Panasonic Lumix S Pro 70-200mm f/2.8 OIS review

The Panasonic Lumix S Pro 70-200mm f/2.8 OIS pro telephoto lens packs some smart features into a sturdy build

Panasonic Lumix S Pro 70-200mm f/2.8 OIS
(Image: © Matthew Richards)

Digital Camera World Verdict

We rated the cheaper Panasonic Lumix S Pro 70-200mm f/4 O.I.S. very highly when we reviewed it a while ago. Its relatively compact, lightweight build and excellent image quality makes it a good match for a mirrorless camera. For those who demand a faster aperture rating, this bulked-up f/2.8 lens is about 50 per cent heavier and 50 per cent more expensive, but adds a more advanced image stabilizer, customisable function buttons and more besides that 1-stop increase in maximum aperture.

Pros

  • +

    Constant f/2.8 aperture rating

  • +

    Dual-mode optical stabilizer

  • +

    Customisable lens function buttons

Cons

  • -

    Relatively big and heavy

  • -

    Large 82mm filter thread

  • -

    Corner-sharpness could be better

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The Panasonic Lumix S Pro 70-200mm f/2.8 OIS fills a key role in Panasonic's expanding L-mount lens line-up. A 70-200mm f/2.8 lens like this one is the preferred telephoto zoom for most top-flight professional and enthusiast photographers. It’s enormously versatile and widely used for everything from wedding and event photography to sports and wildlife. 

The generous range of telephoto focal lengths and the fast f/2.8 aperture enable a tight depth of field with the promise of smooth bokeh. You also get access to faster shutter speeds under dull lighting conditions, when you need to freeze the action. The extra f/stop is the most compelling reason to choose this lens over Panasonic’s highly impressive 70-200mm f/4 zoom, and it's an important milestone in the development of the L-mount lens roadmap, but it comes at a price.

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Matthew Richards

Matthew Richards is a photographer and journalist who has spent years using and reviewing all manner of photo gear. He is Digital Camera World's principal lens reviewer – and has tested more primes and zooms than most people have had hot dinners! 

His expertise with equipment doesn’t end there, though. He is also an encyclopedia  when it comes to all manner of cameras, camera holsters and bags, flashguns, tripods and heads, printers, papers and inks, and just about anything imaging-related. 

In an earlier life he was a broadcast engineer at the BBC, as well as a former editor of PC Guide.