Panasonic Lumix S 100mm f/2.8 Macro Lens Review
Panasonic have already introduced a series of compact prime lenses, covering 18mm, 24mm, 35mm, 50mm and 85mm, all at f/1.8. The new 100mm f/2.8 Macro lens would be out of step in terms of bulk and, more importantly, balance if delivered as an f/1.8 so is an f/2.8 lens, but this means an optic that balances and feels pretty much the same as its other fast prime siblings. This is potentially most important to videographers, maintaining the same centre of gravity and giving a seamless handling experience. For stills photographers, we have an equally compact lens to the rest of the S primes. For this review, we couple the lens up to the 24MP full frame Lumix S5 IIX camera body, so let’s see how the new lens handles and performs, both in the real world and in the technical tests.
Panasonic Lumix S 100mm f/2.8 Handling and Features
The lens is light and compact, weighing in at just 298g without caps or hood and 350g with the supplied bayonet fit hood attached. There is a release catch on the hood, and it is good to see that Panasonic have been responsive to previous comments regarding the tendency of this button to be accidentally released. This is now solved by the catch not protruding and resulting in it being vulnerable. In this instance, being a round hood it would not cause vignetting anyway, but a petal hood might and this is no longer a potential problem. Within the bayonet fitting for the hood is a conventional 67mm filter thread. It is fairly compact at 73.6mm in diameter and 82mm long, especially when compared with the current trend for larger and larger lenses, but more comparable with some still available DSLR lenses that are very close in terms of weight and size. Judicious use of plastics helps keep the weight down, but there is no compromise in terms of quality of manufacture, which seems to be of a very high standard.
The wide and well gripped manual focusing ring can be programmed via the camera menus. It gives excellent control over accurate focusing and has just the right amount of resistance. Focus breathing is suppressed. Often using manual focus can be a good idea with macro shooting, but in this case, the AF system does seem to be better than most and handles efficiently right down to the closest focus of 1:1 (1.0x) magnification. AF is driven by a dual phase linear motor and this is quiet, fast and accurate. Closest focusing point is 0.204m, or 0.669 feet. There is the usual AF/MF switch and also a focus limiter. This latter switch offers a choice of limiting focus range to 0.204m-0.5m, 0.5m to infinity or full range.
Optical construction is 13 elements in 11 groups, including 3 Aspherical, 2 UED (Ultra Extra Low Dispersion) and 1 ED. The diaphragm comprises 9 blades, producing a rounded aperture for improved bokeh. There is no shake reduction built into the lens, this being incorporated into the camera body. The lens is sealed and is dust, splash and freeze resistant down to -10C. Panasonic go to some lengths in the instruction leaflet that accompanies the lens to explain exactly what might be expected in terms of this sealing. It is worth a complimentary note for the leaflet in that it does actually impart some detailed information that could be useful. It even covers the change in aperture values that occur as we focus closer. This is compensated for by the built in exposure system of the camera, but would come into play should an external exposure meter be used. For example, at 1:1 magnification (0.204m) at f/2.8 the real exposure is f/5.6, requiring 2 stops of extra exposure. This is not something peculiar to Lumix lenses, but an inescapable fact of optics. It is creditable that Panasonic have it covered in some detail in the instruction leaflet.
In terms of handling all is very straightforward, the lens delivering excellent focusing speed, and this being enhanced by the ability to limit the range when doing close up shooting. Let’s turn our attention now to the technical measurements to see how it delivers in terms of quality.
Panasonic Lumix S 100mm f/2.8 Performance
Sharpness is totally nailed, being excellent both centre and edge from f/2.8 all the way through to f/16. It remains very good at f/22, and this means that when maximum depth of field is needed the results will still be very usable. This is especially useful in a macro lens as the closer we go, the less depth of field there will be.
Panasonic Lumix S 100mm f/2.8 MTF Charts
Next
How to read our MTF charts
The blue column represents readings from the centre of the picture frame at the various apertures and the green is from the edges.
For this review, the lens was tested on a Lumix S5 IIX using Imatest. Want to know more about how we review lenses?
CA (Chromatic Aberration) is virtually banished at the centre and the edges are well under control at between one quarter and one half of a pixel through the range of apertures.
Distortion measures -0.04% Barrel, effectively rectilinear so ideal for situations where straight lines near the edges of the image are required to be accurately straight. Of course, we expect that with mirrorless lenses, this performance will be aided by the camera itself. The end result is what counts.
Bokeh is pleasantly relaxed and ideal for showing off the main subject, perhaps a portrait, with a smooth out of focus background.
Panasonic Lumix S 100mm f/2.8 Chromatic Aberration Charts
Next
How to read our CA charts
Chromatic aberration (CA) is the lens’ inability to focus on the sensor or film all colours of visible light at the same point. Severe chromatic aberration gives a noticeable fringing or a halo effect around sharp edges within the picture. It can be cured in software.
Apochromatic lenses have special lens elements (aspheric, extra-low dispersion etc) to minimize the problem, hence they usually cost more.
For this review, the lens was tested on a Lumix S5 IIX using Imatest.
Flare is very well suppressed and although if we try very hard, we can generate some mild artefacts with the severe CA test shot; this is not a problem.
Vignetting is steady throughout the aperture range and although measurable, is not a real world problem at all.
| Aperture | Vignetting |
| f/2.8 | -1.2 |
| f/4 | -1.1 |
| f/5.6 | -1.1 |
| f/8 | -1.1 |
| f/11 | -1.1 |
| f/16 | -1.1 |
| f/22 | -1.1 |
Panasonic Lumix S 100mm f/2.8 Sample Photos
Next
You can view additional images in the Equipment Database, where you can add your own reviews, photos and product ratings.
[HOOK]position_1[/HOOK]
Value For Money
The [AMUK]Panasonic Lumix S 100mm f/2.8|Panasonic Lumix S+100mm+f/2.8[/AMUK] lens is available via Amazon at £999
There are a few alternative macro lenses for L mount, including:
- [AMUK]Laowa 100mm T2.9 2x Macro APO Cine|Laowa+lens[/AMUK], £1199
- [AMUK]Laowa 85mm f/5.6 2x Ultra Macro APO|Laowa+lens[/AMUK], £499
- [AMUK]Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2x Ultra macro APO|Laowa+lens[/AMUK], £569
- [AMUK]Sigma 105mm f/2.8 Macro DG DN Art|Sigma+lens[/AMUK], £729
- [AMUK]Sigma 70mm f/2.8 Macro DG Art|Sigma+lens[/AMUK], £449
To put this in perspective, although the following do not fit on the L mount cameras, they do indicate the pricing levels for other marques:
- [AMUK]HD Pentax-D FA 100mm f/2.8 ED AW Macro|HD Pentax+lens[/AMUK], £699
- [AMUK]Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM|Canon+lens[/AMUK], £1369
- [AMUK]Zeiss Milvus 100mm f/2 Makro-Planar|Zeiss Milvus+lens[/AMUK], £1695
- [AMUK]Samyang 100mm f/2.8 ED UMC Macro|Samyang+lens[/AMUK], £419
- [AMUK]Nikon Nikkor Z 105mm f/2.8 VR S|Nikon+lens[/AMUK], £1049
- [AMUK]OM System M.Zuiko Digital ED 90mm f/3.5 Macro IS PRO|OM System+lens[/AMUK], £1299
The new lens is up in the middle ground when compared to the other marques, not the lowest cost option available but performing to the highest standards.
Panasonic Lumix S 100mm f/2.8 Verdict
Although 135mm has been widely adopted over the decades as what used to be thought of as a photographer’s first telephoto lens, basically for historic reasons, the 100mm lens has had an increasingly larger following as a more manageable and generally more useful lens. Ironically, whilst 135mm general telephoto lenses ruled, in macro lenses the 100mm came into its own, where it remains to this day. The 50mm macro may be more useful for document copying, to reduce the working distance; the 100mm macro enables more space for lighting and gives a better perspective for macro shots of wildlife. Small insects and other creatures will not be quite so easily spooked if we keep a slight distance away. Add to that a flat field, so the edges and centre of the image will both be sharp even at wider apertures, and there is everything to like about such high quality lenses.
With such a classy performance and such smooth handling, the Lumix S 100mm f/2.8 Macro lens is without doubt awarded the accolade of Editor’s Choice.
Panasonic Lumix S 100mm f/2.8 Pros
- Excellent sharpness centre and edge
- Very even sharpness across the frame
- Very flare resistant
- Suppressed focus breathing
- Light and compact
- Fast, accurate and very quiet AF
- AF very usable at macro distances
- Dust, splashproof and freezeproof
- Rectilinear (no distortion)
Panasonic Lumix S 100mm f/2.8 Cons
- None
[REVIEW_FOOTER]R_features=4.5|R_handling=5|R_performance=5|R_value=4.5|R_overall=5|A_level=5|A_text=Editor’s Choice – A compact, light, excellent macro lens with great handling|E_id=8027[/REVIEW_FOOTER]
.borders { border: 1px solid #ccc !important; border-collapse: collapse; } .borders td,.borders tr { border: 1px solid #ccc !important; }
.borders { border: 1px solid #ccc !important; border-collapse: collapse; } .borders td,.borders tr { border: 1px solid #ccc !important; }
Source: Photography News
Panasonic Lumix S 100mm f/2.8 Macro Lens Review
{$excerpt:n}
132 total views, 1 today