[LUMIX Magazine Editorial Department] We Tried Out the LUMIX S F1.8 Series
Hello, everyone. This is the LUMIX Magazine Editorial Department.
Have you had a chance to read our recent post, "This is the Optical Design Department_Fifth Edition LUMIX S F1.8 Series"?
In this article, we share sample shots taken by our editorial staff using the lenses featured in "From the Optical Design Department", along with our impressions of using them.
This time, we're reviewing the LUMIX S F1.8 series.
First Impressions
The S5II with the 50 mm F1.8 (and hood) attached
The defining feature of the F1.8 series is undoubtedly its compact size.
All lenses share a uniform total length of approximately 82.0 mm and a filter diameter of Φ67 mm.
Here's how they compare in size to a typical 6-inch smartphone.
They're so compact that you can easily slip one or two into the spare spaces in your camera bag.
For those using cameras for client work or creative projects, having backup lenses with f-stops or focal lengths that your main lens can't cover will put your mind at ease. You won't have to worry about blurring the background or needing a wider angle on location.
You can also use filters interchangeably, which makes managing them on location much easier.
Shooting with the F1.8 Series
Since we used multiple lenses this time, we'll introduce our sample shots by focal length.
18 mm
The ultra-wide 18mm lens offers a dynamic sense of perspective. You can shoot from flexible angles, capturing expansive backgrounds while conveying the atmosphere and immediacy of your subjects and their surroundings. And despite being ultra-wide, the lens allows you to get close to your subject, creating a sense of depth with beautiful bokeh.
F2.8 SS 1/200 ISO 100
One evening during a trip to a remote island, I attached the 18 mm and went for a walk along the shore. The dynamism of the scene I was looking at, from my feet to the distant horizon, comes through in the shot.
F3.5 SS 1/320 ISO 100
If you're used to standard zoom lenses, such as 24-70 mm or 20-60 mm, you'll be amazed by how much the 18 mm lens can capture.
This lens captures a wider view than you might expect.
I snapped a photo of the mandarin oranges an elderly lady on the island gave me on my way back, and even the vehicle's seat and curtain colours came through.
This focal length is great not only for landscapes, but also for capturing those unexpected, spur-of-the-moment shots.
24 mm
The wide-angle 24mm lens lets you make the most of its sense of perspective. You can shoot expansive portraits with depth and presence that incorporate the background, capture street snapshots full of atmosphere, or open up the aperture to create night scenes with soft, beautiful bokeh from light sources. This lens makes it easy to elevate your expression across a wide range of scenes.
F4.0 SS 1/500 ISO 100
I took this photo one day while out exploring with a friend during my travels. The sense of distance to the subject is captured beautifully, while still including a good amount of background information. It's perfect for portraits where you want to shoot wider while keeping that close, conversational distance with your subject.
F6.3 SS 1/1600 ISO 100
With a focal length of 24 mm, this lens provides a slightly wider field of view than the 28 mm focal length typically found in compact digital cameras designed for snapshots. It may be the perfect wide-angle lens for those who find 28 mm challenging.
F1.8 SS 1/60 ISO 160
Here's a bonus shot. Many of you are probably familiar with 24 mm as the wide end of a standard zoom, but at F1.8, you get quite a bit of bokeh even at this wide angle. That's something you don't often get to enjoy with a standard zoom.
I highly recommend keeping this lens attached to your camera while travelling.
35 mm
With a focal length of 35 mm, this lens provides a field of view comparable to that of the human eye. This makes it ideal for a wide range of shooting scenarios. You can use it to capture snapshots with a natural sense of perspective and balanced backgrounds, as well as portraits that capture natural expressions while maintaining a comfortable distance from the subject.
F2.8 SS 1/125 ISO 100
If you're looking to use a prime lens as your everyday go-to, 35 mm is one of the most versatile focal lengths. It closely resembles the human field of view, making it perfect for capturing scenes the way you see them. It's ideal for days when you're not shooting anything specific but still want to have your camera with you.
F1.8 SS 1/25 ISO 100
With an aperture as wide as F1.8, you can gain extra brightness in dim interiors, and even blur the foreground and background of objects on a table in front of you to make the subject pop.
Sitting right in the middle of the F1.8 series in terms of focal length, this lens offers a nice balance, incorporating the strengths of the other focal lengths in the lineup.
50 mm
This lens offers the versatility of a standard prime lens, making it easy to capture images. Whether you're taking portraits with a natural angle of view that incorporates the background, capturing the atmosphere of the city with spontaneous snapshots, or getting up close for striking close-ups, this lens delivers.
F1.8 SS 1/4000 ISO 100
The LUMIX S 50 mm F1.8 is also included as a kit lens option for the S5II. The 50 mm focal length is particularly popular among first-time users as a prime lens.
I shot some portraits during mimosa season. Despite the close proximity of my friend and me to the mimosa, the F1.8 aperture combined with the 50 mm's compression effect still blurred the background nicely.
F2.8 SS 1/200 ISO 100
This lens provides a cropping effect that allows you to focus more on the central area of the frame than you would with a 35 mm lens.
This focal length is ideal for those who enjoy taking everyday photos that make the main subject stand out.
85 mm
With its wide F1.8 aperture, this prime lens makes it easy to enjoy portrait photography with beautiful bokeh. By combining smooth background bokeh with finely detailed rendering of the subject, it creates an impressive sense of depth and dimension. Paired with the natural perspective of a medium telephoto, this lens captures subjects with clarity, whether you're shooting portraits or snapping small objects.
F3.2 SS 1/320 ISO 100
It's a kitty!
I came across her while out on a walk, so I switched to the 85 mm to shoot from a distance and avoid disturbing her.
I stopped down a little to get her whole body in focus, but even so, the foreground and background blur characteristic of 85 mm made her pop, while still capturing the fluffiness of her fur.
Even after cropping the photo, her fur still looks fluffy.
F1.8 SS 1/320 ISO 100
I photographed double-flowered cherry blossoms in my neighbourhood on a cloudy day. Here's what the foreground bokeh and ball bokeh look like.
This lens is great for emphasising the main subject in photos and for taking telephoto snapshots.
In fact, I've been using the 85 mm F1.8 lens for the "LUMIX is" interview photos these past few months.
A solid lineup of lenses for any scene
For this shoot, I packed all the F1.8 series lenses in my camera bag, but it was so light I couldn't believe there were five lenses in there.
- Slip one or two into your bag alongside your main lens.
- Use one as your primary lens when going for walks or shopping.
- Take them along for planned shoots with specific subjects in mind.
Mixing and matching like this is the best way to experience the nimble versatility these lenses offer. Here's how I tend to use them:
■ For work or creative projects, I use a standard zoom as my main lens and keep the 85 mm in my bag.
■ For casual outings, I head out with either a 35 mm or 50 mm lens.
■ When travelling, I casually shoot everything with a 24 mm lens, which is easy to use and moderately wide.
■ If I want to capture cool-looking landscapes or cityscapes, I bring the 18 mm.
I've only just started shooting video, so I can't say much, but apparently, having lenses of a similar size makes handling accessories easier.
I'd love to hear how you use yours, so please share in the replies or quote posts on X!
That's all for this article. We'll see you next time!