In the ever-evolving world of photography, having the right lens can make all the difference in capturing stunning and memorable moments. One such lens that has established itself as one of the most versatile lenses is the Lumix 24-70mm F2.8 S-Pro lens from Panasonic.
Today’s blog is like a cozy chat over coffee about my two-year bromance with the Lumix 24-70mm F2.8 S-Pro lens. No fancy jargon – just real talk about where this lens rocks and when it’s your go-to photography wingman. Oh, and did I mention there’s a snapshot showcase? Get ready for some pixel-perfect fun as we spill the tea on this lens and throw in some cool pics* to boot.
Let’s jump into the fab five reasons that’ll have you saying, “Why haven’t I got this lens in my life sooner?!
Before we dive into the review and sample shots, let’s take a closer look at the key specifications:
- Focal Length: 24-70mm
- Maximum Aperture: F2.8
- Lens Construction: 18 elements in 16 groups
- Optical Image Stabilization: Yes
- Weather Sealing: Yes
- Filter Size: 82mm
- Weight: Approximately 935g
- Nano Surface Coating: Yes
1
Certified by Leica for Exceptional Image Quality.
The lens has received widespread acclaim for its outstanding image quality across the entire focal range. What really impressed me about this lens is its sharpness, minimal distortion, and excellent color reproduction.
I love Leica lenses for its top-class optical performance. However, that comes with a premium cost too. What if, I tell you that Lumix 24-70mm F2.8 lens is certified by Leica having gone through exceptionally strict Leica standards. That definitely makes a strong case for me to buy this lens at a much lesser price.
3
Superb Low-light Performance and Bokeh.
The constant F2.8 aperture throughout the zoom range provides excellent low-light performance and creative control over depth of field. I have used it for weddings, indoor events and fashion, and I never had to worry about poor lighting conditions. Moreover, it has given me smooth subject background separation and bokeh.
4
Robust Build and Weather Resistance.
The lens boasts a dust and splash resistant construction with weather-sealing, ensuring it can withstand toughest shooting conditions to the likes of temperatures as low as -10 °C. However, the company does not guarantee that that damage will not occur if the lens is subjected to direct contact with dust and water, which is an obvious disclaimer.
2
Versatile Focal Length Range.
With a versatile focal length range of 24-70mm, this lens is suitable for a wide range of photography styles and genres, making it a great choice for not only wedding photography, but also fashion, product and street photography.
Below are a few sample images from a destination wedding in Uttarakhand, I captured with the Lumix 24-70mm F2.8 S-Pro lens:
5
Ease of Focusing.
It has focus clutch system which enables instant switching from auto to manual focus and helps in accurate manual focusing. Although, I hardly use it for my photography, this can be useful for people who prefer to shoot in manual focus mode.
Let’s see how this lens captures indoor fashion photography scenarios:
In the frame: Helly Shah (Styling: Mittal Patel, Apparel: Ranbir Mukherjee) and Shreya Sharma (MUA: Sejal Thakkar, Hair: Abid Ansari)
Last year, I also used this lens to capture product shots for a US-based faucet company, in an exhibition held in NESCO Mumbai.
Moving to a more general usages of capturing street photographs, below are a few sample images from a photo-walk themed on vintage cars I participated in January 2023 in Mumbai.
Let’s compare how this lens fares with its counterparts (other L-mount lenses) from Leica and Sigma.
| LUMIX | LEICA | SIGMA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product | LUMIX S Lens S-E2470 | Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-70 f/2.8 ASPH | Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN | Art |
| Weight | 935 gram (excluding lens cap, lens rear cap and lens hood) | 856/906 g (without/with lens hood) | 835 gram |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 37 cm (at 24mm) | 18 cm (at 24mm) | 18 cm (at 24mm) |
| Aperture Ring | Yes | No | No |
| Internal Focusing | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Weather Sealing | Excellent | Yes | Yes |
| Diaphragm Blades | 11 | 11 | 11 |
| Optical Elements and Groups | 18 elements in 16 groups (3 aspherical lenses, 4 ED lenses, 1 UHR lens) | 19 elements in 15 groups | 19 elements in 15 groups |
| Build | Magnesium alloy | Anodized aluminum | Magnesium alloy |
| Filter Thread | 82mm | 82mm | 82mm |
| Sample Images | In this post. | Available here | Available here and here |
| Price (in INR) | Typically 1,41,392 – 1,46,490 | Typically 3,77,810–₹3,96,635 | INR 77,990 on Amazon India |
In conclusion, the Lumix 24-70mm F2.8 S-Pro lens has proven itself to be a formidable choice for photographers seeking top-notch image quality, fast autofocus, and an ultra robust build. The positive feedback from users and experts, combined with the impressive specifications, positions this lens as a versatile and reliable tool for photographers across various genres. If you’re in the market for a high-performance standard zoom lens, the Lumix 24-70mm F2.8 S-Pro is undoubtedly worth considering.
Note: This lens offers 84° angle of view at its widest 24mm focal length. Therefore, if you mostly take ultra wide angle shots (of landscapes or architecture), you should consider either Lumix S PRO 16-35mm F4.0 lens which offers 107° angle of view at 16mm focal length, or Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG DN Art lens, which can give you 114.2° angle of view at 14mm focal length. Further, please note that this lens does not have in-built optical image stabilization.
Other Interesting Reads and Videos
– Mirrorless 24-70mm Shootout: Which Lens Wins in Sharpness vs Expense? by PetaPixel
– Panasonic LUMIX S PRO 24-70mm f/2.8 review by Digital Camera World
– List of all L-mount Lenses
– Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN Art Hands-on Review by DPReview TV
– Lumix vs. Sigma | 24-70mm f2.8 – Which one is better? by Pav SZ
– 24-70mm: Panasonic or Sigma? by Leica Forum
*All images are shot on Panasonic Lumix S1, and have been retouched using Adobe Lightroom.
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