Panasonic has launched a new wide-angle prime for full-frame L-mount cameras. The Panasonic LUMIX S 20mm F2.5 pairs a bright maximum aperture with an ultra-compact body.
Design
This is a small lens. It measures just 1.6 inches (40.9 mm) long by 2.56 inches (65 mm) in diameter. Weight comes in at 5 ounces (142 g).
Panasonic didn’t strip out the controls to get there. You still get a customizable Fn button, a focus/control ring and an AF/MF switch. Once the LUMIX S9 gets firmware version 2.1, you’ll be able to assign Crop Zoom to that Fn button, which effectively turns the prime into a light zoom on that body. Filter size is 62 mm.
Optical construction
Inside are 11 elements in nine groups, including three aspherical (ASPH) along with three extra-low dispersion (ED) elements. Panasonic says the lens stays sharp from the center of the frame to the edges. The design also keeps field curvature and chromatic aberration under control.
Video shooters get one more benefit. Focus breathing is suppressed, so the frame won’t visibly shift when you pull focus mid-shot.
Maximum aperture
At F2.5, the lens gathers more light than most compact wide-angle zooms. A seven-blade aperture keeps out-of-focus areas rounded. Autofocus is fast, precise and silent, according to Panasonic, which matters more for video than stills since mic pickup of motor noise can ruin a take.
Minimum focus distance is 7 inches (180 mm). Get close to a foreground subject, and the 20mm field of view will exaggerate it against the background for a dramatic look.
Other features
A dust- and splash-resistant build lets you keep shooting when the weather turns. The front element also carries a fluorine coating that makes dirt, water droplets and fingerprints easier to wipe off. You can pick the lens up in black or silver to match your body.
What we think
The LUMIX S 20mm gives you a dynamic wide-angle perspective in a package small enough to leave on the camera all day. F2.5 helps in low light, though it isn’t the brightest option at this focal length. Close focusing adds creative range too. You can isolate a nearby subject from its background, even if a 20mm lens will never deliver the heavy blur of a longer prime.
For LUMIX shooters who want a light everyday wide-angle, especially S9 owners, this is an easy one to recommend.
Pricing and availability
The Panasonic LUMIX S 20mm F2.5 will retail for $500. Shipping is scheduled to start in October.
