The one thing that isn't good about 135 Format is the telephoto lens selection and Panasonic only has one that ends at 300mm, a 70-300 f/4.5-5.6 and it's about
US$1100. It took Panasonic a while on micro Four-Thirds to get any good telephoto lenses and that format is much better for reach because of the sensor size.
I've been looking for a 135mm f/2.0 lens, like what Rokinon/Samyang had, even if it's manual. There is a Sigma 135mm f/1.8 but it appears to be going away. For US$1400, it's not bad, but it has the hypersonic motors that were being introduced in the dSLR days for faster auto focus. In my experience, they are not great for photographing video with AF and stepping motors work much better with mirrorless cameras and hybrid AF. It's possible that we'll see the version change from HSM to HLA in the near future, as some of their lenses have already made the transition.
As an aside, my first 135 Format film camera came with a 55mm f/2.2 Fujinon kit lens and I later bought a Vivitar 135mm f/2.8 lens for something like US$45.00 when a 50mm f/1.4 would have been US$350 and a 50mm f/1.2 would have been US$500. Back then, Vivitar was a good brand and had the first push-pull zoom mechanism. Working in the camera department of a department store a bit later, I had the opportunity to test the equipment, so that I could give an accurate opinion. Sadly, we didn't have any Medium Format equipment.
Have you noticed all of the long telephoto zoom lenses? I haven't, either. Sigma has the 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3, which is the latest rendition of what we used to call Bigma. For US$2000, it's a deal, but it's over 5 pounds at 88 ounces or 2.49 kg. You'll need to hire a photo assistant and have a tripod ready. Panasonic has a 70-300 f/4.5-5.6 and it's about US$1100. These are weather-sealed lenses. If you're photographing sports, you're going to be ready.
In the meantime, I opted for something used, a Canon 180mm f/3.5 macro lens substitute from Tamron for US$243.00 + a Viltrox (Pro) adapter for US$163.50. They actually had a Canon L-series lens but it was missing parts and I didn't want to pay extra and not have all of the parts. Besides, the L-series lenses were sometimes good, sometimes not. I used to see a sizeable number of refurbished L-series lenses.
180mm isn't terribly long, but the 70-200mm f/2.8 isn't much longer, and I'm not sure I'm wanting to pay for that 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6, even though the Dual I.S. will make it steadier. Neither the Canon or Tamron lenses seemed to have image stabilization. The IBIS in the S5 Mk II probably won't be completely effective at 180mm, which is partly why I already have a Smallrig CT-20 tripod/monopod.
Update 2024.12.23: I mentioned something about the lack of a Panasonic 85mm f/1.4 on L-Rumors and someone mentioned that the Sigma lens was amazing. As great as that is, where is Panasonic's lens?
Next month, they have an announcement at CES, which is not exactly the place for professional equipment, but maybe, just maybe, they're announcing replacements for the S1, S1H, and S1R, plus some lenses.
Update 2025.02.03: At CES, Panasonic talked about everything else but the plan for their photographic business. Supposedly, they have an announcement in February. CP+ in Yokohama will start February 27th, I believe. Hopefully, we'll get some good news. Has it really been five years since they started making L-mount equipment under the Panasonic Lumix name?
Update 2025.04.12: Panasonic has still not mentioned any new lenses. Sigma announced a 300-600mm f/4.0 Sports line lens and a 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 Contemporary line lens.
They sent me an e-mail about a week ago to accentuate the S1R Mk II with their telephoto lenses and to announce 10% off. I thought about getting a used lens. I've been using a Tamron lens that probably was released in 2004 and retired in 2014. It's in good condition, so it was probably made later in the life cycle of the lens. However, using it through an adapter isn't optimal. I was trying to get photos of the blood moon and tried early and got something interesting but focusing to infinity, even with manual focus doesn't work reliably.
Therefore, a little while ago, I ordered the Panasonic 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 OIS macro lens. At US$300 off US$1099.99, it was a decent deal and 10% from that made it a better deal. It's native and weather-sealed and with the small aperture, it's lightweight and will do just fine for photographing at a distance.
It should be better made than my micro Four-Thirds Olympus 40-150mm f/4.0-5.6 but the actual exposure won't be much different and that lens isn't weather-sealed. That was surprisingly good for a refurbished lens at US$99. The 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 had better be really good since it's new.
I wouldn't mind a travel zoom, but the only one that is weather-sealed and will work is a Canon EF-mount L-series lens for about US$1500. The Panasonic 28-200mm f/4.0-7.1 has a fair number of "it's okay", which says that I won't like it.
Update 2025.05.01: I've had the Panasonic 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 for a couple of weeks. It's a good lens, but not a Pro lens. It's more than good enough but it seems like the Canon EF-mount lens that is US$599, which is about half the price. It has some weather-sealing, but they have a warning on the lens page, so I wouldn't be on it handling a storm.
I got some star photos, but auto focus still seems to be a problem for the S5 Mk II. Panasonic really needs to step it up. I understand that the pandemic disrupted everyone, but it's been over for a while. The G9 Mk II doesn't seem to have any auto focus issues and that's the way it should be with the S-series bodies and lenses.
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