New telephoto zoom lens coming for Panasonic Lumix S cameras

Angled view of the new Lumix S 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 MACRO O.I.S. L-Mount lens. (Source: Panasonic.)

The optical design of the new lens contains 17 lens elements in 11 groups and includes one UED (Ultra Extra-low Dispersion) lens, two ED (Extra-low Dispersion) lenses and one UHR (Ultra-High Refractive Index) element to suppress axial chromatic aberration at longer focal lengths and chromatic aberration of magnification at the wide end of the zoom range. Its built-in O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabiliser) system provides up to 5.5 stops of shake correction and the  high-speed sensor drive operates at up to 480 fps to achieve fast, high-precision AF. Focusing is quiet enough for use during video recording and the lens includes a mechanism that minimises focus breathing. Focus shift is suppressed during zooming to ensure outstanding zoom tracking performance.

The rugged dust/splash-resistant design withstands use under challenging conditions and enables the lens to operate in temperatures down to -10 degrees Celsius. In addition, the fluorine coating on the front element repels water and oil. With a minimum focusing distance of 54 cm, half-life-size magnification is possible at 300mm. The 11-bladed iris diaphragm has a circular aperture to ensure attractive bokeh. The S-R70300 is priced at AU$2199 RRP. It will be available in April 2021 from leading photographic specialists. Click here for full details of the new lens.