Panasonic Lumix S 24-70mm

After owning and traveling with the 20-60mm kit lens for over a year and a half I finally decided to bite the bullet and get a faster zoom lens. I'd had my eye on the 24-70mm f/2.8 S Pro for some time and knew it would be my choice based on the fantastic performance of the 70-200mm f/2.8 S Pro that I've owned since buying my S5IIX. Now that I have the 24-70mm f/2.8 S Pro I can say with confidence that there is something rather special about the S Pro lenses. I'm not just talking about the focus clutch. These lenses bring my subjects forward in a way that is hard to quantify. I suppose it's what many refer to as "micro-contrast". Whatever it is, i like it. The results I get from this lens make shooting with it worth the added weight I now have to travel with. The added weight is significant, but I've learned to cope since I know there is a significant difference in the results I achieve.

The only downside is it is big and heavy but it’s very solidly built!

Owners of Panasonic’s S1 cameras now have a choice between two ‘general purpose’ lenses, the 24-70mm f/2.8 and the 24-105mm f/4 lens , which is a stop slower but covers a wider zoom range. You pay a premium for the faster lens and also lose some telephoto capabilities. The 24-105mm f/4 lens is also more than 250 grams lighter, which can make a difference when working on location, although both lenses and cameras in this series are relatively heavy. While the 24-70mm focal length range is a bit limited for general-purpose photography, it should be suit wedding photographers and those who cover social events, where the constant f/2.8 maximum aperture will be advantageous for controlling depth of field.