Panasonic announced that they will release a new 25mm f/1.4 Micro Four Thirds lens. I expect the lens to have the same high image quality as the current [shoplink 16340]Panasonic/Leica 25mm f/1.4 (for Four Thirds)[/shoplink].
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45 Responses
I’m definitely looking for it to be Weaterproof. Whatever a Wheater is, I don’t want any of them to affect my lens.
I voted for weather sealing too, but apparently we are in the minority on that one.
Gotta love the way people think though, they want the highest possible IQ…but it can’t be expensive. While we’re asking for the impossible I’d also like to put a request in for a $25k Ferrari.
I think there should be another option added to the poll: Since 14mm F2.5 was initially F2.8, I hope 25mm will turn out to be at least F1.2. If not, Nokton 25mm F0.95 is the better option for me.
Panasonic, can you please make 25mm F1.2 that auto focuses?
I was just going to write that
I hope they surprise us with a 1.2F 25mm
I think the 20mm at 1.7 was a surprise also
Added! 🙂
Should I add your vote?
Thanks! You can add my vote for faster than F1.4 :). I only voted for “Highest possible image quality” anyway.
Yep! f1.2 and the voigtländer is out of the race for me!
Still I don’t like the after taste of the word “consideration”
There already is already a compact 20 f1.7, the 25 f1.4 should deliver great IQ keeping size controlled.
This is my experience with the Panasonic Leica 25mm for FT:
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I got mine two weeks ago, a brand new one, firmware 2.1. I can’t auto-focus with it at all. There’s a rather obvious front focus problem. At a distance of 50cm the focus is off at least by 2cm to 5cm. Auto-Focus to infinity is inaccurate as well. I cannot take any sharp pictures of objects far distanced (more than 100m away). When I look at the distance display on the lens after focusing on something that is more than 50m away, it still doesn’t read “infinity”. I tested with two different E-520 bodies, both show exactly the same results (one camera with factory settings). All my Zuiko lenses focus alright.
I gave the lens to Panasonic’s service which sent it in and I was picking it up again last week with high hopes. It turned out they didn’t find any problem. They wanted me to send in the lens again, this time my camera including. I wished them a nice day and left. Actually I just left. I’m sent it back to the shop I got it from and they’ll send me another new one. Again, I have to resort to high hopes.
To be absolutely clear: Panasonic SUCKS! First of all, a lens they sell with a Leica label obviously gets through QC/QA in manufacturing with bad defects and what’s even worse is they FAIL to recognize the problem when pointed to it, wasting my time and good will. The service technician I talked to claimed they tested the lens and it works according to Panasonic’s specifications. It still doesn’t focus right and it’s still unable to focus to infinity. It’s not a F*****G issue with my camera as I tried it on two different Four Thirds bodies and the lens shows the same defects on both bodies while every other lens I tried works well on the same bodies.
If the replacement lens doesn’t live up to my expectations of an expensive lens with the Leica brand on it then that’s it for Panasonic as far as I’m concerned.
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Just check out the Flickr group for the 25mm FT lens and check the discussions board. There’s more than one buyer of that lens with a focus problem.
I guess when Panasonic “tested” my lens, maybe they used MFT bodies with an adapter only, which means they only tested contrast based auto focus (not phase detection as in DSLR bodies)? Anyway, the problem was clearly visible when connecting the lens to any FT Olympus body.
The lesson is not to rely on any Leica brand they put on Panasonic products. You can’t expect Leica results and quality from Panasonic. So that’s why I chose “Highest possible image quality”, meaning that I expect them to improve in their overall build quality as well. The Leica brand on the lens is totally useless obviously. Whoever voted for that option in the poll can’t be helped anyway… if you want Leica, BUY Leica.
About the size: have you guys seen the 25mm f/1.4 for FT? It’s HUGE. Don’t expect anything else from the MFT model if it has to compete on the same terms with the FT lens.
Weatherproof?! For which body? I don’t think there’s going to be a matching body within the next two years.
Interesting reading what you have written, I have the 25 and it seems to front focus on my GH1 as well. I planned to contact Panasonic at some point but your experience leaves me to consider if this is such a good idea…
Front focus problem with CDAV? Is this possible?
Would think not – but I have read the same from other folks using Olympus and Panasonic m43 cameras with the FT 25mm.
I think it’s a more of a Olympus to Leica problem, my F1.4 25mm works perfectly with my Panasonic L10’s and GH1, not so quick/accurate with my Olympus e630 (but is workable or I can use manual focus).
btw I really like the size and weight of the F1.4 although it’s probably not suitable for Olympus Pen bodies…
+1 – the lens works beautifully on my G1, AF and all.
My only gripe is the size and weight of that thing (although I knew what I was getting into). Going out on a walk with smaller lenses is very liberating…
It’s a gem of a lens capable of producing crisp and clear images. It would be quite challenging for Panasonic to match its performance with a smaller, software corrected lens. Lets see if they can do it.
There are already many many high quality 25mm f1.4 lenses. If size doesn’t matter, then use the current FT panasonic leica lens. Built in IS at 25mm f1.4? What, are we shooting in total darkness? Weatherproof would be nice, but only if they intend to introduce a weatherproof body soon. I would expect the lens to be compact regardless of anything else, and I would expect the AF to be fast and quiet. Those two things are just about standards. Leica branded? Meh, I guess. Personally, I would much rather see a 12-60mm f/2.8 come out.
f/1.4 is a great option when you have a single subject, but it doesn’t work for every type of photo. For *candid* shots of people especially, it’s nice to be able to stop down a little when you need to and get more in focus. Also, with a m43 camera that gets noisy at ISO 800, image stabilization means you can lower your ISO for better quality images.
What about in-lens IS? That would be a real dealbreaker and completely new in fast lenses (if I’m not mistaken). In that case they would have the same advantage as similar systems where you couple a fast lens to a camera with in-body IS.
Usually manufacturers simply suppose that we gain enough light with a fast lens so that it’s not necessary to add IS. But if they did, we could gain at least 2 EV without risking to have a completely shallow focus plane (supposing the shutterspeed is fast enough). Ot isn’t it possible to implement effective IS at this focal length?
As long as you’ve included a “surprise” category (something other than 25/1.4) how surprising us by making it longer than 25mm? Say, 45 or 50 or 60 mm?
Seriously, Pana already has an excellent lens in this general category, the 20/1.7; they don’t need another so close to it until they have filled out some of the other gaps in their lineup. Realistically, there are very few situations in which you couldn’t substitute the 20/1.7 for a 25/1.4 with reasonably good results. On the other hand, there are LOTS of situations in which the 45/2.8 doesn’t cut it, and neither Pana nor Olympus has anything to plug those holes.
+1
if i dont get a 45-50mm rumor till gh2 release date i am getting a sony a77.
It would be nice to have a 25mm, but when m4/3 has no 45-50mm fast primes, releasing a 25mm when there is already a good 20mm out, plain moronic.
2 years past since the release of G1. I still think this is some kind of joke that m4/3 has no 45-50mm fast primes.
There have been so many great nifty fifty’s produced over the years a native m4/3’s 50mm is actually pretty far down my list since I don’t mind manual focus for portrait work. I’d simply have a hard time justifying a $600+ 50mm f/1.4 when I already own an excellent Pentax 50mm/1.4. I may not have auto focus, but no biggie there, my subjects rarely move. I’ll pre-order a 25mm/1.4 the first day they accept orders. I’d also buy an 8mm f/2.8 prime before I’d get a 50mm prime.
Hear hear Ranger 9!! It’s bizarre there isn’t a fast 50mm yet when there are so many from other manufacturers. A 35mm would also be nice and be a much better complement to the 20mm than a 25mm. By my reckoning they could both be made as pancakes and would create a great set of fast high quality lenses with the 20 and 14mm.
I third that motion. I can’t believe with all the mFT lenses being announced, there still isn’t a fast portrait prime. I love my legacy Pentax 50/1.4, but I miss a lot of shots without autofocus. A FPP should have been their first lens, not the last. The 2X crop factor makes lens speed critical in a portrait lens.
give us a fast wideangle prime with mega OIS at reasonable price from panasonic without leica surcharge under 500 dollars
There’s “bright wide angle” under consideration, so there’s hope. For me, a 14mm F1.4 or faster would be perfect. No need for IS in lens, it would make it heavier, larger and more expensive, buy an Olympus body and you’ll have IS on all lenses.
Aperture ring! This is my favorite feature on the 25 and has caused me to miss its absence on other lenses. I would gladly pay more for a lens with an aperture ring.
Weatherproof? Does that make sense without a weatherproof body?
And lol on the people who are voting for “lens stabilization” for a 25/1.4 :)))
Why lol on IS? Long(er) hand held exposure times make IS useful on any lens.
if u want longer times why da hell you buying 1.4 lens ??
DOF
I don’t buy fast lenses because I only want to shoot wide open. Did you notice that the aperture is a variable setting and that you actually CAN take pictures stopped down – even with a f1.4 lens?! There are rumors that stopping down a lens can result in sharper images from center to the edges.
And why it is so nice to have an aperature ring on the lens.
If you have never been in a situation where stabilization on a fast lens wouldn’t open up even more creative options… then you don’t spend enough time taking photos.
Motion blur of a subject? Deeper depth of field in low light? Lol @ people who think f1.4 is the answer for every photo.
Plenty of lenses are fast. Lots of ’em have stabilization. Now if you could have a lens with both, that would be a real winner.
Maybe they need IS for video?
Agree with the making it longer. To bad that alternative wasn’t on the list. Anything from 35-50 with f1.4 is much needed. Since portrait don’t really need neither IS, high IQ, ruggedness or even compactness that should be easy enough really. Just need very large aperture with fast and quiet AF.
I use my old pentax 1.7 even though it’s too slow, very soft and got no AF.
Oh, and aperture ring on the lens and good manual focus ring would be nice bonuses.
700$??
How much is a Nikkor 50/1.4?
It should not be more than 400$!
And the 20/1.7 shouldn’t be priced much than 200$!
I’m still wondering why the micro 43 lenses are so expensive – less glass than full frame, less resolving requirements etc yet costs are comparable if not a lot more expensive than full frame lenses, look at the price of the Panasonic wide angle f4 (f8 on full frame) its about the same price as a Canon 16-35mm f2.8. It doesn’t really make sense to spend that much on a lens for that kind of spec.
Jesus christ. It seems like they have no interest in creating what we NEED. “Let’s make cool ass zooms and wide pancake primes.” Not that those lenses are not cool, but i think they’re not making longer primes cause they can’t make it look ultra compact like the pancakes…sucks. If Panasonic can make a 20mm lens at f/1.7, and canon makes theirs at f/2.8, AND $100 more, i kind of expect this stupid 25mm to be faster than f/1.4, if we’re gonna end up having to paying several hundred dollars for it…
Since 20 and 25mm are so close, i really hope there is a marginal difference in speed and/or price to justify the existence of the lens at this point.
It’s pretty damn hard to make a glass that stays reasonably sharp at f1.2. Any lens that is to render good images at that speed is going to be huge and heavy to start with.
And considering the price of the FT 25mm Panasonic Leica: I have mixed feelings about that as I got a defect lens initially. I expect the lens to outperform any of the other lenses in terms of IQ. According to the reviews I read about that lens, I decided to buy it – even considering the much higher price. A FT Sigma 30mm would have been considerably cheaper, but I opted for the higher IQ.
I really need a Fast Portrait lens with AF!! A little bigger size would be ok
OIS for video yes…
Make the new 25 1.4 actually a 50 1.4.
prime lens wishlist….
20mm f1.7 .. done
35mm f1.4….
50mm f1.2….
Micro 4/3rds wishlist –
35mm equivalent f1.0 – f1.4.
24mm equivalent – don’t care about the speed as long as it’s super sharp, no abberations and sharp across the frame
well made Tilt shift adapter for use with other lenses and that 24mm equiv listed above.
1080p @ 24 – 60 fps user selectable in the new GF2.
SATA/eSATA port to link it to SSD for 4:4:4 video straight from the sensor *not gonna happen! But it would own Canon until the 5DIII / 1DsIV.
Better viewfinder for the GF series, hybrid built in like the x100 would be great, loose the flash if you need too – composition is more important than on camera flash.
Don’t care about:
burst modes. Boring.
Superzooms.
af speed – decent manual focus ring and solid build is much more important for me.
longer primes – have loads of old decent 50mm – 100mm fast manual focus lenses to use for those focal lengths.
Aw man…I was gonna wait for something from Olympus…so I can sell of the bodies (I know that I won’t get much, but it’s something). If the new M43 Olympus or Panasonic body look like the Fujii X100 > that would be awesome!! Then I would keep my lenses…want to get faster lens though their getting either very expensive or hard to get a hold of buying…