Panasonic’s 24-60mm f/2.8: Compact Power for Lumix Shooters

The Panasonic Lumix S 24-60mm f/2.8 offers a lighter, more compact alternative to the typical 24-70mm zoom, cutting 10mm from the telephoto end while maintaining image quality. Its unusual focal range makes it an interesting option when you want versatility without the bulk, especially if you often work in situations where carrying a heavier setup becomes tiring.

Coming to you from Pav SZ, this thorough video breaks down how the Panasonic Lumix S 24-60mm f/2.8 lens performs in both stills and video work. Despite not carrying the S Pro designation, its image quality matches that of Lumix S primes, delivering sharpness, contrast, and strong color. Wide open at 24mm, edge softness is visible but easy to correct by stopping down to f/4 or f/8. The short zoom range doesn’t limit its usefulness for travel, street shooting, or commercial work. Meanwhile, its minimum focusing distance of 0.19 m allows for detailed close-ups, even if it’s not a true macro lens.

Video performance is equally strong, with fast, reliable autofocus on bodies such as the S5 II, S5 IIX, S1H, and S1R II. The lens lacks optical stabilization, but pairs well with in-body stabilization for smooth handheld footage. The hybrid zoom function on full frame Lumix cameras extends its range from 24-60mm to roughly 24-93mm in video without degrading quality, using the sensor’s resolution to maintain sharpness. Furthermore, the reduced weight and compact size make it a strong choice for long handheld shoots where larger 24-70mm lenses would slow you down.

Key Specs

• Focal Length: 24 to 60mm

• Aperture: Maximum f/2.8, Minimum f/22

• Lens Mount: L-Mount

• Minimum Focus Distance: 0.19 m (wide) to 0.33 m (tele)

• Magnification: 1:3.33 macro ratio / 0.22 to 0.3x

• Optical Design: 14 elements in 12 groups

• Aperture Blades: 9, rounded

• Focus Type: Autofocus

• Image Stabilization: None

• Filter Size: 77mm

• Dimensions: 84.07 x 99.82 mm

• Weight: 544 g

Build quality is typical of the Lumix S line, with tough plastic construction and full weather-sealing, and the focus ring can be customized to reverse direction or control other settings like ISO or aperture. At 544 g, it’s about half the weight and size of the Lumix S Pro 24-70mm f/2.8 and significantly lighter than the Sigma 24-70mm DG DN Art. 

Price is around $900, positioning it well against competitors. While the Sigma 24-70mm offers the extra reach and strong optical quality, it comes with more weight and bulk. The Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 is smaller, but loses wide-end coverage that can be more valuable than extra reach. Pav’s testing suggests that for Lumix shooters, the 24-60mm can be the more practical choice when portability is key without giving up performance. Check out the video above for the full rundown.