Glad I found this, I have the Lumix S 20-60mm lens, however it normally lives in my camera bag as I really enjoy using my 35mm, 50mm & 85mm F1.8 Prime lenses on my S5iiX. Also, you are from Helsinki... my new home away from home...
Very nice review, I returned the 10-25mm Summilux because of the AF noise, I think I had a bad sample because some people told me they almost can't hear it even with the internal mic. I have the S1 and the GH5 and I think I could get better dynamic range in video with the 20-60mm on the S1 than with the 10-25mm on the GH5. And I think there is almost no difference for low light because the S1 give me better ISO performance to mitigate the slow f/stop of the 20-60mm. Here is my question. Do you think the Leica 10-25mm rendering (oof, colors and bokeh) is far better than this 20-60mm considering the price (almost 3x cheaper) ? Thank you very much.
It's not easy to compare lenses from two completely different systems. The Leica 10-25mm is a pro grade lens and that certainly adds to the price. In terms of DOF the 10-25mm is slightly better at the long end, because it equals to about F3.5 FF lens. But in low light the S1 + 20-60 mm is probably as good or better, because the big sensor handles high ISO so much better.
Very nice review and great lens. Smart I would say. I will buy it in kit with S5 II and I'll add 35 and 85 both 1.8. About aperture I think it's almost unique to have a 20mm f3.5. Mostly and usual 16-35 are f4
Matti, for indoor vlogging would you rother go with S5ii and this kit lens or GH5ii with bunch of F1.8 primes (I still keep these primes in my drawer but my old GX7 is not suitable for video)? The price of S5ii with kit is tempting but I love the glory of prime lens.
I think there would not be any significant difference regarding video quality for RUclips for example, but the S5II autofocus should be awesome compared to the GH5II. So, I'd probably take the S5II with the kit lens and add a couple of primes later. Sigma I series Contemporary primes are a very good value, for example.
20-60mm with 350 grams seems really nice for travel lens (except current Panasonic FF bodies are big and heavy, whereas competitors have bodies smaller and lighter than Panasonic G9 or GH5). By the way how Panasonic handles current situation when high end MFT cameras are usually as big, expensive and heavy as full-frame? It still beats FF in lens size, but Nikon introduced somewhat "dark" and small 24-50/f4-6.3 kit lens which weights 200g. I don't care about aperture on zoom lenses which I use mostly for hiking with aperture set to F8 even on MFT. And to be honest I'm a fan of MFT cameras and they are perfectly sufficient for me, but system is getting tough competition. 45-150mm or 12-60mm zooms are just 200 grams heavy and compact and great especially for their price, prime lenses are great as well. But I would hesitate to buy expensive high end bodies and panasonic-leica lenses.
Thanks for sharing. There will the new S5, which should be smaller and lighter than the S1. MFT is great for traveling light and the image quality is fine for most uses.
I was wondering if you could tell me when the lens starts stopping down. Does it lose 3.5 right away or does it ramp down like other kit zooms I've used?
Unfortunately I have returned the lens back to Panasonic long time ago and can't check that. However, these variable aperture zooms usually slow down pretty fast as you zoom in.
@@mattisulanto Thanks! I ended up watching a video on the lens from snapchick and she made an aperture to focal length chart. I feel like this would be a really good livestream lens and was hoping it would stay close to f/4 at around 30mm. It looks like it might.
20 to 60 is a great decision, even with a slow aperture. In 20mm for landscape and arc you very often use mid range 8 to 11. The other end 60mm sounds like bad bokeh, but a good photographer is able to recompose to a more nicer background. The 5,6 assures you to achieve a better depth of sharpness in the face.
I bought the panasonic S 5 full frame camera seven months ago. when purchasing with the S lens included the price of this lens becomes $ 300.00 dollars which is a fabulous deal here in canada. and this lens does not disappoint ! i'm not a big fan of telephoto lenses, most of my lenses are primes but I really like this lens ! thanks for this once again excellent review matti. ... zen billings
Think you could make a comparison between the panasonic pro zooms 12-35ii and the leica primes? Maybe static shots of the exact same subject; then some walking shots to compare the ibis vs the dual IS. Another great test would be a low light test to showcase the difference from 2.8 to 1.4. Would help me greatly decide between getting the leica primes or the 12-35ii for my video and photography hobby :) Always hear about the leica magic and always hear about the usability of the zooms.
how does it compare to the PL10-25? I know this may seem like an odd question at first blush but hear me out. I already have a G9, and want to get the PL10-25, but then S5 comes out. Here's the math: PL10-25 = USD1800 S5+20-60+45 = 2300. 2300-1800 = 500. This means, if the 20-60 is any bit as good as the 10-25, I'm getting the S5+45 for a mere 500. Bam!
It's not an odd question and I'm sure you are not the only one thinking about that. However, it's not so easy to answer, but I'll try to give you a short answer. The 10-25mm F1.7 is a pro grade lens with a constant max aperture, aperture ring and MF clutch. The 20-60mm F3.5-5.6 is a prosumer lens with a variable max aperture and no aperture ring and no MF clutch. The 10-25mm is better optically, but the 20-60mm is very good too and I would not hesitate to use for even a critical customer shoot, like industrial interior. The 20-60mm at 50mm has a max aperture of F5.3, so the 10-25mm has slightly less DOF at 25mm (50mm EQV). If you really want the 10-25mm, you should buy it, because the 20-60mm is not the same. But, the S5 is a lovely camera now that I have used it a bit and your math makes it very tempting. The S5 with the 20-60mm is a fantastic combo. The Sigma 45mm F2.8 is also a sweet little lens and a perfect pair with the S5. The rest is up to you. Let me know what happened in the end😀
I have this lens, it's a nice lens, but it would have been great if the aperture was not changing with focal length. I mean it will be great if I could have 3.5 at 60mm and not only 5.6..
sulantoblog I'm trying with the new s5 but I don't see any difference between linear and non-linear of the focus ring, in linear mode if I quickly move the focus ring it behaves like in non-linear mode
I'm sorry but it's so funny that not long ago Panasonic released the biggest m43rds standard zoom lens ever with the 10-25 f1.7. Then basically releases a micro 4/3rds sized zoom lens on Full Frame with a very similar focal range. 😆
I have the 10-25 f1.7 and love it BTW. Just funny how it worked out. I'm sure Panasonic will also release a huge f2.8 or f4 version of this focal range for the S1 at some point in the future. I'm a fan of lenses big or small.
@@poudrieres Certainly, I agree, but after so much complaining how big, heavy and expensive the S series lenses are, I think this is a very welcome lens.
SO TIRED of all this "full-frame" stuff... Just put that damned organic sensor in an MFT body already, Panasonic, and show the world what actual innovation looks like.
@@mattisulanto Every time Panasonic announces something new for L-Mount, my beloved GX8 has a smaller chance of receiving a proper update. I thought there might be another flagship rangefinder-style GX model somewhere in the Lumix pipeline when they announced their research on the organic sensor a couple years ago... but now that L-Mount has arrived it just seems like Panasonic has forgotten about its GX8 fans entirely. (Insert pouting heartache here)
Thanks!
Thank you!
Glad I found this, I have the Lumix S 20-60mm lens, however it normally lives in my camera bag as I really enjoy using my 35mm, 50mm & 85mm F1.8 Prime lenses on my S5iiX. Also, you are from Helsinki... my new home away from home...
Oh that's an interesting lens. It covers ultra wide as well as 35 and 56mm which are my favorites.
Yes, it's very interesting.
Very nice review, I returned the 10-25mm Summilux because of the AF noise, I think I had a bad sample because some people told me they almost can't hear it even with the internal mic.
I have the S1 and the GH5 and I think I could get better dynamic range in video with the 20-60mm on the S1 than with the 10-25mm on the GH5. And I think there is almost no difference for low light because the S1 give me better ISO performance to mitigate the slow f/stop of the 20-60mm. Here is my question. Do you think the Leica 10-25mm rendering (oof, colors and bokeh) is far better than this 20-60mm considering the price (almost 3x cheaper) ? Thank you very much.
It's not easy to compare lenses from two completely different systems. The Leica 10-25mm is a pro grade lens and that certainly adds to the price. In terms of DOF the 10-25mm is slightly better at the long end, because it equals to about F3.5 FF lens. But in low light the S1 + 20-60 mm is probably as good or better, because the big sensor handles high ISO so much better.
@BloddySk Yes, the S1 has about two stops better ISO performance than the GH5, at least in photography.
@@mattisulanto Thank you, I think I will get this 20-60mm.
@@slows728 Please, check another review too to get another opinion😀It's always a good idea.
Very nice review and great lens. Smart I would say. I will buy it in kit with S5 II and I'll add 35 and 85 both 1.8. About aperture I think it's almost unique to have a 20mm f3.5.
Mostly and usual 16-35 are f4
Matti, for indoor vlogging would you rother go with S5ii and this kit lens or GH5ii with bunch of F1.8 primes (I still keep these primes in my drawer but my old GX7 is not suitable for video)? The price of S5ii with kit is tempting but I love the glory of prime lens.
I think there would not be any significant difference regarding video quality for RUclips for example, but the S5II autofocus should be awesome compared to the GH5II. So, I'd probably take the S5II with the kit lens and add a couple of primes later. Sigma I series Contemporary primes are a very good value, for example.
I like that range! Better than 24-70mm
Me too, definitely. Besides, you can easily crop to 70 mm eqv without too much loss.
@@mattisulanto Indeed, in both video and photos!
20-60mm with 350 grams seems really nice for travel lens (except current Panasonic FF bodies are big and heavy, whereas competitors have bodies smaller and lighter than Panasonic G9 or GH5).
By the way how Panasonic handles current situation when high end MFT cameras are usually as big, expensive and heavy as full-frame?
It still beats FF in lens size, but Nikon introduced somewhat "dark" and small 24-50/f4-6.3 kit lens which weights 200g. I don't care about aperture on zoom lenses which I use mostly for hiking with aperture set to F8 even on MFT.
And to be honest I'm a fan of MFT cameras and they are perfectly sufficient for me, but system is getting tough competition. 45-150mm or 12-60mm zooms are just 200 grams heavy and compact and great especially for their price, prime lenses are great as well. But I would hesitate to buy expensive high end bodies and panasonic-leica lenses.
Thanks for sharing. There will the new S5, which should be smaller and lighter than the S1. MFT is great for traveling light and the image quality is fine for most uses.
It's a very nice lens. I wished that the m43 variant (12-32 mm) would also go to 10 mm
Thanks! Would be nice, but would also make the lens bigger.
I was wondering if you could tell me when the lens starts stopping down. Does it lose 3.5 right away or does it ramp down like other kit zooms I've used?
Unfortunately I have returned the lens back to Panasonic long time ago and can't check that. However, these variable aperture zooms usually slow down pretty fast as you zoom in.
@@mattisulanto Thanks! I ended up watching a video on the lens from snapchick and she made an aperture to focal length chart. I feel like this would be a really good livestream lens and was hoping it would stay close to f/4 at around 30mm. It looks like it might.
Definitely a very affordable lens compared to some of my S pro lenses.
20 to 60 is a great decision, even with a slow aperture. In 20mm for landscape and arc you very often use mid range 8 to 11. The other end 60mm sounds like bad bokeh, but a good photographer is able to recompose to a more nicer background. The 5,6 assures you to achieve a better depth of sharpness in the face.
I bought the panasonic S 5 full frame camera seven months ago. when purchasing with the S lens included the price of this lens becomes $ 300.00 dollars which is a fabulous deal here in canada. and this lens does not disappoint ! i'm not a big fan of telephoto lenses, most of my lenses are primes but I really like this lens ! thanks for this once again excellent review matti. ... zen billings
Thanks for the video. I think that is a good lens for the future Lumix S5. 😊👍
Thanks. I wouldn't be surprised, if this was offered as kit with the S5.
@@mattisulanto It is already sold together as a pre order 😁
@@bandofbros8112 Yes, now it is, but at the time of that comment the S5 did not officially exist yet😀
Think you could make a comparison between the panasonic pro zooms 12-35ii and the leica primes? Maybe static shots of the exact same subject; then some walking shots to compare the ibis vs the dual IS. Another great test would be a low light test to showcase the difference from 2.8 to 1.4.
Would help me greatly decide between getting the leica primes or the 12-35ii for my video and photography hobby :) Always hear about the leica magic and always hear about the usability of the zooms.
That is something to consider in the future. Are you talking about photo or video?
how does it compare to the PL10-25? I know this may seem like an odd
question at first blush but hear me out. I already have a G9, and want
to get the PL10-25, but then S5 comes out. Here's the math:
PL10-25 = USD1800
S5+20-60+45 = 2300.
2300-1800 = 500.
This means, if the 20-60 is any bit as good as the 10-25, I'm getting the S5+45 for a mere 500. Bam!
It's not an odd question and I'm sure you are not the only one thinking about that.
However, it's not so easy to answer, but I'll try to give you a short answer.
The 10-25mm F1.7 is a pro grade lens with a constant max aperture, aperture ring and MF clutch.
The 20-60mm F3.5-5.6 is a prosumer lens with a variable max aperture and no aperture ring and no MF clutch.
The 10-25mm is better optically, but the 20-60mm is very good too and I would not hesitate to use for even a critical customer shoot, like industrial interior.
The 20-60mm at 50mm has a max aperture of F5.3, so the 10-25mm has slightly less DOF at 25mm (50mm EQV).
If you really want the 10-25mm, you should buy it, because the 20-60mm is not the same.
But, the S5 is a lovely camera now that I have used it a bit and your math makes it very tempting.
The S5 with the 20-60mm is a fantastic combo.
The Sigma 45mm F2.8 is also a sweet little lens and a perfect pair with the S5.
The rest is up to you. Let me know what happened in the end😀
I have this lens, it's a nice lens, but it would have been great if the aperture was not changing with focal length. I mean it will be great if I could have 3.5 at 60mm and not only 5.6..
Does this lens have the ability to have linear focus control?
Yes, you can set linear focus ring control.
sulantoblog I'm trying with the new s5 but I don't see any difference between linear and non-linear of the focus ring, in linear mode if I quickly move the focus ring it behaves like in non-linear mode
I'm sorry but it's so funny that not long ago Panasonic released the biggest m43rds standard zoom lens ever with the 10-25 f1.7. Then basically releases a micro 4/3rds sized zoom lens on Full Frame with a very similar focal range. 😆
It is interesting.
I have the 10-25 f1.7 and love it BTW. Just funny how it worked out. I'm sure Panasonic will also release a huge f2.8 or f4 version of this focal range for the S1 at some point in the future. I'm a fan of lenses big or small.
@@overnightdelivery It looks like those same or similar equivalent focal lengths are popular regardless of the system.
@@overnightdelivery I have the 10-25mm too. Favourite lens of all time. Just hoping they release the GH6 soon.
@@bandofbros8112 It's the most versatile lens for m43rds for sure
This lens would be far more interesting with a constant f/4 aperture.
Of course, but it would also be bigger and more expensive.
@@mattisulanto Definitely true. But it would be the FF equivalent of the 10-25 f/1.7 and a dream for videographers.
@@poudrieres Certainly, I agree, but after so much complaining how big, heavy and expensive the S series lenses are, I think this is a very welcome lens.
First
SO TIRED of all this "full-frame" stuff...
Just put that damned organic sensor in an MFT body already, Panasonic, and show the world what actual innovation looks like.
There are many sensor sizes and people talk about them. I think that's natural and also unavoidable.
@@mattisulanto Every time Panasonic announces something new for L-Mount, my beloved GX8 has a smaller chance of receiving a proper update. I thought there might be another flagship rangefinder-style GX model somewhere in the Lumix pipeline when they announced their research on the organic sensor a couple years ago... but now that L-Mount has arrived it just seems like Panasonic has forgotten about its GX8 fans entirely.
(Insert pouting heartache here)