Panasonic LUMIX S PRO 16-35mm F4
Launch MSRP
$1,499- Weight
- 500g
- Filter
- ⌀77mm
- Min focus
- 0.25m
- Max mag.
- 0.23×
- Formula
- 12E / 9G
- Released
- 2019
Specification sheet
Optical construction
- 3x Aspherical
- 1x ED
- 1x UHR
- Aperture range
- f/4 — f/22
Physical & ergonomics
- Weight
- 500g
- ⌀ × length
- 85.0 × 99.6mm
- Filter
- ⌀77mm
- Weather sealed
- Yes
- Aperture ring
- No
Autofocus actuator
- Stabilisation
- Body IBIS
- Teleconverter
- Not supported
- AF speed score
- 8.7 / 10
Close-up performance
- Min focus distance
- 0.25m
- Max magnification
- 0.23× (1:4.3)
Optical character
Panasonic's wide-angle zoom for the S system trades an f/2.8 aperture for a 500g, 99.6mm-long build that balances well on S-series bodies. Twelve elements in nine groups include three aspherical, one ED and one UHR element, and a double-magnet linear motor drives the focus group at up to 480fps for fast, quiet AF. Panasonic says the design suppresses focus breathing and offers micro-step aperture control for smooth exposure changes in video.
The 107-63° range covers interiors, landscapes and environmental portraits, and the 77mm thread takes ordinary screw-in filters because the hood is removable. There are no switches: a focus clutch pulls back to switch to manual focus and reveal a distance scale. The barrel is dust and splash resistant and rated to -10°C. Close focus is 0.25m across the range (0.23x at 35mm), and there is no optical stabilisation.
Reviewer consensus
Reviewers find it sharp across the frame and into the corners even at 16mm and f/4, with little need to stop down; peak performance comes at f/8 to f/11, and detail falls off at f/16. Colour fringing is minimal and mostly limited to the corners at 16mm wide open, barrel distortion at 16mm is corrected in camera, and vignetting at f/4 is mild and gone by f/8. Flare is well controlled, though some ghosting can appear with the sun in frame, and sunstars are only average.
Autofocus is fast and silent for stills and smooth for video, and focus breathing is well controlled. Build quality and handling are rated highly, while the focus clutch splits opinion because it can be nudged into manual focus by accident. The main criticism is price: reviewers call it expensive for an f/4 wide zoom.
Owner sentiment
Owner feedback will appear once we have verified real-world reports for this lens.
Strengths, weaknesses & performance
Strengths
- +Sharp into the corners at f/4
- +Light and compact at 500g
- +Fast, silent linear-motor AF with low breathing
- +Takes 77mm screw-in filters
- +Sealed to -10°C, focus clutch with distance scale
Weaknesses
- −Expensive for an f/4 wide zoom
- −Some ghosting with the sun in frame
- −Focus clutch can be knocked into MF
- −Barrel distortion at 16mm needs correction
Six-axis rating
- Sharpness
- 8.9
- Bokeh Rendering
- 7.5
- Autofocus Speed
- 8.7
- Flare Resistance
- 8.3
- Build / Sealing
- 8.9
- Value / Size
- 7.0
Editorial 0–10 ratings synthesised from published reviews.
Technical specifications
| Mount | L-Mount (FF) · full frame |
|---|---|
| Focal length | 16–35mm |
| Category | Ultra-Wide |
| Maximum aperture | f/4 |
| Minimum aperture | f/22 |
| Construction | 12 elements in 9 groups |
| Special elements | 3x Aspherical · 1x ED · 1x UHR |
| Aperture blades | 9 |
| Focus type | Autofocus |
|---|---|
| Drive | Double-Magnet Linear Motor |
| Minimum focus | 0.25m |
| Max magnification | 0.23× |
| Stabilisation | None (uses body IBIS) |
| Teleconverters | Not supported |
| Weight | 500g |
|---|---|
| Diameter × length | 85.0 × 99.6mm |
| Filter thread | ⌀77mm |
| Weather sealing | Yes |
| Aperture ring | No |
| De-clickable aperture | No |
| Release year | 2019 |
| Launch MSRP | $1,499 USD |
Sources
Verified against the pages below. Specifications come from the maker; summaries only reflect reviews and owner reports we actually read.
Specifications
- panasonic.jp› dc/p-db/S-R1635_spec.html
- panasonic.jp› dc/products/S-R1635.html
- photographyblog.com› news/panasonic_lumix_s_pro_70_200mm_f2_8_ois_and_lumix_s_pro
Launch price
- imaging-resource.com› lenses/panasonic-16-35mm-f-4-lumix-s-pro
Professional reviews
- photographyblog.com› reviews/panasonic_lumix_s_pro_16_35mm_f4_review
- digitalcameraworld.com› reviews/panasonic-lumix-s-pro-16-35mm-f4-review
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- VSLUMIX S PRO 16-35mm F4 vs Super-Vario-Elmar-SL 16-35 f/3.5-4.5 ASPH.
- VSLUMIX S PRO 16-35mm F4 vs 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN | Contemporary (L-Mount)
- VSLUMIX S PRO 16-35mm F4 vs LUMIX S 18-40mm F4.5-6.3
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AFWR - SigmaContemporary
16-28mm F2.8 DG DN | Contemporary (L-Mount)
16–28mmF2.8- WT
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AF - Panasonic
LUMIX S 18-40mm F4.5-6.3
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AFWR
