Panasonic Announces Lumix S 20-60mm f/3.5-5.6

Panasonic announced recently a new and versatile zoom lens for its L-mount system.

The Lumix S 20-60mm f/3.5-5.6 lens, based on the L-Mount system for the LUMIX S Series Full-frame DSLR camera, is promising “uniform image quality from the center to edges of the image,” with a minimum focus distance of just 5.9 inches, maximum magnification of 0.49x, and weighing in at just 12.3 oz. 

The new lens will be for S Series shooters a compact, lightweight standard zoom lens that will cover focal ranges from 20mm to 60mm for relatively versatile use including landscape photography. 

Inside, you’ll find 11 elements in 9 groups, including 2 aspherical elements and 3 Extra-Low Dispersion (ED) elements to tackle chromatic aberration, astigmatism, and distortion. The lens also features an Ultra-High Refractive Index (UHR) element, allowing Panasonic to make the 20-60mm lens smaller without sacrificing image quality.

The new Lumix S 20-60mm f/3.5-5.6 boasts a 9-blade circular aperture diaphragm, is dust and splash resistant, can handle temperatures as low as 14°F, and uses a fluorine-coated front element to repel water and oil.

Most standard zooms are 24-70mm, so at 20-60mm this lens is a tad wider than most like models. Additionally, the variable aperture f/3.5-5.6, common in more affordable glass, might also lead one to believe this to be similar to a kit lens. Not so fast, says Panasonic, as they promise within a press release that the new lens is “designed for professional use.”

The LUMIX S 20-60mm lens will be available at the end of July for $599.99 which is less than half the price of the next cheapest Panasonic lens. 

Kenton Krueger

Kenton Krueger has spent the past several years guiding backpackers, hikers and photographers into the wild places of the American West such as Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Glacier, Katmai, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands National Parks, as well as internationally in Costa Rica & Brazil. In addition to backpacking and camping, his adventures include rock climbing, exploring the slot canyons of southern Utah, mountain biking, and bagging 14ers in Colorado’s San Juan Mountain Mountain Range. Kenton is a trail runner, former pilot, and spent roughly five years writing and photographing for the award-winning Omaha World-Herald newspaper, out of his hometown, Omaha, Nebraska. Kenton looks forward to utilizing his years of trip leading and guiding experience, combined with his passion and experience behind the lens, to provide memorable and unforgettable experiences at the wild places we will visit together.