Panasonic LUMIX S PRO 70-200mm F2.8 O.I.S.
Launch MSRP
$2,599- Weight
- 1,570g
- Filter
- ⌀82mm
- Min focus
- 0.95m
- Max mag.
- 0.21×
- Formula
- 22E / 17G
- Released
- 2019
Specification sheet
Optical construction
- 1x Aspherical
- 3x ED
- 2x UED
- Aperture range
- f/2.8 — f/22
Physical & ergonomics
- Weight
- 1,570g
- ⌀ × length
- 94.4 × 208.6mm
- Filter
- ⌀82mm
- Weather sealed
- Yes
- Aperture ring
- No
Autofocus actuator
- Stabilisation
- Optical
- Teleconverter
- 1.4x · 2.0x
- AF speed score
- 8.9 / 10
Close-up performance
- Min focus distance
- 0.95m
- Max magnification
- 0.21× (1:4.8)
Optical character
Panasonic's flagship fast telephoto zoom for L-Mount, announced in November 2019 as the f/2.8 partner to the earlier 70-200mm f/4. It uses 22 elements in 17 groups, with one aspherical, three ED and two UED elements, and splits focusing across two independently driven groups, which Panasonic says keeps image quality high at all subject distances. The lens works with the 1.4x and 2x Lumix teleconverters, reaching 280mm or 400mm.
The handling is built for professional work: a push-pull focus clutch that reveals a distance scale, three focus buttons spaced around the barrel, a focus limiter, a two-mode stabiliser and a removable Arca-Swiss-type tripod foot. Lens O.I.S. combined with in-body stabilisation is rated at 7 stops with Dual I.S.2. It is dust and splash resistant and rated to -10°C, but at 1,570g and 208.6mm it is a heavy lens with an 82mm filter thread.
Reviewer consensus
Reviewers agree that autofocus is fast, silent and dependable on the S1R, and smooth enough for video, with focus breathing well suppressed. Bokeh is the standout: background blur is very smooth at f/2.8 at both ends of the range and stays good when stopped down, helped by the 11-blade aperture. Colour fringing and distortion are negligible with in-camera corrections, and stabilisation is highly effective.
On sharpness the verdicts diverge. One test found it very sharp from centre to corners at every focal length, while a lab test found centre sharpness very good but edges and corners only average, with more drop-off at longer focal lengths than Panasonic's own f/4 version. Both describe a solid, weather-sealed pro build that is tiring to carry for long, and the price as a significant outlay.
Owner sentiment
Owner feedback will appear once we have verified real-world reports for this lens.
Strengths, weaknesses & performance
Strengths
- +Very smooth bokeh at f/2.8, 11-blade aperture
- +Fast, silent AF suited to stills and video
- +Up to 7 stops with Dual I.S.2, two O.I.S. modes
- +Focus clutch, three focus buttons, focus limiter
- +Works with 1.4x and 2x Lumix teleconverters
Weaknesses
- −1,570g and 208.6mm long
- −Edge and corner sharpness behind the f/4 version in one lab test
- −82mm filter thread
- −Expensive at $2,599 launch price
Six-axis rating
- Sharpness
- 8.6
- Bokeh Rendering
- 9.1
- Autofocus Speed
- 8.9
- Flare Resistance
- 8.2
- Build / Sealing
- 9.2
- Value / Size
- 7.2
Editorial 0–10 ratings synthesised from published reviews.
Technical specifications
| Mount | L-Mount (FF) · full frame |
|---|---|
| Focal length | 70–200mm |
| Category | Telephoto |
| Maximum aperture | f/2.8 |
| Minimum aperture | f/22 |
| Construction | 22 elements in 17 groups |
| Special elements | 1x Aspherical · 3x ED · 2x UED |
| Aperture blades | 11 |
| Focus type | Autofocus |
|---|---|
| Drive | Double Focus (linear and stepping motors) |
| Minimum focus | 0.95m |
| Max magnification | 0.21× |
| Stabilisation | Optical |
| Teleconverters | 1.4x, 2.0x |
| Weight | 1,570g |
|---|---|
| Diameter × length | 94.4 × 208.6mm |
| Filter thread | ⌀82mm |
| Weather sealing | Yes |
| Aperture ring | No |
| De-clickable aperture | No |
| Release year | 2019 |
| Launch MSRP | $2,599 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-E70200_spec.html
- panasonic.jp› dc/products/S-E70200.html
Launch price
- newsshooter.com› 2019/11/06/panasonic-lumix-s-pro-70-200-f-2-8-o-i-s-16-35-f-
Professional reviews
- digitalcameraworld.com› reviews/panasonic-lumix-s-pro-70-200mm-f28-ois-review
- photographyblog.com› reviews/panasonic_lumix_s_pro_70_200mm_f2_8_ois_review
- photographyblog.com› reviews/panasonic_lumix_s_pro_70_200mm_f2_8_ois_review/concl
Similar focal length alternatives
- VSLUMIX S PRO 70-200mm F2.8 O.I.S. vs Vario-Elmarit-SL 70-200 f/2.8 ASPH.
- VSLUMIX S PRO 70-200mm F2.8 O.I.S. vs LUMIX S PRO 70-200mm F4 O.I.S.
- VSLUMIX S PRO 70-200mm F2.8 O.I.S. vs 70-200mm F2.8 DG DN OS | Sports (L-Mount)
- LeicaVario-Elmarit-SL
Vario-Elmarit-SL 70-200 f/2.8 ASPH.
70–200mmF2.8- WT
- 1,540g
- FLT
- ⌀82mm
- MFD
- 0.65m
- MSRP
- $3,295
AFSTABWR - PanasonicS PRO
LUMIX S PRO 70-200mm F4 O.I.S.
70–200mmF4- WT
- 985g
- FLT
- ⌀77mm
- MFD
- 0.92m
- MSRP
- $1,699
AFSTABWR - SigmaSports
70-200mm F2.8 DG DN OS | Sports (L-Mount)
70–200mmF2.8- WT
- 1,345g
- FLT
- ⌀77mm
- MFD
- 0.65m
- MSRP
- $1,499
AFSTABWRRING·DC
