The likely most popular MFT lens got a nice discount at Amazon (Click here). There are only eight left and sold by Amazon itself for $335 (previously it was $399). And it quickly jumped on first place of the mirrorless sales rankings (Click here to see).
More deals and in Stock info:
The GH3 is in Stock at Amazon (Click here). But to see how well it sells you have to watch the DSLR and not the mirrorless ranking (Click here). I guess Amazon (or Panasonic) consider it as DSLR competitor.
$229,00 for the [shoplink 37971 ebay]Brown GF5 body with kit lens(Click here)[/shoplink]
$169,00 for the [shoplink 37982 ebay]Black GF5 body only (Click here)[/shoplink]
$217,90 for the [shoplink 37983 ebay]Red GF5 body with kit lens (Click here)[/shoplink]
27 Responses
When I bought this lens it was only $320 from Amazon, so Panasonic is still having a lot of success selling it.
That probably means there isn’t much incentive for them to update the AF performance… too bad.
You’re probably right…I have the 14mm and PL25, and still wonder if the 20mm could still be the lens of choice for casual/street shooting if the AF was improved. Someone mentioned the focus throw is too long on the 20mm, which is where the sluggishness comes from…
In my G3 the focus is slower than the 14/2.8 but not too much. AF in video is a pain.
I think they’d make more $$$ if they released a 20mm X or II with improved AF performance and build quality and price it at $400, then drop the current lens down to $250 or $200. If they think it encroaches on the 25mm then they should instead make a 17mm pancake.
They would get my money, that’s for sure.
I sold my 20mm because of the slow AF and instead use the 14mm (and the 19mm sigma sometimes too).
They DID get your money, they didn’t lose your money cause you sold it.
I sold my 20mm after I bought the Oly 17mm f/1.8. I have the 25mm f/1.4 and the 14mm, too.
I sold my 20mm because of the slow AF (the other lenses focus very fast), and because Iit was so close to the focal lengths of the 17mm & the 25mm. I just wasn’t using it. Wish all of the lenses were as sharp as the 20mm, though.
This lens cost me US$ 150.00 used – bought it with GF1 for 550 and sold the GF1 with 14-42 for 400. I may buy the new 14-42, since I miss the kit zoom for videos. The new model have a great size and seems to be much better optcally. Still not sure if it has metal or plastic mount tough.
Metal.
Chromed plastic, according to a review I read. Will try to find it.
http://www.dslrmagazine.com/pruebas/pruebas-tecnicas/zoom-estandar-de-panasonic-minusculo-y-bonito.html
Ask google to translate it, they say it is plastic with a metal coating.
But what about the images on: http://www.dpreview.com/previews/panasonic-lumix-dmc-gf6 ???
chromed plastic
Sneaky.
I sold mine for $280 after owning for a year and a half and replaced it with the 25mm ƒ/1.4 with some of the money. The pancake is a great lens but absolutely sucks for manual focusing in video. I may re-buy it sometime in the future though.
Already said, but deserves repeating
If they fixed the AF on a 20mm 1.7 MkII, it would become the highest demand m43 product in history, even if they sold if for $500.
There must be technical design reasons why they can’t fix the AF.
^ this (missing mkII version) and how they build the pyramids are 2 biggest mysteries in the world…
Panasonic can answer at least one though…
Lol
Why should they bother? It already is a big seller just the way it is. At the end of the day it’s all about the fast glass and IQ.
I use Nikon D4 for my sport/ bird work so I am used to fast AF and I must say I have never had any trouble with the 20mm AF except in very low light low contrast scenarios where frankly every mFT lens struggles.
how about 13mm f4.0 pancake for $300 that is sharp?
The price is now 399 🙁
yes great lens for stills. useless for video in either af or mf. got mine used for only $250 so i feel fine with using it just for snap shots.
Signature lens of MFT. You can’t mention MFT without talking about this lens.
It’s funny how people complain and whine about this lens, yet it sells like hotcakes.
Pancakes. It sells like pancakes.
Waffle!
If you’re thinking about getting this lens – GET IT NOW. Yeah yeah slow AF, but take just ONE portrait in the late afternoon sun and you’ll just glue it on.