I’ve been out shooting with the Lumix S1 full-frame mirrorless camera, primarily using the Lumix S 24-105mm f/4.
I thought it was 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 co-developed by the alliance of Leica, Panasonic, and Sigma. So you’re not limited to using it only on Lumix camera bodies.
First, a quick rundown of key specs: It’s an autofocus lens with built-in optical image stabilization. It has a constant maximum aperture of f/4 throughout the zoom range and a minimum aperture of f/22. The angle of view on a full-frame sensor is 84° at its widest and 23° when zoomed in to 105mm. It’s also a macro lens, with a 0.5x reproduction ratio (1:2) and a minimum focusing distance of 11.8 inches (30 cm).1
It’s worth noting something important that affects the images you see here: the hardware-software bridge. This lens utilizes digital profile corrections that are applied to JPGs and embedded into the RAW files. These corrections address things like lens vignetting, chromatic aberration, and barrel distortion automatically. If you’re familiar with applying lens profiles in Lightroom, you’ve traditionally had to choose that option manually; with modern L-mount lenses, the profile is embedded in the RAW files and applied by default.
All the images here have these corrections applied — the embedded profile is masking optical flaws the glass might have. I haven’t found a way to turn this off on the S1, though I’m not sure there is much practical value in doing so beyond niche arguments for a lens’s raw “character.” I’m personally much more interested in the practical results of the system as a whole than in lab tests of the glass elements in a vacuum.
After shooting with the Lumix S 24-105mm f/4 for a while, I’m very impressed. It’s an easy lens to shoot with, especially for travel photography. The optical image stabilization works well, there are few “gotcha” flaws in the image quality, and the images are tack sharp. While I have some quibbles with the S1’s autofocus, those are due to the camera’s subject detection, not the lens. Accepting the lens for what it is — a moderately fast but sharp zoom with a highly versatile range — Panasonic 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
Here are some high-resolution sample images taken with the Lumix S 24-105mm f/4. I’ve tried to include shots that cover a wide range of travel photography scenarios: challenging lighting, straight architectural lines, varying depths of field, and fine details across the frame.
These were all shot on the S1 in RAW. They’ve been processed in Lightroom, but most have had only a very light touch. I haven’t applied any manual lens corrections beyond the default embedded profiles.
I’ve included the aperture and focal length for each one in its caption; you can click on each image to view the full-size version.
Price & availability of the Lumix S 24-105mm f/4 Macro zoom lens
Check the current price and availability at:
You can rent the lens from Lensrentals or LensProToGo.
Used copies are often available at KEH or eBay.
Accessories for the Panasonic Lumix S 24-105mm f/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, making it extremely helpful for aligning directional filters like polarizers or graduated neutral density filters.
Lens Hood. It comes with a plastic petal-style hood (model S-R23105). If buying an aftermarket replacement, ensure it doesn’t cause vignetting when zoomed out to 24mm.
Looks Good for a kit lens.
Yes, it’s definitely better than your average kit lenses. Several of the kit lenses that come bundled with the newer mirrorless cameras have upped the standard.