Panasonic Lumix 24-60mm f/2.8 vs 24-70mm f/2.8

Panasonic’s new 24-60mm f/2.8 lens is best than the 24-70mm f/2.8… and $800 inexpensive?

Panasonic simply launched a brand new 24-60mm f/2.8 lens priced at $900—and it’s inflicting reasonably a stir. Why? Because Panasonic already sells a 24-70mm f/2.8 lens for a miles steeper $2,000 (lately round $1,700 on the time of writing). That’s a large value hole. So, the most obvious query is: is the older 24-70 price the additional $800? After trying out each lenses, the solution might wonder you.

Build Quality & Handling

At first look, the 24-60mm appears like a forged mid-tier lens. It’s extra compact than your conventional 24-70mm, and whilst it doesn’t scream “premium,” it holds its personal—similar in really feel to one thing like a Tamron lens. It has a clean zoom, an overly usable focus-by-wire handbook ring, or even a customizable serve as button. The 77mm filter out threads are a regular plus.

The costlier 24-70mm, then again, seems and feels extra top class. It’s larger, heavier, and denser, with an 82mm entrance part. Its zoom is smoother and extra delicate, and the transferring handbook concentration take hold of provides a certified contact—regardless that in apply, it’s simple to by chance bump it into handbook concentration mode. Surprisingly, it lacks a programmable button, which the inexpensive lens comprises.

Minimum Focusing Distance

The 24-60mm is the transparent winner right here with a minimal focusing distance of 7.5″ vs the 1.21′ (nearly double) of the 24-70mm. 

Image Quality: Head-to-Head

Color rendering? Nearly similar. Bokeh? Virtually the similar. Chromatic aberration or fringing? Neither has problems. Where you’re going to realize a distinction between those two lenses is in sharpness. At 400% zoom, the inexpensive 24-60mm used to be persistently sharper—particularly on the edges or even at f/2.8. The 24-70mm used to be noticeably softer at 70mm, particularly within the heart of the body. At f/2.8, the 24-60mm does be afflicted by vignetting greater than the costlier 24-70mm however you’ll simply brighten your edges with device. You will not be able to mend the comfortable concentration of the 24-70mm. 

The 24-70mm at 70mm carried out so poorly on this take a look at that I do wonder whether there’s something improper with my lens, however my take a look at unit used to be emblem new. 

Verdict: Save Your Money

Even if those two lenses carried out precisely the similar and the one distinction used to be 10mm of extra succeed in, there’d be no justification for spending $800 extra. You can simply take a step ahead. But the truth is much more dramatic: the inexpensive 24-60mm outperforms its pricier sibling in nearly each class. 

Unless you completely want that further 10mm, the selection is obvious. Save your cash. Panasonic’s new 24-60mm f/2.8 isn’t only a price range choice—it is if truth be told the easier lens.