Panasonic has strengthened its range of LUMIX S lenses by adding the new 35mm F1.8 to a line up that already includes the 24mm, 50mm and 85mm prime optics – all of which carry a fast maximum aperture of f/1.8.
The lens has been designed for use with Panasonic’s range of full-frame mirrorless cameras, such as the S1 and S5, but because the lens uses the L-mount, it can also be used with compatible cameras from Sigma and Leica too. With a 35mm focal length, the lens is suitable for everything from landscapes and street photography, to wedding and portraiture work.
What’s more, because the 35mm F1.8 tips the scales at just 295g, it’s suitable for pairing with the lightweight S5 and using on a gimbal to capture video footage.One of the advantages of advantage of the prime lenses in the LUMIX S series is that the four optics share the same 67mm filter thread, meaning you can switch filters such as a circular polariser between the lenses.
The LUMIX S 35mm F1.8 features a ‘11 elements in 9 groups’ groups design that includes three aspherical lenses and three ED (Extra-Low Dispersion) lenses. Panasonic explains that the use of three aspherical lenses and the inclusion of a 9-bladed aperture results in beautiful bokeh and the ED lenses help to suppress chromatic aberration.
When it comes to autofocus, the 35mm F1.8 can deliver smooth, silent operation to work with the camera’s AF system with the sensor drive at max.240 fps and Panasonic says the lens features a mechanism that suppresses focus breathing – especially useful when capturing video footage. Photographers who like to get close up on their subjects will be pleased to hear the 35mm F1.8 features a minimum focusing distance of just 24cm, enabling users to get frame filling shots of smaller subjects.
Other features include a build that is weather-sealed to provide protection against dust and moisture. In fact, photographers wishing to use the lens in harsh outdoor conditions will be pleased to hear the 35mm F1.8 can operate at temperatures down to 10 degrees Celsius below zero. The LUMIX S 35mm F1.8 is expected to start shipping from mid-November.
