Panasonic Lumix S 18-40 f/4.5-6.3 Review

[@kurtdoerfel7620]

The colors in every single one of your photos is incredible

[@masterofcamera]

That Green S9 is growing on me hahah. Awesome review Richard!

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Haha do it!! Order the green stickers set

[@GeekyNerdyTechy]

Awesome deep-dive video, Richard! :)

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Thank you Shane!

[@TopshelfJunior]

Nice video Richard !!! Love the shots at the 23:08 mark ! Lens looks cool.

[@usahotnews2874]

wow! thank you for interesting review! you covered every aspect of the lens. And after all I am so happy to see reliable tracking AF 😀

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Thank you for watching

[@CartyCantDance]

That sigma 45mm f/2.8 makes the most sense. I under stand people want zoom lenses, but I would treat the S9 as a Leica q or something similar. Compact, prime, effortless photography

[@TheRealRichardWong]

if i have time to slowly take my photos, i would prefer a prime more. I did a trip to Japan few years ago with just the Leica Q and love that!

[@hodim-edem_ru]

Thank you for another detailed review! I like that manufacturers have finally moved away from the usual patterns like 24-70 f2.8 or 24-105 f4, as well as a line like the one created by Panasonic (18,24,35,50,85) 1.8 and started creating something more unique and interesting like this lens. I've been shooting with a Panasonic GX7 camera for almost 12 years. I tried a lot of lenses, but strangely enough, I liked the kit pancake 20 f1.7 the most, which gives 40mm focal length in the equivalent of a full frame. Now I have a Panasonic S5M2X and a huge collection of lenses. I must say that all lenses are mainly from the Sigma Art series as well as Panasonic 50 1.4. Of course, their quality is undeniable, but often it is their weight that repels me to carry a camera everywhere and everywhere, I have to think several times about what is more important to me when traveling, some kind of camping equipment or a camera with a bulky lens. For these purposes, I have Sigma 45 f2.8. To some extent, he often helps me out. I have a miniature waist bag for this build. When asked which lenses I would like to have in addition to those that I have, it is a wider range of the Sigma f 2.8 series of Supreme compactness lenses. Now I'm waiting for the release of the artisans 40mm f2.8 lens. This is just my usual focal length. The aperture of f2.8 and the size of Sigma Supreme compactness is a good compromise solution for both the Panasonic S9 and the Panasonic S5 (m2/m2x). I would like to have a full-fledged line of miniature lenses with an aperture of f 2.8, it seems to me that this makes sense. I think that I will definitely purchase a Panasonic 18-40 in the near future, it is very interesting to test it. Regarding your suggestion to put the camera to sleep when the lens is closed, I fully support it here, it will be very convenient, the main thing is that the camera turns off anyway in time if the lens is not closed, if I continue to shoot.

[@qqeqwe6957]

very good comment/ what do u think, will Sigma 45 f2.8 be good as a first and the only lens a few months on S9?

[@hodim-edem_ru]

@@qqeqwe6957 Thanks! Sigma 45 2.8 is a very good lens, and much better Chinese. but miracles are not worth waiting for. Alternatively, I could recommend 35 f2, the picture will be more interesting, wins over Panasonic S35 1.8 in the battle for chromatic aberration

[@AlexDiazVideo]

I'm actually kinda more curious about the 18-40 up against the 14-28, can't wait to see that comparison!

[@mipmipmipmipmip-v5x]

Many thanks for showing 65:24! A selling point for this combination

[@TheRealRichardWong]

I love 65:24!

[@kurtdoerfel7620]

Great photos man. Thank you for reviewing the lens and not sounding like a Panasonic meat rider. Appreciate it!!

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Thank you so much Kurt!

[@pete_au]

Thanks Richard, I love your reviews as they contain so much helpful detail. I have been using three Sigma primes with my S9 so far: 24mm/f3.5, 45mm/f2.8 and 90mm/f2.8. I've all three but your point about changing lenses is a good one. Sometimes it is simply not convenient, so this new zoom lens helps solve that problem. I will have to think about this new lens as it would essentially replace two of my Sigma primes. And I do have the 20-60mm that came with my S5II sitting on the shelf! (p.s. you got way better sun stars that Chris at Petapixel could manage!)

[@TheRealRichardWong]

thanks Pete! It doesn't really replace the primes at all as it's quite a bit slower. But when travelling a small zoom lens is just a lot more convenient!

[@Democratiser]

Nice review! Haha - your idea about making the lens the on/off switch is a feature that the circa 2011 Fujifilm X10 has with its non-interchangeable zoom. I love that camera including the ‘lens as a switch’ function! I’m surprised at how much this lens 18-40mm has made me want to go out and buy the s9 now…! But maybe the 18-40mm with S5II / X might be the better value option… but not as sexy and compact. Food for thought. Welcome your views! I use a G9 presently and am keen to get a PDAF lumix camera.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Yeah it depends if you want features, or want the compact form. I found myself using the S9 a lot more these days even though technically the S5II is a much better camera.

[@davegrodzki]

Thanks for another great review, as always. My wife and I love our S5 and S5iiX but do miss our old m43 kit for nights out where we don’t want to carry a large combo… The S9 looks great for that use case, but I’ve been waiting for some good, decently fast (auto focusing!) pancake primes. That old 20mm f1.7 was slow as a dog to grab focus, but I still used it a lot…. I’d love a 24/35mm 2.8, or even 3.5 pancake if it could be done. That said… This looks like a step in the right direction, maybe I’ll finally jump if there are some good holiday sales!

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Yes i would LOVE to see something like equivalent to the 20mm f/1.7 for full frame. the 20mm f/1.7 was the reason I bought my GF1 when it was released. I still have a 20mm f/1.7 and shoot with it occasionally.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

the closest right now is the Sigma prime, I'm hoping Samyang will bring their small primes to L mount in the near future.

[@ThomasThomas-c1z]

Thanks for an amazing review as always. So soooo happy they bought this out. I got my s9 last week the 20-60 is wow such a lovely lense but i chose S9 over the S52 so i can turn into a little Camera. the potential it unlocks for the s9 is FENOMINAL!! You can rig up the S9 with cage big lese screen etc and get the same quality as the S5 then take it apart put on the 16-40 and have a camera that is tiny and sooooo light it looks cheap,none professional which means you can shoot without drawing attention to yourself. So happybits past uour quality yest. Thanks so much for putting tome onto reviewing this for us

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Thanks Thomas!

[@daily_tries]

Thank you so much for the detailed review and the experience comparison with Sigma 45mm. The 65:24 shots from Taiwan and Japan are incredible! And I agree that using the lens collapse to put the camera to sleep would be a very nice feature. I find the S9 quite slow in turning on, so a workflow to put it to sleep instead of on/off would be great.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Thanks for watching, great to hear someone agreed with my suggestion, I thought no one like my suggestion at all haha

[@duncanwallace7760]

I really like the look of the S9 for a compact camera and the 18-40 makes it even more tempting to purchase.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

If you don't need EVF and mechnical shutter, the S9 with the 18-40 is a great compact full frame setup.

[@commanderkeen9666]

great review, thanks!

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Thanks for watching!

[@rhajitpoltin3894]

You show the S9 in a bit of rain: can you comment on how well it held up to weather so far? Also, great video as usual! Really excited about this lens!

[@TheRealRichardWong]

I've completely soaked the S9 quite a few times but so far so good no issue at all. However the camera is not weather sealed so usual disclaimer try it at your own risk

[@taekim1771]

It has a seal but not as robust as the s5II.

[@akimnim]

Perfect review 👍

[@JohnRobertsTV]

Great review of this new 18-40mm lens. I've pre-ordered one for my S9. Perhaps Panasonic could make a companion lens for it, say 40-120mm focal length? It would be nice to have something that's also very compact, but covers longer focal ranges.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Good suggestion. but 40-100 maybe a bit too big focal length range if we want it to be a compact lens. Let's see!

[@nickbrowne2925]

Thanks for the video Richard - really informative. I’m looking for a travel camera for stills. I owned a Lumix LX 100 ii 4 years ago and was considering going back to a used example. But I really love - and use a lot - the articulated screen hence considering the S9/18-40 combo.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

i really enjoy using the S9/18-40 for my recent holiday trip! It's not perfect, but nothing is perfect :P

[@jackrussellt2211]

Great Review. Will get the lens for my S9. But one thing I really wanna know is how the S9 performed in rain?

[@TheRealRichardWong]

S9 is not weather sealed. But I have completely soaked the camera many times over the last few months. And it has no issues so far. A little bit of rain drops should be no problem but usual disclaimer do it at your own risk

[@Democratiser]

@@jackrussellt2211 The lack of weather sealing is the thing that concerns me about the S9. I might need to try and get over that concern as the camera is becoming more and more appealing with the lifting of the record limits and the release of this 18-40mm lens.

[@houghwhite411]

Seems like the full frame thing of Lumix 12-32 for micro four third. Nifty design

[@CharlieVN]

Must try the s9 18-40 combo

[@qqeqwe6957]

Which lens should I buy for the LUMIX S9 on a very tight budget? I don't have a lens right now, and I really like this one, but it will be available in my country only in a few months and I'll only buy it then. Which inexpensive lens ( maybe used) should I get so that it makes sense later when I have this one? (the camera will be used for vertical videos mostly)

[@TheRealRichardWong]

i use the Sigma 45mm f2.8, not exactly cheap but it's a nice compact combo with the S9

[@mipmipmipmipmip-v5x]

I'm curious how it performs on a high megapixel body like Sigma FP

[@johnsonstephencheung6554]

The Viltrox 28mm seems a good fit too

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Yes I really wish that lens is also available on L-mount

[@video-carl]

It's hard to criticise a 150g auto-focus full-frame lens. Could similarly-constructed slow primes be coming for photographers?

[@TheRealRichardWong]

is there something particular you want to see?

[@AndrewDaddy]

Where did you get that camera skin from?

[@TheRealRichardWong]

That’s from AliExpress

[@plupluplutus]

Does this lens make sense on a S5?

[@TheRealRichardWong]

While the benefit is not as much as when paired with a small camera like s9, I don’t see why not if you want a compact s5 setup.

[@shang-hsienyang1284]

Welcome to Taiwan. 10/10 is Taiwan's Double Ten National Day. Don't miss the airshow from Taiwan's airforce!

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Unfortunately I couldn’t stay that long this time , but would love to visit Taiwan again in the near future ❤

[@qqeqwe6957]

Budget lens for Lumix S9 Hi, guys. Please help me with choosing a lens for the Lumix S9 on a very tight budget. I don't have any lens right now, and I really like the new S 18-40mm Kit, but it will be available in my country only in a few months and I'll only buy it then. Which used inexpensive lens (compact if it is possible)should I get so that it still makes sense later when I will buy S 18-40mm? (mostly for videography)

[@TheRealRichardWong]

I like my Sigma 45mm f/2.8 Not exactly cheap but also not super expensive.

[@qqeqwe6957]

@ A very great choice, thank you!

[@TheSoPhar]

Next Lens i want should be 28mm f2.8 would be the best combo for S9 .

[@tsukuban]

最高です🎉

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Thank you for watching!

[@FPGVlog]

pls make 18-40 f2.8 with classic style..

[@TheRealRichardWong]

that would be a much bigger lens, would you be happy with the bigger size/weight and price?

[@babymixswing2269]

I will wait 16-70mm

[@huasheng9695]

耶~~~~台灣>

[@TheRealRichardWong]

是的，很多年沒來台灣啦！改變了好多😍

[@thatsreallyamoon]

I do not like the fact that it needs to be deployed to use at all. That's off-putting.

[@dabug91]

$500 for a mediocre kit lens with a short focal range and an f/4.5-6.3 aperture range? Its mediocre specs really make its diminutive size rather unimpressive. Hard pass. This is a forgettable lens just like the 26mm f/8.

[@OasisExplorer]

I think Wong, if we already have 20-60, no need to spend money on this.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

If you don’t need more compact setup, then yes I agree

[@OG-Rarities.UnseenUnreleased]

I have a speedbooster 0.71 What's the best lens for gh7?