Panasonic Lumix S Pro 70-200mm f/4 O.I.S.

I was a huge fan of this lens until it failed on me out of warranty (the electronics are dead, no idea why - it worked on day and not the next). I suppose it's a dead main board or a failed ribbon cable. However, it is Panasonic policy to not provide spare parts for their lenses so it's unrepairable. I now have a very expensive paperweight. I feel offended that such a find piece of optical engineering is now fit only for landfill. It's a real shame since it performed beautifully and I was quite a fan of it. But this will be my last Panasonic lens. Sigma lenses are just as good, if not better, and Sigma provide excellent repair and support.

A high-resolution, stabilised telephoto zoom covering the popular 70-200mm focal length range, this lens will be useful for portraiture as well as some sports and wildlife situations. Dust- and splash-resistance make it usable for location work and able to withstand light rain and spray as well as dusty conditions. It can also operate in temperatures as low as minus 10 degrees Celsius. The minimum focusing distance of 92 cm provides a maximum magnification of one quarter life size, which is quite good for a lens of its type. While not a true macro lens, it should be usable for close-ups on subjects like larger flowers and insects and pet portraits. Size- and weight-wise, this lens is a good match for the S1 and S1R bodies and the removable tripod mount makes it equally easy to use it when shooting hand-held or for longer exposures and more control when mounted on a tripod.