Panasonic LUMIX S 14-28mm F4-5.6 MACRO Introduced – Wide Angle Zoom for L-Mount Cameras

Lens News

by Francesco AndreolaJanuary 4^th, 2023

Panasonic has just expanded their lens offering for full-frame L-mount mirrorless cameras with the introduction of a compact wide-angle zoom, the LUMIX S 14-28mm F4-5.6 MACRO. It has a 0.15m/0.49ft close focus distance and offers 0.25x/0.5x macro at 14mm/28mm.

Along with launching the two successors of the LUMIX S5, Panasonic is also introducing a new ultra wide-angle zoom with macro capabilities. The lens was designed to complement the existing LUMIX S 20-60mm F3.5-5.6 and LUMIX S 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 MACRO O.I.S. in a trinity of lenses that covers the 14 to 300mm range.

The Panasonic LUMIX S 14-28mm F4-5.6 MACRO is the 14th member of the LUMIX S lineup and looks like a nice addition to the ever-growing L-mount alliance ecosystem. So let’s take a closer look!

Panasonic LUMIX S 14-28mm F4-5.6 MACRO: features

The new LUMIX S 14-28mm F4-5.6 MACRO is a versatile wide-angle zoom lens for L-mount full-frame cameras. Regardless of the chosen focal length, the lens can focus from as close as 0.15m/0.49ft to infinity, thus proving to be a good companion for shooting both landscape and close-up shots. The lens offers 0.25x magnification on the wide end and 0.5x at 28mm.

Overall, this zoom has a pretty minimal design with a single switch (MF/AF) on the lens barrel, which also indicates that the lens is not stabilized. The company claims that the autofocus system is accurate and silent. Moreover, it should be a good match with the Hybrid Phase Detection AF system of the new S5II and S5IIX being implemented for the first time ever.

Furthermore, the lens packs a few gems for video shooters, such as the ability to adjust the excursion of the focus ring between 90 and 360° to perform faster or smoother focus pulls. Additionally, both linear and non-linear focus settings are available, while the aperture can be controlled in micro-steps to achieve optimal exposure. 

Optical, mechanical and physical design

At the core of this wide-angle macro zoom are 14 elements arranged in 10 groups. The optical scheme includes one aspherical ED element, one aspherical lens, three ED elements as well as an UHR (Ultra High Refractive Index) piece. According to Panasonic, this design delivers crisp images with chromatic aberrations and focus breathing kept under control.

Moreover, Panasonic designed this wide-angle zoom to be on par with the physical characteristics of the existing LUMIX S 20-60mm F3.5-5.6. Indeed, the two lenses are similar in size, weight (only 345g) and even center of gravity. This should make it easier for filmmakers to balance their camera package on a gimbal when switching lenses, for example. However, the new 14-28mm has a larger front filter thread of 77mm (vs 67mm on the 20-60mm), which may cause some headache when working with filters.

Also, as you can see in the picture above, the lens features rubber gaskets that make it dust and splash-resistant. Lastly, the front element is treated with a fluorine coating that protects it from oil and water.

Price and availability

The new LUMIX S 14-28mm F4-5.6 MACRO will hit the shelves in February 2023. Its official retail price is set at €999, while its 20-60mm and 70-300mm siblings currently retail for $598 and $1,248 respectively.

What do you think of the Panasonic LUMIX S 14-28mm F4-5.6 MACRO? Are you going to add it to your lens kit? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!