Panasonic LUMIX S 28-200mm F/4-7.1 MACRO O.I.S. Superzoom Announced

Lens News

by Omri Keren LapidotFebruary 21^st, 2024

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The Panasonic LUMIX S 28-200mm F/4-7.1 MACRO O.I.S. boasts the largest zoom range in the LUMIX full-frame lens line. The lens also includes an optical image stabilizer, as well as macro capabilities. The 28-200mm joins the company’s variable aperture zoom line as a mainstream all-rounder. It features a flexible zoom range, fast autofocusing, weather-sealed construction, and minimal focus breathing – a rare feat for this lens segment.

The rather overlapping variable-aperture LUMIX lens line consists of the ultra-wide 14-28mm F/4-5.6, the wider-than-usual 20-60mm F/3.5-5.6, the much larger 70-300 mm F/4-5.6 MACRO O.I.S, and now the new 28-200mm F/4-7.1 MACRO O.I.S. The newest addition maintains relative physical consistency with both the 14-28mm and the 20-60mm, enabling smooth transition in terms of control ring placement and weight (it weighs 413g compared to around 350g of its older and wider siblings). This relative consistency will allow for easy switching on gimbals and rigs, as well as in hand.

Build and ergonomics

The LUMIX S 28-200mm F/4-7.1 MACRO O.I.S. is built to the same standards as other LUMIX S lenses, such as the 20-60mm F/3.5-5.6 or the F/1.8 primes. The lens features a rather solid plastic construction with relatively high tolerance. As with its S stablemates, this lens features weather resistance, smooth zoom and focus rings, and a fast autofocus motor.

The new LUMIX S 28-200mm F/4-7.1 MACRO O.I.S. also features relative physical consistency with two other zoom lenses, the 14-28mm and the 20-60mm. The zooms are not as identical as the S f/1.8 primes, although they do share similar lengths and control ring locations. The filter thread is 67mm, in line with the aforementioned 20-60mm zoom and Panasonic’s LUMIX S f/1.8 primes, and the new 100mm f/2.8 MACRO. The lens also includes a mechanism designed to maintain the center of gravity during zooming.

The lens is touted as “the world’s smallest and lightest zoom lens” followed by a long list of reservations (full-frame, AF enabled, mirrorless, X7 zoom), though I haven’t checked this statement since there are a lot of superzooms. However, it is very light and compact at 77.3×93.4mm and 413g.

Optical features

The LUMIX S 28-200mm f/4-7.1 MACRO O.I.S features some interesting optical qualities. Perhaps the most interesting is the focus breathing suppression. While this doesn’t mean the phenomenon is completely gone, the mere effort to reduce it to a minimum is significant. It has become one of Panasonic’s signature moves regarding their LUMIX lens lineup. Applying this design to the low-end lenses sets LUMIX apart from almost every other manufacturer.

The new lenses also include other perks. The O.I.S. will compensate for up to 6.5 stops when mounted on a Dual I.S. 2 capable camera body. It will focus as close as 14cm from the sensor, or 3cm from the front element at 28mm, resulting in a half-life-size (x0.5 magnification). The aperture can go down to f/32 to expand the depth of field. 

Panasonic also claims, that the lens has a “beautiful bokeh shape”, though bokeh may not be the prime feature of an f/4-7.1 lens. The front element is fluorine-coated to prevent any type of dirt from sticking to it.

Who it is for

The LUMIX S 28-200mm f/4-7.1 MACRO O.I.S is a versatile lens, that may fill various gaps. As it’s light and affordable, it can perform as an “emergency” lens for those specific cases when none of your primes can cover the exact angle. It’s also a nice travel and walk-around lens. Bear in mind that it may deny some depth-of-field options, and will require a rather high ISO setting when the lights are dim. 

Alternatives

The new LUMIX S 28-200mm f/4-7.1 MACRO O.I.S occupies a unique niche in the LUMIX and the entire L-mount lineup. Consisting mostly of high-end, professional lens options, the L-mount is rarely ever aimed at variable-aperture super-zooms. Though, the closest is probably the Panasonic Lumix S 24-105mm f/4 Macro O.I.S. While it’s about twice as expensive and double the size, this excellent zoom cuts very few corners and provides solid performance. The constant aperture is extremely helpful and I’d argue that the 24mm end is more useful than the 200mm on the long end, but it depends on the specific usage of course. The 20-60mm f/3.5-5.6 is similar in weight and size, and it also covers a relatively mainstream zoom range, emphasizing the wide end. Considering its width, the lack of optical stabilization isn’t that bad.

In case you want to consider other brands, you have some interesting choices to pick from. Tamron offers the fastest option with its 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD lens for Sony E-mount. While it’s a bit larger, heavier, and more expensive, it offers a significant advantage in terms of light-gathering with its f/2.8-5.6. Also worth noting: the Tamron lens lacks an optical stabilizer. Nikon offers a greater zoom range, emphasizing the wide end with its NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR lens. Also bigger, heavier, and pricier, this one keeps the optical stabilizer but falls back to more conventional aperture settings. Canon also competes here with its RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM lens featuring similar specs (which means larger, heavier, and pricier than the LUMIX 28-200) but with a slightly better 10x zoom range.

Price and availability 

The S LUMIX S 28-200mm F/4-7.1 MACRO O.I.S lens will be available in April and the price will be $897.99, (€999).

What do you think of this new addition to the LUMIX S line? Are you considering it? Let us know in the comment section below!