Panasonic 70-200 f4 - I see lots used - is it good?

[NFec]

700-200 f2.8 is a neat lens and cam be used for example for portraits too.
I have the P 70-200 f2.8 which is a great lens in regards to performance and I got it back in 2020 for an incredible price.
But today if I am before the decision to by a 70-200 in a 1500€ price range, I would buy the Sigma 70-200 f2.8 instead the P 70-200 F4.

I could assume many people like 70-200 and are upgrading from the Panasonic F4 to the Sigma f2.8. I am not sure, but of the Sigma supports their TC's, then getting the Sigma has one more advantage.

 

[carlgorski]

Well, the lens is well out of warranty so I don't think I have a leg to stand on from any consumer protection point of view. But that doesn't make it hurt any less.

I'm really having a downer on Panasonic L-mount at the moment. I stuck with them through the dark days of despair when most industry observers said they were finished (6 years and no replacement for the S1 etc) and now I'm wondering why.

I’m sure you cleaned the contacts!

 

[pdk42]

700-200 f2.8 is a neat lens and cam be used for example for portraits too.
I have the P 70-200 f2.8 which is a great lens in regards to performance and I got it back in 2020 for an incredible price.
But today if I am before the decision to by a 70-200 in a 1500€ price range, I would buy the Sigma 70-200 f2.8 instead the P 70-200 F4.

I could assume many people like 70-200 and are upgrading from the Panasonic F4 to the Sigma f2.8. I am not sure, but of the Sigma supports their TC's, then getting the Sigma has one more advantage.

I know I'm harping on, but a lens that costs £2k at list (the P 70-200 f2.8) should be repairable. Imagine spending that sort of money and then finding it completely unrepairable for a minor bit of damage or a failed internal ribbon cable. I really think that Panasonic need to think of the message this is sending to the market. Surely a "Pro" lens needs a pro repair service?

 

[pdk42]

I’m sure you cleaned the contacts!

Yup - several times!

 

[pdk42]

700-200 f2.8 is a neat lens and cam be used for example for portraits too.
I have the P 70-200 f2.8 which is a great lens in regards to performance and I got it back in 2020 for an incredible price.
But today if I am before the decision to by a 70-200 in a 1500€ price range, I would buy the Sigma 70-200 f2.8 instead the P 70-200 F4.

I could assume many people like 70-200 and are upgrading from the Panasonic F4 to the Sigma f2.8. I am not sure, but of the Sigma supports their TC's, then getting the Sigma has one more advantage.

I'm very tempted by the Sigma 70-200 f2.8. With the 2xTC it'll also be a decent 400mm lens too.

 

[CharlesH]

I'm very tempted by the Sigma 70-200 f2.8. With the 2xTC it'll also be a decent 400mm lens too.

I've never had a X2 TC that I found acceptable. But X1.4 is always very workable.

 

[NFec]

I'm very tempted by the Sigma 70-200 f2.8. With the 2xTC it'll also be a decent 400mm lens too.

Oh yes, it's handy.
I am using my 70-200 with the 1.4 and 2.0 x TC. By being able to simply put a TC in the bag and having reach up-tp 400mm at f5.6 I take that lens on trip with me too.

To me the Panasonic service strategy for Europe is simply strange. I am located in Germany and I had three times to deal with the service sending my old S1R in (last time 4 years ago, once for swapping the sensor). I contacted Panasonic Service using Lumix Pro service (UK!). That war okey-ish. In Germany there are two service partners doing service for a lot of companies in the area of repairing electronics. The partner in northern Germany was good. After getting with them in contact directly no issues at all. Everything done on warranty and I was even able to order small spare parts like two additional eye cups.

But I would assume Panasonic is not able to provide a constant level of service. The communication with Panasonic quite straight forward qnd I don't know what's happening if the service center partner is not good or so...

Would be interesting to hear experience of others.

 

[Pete_W]

Would be interesting to hear experience of others.

Here in Australia the service has worked well. I haven't had any issues with my own gear but I work at a K-12 independent school where we have a small fleet of S5ii camera bodies, 20-60mm and 50mm lenses plus associated gear for high school students who select to do a media course. We have had some drops of bodies and lenses, but Panasonic service has been good. All items repaired.

 

[Jonathan-Mac]

Apart from Paul's recent experience with his 70-200 being "unrepairable", this lens is well known to have a lot of sample variation. There's no way I would buy one, whatever the cost.

 

[CharlesH]

Apart from Paul's recent experience with his 70-200 being "unrepairable", this lens is well known to have a lot of sample variation.

I've not seen that. Where did you run across this?

 

[pdk42]

I've not seen that. Where did you run across this?

Well, my own experience points to that. I got a free hire of a 70-200 f4 from the Panasonic UK "Test & Try" programme. It had a very soft right side. The lens looked new.

 

[Jonathan-Mac]

I've not seen that. Where did you run across this?

I've seen numerous complaints about it. It's probably the reason that there are so many on the used market.

 

[GeorgeHudetz]

I, too, have heard this about the S-Pro lenses in general - even the 70-200 F2.8. If you get a good one they are amazing. My copy of that lens is amazing at F5.6, but merely “good” at F2.8 (but well-centered across the FL & aperture ranges). I’ve heard others say it’s amazing at all apertures if you get a good one, and those people sometimes say they went through two or three copies to get there.

Of course, many lenses (including the Sigma 70-200) are softer wide-open than they are at F4 or F5.6, but some are super-sharp wide-open. I’ve only tried my one copy of the S-Pro so I can’t shed any actual light on the debate relative to the (in)consistency of the S-Pro 70-200 F2.8. I’m sure happy with it overall, but I did buy it used. Some days I think about ordering a new copy to see if it’s better wide-open, but I have not done that yet.

 

[GeorgeHudetz]

It’s worth pointing out that copy variation is super common across all lens manufacturers, so the real question whether or not the Panasonic S-Pro lenses have above-average variation. And even if it’s true, the next question is - are you willing to go through a few lenses to get one you like? The 70-200 F4 is a unique enough lens in the L-mount universe that it may well be worth the effort for somebody who really wants that configuration.

 

[Jonathan-Mac]

Sigma should bring out a 70-200mm f/4 and then people can stop worrying about whether or not they get a good copy of the Panasonic.

 

[GeorgeHudetz]

Sigma should bring out a 70-200mm f/4 and then people can stop worrying about whether or not they get a good copy of the Panasonic.

I suppose I walked into that one.

Personally, I find the Panasonic zoom lens lineup more compelling than Sigma’s.

Sigma of course has an amazing prime lens lineup.

I know that you and Paul have had problems with Panasonic lenses, and if you want to limit your choices that’s your prerogative. But I’m keeping my options open.

 

[pdk42]

I suppose I walked into that one.

Personally, I find the Panasonic zoom lens lineup more compelling than Sigma’s.

Sigma of course has an amazing prime lens lineup.

I know that you and Paul have had problems with Panasonic lenses, and if you want to limit your choices that’s your prerogative. But I’m keeping my options open.

Trying to be balanced here...

1) I've had, and still have, a lot of Panasonic lenses - in both FF and m43 guise. The 70-200 is the first lens I've had serious problems with.

2) In general, I've found Panasonic lenses to be a good mix of performance vs price. In some cases spectacularly so, such as the little 20-60.

3) However, I've had more sample variation issues with Panasonic lenses than with others - in my experience, with the 70-300, 70-200, and the 24-105. I've also read a lot of on-line complaints saying the same thing. I know this is anecdote not data, but nonetheless I think it points to a problem.

4) I've also read a lot of concerning articles about quite serious problems with some Panasonic lenses - white fungus/cement breakdown and problems with repairs being the two main ones.

This last point is of course what has caught me out. I could deal with the lens failing (sh1t happens), but what has shaken my confidence in the brand is the "do not resuscitate" policy by virtue of no spare parts, and how Panasonic basically refused to do anything to support me or sweeten the pill. For a top end lens (selling at now almost £2k in the UK) this is a really terrible message.

 

[GeorgeHudetz]

Trying to be balanced here...

1) I've had, and still have, a lot of Panasonic lenses - in both FF and m43 guise. The 70-200 is the first lens I've had serious problems with.

2) In general, I've found Panasonic lenses to be a good mix of performance vs price. In some cases spectacularly so, such as the little 20-60.

3) However, I've had more sample variation issues with Panasonic lenses than with others - in my experience, with the 70-300, 70-200, and the 24-105. I've also read a lot of on-line complaints saying the same thing. I know this is anecdote not data, but nonetheless I think it points to a problem.

4) I've also read a lot of concerning articles about quite serious problems with some Panasonic lenses - white fungus/cement breakdown and problems with repairs being the two main ones.

This last point is of course what has caught me out. I could deal with the lens failing (sh1t happens), but what has shaken my confidence in the brand is the "do not resuscitate" policy by virtue of no spare parts, and how Panasonic basically refused to do anything to support me or sweeten the pill. For a top end lens (selling at now almost £2k in the UK) this is a really terrible message.

And that’s all 100% fair.

For me, I’m more acutely aware than I have ever been that my time on this planet is limited. So, I’m going to buy the gear that gives me the experience & results that I want, even if I know there are potential pitfalls associated with any given choice.

Having said that it’s super important for us all to be informed about those possible pitfalls (witness my reaction to the -10C issue with the Viltrox lens) and I do appreciate it when people like you & Jonathan bring these issues to light. Being informed is the key to making good decisions. And there’s nothing wrong with encouraging a manufacturer to do better.

 

[pdk42]

And that’s all 100% fair.

For me, I’m more acutely aware than I have ever been that my time on this planet is limited. So, I’m going to buy the gear that gives me the experience & results that I want, even if I know there are potential pitfalls associated with any given choice.

Having said that it’s super important for us all to be informed about those possible pitfalls (witness my reaction to the -10C issue with the Viltrox lens) and I do appreciate it when people like you & Jonathan bring these issues to light. Being informed is the key to making good decisions. And there’s nothing wrong with encouraging a manufacturer to do better.

Yeah, I'm somewhat less anti-Panasonic than I was a month ago! I have to accept that even the "Pro" lenses are just mass-produced consumer items and I can't realistically expect a mega-corp like Panasonic to actually give a damn about particular copies failing, or about the people affected. It's just how it is - and truth is we live in a world of amazing tech that is more-or-less affordable by most.

I'm still wondering what to do to replace the 70-200. I think I'll see how I get on with the 20-200 for a little while and see how it copes. If it works, I may get a longer lens like the Sigma 100-400 or the Panasonic 100-500.

 

[Miker]

Panasonic is trying to position themselves in the Pro category, up there wtih Nikon and Canon, so the way they have treated you runs counter to that.

Back with the introduction of the Panasonic L mount, the R cameras and Pro lenses, it seems like there was an attempt to focus on the pro category. But there hasn’t been another pro lens in years and I doubt we see ever see another one, and the R bodies are now just slightly improved S bodies. I would say that Panasonic has given up on that. I’m fine with that, the pro market is too niche. However, that is no excuse for poor customer treatment.