Photo by Fritz Bacon
The new LUMIX S 28-200mm F4-7.1 MACRO O.I.S. from Panasonic has arrived, and the company notes it’s the world’s smallest and lightest lens. From wide to tight shots, the range is quite the feat of engineering. This engineering includes a 6.5-stop 5-axis stabilization system to get steady handheld shots and boasts features designed to give both photographers and videographers the most amount of flexibility in their work. You’ll be able to capture new images that might not have been possible before.
With the focal range of 28mm to 200mm, this lens gives the user maximum framing options. The lens lets anyone capture wide landscapes and then with just a twist of the wrist, they can zoom in to take telephoto shots. The LUMIX S 28-200mm F4-7.1 MACRO O.I.S. — as its name implies — also takes great macro photography. With a close up distance of 3cm from the edge of the lens at 28mm, photographers and videographers can get extremely close to their subjects. Typically lenses can stop down to an aperture of f22. This lens can stop down to f32 at 28mm and f45 at 200mm.
When the lens is set to 75mm, the user can balance their camera and lens with ease. On most gimbals with a typical lens, each time the focal length is changed dramatically, the gimbal would need to be re-balanced and possibly recalibrated, costing valuable time. With the LUMIX S 28-200mm F4-7.1 MACRO O.I.S., this is not an issue. When balanced at 75mm, the lens can be shot at either 28mm or 200mm without adjusting the gimbal due to its light weight. This optimizes workflow while shooting and can speed up production times.
Weighing in at 413g and dimensions of 77.3 x 93.4 mm, at time of launch, this is the world’s smallest and lightest zoom lens. This is compared to all interchangeable lenses for autofocus compatible full-frame mirrorless cameras, and lenses with an optical zoom of 7x or more. This compact lens allows photographers and videographers flexibility in how they move with the camera. It is easy to fit into different bags, it does not draw a lot of attention when in public use and it is easy to carry long distances for activities like hiking, bird watching, or just walking around a metropolitan area.
Out of all the LUMIX S lenses, this lens leverages the smallest compensation stroke ever. The LUMIX S 28-200mm F4-7.1 MACRO O.I.S. also incorporates a detection algorithm into the high-precision gyro sensor. This allows for very stable handheld shooting for both photo and video. This is great for low light shooting when a slower shutter speed needs to be used to get enough light into the sensor without having to use a tripod. When it comes to video, this stabilization will allow for stable shots at both ends of the focal ranges, zoomed and wide. This stabilization is also why this lens is so great for gimbal use.
Given the large focal range, the LUMIX S 28-200mm F4-7.1 MACRO O.I.S. is one of the most versatile lenses on the market. Urban photographers and videographers will love the small form factor and the unassuming size, which makes it easy to work with without drawing negative attention. Anyone who likes to shoot outside will love it for its range. You can shoot landscapes with ease and then quickly punch in to capture any wildlife encountered without having to fumble with swapping lenses and possibly missing a shot in the process.
This lens won’t take up much space or weight in a bag, so it is perfect to take on long treks either traveling across the world or climbing a mountain. Typically when traveling light, a decision must be made on which lens to bring along and often that decision is between grabbing a wide or grabbing a telephoto. The LUMIX S 28-200mm F4-7.1 MACRO O.I.S. can eliminate that decision. Videographers can also benefit from most of these features but will especially benefit from the 6.5-stop image stabilization that makes shooting a stable shot a breeze.
While this lens is extremely versatile, there are a few lenses in the LUMIX S Series that would pair well with the LUMIX S 28-200mm F4-7.1 MACRO O.I.S.. The first lens would be the 14-28mm F4-5.6 MACRO to get even wider shots. To punch in even tighter, the best pairing would be with the 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 MACRO O.I.S.. It’s always nice to have an option of a prime lens when shooting photo or video. For that option LUMIX offers options in 18mm, 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm all with an aperture of f1.8 which is great for lowlight shooting.
I’ve had a chance to play with this lens for the past few days and it is a hard lens not to like. It’s lightweight, unassuming, and has an incredible range to it. I can toss it in my bag and not worry if I am going to have the right focal length to get the job done. I was able to pair it with my gimbal with ease and really enjoyed flicking through all the different focal lengths while filming without having to worry about rebalancing and recalibrating.
When I was filming with it handheld, I was able to navigate New York City without drawing any excess attention to my gear. I was also able to capture a wide range of shots of my model in a very short amount of time. If you are looking for a lens that can do it all, this is a great place to start.
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