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Panasonic Lumix S 18-40mm f/4.5-6.3
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Panasonic · 18-40 mm · Leica L mount

Panasonic Lumix S 18-40mm f/4.5-6.3

From $447.99 — 1 offer
KEY FACTS
BrandPanasonic
Announcement dateSep 2024
Released2024
Production started2024
Production statusIn Production
What We Like
+World's smallest and lightest full-frame mirrorless autofocus zoom lens with exceptionally compact collapsible design
+Fast and silent autofocus performance with effective focus breathing suppression for smooth video
+Excellent corner-to-corner sharpness and resolution throughout entire zoom range despite compact size
+Weather-resistant metal barrel with dust, splash, and freeze resistance for reliable outdoor use
+Versatile 18mm ultra-wide to 40mm standard focal length ideal for travel and everyday shooting
+Extends to 18-120mm with Hybrid Zoom on LUMIX S9 camera for added creative reach
Worth Knowing
−Variable aperture (f/4.5-6.3) is relatively slow for low-light handheld shooting compared to faster primes or constant-aperture zooms
−Some focus breathing still present despite suppression mechanism, particularly noticeable at 18mm and 40mm focal lengths
−Close focus distance reduces significantly at 40mm (0.35m) compared to 18-21mm range (0.15m), limiting macro versatility at telephoto end
−No built-in optical image stabilization; relies on camera body stabilization for handheld video

General

Brand
Panasonic
Announcement date
ⓘ
Refers to the date the manufacturer publicly announced the upcoming release and general specs of this camera.
Sep 2024
Released
ⓘ
Refers to the year this camera was officially made available for sale.
2024
Production started
2024
Production status
ⓘ
Current status of lens manufacturing (e.g., in production, discontinued).
In Production
Read our notes on general
The Panasonic Lumix S 18-40mm F4.5-6.3 is officially the world's smallest and lightest full-frame mirrorless zoom lens, combining just 155g weight with 41mm collapsed length. Corner resolution holds up well, this isn't a lens that trades edge performance for size, and professional reviewers consistently praise its exceptional portability, weather-resistant construction, fast and silent autofocus performance. Its main rival, the Lumix S 20-60mm f/3.5-5.6, weighs 350g and measures 8.72cm in length, over double the weight and length.

Optics

Aperture
f/4.5-6.3 (variable)
Lens Elements
8 elements in 7 groups
Aspherical Elements
3
ED Elements
2
UHR Elements
1
Min focal length
18 mm
Max focal length
40 mm
Focal range
ⓘ
Shortest to longest focal length of the lens (zoom range start - end )
18-40 mm
Zoom lens
ⓘ
Zoom allows you to vary the focal length, change between long shots and close-ups
Yes
Blades
ⓘ
Number of diaphragm blades in aperture
7020

Focus

Minimum Focus Distance (18 21mm)
0.15m (0.49ft)
Minimum Focus Distance (40mm)
0.35m (1.15ft)
Maximum Magnification
0.28x (at 21mm)
Focus Breathing Suppression
Yes

Build

Front Element Coating
Fluorine

Video

Focus Breathing
Suppressed

Physical

Lens mount
ⓘ
The lens mount will tell you what type of lens range you can fit onto the camera body. Often the same camera company will have different lens ranges for different cameras.
Leica L
Lens weight
155 g
Lens length
ⓘ
How long the lens is from front to back.
40.9 mm
Lens diameter
ⓘ
Width of the lens at its widest point
67.9 mm
Front filter size
ⓘ
Diameter of attachable filters.
62 mm

Features

Weather sealing
ⓘ
Weather sealing capabilities will give you more confidence when shooting in unfavourable conditions.
Yes