Panasonic has introduced what claims to be the world’s smallest and lightest long zoom lens, with a total length of 93.4mm and weight of around 413 grams.
The LUMIX S 28-200mm F4-7.1 MACRO O.I.S is the first wide-to-tele zoom lens in the LUMIX S Series line-up.
Panasonic product marketing manager for imaging, Aaron Waters said, “This highly mobile lens fits in your hand and is built for enthusiasts who want to travel without a weighty kit. The wide, long range of 28-200mm makes it the ideal all-purpose zoom when you are on the move and want to capture sweeping landscapes and distant subjects.
“It is also capable of impressive close-ups, delivering half life-size macro shooting (0.5x at 28mm) with just 3cm between the end of the lens and the subject. The high-resolution imaging delivers bokeh that is smooth and rounded with starburst effects.”
The LUMIX lens supports use in the field with 6.5-stop 5-axis Dual I.S. 2 (Image Stabiliser) compatibility. Handheld shooting is possible across a wide range of situations from low-light conditions to close-up scenes.
A rugged dust/splash-resistant design withstands challenging conditions and temperatures down to -10 degrees Celsius. In addition, the front lens element has a fluorine coating to repel liquids such as water or oil. An ND/PL filter with 67mm diameter can be attached.
The LUMIX S-R28200 is optimised for video capture with high-speed, high-precision, and silent autofocus, and suppresses focus breathing. It also offers micro-step aperture control for smooth exposure changes, as well as the ability to choose between linear or nonlinear focus ring settings.
The lens will be available in Australia in May 2024 from leading photographic specialists for RRP $1,599.