Hello! Today, we’ll be taking an in-depth look at Panasonic’s innovative L-mount macro lens, the Lumix S 100mm F2.8 Macro. This review will cover everything from the lens’s physical characteristics to optical performance and real-world usage experience.
📊 Panasonic S 100mm F2.8 Macro Detailed Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Mount | L-mount |
| Focal Length | 100mm |
| Maximum Aperture | F2.8 |
| Minimum Aperture | F22 |
| Lens Construction | 13 elements in 11 groups |
| Aperture Blades | 9 blades |
| Min. Focus Distance | 20.4cm |
| Max. Magnification | 1:1 (1.0x) |
| Filter Size | 67mm |
| Dimensions | 82mm x 141.4mm |
| Weight | 298g |
| Weather Sealing | Yes |
| Focus Limiter | Yes (Full/0.5m-∞/Close-up) |
| Image Stabilization | No (Uses body IBIS) |
| AF Drive | Linear motor |
| Working Distance | 20.4cm |
| Operating Temperature | 0℃ to 40℃ |
| Fluorine Coating | Yes |
| Lens Hood | Included (Detachable) |
| Special Elements | 1 ED, 2 UED, 1 Aspherical |
🎯 Design and Build Quality
Innovative Compact Design
The most striking feature of the Panasonic Lumix S 100mm F2.8 Macro is its remarkably compact design. With a length of 82mm and weight of just 298g, it’s about half the size of comparable macro lenses. This represents the pinnacle of modern lens design technology, significantly improving portability and practicality.
Robust Durability
The exterior uses high-quality plastic materials with a premium finish. The mount section is metal, and the entire lens features weather sealing, making it reliable for outdoor photography in challenging conditions.
User-Friendly Design
The lens features a 67mm filter thread for standard filter compatibility, and the front markings are finished in dark gray to prevent reflections during macro photography. The included lens hood is made of high-quality plastic with a release button.
🎮 Handling and Functionality
Focus Ring Design
The lens employs a focus-by-wire system with appropriate resistance for macro photography. The rotation angle can be set up to 1,880 degrees in the menu, allowing for precise focus adjustments.
AF/MF Switch and Focus Limiter
The lens barrel features both AF/MF switch and focus limiter. The focus limiter can be set to full range, 50cm-infinity, or close-up range, optimizing AF speed for different shooting situations.
Body Balance
The lens shows perfect balance when mounted on the S5 II, and shares the same size as Panasonic’s F1.8 prime series, making it ideal for gimbal use.
Weather-Sealed Design
Professional-grade weather sealing ensures reliable operation in harsh conditions, with guaranteed functionality down to -10℃.
Fluorine Coating
The front element features fluorine coating for resistance against fingerprints and water droplets, making maintenance easier.
📸 Optical Performance
Center Sharpness
Shows excellent resolution and contrast from F2.8. Contrast improves at F4, with optimal image quality between F5.6-F8. Maintains sharpness up to F11 without diffraction issues.
Peripheral Performance
Excellent edge sharpness and contrast even at F2.8, with minimal chromatic aberration. Perfect image quality from F4, maintaining practical sharpness up to F11.
Bokeh Rendering
The 9-blade aperture creates smooth, pleasing bokeh. Out-of-focus areas show natural texture rendering, creating a unique character.
Chromatic Aberration Control
Advanced lens coatings and special low-dispersion elements minimize chromatic aberration. Shows minimal color fringing even with high-contrast subjects.
Minimum Focusing Distance
Offers 24cm minimum focusing distance enabling 1:1 macro photography, ideal for capturing small subjects like insects and flowers in detail.
Flare/Ghost Suppression
Nano surface coating effectively suppresses flare and ghosting in backlit situations, maintaining clarity and contrast in challenging lighting conditions.
🎯 Macro Performance
Maximum Magnification and Minimum Focus Distance
Capable of true 1:1 macro photography with a minimum focus distance of 20.4cm. Maintains image quality at minimum focus distance equivalent to infinity performance.
Working Distance
The 100mm focal length provides an ideal working distance for photographing small subjects like flowers, watches, and insects.
Lighting Control
The anti-reflective treatment on the front element and adequate working distance make it easy to set up lighting for macro photography.
📷 Autofocus Performance
AF Speed and Accuracy
With the focus limiter engaged, AF performance matches that of non-macro lenses. Delivers fast and accurate focusing when paired with the S5 II.
Video AF Performance
The Panasonic Lumix S 100mm F2.8 Macro lens demonstrates excellent AF performance for video, with completely silent AF motor operation that doesn’t register on internal or shotgun microphones.
Focus Breathing
Shows significant focus breathing characteristic of macro lenses, making it less suitable for focus pulling in video work.
🎥 Video Production Capabilities
Stability
While lacking optical image stabilization, when combined with the S5 II’s IBIS, allows stable handheld shooting at 1/48 second.
Resolution Utilization
Compatible with S5 II’s 96-megapixel pixel shift mode for ultra-high resolution capture.
Video Characteristics
Silent AF and light weight are advantages, but focus breathing makes it less suitable for scenes requiring focus transitions.
💫 Competitive Comparison
| Model | Focal Length | Max Aperture | Weight | Max Magnification | Weather Sealed | Filter Size | AF Motor | Image Stabilization | Min Focus Distance | Lens Construction | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panasonic S 100mm F2.8 Macro | 100mm | F2.8 | 298g | 1:1 | Yes | 67mm | Linear Motor | No (IBIS) | 20.4cm | 11 groups 13 elements | 1,800 |
| Sony FE 90mm F2.8 Macro | 90mm | F2.8 | 602g | 1:1 | Yes | 62mm | DDSSM | Yes | 28cm | 11 groups 15 elements | 1,600 |
| Sigma 105mm F2.8 DG DN Macro | 105mm | F2.8 | 715g | 1:1 | Yes | 62mm | Stepping Motor | No | 29.5cm | 12 groups 17 elements | 1,500 |
| Canon RF 100mm F2.8L Macro | 100mm | F2.8 | 730g | 1.4:1 | Yes | 67mm | Nano USM | Yes | 26cm | 12 groups 17 elements | 1,900 |
| Nikon Z MC 105mm F2.8 VR S | 105mm | F2.8 | 630g | 1:1 | Yes | 62mm | STM | Yes | 29cm | 11 groups 16 elements | 1,700 |
🔍 Key Feature Comparison
- Weight: Panasonic model is lightest at 298g (304g lighter than next competitor)
- Maximum Magnification: Canon RF leads at 1.4:1, others at 1:1
- Optical Stabilization: Built-in for Sony, Canon, Nikon; Body IBIS for Panasonic and Sigma
- AF System: Each manufacturer uses specialized AF motors (Linear, DDSSM, Nano USM, etc.)
- Price: Sigma offers best value, Canon highest priced
- Filter Diameter: 67mm (Panasonic, Canon) vs 62mm (Sony, Sigma, Nikon)
⭐ Final Verdict and Purchase Recommendation
Advantages
- Innovative compact/lightweight design
- Excellent optical performance
- Robust build quality
- Efficient focus limiter
- Silent AF operation
Disadvantages
- No optical image stabilization
- Significant focus breathing
- 9-blade aperture (11 would have been better)
Purchase Recommendation
The Panasonic Lumix S 100mm F2.8 Macro demonstrates innovation in modern lens design. Despite being the smallest and lightest in its class, it delivers perfect optical performance and shows excellent versatility in both macro and general photography. Highly recommended for L-mount system users.
Especially recommended for:
- Macro photographers prioritizing portability
- Product/commercial photographers
- Nature/insect photographers
- Landscape photographers needing a lightweight telephoto
- Portrait photographers seeking sharp rendering
