Panasonic Breaks The Ice With Lumix S 100mm F2.8 Macro lens

After waiting for almost an eternity, it seems like Panasonic might have an ace up its sleeve that is otherwise known as Panasonic Lumix S 100mm F/2.8 macro lens, a prime lens with macro capabilities that is designed specifically for full-frame cameras with L-mount support, allowing it to capture details even if it is as thin as the human hair.

That’s right, Panasonic has always been cooking underrated gems and this new entry in the macro world may make or break the whole game considering the fact it has a maximum magnification of 1:1 all while being paired up with an astoundingly large aperture size of f/2.8, insane right? Wait till you read about its potential specification and be the judge on how it would weigh in your favor.

• Weighing no more than 300 grams (298g), the 100mm is the epitome of portability, we are eagerly looking forward to how it would work on your L-Mount cameras since it is a full frame lens, implying you might as well say goodbye to crop factors.
• The MOD on this thing is downright insane and baffling considering it could go up to 1:1, while some previous iteration we tested out only has ratios as close to 1.5 or even 2x, which gives you a much broader perspective on the microscopic world down beneath.
• Apparently, this might be Panasonic’s massive step forward on the macro world by gazing in on extremely close-up work with such a wide aperture that is complimented by 9 blade diaphragm, the bokeh is going to be wild especially when capturing closeups of wildlife.
• Keep in mind the lens itself won’t be packing any active stabilization mechanism, however, it does have its own autofocusing module, making it quite a treat for amateur photographers.
• Digging deeper into its optical glass elements, apparently, it even contains 13 elements in 11 groups, including 3 aspherical lenses and 2 ED lenses to reduce aberrations. I have to admit, Panasonic’s attention to optical precision gives me confidence this lens will deliver the razor-sharp reproduction critical to macro work. 
• But not all the glitters are gold here, our highly reliable and trusted sources from various platforms have concluded that the lens might be up for grabs for a whopping $1000 dollars, so you better start working on your budget if you are interested in the goodness it has to offer.

One of our interns named David at CameraGuy even commented on this “A minimum focusing distance of just 8 inches means there’s no working distance to get in my way. Subjects like bees and spiders that zip about won’t be able to evade my macro shots as easily.” Bravo, David! I loved the enthusiasm since the feeling was mutual.

On the other hand, word on subreddits like r/photography and r/macro quickly spread like wildfire and one user even pointed out the price tag might be too high “The lack of built-in stabilization is a little concerning so I have to keep my hands steady and I wish it was a bit cheaper too”

But then again, our view on this matter is polar opposite because the level of quality these lenses boast is usually astounding and to some extent justified, and on the fact that being a prime lens, it would churn up outstanding results, So as long you mount the 100mm macro on a stabilized Panasonic mirrorless, that in-body stabilization should help counteract minor shakes when shooting handheld.

However, once the word was out on Twitter by Lumix Cameras, the original manufacturer of this lens, I was truly in awe, it seems quite compact ane cannot wait to give it a shot even if the price tag may sound too steep for some individuals.

From the looks of it, it seems the Panasonic 100mm will satisfy my artistic urges. On the other hand, It feels reassuringly robust yet nimble enough for hours of field use and the fact that it even has a filter thread is a nice bonus too for adding ND or polarizing filters down the line paving quite a wide array of opportunities for its consumer base.

In conclusion, we believe this macro lens has packing potential that will be beyond our expectations since the release date is expected around February, we cannot wait to get our hands on it and pair it with an equally noteworthy Mirrorless camera while taking it out for a spin, stay tuned for benchmark results that will be posted soon once this nifty macro lens hits the market.