Lumix S 24-105mm ƒ/4 Zoom Lens Sample Images

I’ve recently been out shooting with the new Lumix S1 full-frame mirrorless camera. I’ve been using the Lumix S 24-105mm ƒ/4 with it. This is a new model, and I thought it worth posting some images taken with it in case anyone is curious how it performs in real-world shooting. It’s an L mount lens, a system that’s co-developed by Leica, Lumix, and Sigma. So you’re not limited to using it only on Lumix camera bodies.

First, though, a quick rundown of key specs: It’s an autofocus lens with built-in optical image stabilization. It has a fixed maximum aperture of ƒ/4 throughout the zoom range and a minimum aperture of ƒ/22. The angle of view on a full-frame sensor–the most logical sensor to use this lens on–is 84° at its widest and 23° when zoomed in to 105mm. It’s also a macro lens, with a reproduction ratio of 1:2 and a minimum focusing distance of just under 12 inches (30 cm).

It’s worth noting something important that affects the images you see here. Lenses have been moving away from dumb pieces of glass for years now. Autofocus and electronic aperture controls were some of the first ways that lenses became digitized. Sigma even has a system that lets you tweak the settings of some of its lenses. And some, like this one, use digital profile corrections that are applied to JPGs and embedded into the RAW files. These corrections are applied automatically and address things like lens vignetting, chromatic aberration, and barrel distortion. If you’re familiar with applying lens profiles in Lightroom, you’ve traditionally had to choose that option; with these newer lenses, the corrections are applied automatically and the profile itself is embedded in the RAW files. That applies to all the images here–the embedded profile corrections are masking any optical flaws the glass might have. I haven’t found a way to turn this off with the S1, but I’m not sure of any standard use cases where there’d be any practical value to doing so beyond some niche arguments for a lens’s “character.” But since I’m most interested in looking at the practical results in real-world shooting than lab tests of the optical quality of the glass elements themselves, that’s fine with me.

After shooting with the Lumix S 24-105mm ƒ/4 for a while, I’m very impressed. It’s an easy lens to shoot with, especially for something like travel photography, the optical image stabilization works well, there are few gotcha flaws that show up in the image quality, and the images are tack sharp. While I have some quibbles with the S1’s autofocus, those are to do with the camera’s detection, not with the lens. And while I’d love for this to be a ƒ/2.8 lens, that’s just asking it to be something it isn’t. But accepting the lens for what it is–a moderately fast but sharp zoom lens with a highly versatile focal length range–I have to say that I think Lumix has nailed it with this one.

I’ve previously posted some practical examples of this lens’s zoom range here.

Sample Images Taken with the Panasonic Lumix S 24-105mm f/4 Macro O.I.S. Lens

So here are some high-resolution sample images I’ve taken with the Lumix S 24-105mm f/4. I’ve tried to include shots that bring in a wide range of aspects that apply to shooting with a lens, particularly for general travel photography. So there are some challenging lighting conditions, including pointing straight at bright light sources. There are straight lines. There are different focus depths and distances. There are shots with fine details and smooth tones in different parts of the frame. And there’s a variety of apertures and focal lengths.

These were all shot on the S1 in RAW. They’ve been run through Lightroom, but most of them have had only a very light processing touch. What I haven’t applied to any of them is any lens corrections beyond the default embedded ones.

I’ve included the aperture and focal length for each one in its caption, and you can click on each image to get a full-size version for a closer look.

Optical Correction Tools

I deliberately haven’t applied extensive corrections to these images. And the general rule of thumb in photography is that it’s better to get the shot right at the time of capture rather than trying to fix it after. That’s a great aspiration, but it’s not always possible to do if you’re bumping up against limitations or flaws in gear, conditions, or technique.

But it’s worth mentioning that there are some excellent tools available to help address common issues with lenses, such as distortion, chromatic aberration, and lens vignetting when editing the images. All-round image processing apps like Lightroom Classic and Capture One have solid tools built in already that often cater to specific lens profiles (or you can make your own).

Some more specialized tools can take it even further. DxO, in particular, sets the gold standard. Their software is built on the foundation of their incredibly deep archive of data from their extensive lab testing of the optical performance of lenses and cameras. But there are some other excellent specialized tools available. These are well worth a look (and have free trials):

• DxO Pure RAW (for a suite of automatic RAW file corrections enhancement)
• DxO ViewPoint (correcting for distortion and geometry)
• Topaz Labs Sharpen AI (in addition to standard unsharp tools, includes focus correction and shake reduction)

Price & Availability of the Lumix S 24-105mm ƒ/4 Macro Zoom Lens

Check the current price and availability at

• B&H Photo
• Adorama
• Amazon

You can rent them from BorrowLenses and LensProtoGo.

I haven’t come across many used ones for sale, but it’s worth a try at KEH if you’re in the market for a used copy. You might also find some on eBay.

Accessories for the Panasonic Lumix S 24-105mm ƒ/4 Macro

Filters. It takes standard 77mm screw-on filters: Polarizer | UV/Haze | ND. Because it’s a telescoping zoom, the front section doesn’t rotate as you zoom in and out, which is useful when using directional filters like polarizers or graduated neutral density filters.

Lens Hood. It comes with a plastic petal-style lens hood. The model number is S-R23105, but those seem to be hard to come by as replacement parts. If you opt for an aftermarket version, be sure to check for lens (or hood) vignetting when zoomed out.

Images and product information from Amazon PA-API were last updated on 2023-05-30 at 20:48. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon Site at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.