I captured the images for this review back in January and chose to take a more extended period to engage with this lens. Indeed, the Panasonic 14-28mm f4-5. 6 Lumix S is quite unusual. Most brands typically opt for a premium f2. 8 or constant aperture lens of some type. However, they often limit it to a 12-24mm lens. In this scenario, Panasonic expanded all the way to 28mm. They also didn’t produce it as a constant f4 lens, which could compete with their 16-35mm in certain respects. At the start of this year, I was experiencing a very challenging time. As I reflect on these images, I understand that I still discovered beauty around me, despite the internal darkness. This lens offered me a sense of freedom from conventional camera reviews. Looking back now, I’m grateful that I undertook this experience.
Table of Contents
- The Big Picture: Panasonic 14-28mm f4-5. 6 Lumix S Review Conclusions
- Pros
- Cons
- Who Should Buy the Panasonic 14-28mm f4-5. 6 Lumix S?
- Gear Used
- Hardware
- Ease of Use
- Focusing
- Image Quality
- Let’s Talk Art
The Big Picture: Panasonic 14-28mm f4-5. 6 Lumix S Review Conclusions
The Panasonic 14-28mm f4-5. 6 Lumix S is an excellent lens for those who want to travel or capture expansive areas but require a bit more reach than 24mm at the longer end. It’s also weatherproof, lightweight, and quick to focus. Honestly, there’s very little to dislike about it. The sole aspect I wish it included is a consistent aperture. However, that’s merely my minor critique.
The Panasonic 14-28mm f4-5. 6 Lumix S earns four out of five stars.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Good image quality
- Close focusing capabilities
- Not overly expensive
- Weather resistance
- Rapid focusing performance
Cons
- I somewhat wish it were a constant aperture lens instead. That would be genuinely more groundbreaking.
Who Should Buy the Panasonic 14-28mm f4-5. 6 Lumix S?
Purchase the Panasonic 14-28mm f4-5. 6 Lumix S if you are a travel photographer or need to frequently shoot in broad spaces.
Gear Used
The Panasonic 14-28mm f4-5. 6 Lumix S we utilized was evaluated with the S5 II. Both are long-term loan equipment. Additionally, we employed several lens filters to achieve the effects in our images combined with Real Time LUT.
Hardware
Panasonic lenses all have a very similar feel. In contrast to Tamron, which incorporates metal into the construction of some of their lenses, there’s not much differentiation between the higher-end and lower-end options. This is an approach that virtually every Japanese lens manufacturer follows. With that in mind, the Panasonic 14-28mm f4-5. 6 Lumix S feels acceptable. If anything, it’s more of a utilitarian design than an ergonomically pleasing experience.
What’s great about this lens is its weather-resistant feature. A majority of the Lumix S series includes weather resistance.
Ease of Use
There isn’t much thought or concern required when using the Panasonic 14-28mm f4-5. 6 Lumix S. You connect it to the camera, point it, focus, and then shoot. This means that anyone who is new to photography will find it easy to use. Due to the excellent image stabilization in the s5 II, you can hold this lens for extended periods and still capture photos with minimal camera shake. It’s truly a freeing experience in many aspects.
Focusing
Wide-angle lenses generally excel at achieving autofocus because they possess the greatest depth of field. The Panasonic 14-28mm f4-5. 6 Lumix S is no different in this regard. With the S5 II, we often attained precision and accuracy in autofocus. I can’t envision individuals using this lens for fast-moving subjects very frequently. In certain instances, this might be the only aspect that poses a challenge in achieving perfect and completely sharp images. However, Panasonic’s system embraces what some might consider shortcomings in the form of creative blur and similar effects.
Image Quality
At the wider focal length, photographers should anticipate some distortion in the corners. However, as you adjust to the 28mm focal length, it will nearly disappear. From my perspective, the distortion is not a concern, and I believe it can introduce a playful and organic element to the images that is often removed nowadays.
Let’s Talk Art
The S5 II showcases some of the finest image stabilization I have ever encountered in a camera. Thus, with a wide-angle lens like this, I decided to experiment with long exposures of the scenes around me as they moved. It became a remarkably enjoyable experience.
