Panasonic LUMIX S 24-105mm F/4 Macro O.I.S.

This Panasonic standard zoom serves full frame Leica L mount cameras. Its 24–105mm span suits photographers who want one lens for varied everyday work. The wide end handles interiors, streets and groups. The long end frames portraits and travel details. That coverage makes it a practical single-lens travel choice.

Panasonic launched the lens in 2019, and it remains in production. The main trade-off is brightness. The maximum aperture is f/4, a modest opening that gathers less light than a faster zoom would. The lens also lacks built-in image stabilisation, which matters for handheld work in dim conditions.

It weighs 1 lb 8 oz (680 g), a moderate load for a full frame standard zoom. The barrel is 3.31 in (84 mm) wide and 4.65 in (118 mm) long. Screw-in filters must match the 77mm thread on the front, and a polariser or ND filter attaches directly.

The 24–105mm range handles most everyday framing without lens changes. At 24mm it takes in room interiors, building exteriors and group shots. At 105mm it tightens onto portraits and distant details from a fixed position. Event and travel photographers can move between wide scenes and close faces by turning the zoom ring.

The maximum aperture stays at f/4 across the whole zoom. Exposure therefore holds constant as you zoom, which simplifies manual settings during changing light. At 24mm, f/4 also renders plenty of depth for layered interiors. The opening is modest, though, and dim venues may call for raised ISO.

At 105mm, f/4 still gives portraits some separation, especially with the subject well clear of the background. The lens also handles close subjects. It focuses as near as 1 ft (30 cm). Maximum magnification reaches 0.5x, half life size. The name includes Macro, but true macro means 1:1 magnification. Half life size still fills the frame with flowers or product details.

Nine aperture blades help keep out-of-focus areas smooth at stopped-down settings, which flatters portraits at 105mm. Our optics score for this lens is 72.

There is no built-in image stabilisation, the main practical limitation of this lens. Handheld work therefore favours daylight and other well-lit settings. In dim interiors or evening light, a tripod or monopod steadies the camera.

Weather sealing helps protect the lens in dusty or damp conditions, which suits outdoor travel days. A fluorine coating on the front helps water and dust wipe away easily. A zoom lock keeps the barrel from extending under its own weight while the lens hangs on the camera. Together these help on changeable-weather days.

Our features score for this lens is 52.

The optical design includes aspherical elements, whose specially shaped surfaces help correct distortion and spherical aberration. Distortion can make straight edges appear curved in wide shots, so this correction matters for building exteriors. Low-dispersion and super-low-dispersion glass helps reduce chromatic aberration. With that fault, colours focus at different points, and fringes appear along high-contrast edges such as a rooftop against bright sky.