Lens ReviewMorten ByskovDecember 19, 2024Panasonic 85mm review, Lumix 85mm review, Panasonic 85mm 1.8 review, Panasonic 85mm 1.8 sample images, Panasonic Lumix S 85mm f/1.8 review, Panasonic Lumix S 85mm f/1.8 Sample ImagesComment

Panasonic Lumix S 85mm f/1.8 Review

The Panasonic Lumix S 85mm f/1.8 on a Leica SL2-S — Panasonic Lumix S 85mm f/1.8 on a Leica SL2-S

Is the Panasonic Lumix S 85mm f/1.8 Any Good?

I asked myself this question before a planned trip to France and Denmark this fall. I had recently sold a Voigtländer Ultron 75mm f/1.9 MC, which I was pretty fond of. Over the years, I have had a few excellent 85mm lenses, the most memorable being the Canon 85mm f/1.2L II and Contax Zeiss 85mm f/1.4.

Before my trip, I sought an option that wouldn’t break the bank. Portability was also important. I was not unhappy with my Ultron 75mm f/1.9, but as a reviewer, I often move through gear faster than makes sense to most. I was also aiming for an autofocus lens as I was covering a car event south of Paris.

Let’s see if I made a good choice with the Panasonic Lumix S 85mm f/1.8.

Introduction

The Panasonic Lumix S 85mm f/1.8 has been on the market for almost five years and is part of a series of f/1.8 primes from Panasonic, which include focal lengths of 18mm, 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, and 85mm.

The f/1.8 lenses are similar in size and weight, and all have a 67mm filter thread. This similarity can be helpful, especially for video work when balancing lenses on a gimbal.

When this review was posted, the retail price of the Panasonic Lumix S 85mm f/1.8 Macro was $597.99.

A portrait of a friend. Sample image from a Panasonic Lumix S 85mm f/1.8 and Leica SL2-S. — My friend Søren in Copenhagen, Leica SL2-S, Panasonic Lumix S 85mm f/1.8 @ f/2

Handling and Build Quality

I am a fan of the graphics layout on the Lumix lenses, with the clear white line and equally clear marking of the focal length on the barrel. It would seem trivial, but when in the dark or a hurry, these marks are important for swift lens changes.

The 85mm f/1.8 size is perfect for the Leica SL2-S, which I used for this test, and it’s a breeze to carry the lens. Weighing 12.5 oz or 355 g, it is not even close to being bothersome.

The plastic construction does not ooze a quality feel like a sturdy metal-constructed lens, yet the rubberized focus rings ensure a steady grip, and the plastic lens hood also clicks in without a wobble. Despite the plastic construction, it is well-built, and at no point did I feel I was lugging around a flimsy piece of kit.

At 1.38 lb or 625 g, the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art weighs almost, but not twice as much as the Panasonic 85 mm f/1.8.

The Panasonic Lumix S 85mm f/1.8 seen on the Leica SL2-S — Panasonic Lumix S 85mm f/1.8 S shown on a Leica SL2-S

Spec Highlights of the Panasonic Lumix S 85mm f/1.8

L-Mount full-frame lens
Linear AF motor
Plastic construction
Aperture range: f/1.8 - f/22
9 elements in 8 groups
Two extra-low dispersion elements
Weather-sealed construction
9 rounded aperture blades
Filter size: 67mm
Minimum focusing distance: 2.6' / 80 cm
Dimensions: 2.9 x 3.2" / 73.6 x 82 mm
Weight: 2.9 x 3.2" / 73.6 x 82 mm

J.F Penillard driver of a Porche 356 Autodrome Festival, France 2024 — UTAC Linas-Montlhéry Autodrome, France, Leica SL2-S, Panasonic Lumix S 85mm f/1.8 @ f/2.5

In Action

The Panasonic Lumix S 85mm f/1.8 hits a sweet spot between two of my recent lenses in this focal length range. It has the benefit of autofocus of my former Canon EF 85mm lenses compared to the manual-focus Voigtlander lens, and size and weight-wise, it sits in the middle.

The Autofocus speed was sufficiently fast for my style of photography, which includes travel, landscape, and portrait. I did not stress test it for demanding sports other than car racing, where it performed admirably. I was even pleasantly surprised by the eye-detect autofocus on my SL2-S.

The 85mm focal length has proven excellent for more than portrait photography. I enjoyed using it for street photography and landscapes, and it was the sole lens I used for a family portrait session in Denmark.

While it was great to have the 85mm for the car event, it was not long enough for some of the action on the track but it was great for detail shots and portraits in the pit.

A 67mm NiSi Black Mist 1/8 filter seen on a Panasonic Lumix S 85mm f/1.8 — The majority of the photos in this review are captured using the 67mm NiSi Black Mist 1/8 filter

Image Quality

While the Panasonic Lumix S 85mm f/1.8 cannot produce the Canon EF 85mm f/1.2 II's swoon-worthy bokeh in most instances, I think the bokeh looks good. Nor does it render images with a classic look as the Voigtländer Ultron 75mm f/1.9 MC.

You guessed it. Instead, you get a nice middle-ground with more clinically correct images than the Voigtlander but without the pop of the Canon lens.

For most of the photos in this post, I used a NiSi Black Mist 1/8 filter to combat the clinical look, which can be boring. I tried the lens with and without the filter, and I almost always preferred photos captured with the filter.

The Panasonic 85mm f/1.8 is plenty sharp, and if you have visited my site before, you will know I don’t do test charts. These days, it is rare to see an unsharp lens from any of the major brands. Instead, it will boil down to character, usability, build quality, value proposition, and niche.

I love the warm tones and color representation from the combination of the SL2-S sensor and the Panasonic 85mm f/1.8.

Please click on the sample images to view them in sizes up to 2500 pixels, depending on your monitor size. You can also pinch-zoom if you use a mobile phone.

City Hall in Copenhagen on a gloomy October day. Sample image from a Panasonic Lumix S 85mm f/1.8 and Leica SL2-S. — Copenhagen, Leica SL2-S, Panasonic Lumix S 85mm f/1.8 @ f/2

Conclusion

I genuinely enjoyed using the Panasonic Lumix S 85mm f/1.8 as a travel companion and have found it highly versatile. It is also lightweight, handles well, and is affordable for your Panasonic, Sigma, or Leica full-frame camera.

I am curious to compare it to the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art, which may offer that extra bit of magic that repeatedly presented itself when I used my Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II a few years ago.

However, the Sigma costs almost twice as much and is nearly double the weight, so you should consider this before making the plunge.

It would be a mistake to view this lens as a portrait lens only, as some may do when discussing the 85mm focal length. I find it very pleasing for landscape photography, where it offers just the right amount of compression. It also excels in street photography, candid, and general travel photography.

I made the right choice in picking the Panasonic Lumix S 85mm f/1.8 for my trip to Denmark and France. It did exactly what I expected it to and probably exceeded expectations. However, it doesn’t mean it is a one-lens wonder. Your needs and wants may be different.

A new lens was announced this week, the Voigtländer Apo-Ultron 90mm f/2. It’s a manual-focus lens, which may offer more character, and I am very curious to try it out.

For the ultimate image quality, you may also consider top-notch options, such as the $5,795.00 Leica Apo-Summicron-SL 90mm f/2. However, for most people, the latter option is out of reach or not justifiable. That is where the Panasonic Lumix S 85mm f/1.8 becomes a viable option, and I find it worth considering.

Please see more sample images below.

Pros

Lightweight and well-balanced
Fast and quiet autofocus
Nice warm color rendering

Cons

It is hard to knock this lens down

Price / Availability

Thank you for reading my review. If you are planning a purchase and would like to support us, you can do so, at no additional cost, by using the affiliate link below. A small commission goes to us and helps us keep the wheels turning at 5050 Travelog.

Check the current price at B&H Photo

Panasonic Lumix S 85mm f/1.8 - B&H Photo

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