The Panasonic Lumix S 24mm F1.8 (S-S24) is a fast wide-angle prime for Panasonic's L-mount Lumix S cameras
(Image credit: Panasonic)
The Panasonic Lumix S 24mm F1.8 is a new addition to the Panasonic L-mount lens line-up, and while its f/1.8 maximum aperture is not quite as fast as lenses like the Sony 24mm f/1.4 G Master, it's considerably cheaper and lighter, and has the potential to open up the L-mount system to a wider audience.
In fact this lens is not unexpected. We reported back in September 2020 that Panasonic was planning four new L-mount primes, and we've already seen the Lumix S 85mm F1.8 and the Lumix S 50mm F1.8, so this 24mm F1.8 is the third of the four planned optics. All that's left now is the Lumix S 35mm F1.8...
What's especially interesting is that all four lenses share the same dimensions and appearance. This might appeal to all those 'set collectors' out there, but also has significance for gimbal users who will find it quicker to balance their setup with lenses of similar size. Panasonic has deliberately set out to give these lenses a similar center of gravity with this in mind.
Panasonic Lumix S 24mm F1.8 specifications
Construction: 12 elements in 11 groups (3 aspherical lenses, 1 UED lens, 3 ED lens) Mount: L-Mount Optical Image Stabilizer: No Aperture Type: 9 diaphragm blades / Circular aperture diaphragm Maximum Aperture: F1.8 Minimum Aperture: F16 Closest Focusing Distance: 0.24m/0.79ft Maximum Magnification: 0.15x Diagonal Angle of View: 84° Filter Size: 67mm Max. Diameter: 73.6mm / 2.90inch Overall Length: Approx. 82.0mm / 3.23inch Weight: Approx. 310g / 0.68lb
The Panasonic Lumix S 24mm F1.8 might have a relatively modest maximum aperture by current standards, but it uses a sophisticated optical design with three aspherical lenses, three ED (Extra-Low Dispersion) lenses and one UED (Ultra Extra-Low Dispersion) lens.
The autofocus actuator is designed for smooth and silent operation with Panasonic cameras' DFD contrast AF system running at 240fps. Video performance is enhanced by the suppression of 'focus breathing' – the effect where the subject seems to change in size as it goes in and out of focus, and a common issue with lenses designed solely for stills photography.
The manual focus ring, meanwhile, has non-linear and linear settings which can be chosen and configured according to user preference.
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Panasonic says the 310g Lumix S 24mm F1.8 will be an ideal match for the compact Lumix S5, but it seems likely that users of the larger Lumix S1 and Lumix S1R, not to mention the cinema-focused Lumix S1H, will also have their eye on this lens, and the others in the Lumix S F1.8 series.
Panasonic Lumix S 24mm F1.8 price and availability
The Panasonic Lumix S 24mm F1.8 is expected to go on sale at a recommended retail price of $899.99 / AU$1,399 and will be available later this month (September) in Australia and from mid-October 2021 in other markets.
Rod is an independent photography journalist and editor, and a long-standing Digital Camera World contributor, having previously worked as DCW's Group Reviews editor. Before that he has been technique editor on N-Photo, Head of Testing for the photography division and Camera Channel editor on TechRadar, as well as contributing to many other publications. He has been writing about photography technique, photo editing and digital cameras since they first appeared, and before that began his career writing about film photography. He has used and reviewed practically every interchangeable lens camera launched in the past 20 years, from entry-level DSLRs to medium format cameras, together with lenses, tripods, gimbals, light meters, camera bags and more. Rod has his own camera gear blog at fotovolo.com but also writes about photo-editing applications and techniques at lifeafterphotoshop.com
