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Panasonic 18mm L Mount Lens Review

The launch of the Panasonic Lumix S 18mm f/1.8 Lens for L Mount adds an ultra wide angle to the growing list of fast f/1.8 primes in the L mount lens range. This is an exciting release for photographers, videographers and hybrid creators who shoot with Panasonic Lumix S series, Leica Mirrorless Cameras and Sigma Fp and Fp L cameras. With a comprehensive set of features for video, landscape photography, astro, architecture, interiors and vlogging, our Panasonic 18mm L Mount lens review covers everything Lumix creators need to know about this addition.

Discover the best lens accessories including filters for photo and video, as well as where this ultra wide angle sits within the range. We also have several Panasonic 18mm lens sample photos showing off just what you can do with this lens, supplied directly by Panasonic. Read on to learn everything you need to know about this new ultra wide prime for your style of content creation.

How much is the Panasonic width lens for L Mount?

How much does the 18mm cost in comparison to previous models in the range? The Panasonic Lumix S 18mm f/1.8 Lens for L Mount price is £799. This is in-line with expectations for an ultra wide lens and compares favourably for the list of features which it offers amongst other L mount lenses.

The list below shows the prices of all five f/1.8 primes for L mount from Panasonic:

• Lumix S 18mm F/1.8 £799
• Lumix S 24mm F/1.8 £799
• Lumix S 35mm F/1.8 £579
• Lumix S 50mm F/1.8 £429
• Lumix S 85mm F/1.8 £599

When did the Panasonic Lumix S 18mm f/1.8 lens launch?

Panasonic is working hard to develop every prime you could need for the full-frame mirrorless L mount camera system. To this end the Panasonic Lumix S 18mm f/1.8 Lens was released on September 7th 2022, following the October 9, 2021 release of the S 35mm.

Where does the 18mm lens fit into the range?

As the fifth f/1.8 prime released, the 18mm f/1.8 lens arrives as the widest model in the range. This translates into a 100° angle of view, which is perfect for a number of subjects where you want to capture dramatic angles, exaggerated perspectives and wide, grand scenes.

What is an 18mm full-frame lens used for?

With a 100º field of view, subjects which are well suited to this ultra wide angle 18mm focal length include:

• landscape photography
• architectural photography and cityscapes
• astro photography including stars, milky way and aurora
• interiors
• street photography
• environmental portraits and lifestyle
• weddings
• video and vlogging

Panasonic has included a close 0.18m minimum focus distance with max. 0.20x magnification, which enables you to capture exaggerated perspectives, focus on near foreground subjects and vlog with this lens. It is versatile for those who enjoy capturing a wide field of view and challenges users with a need to fill the frame with your subject.

Sample photo 1 with Panasonic Lumix S5. Exposure settings: 1/500. f/3.5. ISO 800

What video features does the Panasonic Lumix S 18mm f/1.8 Lens have?

The Panasonic Lumix S 18mm f/1.8 Lens has a number of specific video features. These include the ability to set linear and non linear focus ring control, the rotation of the focus ring (in linear mode), reduced focus breathing and smooth exposure changes by micro-step aperture control.

As with other Panasonic l mount lenses you can also expect smooth and silent AF with inner focus using Panasonic’s linear motor technology. With a 340g weight, the 18mm lens also shares similar weight distribution and balance with the other four f/1.8 primes. This is ideal for video recording as you can switch lenses without needing to rebalance your gimbal / stabiliser, saving a lot of time and effort when shooting.

Sample photo 2 with Panasonic Lumix S5. Exposure settings: 1/640. f/5. ISO 640

What kind of results does the Panasonic 18mm lens deliver?

The Panasonic Lumix S 18mm lens features an optical design with 13 elements in 12 groups, which include 3 aspherical lenses, 1 UED lens, 3 ED lenses, 1 UHR lens. These special elements render high sharpness, clarity and help to reduce various aberrations and maintain image quality.

A 9-bladed aperture creates smooth out of focus areas and rounded bokeh balls, while the fast f/1.8 maximum aperture allows you to shoot in low light situations. The aperture also lets you experiment with shallow depth of field, although this isn’t typically associated with some ultra wide angle subjects, where you may choose to have the widest depth of field possible to get more of your shot in-focus.

Is the Panasonic 18mm L mount lens weather sealed?

Yes, the Panasonic 18mm L mount lens is dust and splash resistant, although Panasonic does not guarantee that damage will not occur if this lens comes into direct contact with dust and water. It is also capable of operating in temperatures as low as -10ºC.

Sample photo 3 with Panasonic Lumix S5. Exposure settings: 1/640. f/3.5. ISO 800

What are the best accessories for this 18mm lens?

Whether you shoot photos or videos there are a selection of lens filters, which are the best accessories for the Panasonic S 18mm lens. The filter thread is a compact 67mm – the same as all five f/1.8 unified lenses, which means you can switch filters between any of these primes.

Choose between a Hoya 67mm UX II PL-CIR Circular Polariser Filter or more expensive Hoya 67mm Ultra Pro Circular Polariser to reduce reflections as well as increase saturation and contrast when shooting wet or reflective surfaces. A circular polariser is especially useful for landscapes and architecture and you can save money with a single H&Y RevoRing, which spans several focal widths in one.

Another useful accessory is a variable ND filter, which is essential for recording video in variable daylight or bright conditions. There are plenty to choose from, starting with a cost-effective Tiffen 67mm Variable Neutral Density Filter, through to high-end options such as the Polar Pro Peter McKinnon 67mm VND MIST Edition II 6-9 stop filter. The ability to compensate for bright light allows you to slow your shutter to the required speed for video recording and you can also use a VND for photography to create long exposures.

Sample photo 4, black and white photography with the Panasonic Lumix S5. Exposure settings: 1/1600. f/5.6. ISO 320

Last but not least consider adding a lens cloth, lens cleaning kit and a dust blower if you don’t already own these. Maintaining a clean camera lens is essential to achieve consistently great results without smears and dust ruining your shots.

With great build-quality, a high-end optical design and a wide maximum aperture, this lightweight ultra wide angle Panasonic lens makes a great choice for creators who capture suitable subjects. It is perfect for capturing both photos or videos and well suited to today’s hybrid creators who shoot both. The ability to share lens accessories between five unified lenses in the L mount range is a nice benefit, which saves both time and money.

Panasonic Lumix 18mm f/1.8 S Lens Video Review

Reserve your Panasonic Lumix S 18mm f/1.8 Lens for L Mount today and head out to capture epic wide angle scenes to impress your audience.

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By Nick Dautlich on 07/09/2022