The following chart presents a comparison of the majority of 1.4/50 class autofocus models designed for full frame mirrorless cameras of different systems. Now it's evident that both L-mount standards, the Panasonic and the Leica, are really big and heavy. The third place in this category is occupied by the Sigma, then come the Sony and the Canon, and the Samyang and the Nikkor are the lightest. When it comes to optics complexity the heaviest models lag behind - the first place belongs ex aequo to the Canon, the Sigma, and the Sony. The Nikkor, for a change, can boast of the shortest minimum focusing distance and the smallest diameter of the filter mount.
When you look at the photo below you can see that the Panasonic Lumix S Pro 50 mm f/1.4 is really big. On its left side there is the Sony FE 50 mm f/1.4 GM. On the right we put the Panasonic S 50 mm f/1.8 model, something for L-mount users that are also fans of smaller physical dimensions.
The tested lens starts with a metal mount surrounded by a dark, well-matted ring with embedded contacts. The ring also features a serial number of the instrument and information that it was produced in China. Inside the ring there is an immobile rear element 33 mm in diameter. It is positioned rather shallowly inside, practically on the same level as the contacts. From this side everything seems to be correct and the lens remains completely sealed.
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The proper barrel of the lens is made of metal covered by black paint. A red dot, making an alignment with the camera easier, is one of the first features. Further on the lens increases its diameter. On this already enlargened part, looking from above, there is a white vertical line – on its left there is the capital 'S' inside a red square (it means the lens belongs to the Pro series) on its right '50' meaning the focal length and the focusing range '0.44m/1.44ft-∞'.
On the same level and further on the right you get an inscription 'LUMIX' and below there is the name of the company, the model number of the lens and its mount type.
An aperture ring is the next part. It is 16 mm wide, with ribs that ensure you a better grip and aperture markings ranging from f/1.4 to f/16 along with an 'A' position. The ring is properly damped and allow you to change the aperture every 1/3 EV step.
Then you see an immobile, metal part of the lens with just the name and parameters of the lens. This part turns into a manual focus ring, 28 mm wide, the majority of its surface covered by relatively fine, rubber ribbing. The ring comes with two working modes: mechanical and electronic. After moving the ring closer to the body you reveal a distance scale expressed in feet and meters; in that position the ring becomes completely manual and clickless at the same time, being properly damped. Running through the whole distance range needs a turn through an angle of about 100 deg. This value is a tad too low – you can notice slight focus jumps even if you move the ring very slightly.
In its initial position the ring is a focus-by-wire mechanism but you have to choose the MF mode on the camera body as well. The performance of the ring becomes much more comfortable and precise and its working mode can be set from the camera level. It concerns both the range of the ring and whether this range should depend on the speed of your turning or not.
The next part of the barrel is 16 mm wide; it features mainly a hood mount for a hood that you get with the lens in the box.
The front element of the lens is convex, immobile, 66 mm in diameter. It is surrounded by a ring with an inscription 'LUMIX' and parameters of the lens, along with a non-rotating filter thread 77 mm in diameter.
The producers assure you of the presence of many gaskets that make it possible to shoot even in more difficult weather conditions. The lens can perform in temperatures up to -10°C.
When it comes to optical construction you deal here with 13 elements positioned in 11 groups. Among them there are three elements made of low dispersion ED glass and two other are aspherical in shape. Inside there is also a round aperture with 11 blades that can be closed down to a value of f/16 at the maximum.
Buyers get in the box both caps and a hood. In my opinion at this price point there should be also a solid case added to the bundle – it's a pity Panasonic doesn't share my view.
