Panasonic Lumix S 85mm f/1.8 Lens Announced

Panasonic Lumix S 85mm f/1.8 Lens Announced

Adding to their growing full-frame L-mount lens lineup, Panasonic Lumix is introducing the portraiture-friendly S 85mm f/1.8.

The new Lumix S 85mm f/1.8 is a relatively small, light, and affordable lens that gives photographers a short telephoto reach that’s perfect for portraits or any other scenario where good subject isolation is necessary. The combination of 85mm and a low f/1.8 aperture means that subjects can be further away while still achieving shallow depth of field for pleasing separation.

Inside, this 85mm features nine elements in eight groups, two of which are extra-low dispersion elements to control aberrations and increase clarity. There’s a linear autofocus motor for quiet and quick focusing and has a minimum focus distance of 2.62 feet (0.8 meters). The lens uses a dust, moisture, and freeze resistant construction for durability and weighs 12.5 ounces (355 grams). The front filter thread is 67mm and there’s nine rounded aperture blades for a more pleasing out of focus quality.

The Lumix S 85mm f/1.8 is priced at $597.99 and is available to preorder now. It is the first of four L-mount f/1.8 prime lenses in the Panasonic pipeline, with the 50mm f/1.8, 35mm f/1.8, and 24mm f/1.8 coming in the future.

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Ryan Mense is a wildlife cameraperson specializing in birds. Alongside gear reviews and news, Ryan heads selection for the Fstoppers Photo of the Day.

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6 Comments

Looks bigger than a Canon EF 85/1.8 AF to me and those cost $385 compared to $597 for this. The Canon is also pretty sharp and has lovely focus falloff. The Canon isn’t moisture resistant and it can show annoying purple fringing, sure, but once again mirrorless has failed to live up to the small and compact promise.

Why don't you compare it to Canon's latest 85mm for mirrorless cameras? The Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS

Because it’s not macro, it’s not IS, it’s not f/2.0, it’s not compact, and it’s not affordable. And because this article opened with “The new Lumix S 85mm f/1.8 is a relatively small, light, and affordable lens”.

And the Canon 85/1.8 works just fine on a mirrorless with an adapter, I’d imagine the vast majority of us who own a mirrorless also own at least one adapter.

But mostly because I was arguing that “once again mirrorless has failed to live up to the small and compact promise.”

This is lighter than that lens without the adapter. Add the adapter in and it only gets worse. Then add the weight of the body. Maybe you'll get one tidbit right, but it'll surely be an accident

Do you know how heavy that Canon lens is? Guess what? It's heavier than this and uses a 4mm bigger filter thread

Article:

“ The new Lumix S 85mm f/1.8 is a relatively small, light, and affordable lens”

Me;
“ Looks bigger than a Canon EF 85/1.8 AF to me and those cost $385 compared to $597 for this. The Canon is also pretty sharp and has lovely focus falloff. The Canon isn’t moisture resistant and it can show annoying purple fringing, sure, but once again mirrorless has failed to live up to the small and compact promise.”