Panasonic Lumix is kicking off the weekend with a handful of releases. On top of a new Micro Four Thirds Leica lens mount, Panasonic announced two separate teleconverter lenses for the LUMIX S series and a software upgrade aimed at improving the video capabilities of the S1. A dive into each below:
Fast, Wide-Angled, Leica Lens
First up, the new Leica wide lens mount. The Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Summilux is designed for mirrorless micro four thirds mount cameras and has 10-25mm zoom abilities. The lens mount has a max aperture of f/1.7 to provide an emphasized bokeh effect on a wide shot. The aperture is also crafted to be “stepless” and “de-clicked” to supply seamless transitions in settings with changing brightness. Users enjoy minimal image shifts when zooming across the focal range due to barycentric stability. The included MF/AF switch is near silent and allows shooters to quickly bounce between focus modes.
The LEICA DG VARIO-SUMMILUX 10-25mm lens is available for preorder for at Adorama.
Two Teleconverter Lens Mounts for Long-Range Shooting
Panasonic is now offering two new teleconverter lenses for the S-Series L mount, depending on how much zoom is needed. The DMW-STC14 is a 1.4x teleconverter and has a maximum focal length of 280mm, while the DMW-STC20 is a 2.0x teleconverter that can stretch the distance to 400mm. The DMW-STC14 is built with seven lenses is four groups with two ultra high refractive (UHR) index lens to limit any flaring or aberrations. The DMW-STC is crafted a bit different with eight lenses in four groups with two UHR’s.
Both teleconverters are compatible with the Lumix S Series Full-Frame L-Mount 70-200mm lens and gives users speedy and accurate AF at super telephoto ranges. They are made to be durable with dust- and splash-resistant materials and are freeze-resistant as low as 10 degrees below zero.
The LUMIX 1.4x Lens Teleconverter and the LUMIX 2x Lens Teleconverter are available for preorder for and , respectively, at Adorama.
S1 Software Upgrade for Enhanced Video Recording
Lastly, Panasonic is giving users the option of a film-focused software boost. The LUMIX S1 Filmmaker Upgrade Software Key makes it a viable option for advanced video production. The improvements include 4K 60p 4:2:2 10-bit HDMI video output, 4K 30p/24p 4:2:2 10-bit in-camera recording, Panasonic V-Log and V-Gammut, and custom and included look up tables (LUTs).
With a 4:2:2 HDMI output, videographers using field-monitors can view their live footage in incredible detail. Panasonic’s V-Log color profile has 15 stops of dynamic range to accurately depict the luminance is those tricky light and dark areas. And LUT support allows users to view custom and included LUTs on a waveform for live color correction and styling.
To get the upgrade, users buy a key code that unlocks the features. Once the key code is used on a specific Lumix S1, the code becomes unique to that camera and is non-transferrable. So be sure to take care of those key codes! The full instructions for the activation are in the graphic above.
The LUMIX S1 Filmmaker Upgrade Software Key will be available in July 2019 for .
