News Lumix 18-40/4.5-6.3

[Pete_W]

Watched a couple of the reviews now, it looks like a really nice little lens. Pretty much identical performance to the 20-60mm, which is plenty good enough for me. I really do like the collapsing design, that would work brilliantly for me when I'm out riding/hiking and carrying a small little backpack.
At this stage, I think I'll just stick with my 20-60mm, but I'm not vigorously opposed to reconsidered a little bit further down the track.
Great job Panasonic, they're certainly putting together a very compelling set of lenses for your typical, average traveller, or hobbyist. Great IQ, light weight, and not breaking the bank. Well done

Same for me. I have three little Sigma primes for my S9 and the 20-60mm if I want a light-weight zoom.

The 18-40mm is something I will keep my eye on as a possibility for the future.

 

[Oíche]

The review from @Richard Wong is top notch, as usual and includes some comparison with the 20-60mm and 45mm Sigma. Thanks Richard!

Yip all the usual suspects have a review on it.

Petapixel, Gordon Laing, Josh the young English fella etc. you can actually pick up on info you might miss otherwise.

I didn't realise it is an extendible lens so 2x long when you actually use it.

Poor sun stars, glare and ghosting suppression is good, not a bokeh monster obviously, sharpness and overall IQ is great but a bit below the monster zooms which is no surprise.

It works even better on the S9 with the hybrid zoom, I would have liked this in the S5ii update but didn't get that.

The S5 update was only to recognise the 18-40 lens and the pop-up lens message.

 

[Pete_W]

Yip all the usual suspects have a review on it.

Petapixel, Gordon Laing, Josh the young English fella etc. you can actually pick up on info you might miss otherwise.

I watched the Petapixel review and had to laugh. When summing up, Chris Niccolls said that "a second version of the S9 needs to have a mechanical shutter, an EVF and a headphone jack to make it more compelling". In which case that camera would be called an S5 or an S5II. Oh, wait....

There is a reason the S9 doesn't have those things and has fewer dials and buttons than larger cameras. I wonder if Chris thinks the Toyota Corolla is not compelling because it doesn't drive like a Porsche?

 

[Oíche]

I watched the Petapixel review and had to laugh. When summing up, Chris Niccolls said that "a second version of the S9 needs to have a mechanical shutter, an EVF and a headphone jack to make it more compelling". In which case that camera would be called an S5 or an S5II. Oh, wait....

There is a reason the S9 doesn't have those things and has fewer dials and buttons than larger cameras. I wonder if Chris thinks the Toyota Corolla is not compelling because it doesn't drive like a Porsche?

As you know... Take whatever he says with a pinch of salt, I generally don't listen to him as he's a whinger, the other guy Jordan is better for showing video capabilities.

 

[Oíche]

It's difficult to beat Gordon Laing for unbiased fully comprehensive reviews.

Warning: Do not watch if trying not to buy the 18-40 (Pete especially and any S9 owner in particular )

Prediction: Mass sales of 20-60s globally



Edit: Oooopps Dirk already posted this but it's good.

 

[dirk]

Here is a video which covers FW updates for the S9, but also the 18-40 zoom with the S9 and its digital zoom.

 

[pdk42]

It's difficult to beat Gordon Laing for unbiased fully comprehensive reviews.

Warning: Do not watch if trying not to buy the 18-40 (Pete especially and any S9 owner in particular )

Prediction: Mass sales of 20-60s globally



Edit: Oooopps Dirk already posted this but it's good.

OK, so the TLDR is that it's a dud?

 

[dirk]

OK, so the TLDR is that it's a dud?

What means TLDR?

I just ordered the 18-40mm. Not only for the S9, but also for my S5ii as my "always in my bag" 155g WA "rescue" zoom, in case I need it unexpectedly. The Sigma 16-28/2.8 is too big and too heavy to have it always in my bag,

 

[Quentinquirelino]

I just ordered the 18-40mm. Not only for the S9, but also for my S5ii as my "always in my bag" 155g WA "rescue" zoom, in case I need it unexpectedly. ...

I'm thinking about that as well. My main zoom is the 28-70/2.8. But I sometimes carry the 20-60 for mor wide angle. The 18-40 would fit that purpose even better.

However, I will wait until I get some used. At the moment it's to expensive for my purpose.

 

[Markuswelder]

What means TLDR?

Too long, didn't read

 

[pdk42]

OK, so the TLDR is that it's a dud?

Actually, it seems that it performs very well. Definitely a no-brainer if you have an S9. It's not too relevant for me - until they bring out an S9 with an EVF and then I'm sunk !

 

[pdk42]

Too long, didn't read

I find YT a pain in the arse for wasting time. That Gordon Laing video could be summarised in a few paragraphs with some sample photos - total read time under two minutes. Instead I have to watch/scroll though almost 20 mins of him droning on. Actually I quite like Gordon's approach, but YT is not a great medium for photo kit reviews since video screen grabs to show sharpness from a low-bandwidth YT stream are about as useful as a chocolate teapot.

 

[Pete_W]

It's difficult to beat Gordon Laing for unbiased fully comprehensive reviews.

Warning: Do not watch if trying not to buy the 18-40 (Pete especially and any S9 owner in particular )

Prediction: Mass sales of 20-60s globally



Edit: Oooopps Dirk already posted this but it's good.

Richard's review was great as it included comparisons with the 20-60 and Sigma 45mm, both of which I own.

I love the compact size of the 18-40mm but I will wait for a bit as I really don't need it. But of course I want it.

 

[dirk]

We all have GAS...

 

[Pete_W]

I find YT a pain in the arse for wasting time. That Gordon Laing video could be summarised in a few paragraphs with some sample photos - total read time under two minutes. Instead I have to watch/scroll though almost 20 mins of him droning on. Actually I quite like Gordon's approach, but YT is not a great medium for photo kit reviews since video screen grabs to show sharpness from a low-bandwidth YT stream are about as useful as a chocolate teapot.

Yes, it can be tedious when something new is released and it's wall-to-wall reviews.

If a video is taking too long to get to the point, I will speed it up to 1.5 or 2.0.

 

[Markuswelder]

If a video is taking too long to get to the point, I will speed it up to 1.5 or 2.0.

I like them when they break them up into itemised sections that you can jump straight to. Once I've watched the bits that are particularly interesting to me, I'll then go back and watch the whole thing at my leisure. To ensure I've got it all in context.

 

[Markuswelder]

I love the compact size of the 18-40mm but I will wait for a bit as I really don't need it. But of course I want it.

Yeah, like I wrote previously, it would make a brilliant hiking/cycling lens for me. But I really, really don't need it lol.

 

[dirk]

But I really, really don't need it lol.

Resistance is futile...

If the 18-40 is "good enough" for my needs on higher MP sensors like the S1R or 60MP, it will replace probably 5 other lenses, which I almost never use: My Sigma 16-28/2.8, Lumix 20-60, Sigma 24/3.5, Sigma 35/2.0 and Sigma 65/2.0.

 

[Markuswelder]

I find YT a pain in the arse for wasting time.

I absolutely love it, mostly for watching music vid's. The sidetracking that then occurs is totally epic. Hunted down and bought a few albums just because of that

 

[pdk42]

Interestingly, they haven't released firmware updates for the S1 cameras to support the collapsible feature. Wonder how it will work if you mounted it on one of these cameras?