Panasonic LUMIX S 24-105mm F4 Lens, Full-Frame L Mount, Optical Image Stabilizer and Rugged Dust/Splash/Freeze-Resistant S-R24105 (USA), Black

If you own a Leica SL and want a high quality, practical zoom lens, you'll really like this one ... a LOT. I love the Leica SL but to date have used it only in manual mode with late model Leica M lenses ... 21mm, 35mm, 50mm, 75mm, 90mm and 135mm + the wonderful Voightlander 40mm f/1.2 The Leica SL 24-90 is indisputably a very high quality, stabilized zoom lens that I have been tempted to buy. But it is MUCH too large and heavy to be practical for travel ... so likely would just to end up a stay-at-home "hangar queen." The new Panasonic S 24-105 weighs just 680 grams vs. 1140 grams for the Leica 24-90, and this new Panasonic lens is practical to carry around all day on the SL. The IQ appears to me to be indistinguishable from Leica glass ... it's weather-sealed ... focuses perfectly and very fast ... and offers amazing 0.3m macro. What's not to like? The only other comparable premium zoom lens on the market seems to be the Sony FE 24-105mm F4 G ... same price as the new Panasonic S and pretty much identical specs. The trade-off from 24-70 f/2.8 so-called "pro" lenses to the constant f/4.0 aperture 24-105 design is well worth the reduction in size and weight. Both Sony and Panasonic have executed brilliantly on this insight.

The focal range is great as I can take portraits from around 80-105mm which gives incredible separation from the background. I find it a touch heavy with my S5 but it's a reasonable tradeoff for the luxury of having a quality 24-105mm range and constant F4. I also have the 20-60mm which I tend to use when I'm heading outside and walking around.

I bought this lens to use with my Leica SL. I have used this lens only once. However I shot all day that day taking a couple of hundred pictures. During that day the auto focus between the lens and the SL was perfect with no missed shots. This lens is relatively light weight compared to the Leica 24-90 SL lens (about 1 pound or 450 grams lighter). The extra 15mm in reach seemed nice to have though I typically shot between 24-75 most of the day. I also used the lens mostly wide open at f4 occasional stopping down as far as f11 in very bright areas (I did not have an ND filter for this lens that day). Color and contrast seemed pretty good but I don't have the Leica 24-90 so I can't do any comparisons apart from weight and price. The sample shot was taken at the Phoenix AZ Desert Botanical Garden Oct. 28 2019. Very bright sun but the camera and lens combo did an excellent job capturing color, contrast and details. Overall for an L mount camera body, I highly recommend this lens.

Great Very impressed with the clarity and sharpness of the glass. Love the macro ability and that’s it’s pretty much parafocal.

Perfect lens for my s5ii , video or photos, that consistent f4 is clutch!