The full frame Panasonic L mount system was launched in February 2019 with universal zoom lenses and a fast standard lens as a part of the starting kit. At once you could also bet that sooner or later there would be also a portrait lens added to that.
Users of that system didn't have to wait for it for a very long time- already in November 2020 Panasonic announced the launch of the S 85 mm f/1.8 model.
It turned out it was a construction based on 9 elements positioned in 8 groups. I admit that nowadays it's not optics so complicated that can make anybody bowled over; 1.8/85 lenses with similar constructions had been seen on the market as early as the beginning of the 90s of the 20th century. An example? The Canon EF 85 mm f/1.8 USM, launched in 1992. Still the Panasonic sticks out with two low dispersion ED elements inside.
Please Support Us
If you enjoy our reviews and articles, and you want us to continue our work please, support our website by donating through PayPal. The funds are going to be used for paying our editorial team, renting servers, and equipping our testing studio; only that way we will be able to continue providing you interesting content for free.
The current price of the Panasonic S 85 mm f/1.8 amounts close to $450 PLN and is $200 cheaper than the Sony FE 85 mm f/1.8 that is equally complex when it comes to the optics. The Nikkor Z 85 mm f/1.8 S, with more elements and groups inside, costs already $750. The instruments from third-party producers are far more available, such lenses as the Samyang AF 85 mm f/1.8 P or the Meike AF 85 mm f/1.8 Pro can be bought for $340-400.
Does the price of the Panasonic S 85 mm f/1.8 fits its build quality and performance? I hope our test will allow to answer that question in the following chapters – enjoy!
We would like to thank the Polish
Panasonicsubsidiary for lending us one specimen of the tested lens.
