For the first time the new Panasonic 20mm II lens is in Stock at BHphoto (Click here). And while you are there at BH check out their great Olympus lens rebate scheme (Click here).
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Save up to $100 on Select Olympus Lenses and Accessories at Amazon US (Click here).
Save up to $150 on Select Olympus Compact System Cameras at Amazon US (Click here).
$50 off on the E-PM2 and E-PL5 superkits at Amazon US (Click here).
Save up to $100 on Qualifying Olympus Digital Cameras at Amazon US (Click here).
Free Handle with the Blackmagic MFT camera at Adorama (Click here).
41 Responses
Great combo with ep5!
Still Waiting for any kind of review of this new 20mm. . . Particularly a comparison with the old 20mm in terms of AF speed and noise.
I’m not expecting huge improvements, but it will be interesting to see if there are any real improvements at all?
ditto
I had the lens preordered to replace my old 20mm on my PL5 assuming the AF would be faster, and primarily the banding issue would have been fixed. I had lots of low light pictures ruined because of the strong banding from this lens.
I have recently spoken with a friend overseas who obtained the new 20mm II for use with his OMD. He told me focus speed is just as bad as with the old model, AND the banding issue is still present.
Since then I have canceled my preorder, and will be getting the Oly 17mm 1.8 instead.
Geez. Why build a second version of this lens just to upgrade from plastic to steel but not bother to take care of its biggest flaws?
“He told me focus speed is just as bad as with the old model, AND the banding issue is still present.”
Previews and hands-on said the same.
I heard that Leica 25mm also suffers from banding on the EM5. Can it be that Olympus is deliberately making Panasonic lenses “problematic” with their cameras? Not suggesting that’s the case; just asking the question.
FYI, I have the E-M5 and the PanaLeica 25mm 1.4, and I haven’t seen any banding issues so far (not that I was testing to find them, but in real world usage, the combo has worked great for me).
Martin…good choice. I have the Pany 25mm f/1.4 and owned the 20mm as well …it was the original kit lens to my GF1which I sold some time ago. I kept the 20mm even tho it was very close in focal length to the 25mm so that I would have a compact lens…but I found that I just did not use it as the focus was so slow compared to the 25mm and I could pull more bokeh out of the 25mm as well…so I sold the 20mm for a decent sum and as you, bought the Oly 17mm f/1.8…even tho the reviews were mix I wanted more focal length spread from my 25mm and the faster focusing. Love the lens. As far as I am concerned it’s a keeper!
What a scam…
This is only a new shell for the old 20/1.7 wich is optically ok, but has two flaws.
1. Slow AF motor.
2. Low light banding issue with newer sony sensors.
And the latter is the real bummer, because the AF motor is told to be the troublemaker for banding as well. Maybe MF helps, dunno.
But why the hell update this lens anywhay, though its not a real update?!
Slow AF does that mean that it still doesn’t do AFF & AFC on Panasonic cameras?
No AFC on Panasonic camera, not sure about AFF
Continuous AF doesn’t really work on any MFT camera.
I’m guessing you don’t have any m43 and are just repeating the APS-C gospel by indoctrination. AF-C DOES work on m4/3 cameras, it’s more than enough for normal photographers, certainly enough for common shooting conditions such as street, kids and whatnot. AF-C on m4/3 is just not up to the task when compared to the AF-C of the FF canikon monsters DSLRs, but is anyone really gonna cover professional sports or racing with a mirrorless camera ? m4/3 certainly has to improve it’s AF-C but people are spreading a bad rep based on unjustified expectations.
Very doubtful, since the manual focus by wire also just drives the AF motor.
I also get “flicker” when shooting video with the 20mm. I don’t get it with any of my other lenses, including panny 14 and 25. Pity as I don’t use the 20 for stills, and sort of like the field of view for video.
There are videos on Youtube for the AF.
😉
At least the noise is lower than Ver 1.
For Oly and GH3 user they have to use the fatter 17mm 1.8 if they want better low light without banding problems
Hey Admin and everyone else concerned, I just noticed the Leica DG is available for less than $530 at Amazon US right now. That’s about the same the price they sell used (in best shape) these days, so don’t miss your chance 🙂
Thanks! What I love about the price drops and deals is their warehouse deals also drop. Just picked up a like new one for $480 with full 30 day return policy.
Dont worry the price will drops as all m43 system will die
Still can’t believe Panasonic hasn’t improved the AF speed… The only and the loudest complain (beside the elephant: banding with Sony sensors) yet they choose to improve only the look.
P.S. As high ISO performance improves, the 2.8/17mm doesn’t look as bad now.
Panasonic screwed up with this one. They could have taken a good lens and made it awesome.
Yeah a strange one by Pana. I have the orig 20/1.7. Along with the 45/1.8 it makes a great kit with the EM5. Focus speed is its main issue ad I have been considering the 17/1.8 and even Sigmas 19mm.
I would have surely purchased the new 20 if they improved its focus speed and kept the image quality. Maybe they considered it and realised they couldn’t improve it without a drastic redesign. Maybe they couldn’t. Maybe the great IQ of the original was a pleasant surprise to them during the R&D into a normal pancake lens.
Get over it.. There’s a reason it’s #1… Size and Sharpness. All Your complaints are minor if this lens Still sells the most.
Don’t like it, don’t buy it. I have the 20mm and the 25mm, and I’ll be getting this for my GX7 when it comes out, just for a walking around street combo.
So you can keep complaining, or go outside and take some pictures..
I’m going outside…
Sounds like 20mm overkill. Do you have a 20mm fetish?
I have 3 MFT cameras. I would like for my son and I to walk around with both 20mm’s
What if your son prefers a 17mm FOV?
Plus, it’s more expensive and it’s Olympus. The OLYfanboys killed any thought of buying anything saying “Olympus”. The 20mm will do fine, no complaints here.
A year ago, I got the Panasonic 20mm instead of the Sigma 19mm because of the brightness (with the dated sensor in the GF2 this seemed to be a substantial difference) and because it was so popular despite the slow AF. I was forced to sell it for financial reasons. If the reason to sell it hadn’t been so pressing, I would have kept it and waited to see how the new version performs.
But now I’m really not sure if I’d want to get the new one along the GX7. Getting a different, cheaper lens with a little smaller max aperture might be sufficient now. If at all, I’d get the 20mm II as part of a kit or just the old version, but right now I don’t see a justification for buying it at the full price. After all, the old version was cheaper than that when I got it new last year.
I don’t think one should generally expect Panasonic to offer a new version of a lens at a lower MSRP. But then they actually did that with the new 14-140mm, I think?
I have the black 20 kit on order from Canada. If I do decide to keep the GX7 preorder I figure I can sell the 20 for $300 and reduce the cost of the GX7 body only to the same US body only price. I do have an E-P5 coming in this weekend to hold me over and evaluate.
Let me know.. Ebay it.
LR on special! Who cares?
If you want value try Corel PSP x5 not the best raw converter but great for layers and such also hosts all Photoshop plugins.
I got a copy off their web site direct at $29.99 the regular price is $99 but every few weeks they have crazy price specials.
Used as a layers app with ACDSee pro 6 as the raw converter and primary application and titivate with topaz.
I THINK YOU MEANT TO COMMENT ON THE OTHER POST…
Read the title you buffoon. First under other US. Wake up.
“Other US deals still running:
Adorama is running and exclusive sale with Adobe on Lightroom 5 (Click here). You get $50 off by using the Coupon Code “S987654321”
4% Back In Reward on Cameras and Lenses at Amazon US (Click here).” etc
Anyone want my mk1 for $300?
Other fail from panny
Lets pull an Oly,; Well make a range finder type body, then fuck it all up, then, we’ll make a new 20 1.7 and leave the fucked up focusing and call it good.
Canon 5d3 automode with 40mm oh real 40 mm beats any m43
Pathetic.. What’s the deal with all the Negative comments for anything Panasonic, Really??
They could make a Artificial Heart for your Dad, and you’d still find a way to spit venom… Sick.
Wtf Panasonic. All this for 10$ more profit?