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Panasonic USA distribution doesn’t have a good reputation. As you may have noticed neither Amazon (Click here) nor Adorama (Click here) nor Bhphoto (Click here) are currently having the popular 20mm lens in Stock. Some of our readers asked me if that might be a sign for a new replacement coming soon. The answer is simple…NO! It’s again a supply problems and as we already know from many examples in the past Panasonic is supplying the US stores as they were a minor shop in Mongolia 🙂 Personal note: I have been in Mongolia once and love the country!
USA deals:
HOT: If you buy a GX1 body at BHphoto (Click here) you can get $100 up o $200 on all Panasonic lenses!
And after the new hack release the GF2 is also partuclary tempting, for $375 with kit lens at Amazon (Click here).
Panasonic 45-175mm X lens get’s a $17 price drop at Amazon (Click here).
41 Responses
The only time it’s been easy to get was when it was a kit lens on the old GF1 and in the month before the Panasonic/Leica 25mm FINALLY shipped to the US.
Yeah, I’ve been to Amazon again today and there’s still no stock.
If I do get the OM-D E-M5 (with zoom kit), I’ll likely just get one more prime lens within my budget and it will be this – for indoor and low light photography.
For it’s price, I hope it’s a good choice. It’ll be better in lowlight situations than my current LX3 I guess.
(Once again, I’m a newbie… so please be gentle on me? 😛 )
Enjoy your self…Try Amazon….it seems in stock
And enjoy the macro capabilities of the new lens + body. Should be sweet!-)
You may want to look at the 45mm f/1.8 as an option. Since it’s Oly, it’ll have the fast focusing of the new Oly lenses which should mesh perfectly with the Oly E-M5, and it’s a fast, superb portraiture (and short telephoto) lens.
The 20 f/1.7 is a superb pancake. You won’t be disappointed. I have it and the Oly 45 f/1.8, and I find the 20 far more useful — it’s not a telephoto. 🙂 I also find it more useful than the 25mm f/1.4 if only for the fact that I can accidentally shove the 20mm into my bag and not notice it’s there, whereas the 25mm is twice the size and price for a stop’s worth of light. (That said, the 25 is a better lens in general)
However, the focus speed of the 20 is showing it’s age. It hunts, and features the wondrous clicking aperture of doom.
Wait a minute! What is this clicking aperture of doom you speak of? Mine 20mm lens makes a rather subtle click sound when quickly facing bright light, but I have not experienced any practical problems.
That is just the aperture. It is normal and no sign of age.
On it only clicks on Oly bodies, not on panasonics.
Nope, clicks on Pana as well (GH 13). If there is too much light for the sensor, the cam stops it down.
“25mm is twice the size and price for a stop’s worth of light”
it’s half a stop actually
I recently paid $509 for PL25, so it is closer to 50% more. I’ve used it long enough to know that I will be selling the 20, even though it is an excellent lens.
Just bought GF1 and 14mm pancake from eBay for around $400… I believe for that price, best compact big sensor (MFT/APS) combo out there… anything comparable that is new is at least $1,000…
the 14mm is a very nice lens
It’s an over-rated lens anyway.
Well, it’s a good lens when you absolutely need AF and a discreet profile.
Available from Hong Kong or Japan for about $450 including shipping.
Also in stock at Vistek.CA for $500.
It is not overrated. The 20/1.7 is a classic because of its combination of speed, sharpness wide open, compactness and “image feel”.
Uh, the 20mm is slower than the 17mm Olympus focussing that is.
The 25mm is also better for portraits than the 20mm.
I never bought the 20 due to that.
IMO the 14mm is better for landscapes and general photography, the 17mm was my first wide and the 25 for low light. The 45mm is nice for portraits too.
The 20mm is what we say in the Netherlands “Vlees noch Vis”‘(it’s not one or the other, difficult to translate)
Sorry to say, this all sound like academic hair splitting served with a bit too much authority, when in fact you admit having never bought it, but keep silent on your field experience using it.
The 20 is slow to focus on my Pen, and hunts more than any other AF lens I have. I also find the manual focus excruciating to use. From that point of view, it’s over rated.
oï oï oï let the flame begin!
Will they rather produce an all black ones just like the latest production of 14mm?
I know it’s cosmetic only, but it will match my oly bodies and leica lenses rather well.. Not like those ugly grey stripes..
Any word on that?
maybe the problem is with the credit rating of the US dealerships????
USA guy here. Sometime in early 2011 I decided I wanted the GH2 w/14-140mm lens. I’m patient, but waited months because either it was not in stock or dealers were price gouging. Finally got it in June, and also picked up the 20mm and 7-14mm. Strange that so many complain about USA supply, and yet Panasonic hasn’t improved.
Wish they would replace it….
… With same optics but a quicker focus motor!
I cannot help but think Panasonic makes their lens production forecasts based on GF and GH sales numbers.
Then along come many many more olympus users gobbling up all the lenses because other than the 12mm and 45mm all olympus lenses are second tier to Panasonic’s.
Still asking and cannot get the proper answer.
Does the 1.8/45 have the same (or at least comparable) focus speed on Panasonic bodies as well?
Yes, there is no real difference.
It sometimes hunts on the GF1 more than the 20 mm. Haven’t done any firmware updates mind you, don’t know if there are even any available.
Note that continuous AF is available with the 45 mm on a GF1. It is not with the 20 mm.
Hey, that user name is taken ; ).
awe man… heh, I was hoping it was being discontinued- for a MkII version of the lens.
What’s the big deal? Available at calumetphoto.com for $339
hurry up! 🙂
I had trouble getting it in Norway in early January. Looked like everyone was out of stock. Got it a month ago though and I use it for 90% of my shooting now …
I’m not sure what’s up with the US and Panasonic, either. Having spoken to independent camera shops, they say that their Panasonic reps are hinting at some sort of a corporate problem or reorg that’s not helping with the supply.
That said, there’s a reasonable supply of 7-14mm lenses right now. 🙂 Every last one of the shops I spoke to tried to sell me theirs…
The amazon link for the GF2+pancake is actually for the GF2+kit zoom, $367. GF2+14mm pancake is $399 but only in red. In black or silver, $499.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_4_4?url=search-alias%3Delectronics&field-keywords=gf2+14mm&x=0&y=0&sprefix=gf2+%2Celectronics%2C655
Interesting that adorama.com put up the price just yesterday, from 339 to 359.
Does anyone here think it’s a good idea to sell mine and go for the 25mm?
If you don’t need it due to it’s size (pancake) I’d get the 25mm definately.
See some threads up, I passed on the 20mm because it’s “neither here nor there” in photography land. I managed to hold out until the 25mm was released,
Now I have 14mm, 17mm, 25mm and 45mm primes. In my opinion a better set than with the 20 iso the 25.
Maybe this lens will be one of few products in the Panasonic line that has longevity, e.g., be current and in production for more than two years. Nevertheless, companies don’t like consumers to remain content because they won’t spend. Make it smaller, sharper, faster AF, wider f/stop? Maybe choice of barrel colors: pink, violet, camouflage?
WTF! I have a friend visiting the US next month and was gonna have him grab this for me! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! 🙁
better think for a similarly or lower priced lens now that is as amazing (i.e none)
If you sometimes go on B&H and randomly check the stock for the 20mm it will be there but then quickly go back to ‘out of stock’ soon after.
I have seen ebay auctions for used 20mm lenses get close to $400.
selling mine if anyone is looking.
$350 w/tiffen filter. 9+ condition.