It’s a match with the 40mm model released earlier in the year, but shoots much wider.
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Panasonic has announced the Lumix S 20mm F2.5, a small, wide-angle prime designed to complement the 40mm F2 it released earlier this year, while offering a much wider angle that’s ideal for things like landscapes, close-up shots that still give a sense of the environment and, of course, video.
The lens has very similar dimensions to those of the 40mm F2, and the S9’s 18-40mm F4.5-6.3 kit zoom when it’s retracted. It’s the lightest of the bunch by a fraction, coming in at 142g (5oz), and has the same 62mm thread for filters. Panasonic also says it’s splash, dust and freeze resistant; that won’t be a huge deal for S9 owners, since that body isn’t, but for S5 or S1-series users it’s a nice addition.
Panasonic also says it’s splash, dust and freeze resistant
Optically, the lens is made up of 11 elements in 9 groups, with three aspherical lenses and three ED elements. Its minimum focus distance is 0.18m (7.1″), which lets you get quite close to your subject for a dramatic look that seems to be quite popular these days.
Panasonic says the lens should be relatively sharp edge-to-edge with clean bokeh. We’re working on shooting a sample gallery with it so you can judge for yourself.
In terms of controls, it has what we’ve come to expect from Panasonic: a customizable ring that you can assign different functions based on whether you’re in auto or manual focus mode (a setting controllable with a switch on the lens’s barrel). This lets you use it for things like aperture, shutter speed, exposure compensation, Panasonic’s Crop Zoom feature and more when you don’t need it for focusing. There’s also a small, customizable function button.
It’s nice to see Panasonic continue to fill out its line of relatively affordable, small lenses for L-mount. While there are plenty of options available, it doesn’t hurt to have more options, especially ones this light and compact.
The Lumix S 20mm F2.5 will retail for $499, $100 more than the 40mm, and will start shipping in October.
PanasonicPanasonic Lumix S 20mm F2.5
Panasonic Lumix S 20mm F2.5 specifications
Quick Specs
- Lens Type
- Zoom lens
- Zoom range
- N/A
- Fisheye
- N/A
- Perspective control
- N/A
- Macro
- N/A
- Mirror
- N/A
- Max format size
- 35mm FF
- Minimum Focal length (W)
- 20 mm
- Maximum Focal length (T)
- 20 mm
- Max aperture (W)
- F2.5
- Min aperture (W)
- 22
- Aperture ring
- No
- No. of diaphragm blades
- 7
- Aperture actuation
- Electronic
- No. of elements
- 11
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