects flawless except one: it produces massive glare when there is an open light source just outside of the frame on the left, and nothing of the kind when the light is in any other place. I tested several copies of the lens, and they all have an exactly the same issue.
Obviously, this can be used for artistic purposes, as the effect is very predictable.
Going back to this Panasonic S Pro zoom, from these pictures here I can conclude that there is nothing of the kind happening. The image feels very similar to the Leica zoom: there is the same richness of colors and 3D depth.

Dec 4, 2019permalink

@Shanidize
I don't have the Lens, as i don't own a Leica Camera, due to cost.

Interesting to say, the 24-90 does have flares, is a bit bold, because you know it this Leica Zoom does have a very bold, big Lens Hood, because of that. With it, it looks gigantic, but it shouldn't flare anymore.

If you've had read my other post here, Panasonic claims onto their homepage also, that this 24-70/2.8 S Pro Zoom is up to Leica Standarts - nothing more, nothing less. This sounds interesting. And you've also wrote, that the color richness and 3D Pop is being comparable with the 24-70/2.8 S Lumix Zoom.
Way interesting....even i can't afford gear like that. ;)

Good Light.

Dec 4, 2019permalink

Strangefinder

The Panasonic has the focus clutch device for manual focus.

Dec 5, 2019permalink

Naveed Akhtar

Great photoset folks. Well done!
Lens looks exceptional in all circumstances, sharp on smaller screens, great bokeh etc. I am looking forward to see a full review, where you will express your opinion, pros and cons.
As from the picture gallery I couldn't see any cons, like how responsive or quite it is, how good was IS performance etc.
Otherwise, am really interested getting this lens and replacing my excellent kit 24-105 with it!

Dec 3, 2019permalink

Dragonfire

To my eyes the bokeh from Nikon Z 24-70/2.8 S looks more sweet.

Dec 3, 2019permalink

D200_4me

Honestly, I like the well controlled flare of my Nikon 24-70 f/4 S lens when shooting into the sun. Seems to be much smoother and better looking overall than the Panasonic examples here.

Dec 3, 2019permalink

stop down to f/4 and get the same performance :)

Dec 4, 2019permalink

D200_4me

That could be one difference (aperture)

Dec 4, 2019permalink

Indeed, there is always a trade-off between the aperture and image quality, at least in zoom lenses. At f/8 all lenses look stellar :)

Dec 4, 2019permalink

ewelch

You guys live in paradise. Was just looking at a house on Camano Island that was under $500K. Around my neighborhood, everything is $800k and up. About 30 years ago we got this house for about $240K. Moving would make the bank account look pretty sweet.

And speaking of such things, I was just offered an early retirement package yesterday, and I have to say I am quite tempted. If it meant we could move to your neck of the woods, I'd do it in a minute and offer my services to test cameras and stuff. :)

Alas, grandkids will keep us from moving away full time from Southern California.

Oh, and I think the "magic hour" photos are a bit warm. Very Leica/Panasoic in character. In daylight the color balance looks perfect. Nice work!

Dec 3, 2019*permalink

Carey Rose

//Was just looking at a house on Camano Island that was under $500K. Around my neighborhood, everything is $800k and up.//

The way things are going around Seattle, just give it a few years ;)

Thanks for the feedback on the white balance as well. I ended up shooting most of the golden hour photos on a bit of a warmer white balance setting, and when I pulled them into Raw to edit, I ended up just preferring the look. I toned it down a bit, but definitely left them a bit warmer than I usually do.

Dec 3, 2019permalink

ewelch don't forget the 10% consumption Tax Washington has. I opted OUT of a move there when I retired. They don't love retired folk. Or should I say they DO love to take their $$.

Dec 3, 2019permalink

ewelch

Hadn't heard about the consumption tax. Just about no income tax on retired people. Luckily, kids are all here in Southern Californina, and they aren't leaving. So apparently, neither are we.

Dec 19, 2019permalink

ovatab

flowers, pets, humans, ..., buildings, landscapes

where are motorbikes, cars and buses/trucks?

Dec 3, 2019permalink

jackspra

and the beer.

Dec 3, 2019permalink

wwwuser

It is strange that the photographer is not aware that the "Rule of thumb" (shutter speed should be equal to the focal length) for a long time "does not work" for nowadays' cameras.

Therefore, almost all pictures of people are blurred.

Dec 3, 2019permalink

GinoSVK

Sure, nowadays people rely on image stabilization systems more, than they should, freeze movement of the photographed object with such as high mpx count is a challenge as never before.

Dec 3, 2019permalink

shutter butter

This looks like one heck of a lens. Results are beautiful across the focal range.

Dec 3, 2019permalink

(unknown member)

Looks like a very very nice lens. But I wonder if Panasonic strategy of doing only big high end lenses will pay off. I guess it’s a way to position themselves as premium and let sigma take affordable.

Dec 3, 2019permalink

Horshack

At $2,200/USD this lens will be a tough sell vs the Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 DN selling for $1,100/USD. That said, samples look nice except for some softness on the right 1/3 of frame at 24mm (#26).

Dec 3, 2019permalink

panther fan

True. All new mirrorless native 24-70 F2.8s will be a tough sell over the Sigma if it's available in the system

Dec 3, 2019permalink

ewelch

Especially since Sigma is part of the L-Mount Mafia.

Dec 3, 2019permalink

mosc

The sigma's not sealed

Though I guess you could just buy another one in case water gets in for that kind of cost difference...

I still can't believe the price on the Sigma zoom.

Dec 3, 2019permalink

panther fan

@mosc
The mirrorless Sigma 24-70 Art is fully weathersealed:
https://www.sigma-foto.de/fileadmin/relaunch/products/DG/24-70mm_F28_DG_DN_Art/Spritzwasserschutz_24-70mm_F28_DG_DN_Art.jpg

Dec 3, 2019permalink

mosc

staggering

Dec 3, 2019permalink