Lens ReviewMorten Byskov - 5050 TravelogMarch 27, 2025Panasonic Lumix S PRO 70-200mm f/4 O.I.S. Review, Panasonic 70-200mm review, Lumix 70-200mm review, Panasonic 70-200 f4 review, Panasonic 70-200mm sample images, Panasonic Lumix S PRO 70-200mm f/4 sample images, Panasonic Lumix S PRO 70-200mm f/4 sample photos, Panasonic Lumix S PRO 70-200mm f/4 samples, Leica SL2-S sample images with Panasonic 70-200mm f/4Comment

Panasonic Lumix S PRO 70-200mm f/4 O.I.S. Review

Is the Panasonic Lumix S PRO 70-200mm f/4 OIS a Good Choice?

In 2004, the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L was a popular choice, and it was a deciding factor for me to go with Canon at the time. Later, I replaced it with an f/2.8 version and again for prime lenses in this focal length range.

For many years after that, I did not pay much attention to 70-200mm f/4 zoom lenses, but they never went away, and perhaps for good reasons.

70-200mm f/2.8 lenses are great if you need a fast lens for low-light photography, keeping your ISO as low as possible, and shutter speed as fast as possible for sports or action photography.

But they usually cost around $1,000.00 more, and sometimes double that of an f/4 version, and they also come with extra bulk and weight.

The front element of a Panasonic Lumix S PRO 70-200mm f/4 OIS shown on a Leica SL2-S — The front element of the Panasonic Lumix S PRO 70-200mm f/4 OIS shown on a Leica SL2-S

The 70-200mm f/4 lenses are great if you still like a constant aperture in a more portable package and are looking for a versatile focal length range. This could be for landscape photography, outdoor sports, or just about any genre that requires a short to medium range telephoto lens.

Canon, Sony, and Panasonic offer f/2.8 and f/4 options, while Nikon offers a 70-200mm f/2.8 or 70-180mm f/2.8 but not a 70-200mm f/4. Leica announced a 70-200mm f/2.8 last fall based on Sigma’s 70-200mm f/2.8 DG DN OS Sports lens.

Introduction

The Panasonic Lumix S PRO 70-200mm f/4 OIS has been around for about six years, and I am guessing we won’t see a replacement anytime soon. Let me emphasize, this is merely a guess.

When this review was posted, the Panasonic Lumix S PRO 70-200mm f/4 OIS was retailing for $1,497.99 but was on sale for $997.99. There is a link below where you can check the current price.

People out for a walk near Sunset Beach in Vancouver. Sample image from a The Panasonic Lumix S PRO 70-200mm f/4 OIS and Leica SL2-S. — Near Sunset Beach, Vancouver, Leica SL2-S, Panasonic Lumix S PRO 70-200mm f/4 OIS @ f/4, 99mm

Handling, Specs, and Build Quality

I love the looks and feel of the Panasonic Lumix S PRO 70-200mm f/4 OIS. It has a very solid build quality. This is the first PRO lens I have reviewed from Panasonic, and its fit and finish are top-shelf.

It is a hefty lens at 2.2 lb (985 g). In comparison, the Canon version weighs only 1.5 lb (695 g), and the Sony version 1.7 lb (794 g). For L-Mount, Sigma’s f/2.8 version weighs 2.9 lb (1335 g).

I bring up the weight factor right away as it may be the biggest strike against the Panasonic 70-200mm f/4. It’s a catch-22 situation:

On one hand, I appreciate the craftsmanship and sturdy feel of photography gear, but due to its bulk and weight, you may leave the lens behind and not get the intended use out of it.

Panasonic Lumix S Pro 70-200mm f/4 OIS and Leica SL2-S — The Panasonic Lumix S PRO 70-200mm f/4 OIS shown on a tripod, without the hood, on a Leica SL2-S

It is also a fairly large lens, measuring 3.32 x 7.05" (84.4 x 179 mm) and having a filter size of 77mm.

The S PRO 70-200mm f/4 OIS is an internal zoom, which I really appreciate. It feels very professional that way. I tried the Canon RF 70-200 4/L, and while I loved the fit, finish, and lightweight, the lens protrudes as you zoom from 70 to 200mm.

The Canon version does not have a tripod collar, while the Panasonic does. I appreciate that you can remove the tripod collar, which I did for almost the entire time I tested it. It is, however, nice to have for mounting on a tripod to ensure good balance with the camera.

The S PRO 70-200mm f/4 OIS has 23 elements in 17 groups, including one UED element, three ED elements, one aspherical element, and one UHR element. The lens is weather sealed, has 9-blade diagphragm, and is optically stabilized (O.I.S).

Burrard Bridge and Sunset Beach i March. Sample image from a The Panasonic Lumix S PRO 70-200mm f/4 OIS and Leica SL2-S — Burrard Bridge and Sunset Beach, Vancouver, Leica SL2-S, Panasonic Lumix S PRO 70-200mm f/4 OIS @ f/5.6, 83mm

In Action

If you have read several of my reviews, you will see that I am beginning to sound like a broken record. For general travel photography or what you may call an “everyday carry camera,” I find lenses exceeding the 2 lb mark cumbersome to lug around.

When you first try them out, they may feel okay, but then, after a while, they tend to become a burden. However, this will not be the same for everyone.

If you are willing to carry the weight, the S PRO 70-200mm f/4 OIS can be a rewarding experience. It has a smooth zoom action and an excellent clutch-enabled manual focusing ring.

With my Leica SL2-S, I experienced inconsistency in autofocus performance. AF is fast enough, but at times, the contrast-detect autofocus does not read scenes that should be a slam dunk.

Luckily, this only happens occasionally, but if your work is highly dependent on autofocus, I presume newer cameras with phase-detection autofocus, such as the Leica SL3, SL3-S, or the latest Panasonic Lumix S5 II or S1R II, will perform better.

The Panasonic Lumix S PRO 70-200mm f/4 OIS shown on a Leica SL2-S

Image Quality

The colours produced by the S PRO 70-200mm f/4 OIS are wonderful, and when you nail focus, the images are sharp with decent-looking bokeh. Yes, you can bokeh with an f/4 lens. It won’t blow out the background like an f/2.8 lens, but in many scenarios and depending on your distance to your topic, you can certainly get decent separation from the background/foreground.

The consistency of accurate focus may be the biggest issue I have with this lens on my SL2-S, but as mentioned above, if you have a newer camera with phase-detect AF, the potential for stunning images on a consistent basis is there with the Panasonic 70-200mm f/4 OIS.

See the zoom range from 70-200mm in the two photos below.

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.

Condo construction at Granville Bridge in Vancovuer. Panasonic 70-200mm at 70mm — Panasonic Lumix S PRO 70-200mm f/4 OIS @ **70mm**

Condo construction at Granville. Panasonic 70-200mm at 200mm — Panasonic Lumix S PRO 70-200mm f/4 OIS @ **200mm**

Conclusion

My longest lens currently is the Panasonic Lumix S 85mm f/1.8, but I have contemplated something with more reach for quite some time. I am tempted by the Panasonic 70-200mm, as I like the colour, sharpness, and bokeh produced by this lens.

However, when adding the photos to the review, I noticed that I captured many of the images at 200mm and, at times, cropped in on images captured at 200mm. This tells me that I may be looking for something with a bit more reach.

The Panasonic Lumix S 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 Macro OIS looks interesting as it is a bit lighter and has more zoom range, albeit with a higher aperture value. It protrudes as you zoom. Also, it does not have a tripod collar. Currently, it is $100.00 less, but at regular retail price, it is $400.00 less than the 70-200mm lens.

Panasonic Lumix S PRO 70-200mm f/4 OIS shown on a Leica SL2-S — Panasonic Lumix S 85mm f/1.8 shown on a Leica SL2-S

As I also use Nikon currently, the Nikkor Z 70-180mm f/2.8 may be a dark horse in this segment. It is smaller than the Panasonic 70-200mm but with less reach, maxing out at 180mm, but with a faster f/2.8 maximum f-stop.

On my list of lenses to test this year is the Nikkor Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S. This is a more expensive option, and I doubt it will be miles better than the Panasonic 70-200mm, but time will tell.

If the Panasonic Lumix S PRO 70-200mm f/4 stays on sale, I think it represents a good value for the money spent. If not on sale, it should be fairly easy to find a used copy, as it has been on the market for some time now. At its full retail value, I would pair it with one of the latest cameras to take full advantage of better autofocus capabilities.

Thanks, Goran, for lending me your lens for this review.

Please see more sample images below.

Pros

Fantastic build quality
Optically beautiful

Cons

Weight and size

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 PRO 70-200mm f/4 OIS - B&H Photo

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