Egami spotted a new Panasonic patent describing exactly the soon to be announced new Panasonic 150mm f/2.8 lens. The lens will be announced at Photokina in September. These are the specs
Description and self-interpretation of the patent literature
- Patent Publication No. 2014-38304
- Publication date 2014.2.27
- Filing date 2012.7.20
- Example 1
- Focal length f = 146.2142-139.0971mm
- Fno. 2.91065-2.92693
- Half angle ω = 4.1995-3.5203 °
- Image height Y = 10.8150mm
- Total length 132.5800mm
And here is a picture of the prototype shown last year:
70 Responses
“Fno. 2.91065-2.92693” is more 3 than 2.8. 🙁
Indeed, worst case they make a 139mm f2.9 rather than a 150mm f2.8,
thats a difference of 11% 🙁
Most lenses are fudged like this. It’s one reason why movie industry types insist on T-stop specification. Doesn’t make this practice right though. If there was truth in advertising it would be listed as an f/2.9.
I just want to see the shots it can take.
I’m puzzled. Didn’t a Panasonic representative say just the other day that this lens will not be released anytime soon?
No, Panasonic said they had looked at developing a long ZOOM but decided against it.
Lame F-Stop for that focal lenght, should be brighter (F2) or at least 200mm. If the price is not overprice, then i can consider this.
135 mm lenses with moderate apertures have been around ever since. Let’s see how they price this.
And usually with about 5 elements, this better be the best
Well, Sony’s 135mm f2.8 is $1300…
This one will need extra high quality to decently lit that tiny sensor. On the other hand, they use a lot of software correction. We’ll see what they come up with.
In my fav shop there’s a used, mint condition, Olympus 150mm f2 (4/3 mount of course). That beast is huge and screams “great glass” from all its size..
Do yourself a favor and go get it. Get a 1.4x teleconverter while you are at it. 210mm f/2.8 sounds quite appealing, don’t you think? 😉 E-M1 with battery grip should handle it no problem. I use the 50-200mm SWD and find it quite manageable. After firmware 1.4 the AF is fast enough and dead accurate.
I know, but I’m getting married soon and I can’t justify it at the moment 😉 It would be perfect to shoot at concerts (though it will fill my beg with its huge size).
Congrats on your wedding. 🙂 Out of interest, how much is this shop of yours asking for the 150mm f/2? They are really hard to find used, and even then the asking price is easily over 1500 euros.
I’ll check and come back late this afternoon, when I’ll stop by. If I recall correctly, its price is 1500 €, but it could also be a little bit lower.
Congrats on your upcoming wedding Marco!
Thank you so much Tom! How are things?
Excellent. About to depart with the kids on a camping hiking trip across Europe, from Ireland to Bulgaria, with a “sidehop” in Finland. Main objective though is doing some trails in the Pyrenees and Dolomites!
Regardless what part of Finland you are going to visit, bring insect repellant and cortisone. The more you go north, the more you are going to need them. 😉 Other than that, Finland is great for hiking, kayaking, fishing, etc.
Just checked: the price is 1450 €. The lens is almost new, it has no sign of use on the golden contacts of the mount. Tempting…
Wow, that’s a good price, lowest I’ve seen one sell for, especially when it’s mint. Considering the teleconverter possiblities with that lens, it may be a better and more versatile option than the future Olympus 300mm f/4. And it’s available right now, in a shop near you! 😉 Maybe they will rent it out for you to try? I would love to see the results you get. From what little I’ve seen, that lens is a stellar performer.
Not very special IMO.
Should be cca $500, cause f2.8 is not really exotic and to make it more attractive to people who dont cr out for 150mm prime every day
If the mock up sample is correct , I wonder what Lumix cameras can mount such big lens except a GH .
The GX7 although powerful really have hard time mount to this biggest lens in m4/3 history . The rest , GM & GF are jokes to pair with this giant lens .
If Pana can’t give us F2.0 then reduce the lens size from previous sample if have to F2.8 .
If you want a good quality lens, it needs to be big, at this focal lenght. Check 43 olympus 150mm f2, for comparision. If you keep the size small you will sacrifice aperture or image quality.
“GM & GF are jokes to pair with this giant lens”
So the most important factor is: how the camera looks if you mount a lens.
f2.8 for a 150mm mft prime is a bit slow…considering the Oly 40-150mm will also be f2.8 and that’s a zoom! F2 would have been great.
Optical performance and weight will be important but price will also be a decisive factor in this lens succes (after all the postponing…).
1000 euros will be a good price but I’m afraid it will cost more than 1200 euros when it will be launched…
It will be a nice addition to the mft system nevertheless.
http://photobyandrei.wordpress.com/
Keep in mind that at 150mm, going from f2.8 to f2.0 adds about 2cm of diameter to the aperture. This can hardly be done without adding even more to the front element as well as the length and the weight, let alone the price.
I am not saying it can’t or should not be done. My feeling is that Panasonic’s engineers weighed this option carefully.
How does this compare in size and weight to the Olympus 40-150 2.8? That and price will be key, assuming both will have great optics. This looks to be almost as big as the zoom…
I’m sure it will be a little smaller and lighter, probably why it’s taken so long to be released!
Not for anyone with a Panasonic camera (bar GX7)…..The key is if a lens with usch FL is stabilised or not…
Removable tripod foot would be a good option with this one, otherwise it’ll be an awkward size with the GX and G series cameras.
They are obligated to release a 1.4x converter with this lens in order to sell it if not a 2x…
Giving 300mm to 600mm eq. With stellar IQ (and fast autofocus) will definetly complete m43 system…
15 elements I bet this lens will be sharp.
Total length of the lens is 132.5800mm? That does seem reasonable size.. At least smaller than the 4/3 Sigma 150mm/2.8 and Oly 50-200/2.8-3.5. Still it is somewhat limited use for me especially with the lack of native m43 teleconverters. I’ll stick with the big ol’ 50-200 🙂
Practically, I have the same, Sigma 150mm 2.8, with a FT mount, usable on mFT with a somewhat slower AF. Haven’t used it much but it works very well on my E-600. And I suppose it will work even better with the mFT ISO champion E-PM2 … Looking forward to testing this combination in appropriate conditions – summer, seaside … I hadn’t heard this lens (Sigma 150mm 2.8) existed until I bought it some months ago. It is highly recommended by photozone.de and used to cost about 550-600 euros new – while it was still in production. I bought it second-hand for 250 euros. And I may turn out extremely happy when the price of this Pana here gets announced … 🙂 I can easily guess what the price will be. And I wonder why Sigma seem to be withdrawing from Olympus (with certain exceptions). What a beast would, e.g., Sigma 18-35 f1.8 be on E-PM2! Literally and metaphorically, picture-wise. Sadly, it does not exist – while it easily could.
It would be interesting to see how the Sigma 150/2.8 works on E-M1 with OSPDAF.
BTW, is it the same as their FF 150/2.8 Macro or something specifically made for 4/3?
I suppose, the Sigma 150mm 2.8 will work perfectly (in terms of AF) on E-M1. But I haven’t bought and will not be buying E-M1 for an exorbitant price with a 20% lower ISO capacity than the 4.5 times “cheaper” E-PM2. This is a disgrace! I will either wait for a reasonably-priced PDAF m43 camera or do with my three FT cameras until they last. (May buy a fourth one just in case ….) This was a side note.
I checked – and as far as I can tell, the Sigma 150mm 2.8 is a full frame lens – http://www.dpreview.com/news/2010/9/21/sigma150os#specs. Obviously, my version is the FT one – which fits only FT. And mFT with an adapter.
“20% lower ISO capacity than the 4.5 times “cheaper” E-PM2″
Don’t judge by DxO score, see their noise graph.
I hope it has 5 axis Power OIS over the standard Mega. Panny needs to compete with Oly on that front.
Lenses cannot do rotational axis, and almost none but one Canon macro even attempt to compensate for translational movement (which is not easy with a lens either, much easier to do with a sensor).
Hmm, I guess the 5 -axis on the new FZ1000 lens is a different animal. Regardless, Lumix should try and provide their best IS on new lenses.
It’s 5-axis hybrid ois, meaning it uses some digital sensor cropping for translational x/y movement.
And for rotation probably too. Although it requires a lot of processing (and battery) power.
And if it is cropping, it also means it is only for VERY slow shutter speeds.
Stop getting carried away about the quoted numbers, that’s not the final lens, it is only an EXAMPLE. Filed in 2012. Final lens will be quite different. You guys are so funny.
I know, right? I’m with you.
now I can make my own!
I’ll give you 500 dollars for it and not a penny more.
Exactly, it is crazy to spend 1000 on any m43 lens ….
Wait, I did spent a lot on the penny 7-14
Anyway, the 42.5 and this 150 are not going to sell well as they are vastly overpriced !
Just stick with 12-32, and the upcoming ultra portable 35-100 and the 14 20 17 25 45 primes
Well, I can’t see myself wanting this. Covered already by a 135/2.8 and 200/3.0. They both look smaller!
200mm F3.0?
OM mount Vivitar Series 1
It’s almost the same length as a canon 200 2.8 which will be the same angle of view on a aps camera body. You can buy the canon brand new for 800 and used for about 450 or so. At the price panasonic is going to want for this I just can’t justify it. And before anyone flames me: I own 3 panasonic cameras lx7 fz200 and g5 and I’m a big fan of their ergonomics and menus. But if I wanted a 300mm 2.8 equiv, it would be a canon body and 200mm 2.8L. The sl1 body is as small as my g5 for all intents and purposes and is going for 400-450 right now. anyone agree or disagree with my reasoning? Seems like micro 4/3 is charging a huge tax for smallness anyway and this lens can’t even claim that
yep. There are a few lenses that are cheaper and not that much larger or heavier in other formats but this 150mm f2.8 is meant to be a pro spec lens and I guess the argument would be that while this lens is not small, others are in the system. But I see your point.
You are comparing specs which is fine. A specsheet does not tell you how sharp it is, how the bokeh irendered etc. So you cannot come to any conclusion based on some comparison with similarly speced lenses….
Well actually sharpness is a “spec” so you’re bringing up specs too. Also it’s not as if I’m comparing it to a dog of a lens. I’m talking about a canon “L” prime. They’re good lenses. As this one will be I’m sure. I’m comparing value for comparable results with the same angle of view. Not comparing specs so much as shopping. I’m actually as far from a spec type guy as you’ll meet on photography forums. I like usability and good value. Cameras and lenses passed the point of being sufficient for basically anything a long time ago.
At 15 elements this is another high performance prime lens like the Lumix 42.5 f/1.2. It won’t be cheap, but it will be absolutely sharp wide-open right across the entire image area.
If I shot more still-photo work I would probably buy one, but I can’t see much use for this lens with video projects.
IF they ever release it they will overprice it and nobody will buy it anyway over Oly 40-150/2.8.
Depending on the price of the oly 40-150 you’re probably right. I’m just not convinced that people are willing to pay THIS much of a premium for smaller lenses (the aforementioned oly isn’t even that small and neither is this panny) on a scale that will support their continued development. If oly prices the 40-150 like they priced the rumored wide angle (like $1800) I can see the panny having some chance if they price it lower (I still wouldn’t buy it for any price they will likely ask for it though). Seems they priced the fz1000 very aggressively to compete and judging from forums, if that even is indicative, there is a lot of excitement and folks pre ordering. Amazon is saying they won’t be able to fulfill orders. Heck I’m planning to buy one and I never buy brand new cameras.
You think the 40-150 will work nnicely on a G6, A Gh3 or a Gh4 for instance? Teh advantage of Panasonic lenses is that they will be stabilsed on each mFT body. Oly lenses only on Oly cams + GX7.
So from that perspective, the Panny is more versatile and the only option with such a FL for aforementioned users.
Also: indeed it will be smaller and it will most likely have better IQ.
I have Oly and Panny mFT camera’s and mostly buy Panny lenses for that reason. No stabilsation with such FL (40-150) is just not going to cut it…
“You think the 40-150 will work nnicely on a G6, A Gh3 or a Gh4 for instance?”
Nobody will buy $1500+ lens for G6 – and GH3 for that matter. Almost all GH4s will be used with manual movie lenses, they don’t make much sense otherwise.
300mm FL f/2.8 sounds like a sports/wildlife lens, Panasonic cameras are not going to get this market without OSPDAF, and they are the only ones who do not have it yet. Don’t say DFD, if you have seen video with DFD, you know it still does not work.
What an idiotic comment about GH4 usage.
The 132.58mm number is from the front lens element to the sensor surface – correct?
If so that’s pretty small . . . .
It’s the physical length of their “example” lens, so roughly 5.5 inches long. The actual shipping lens may be slightly different.
I really don’t understand all the hate towards this lens, well for that matter any time a long lens is talked about for M43 cameras people tend to say that its not needed. As an action sport photographer lens like this are nothing short of amazing. So small and tiny and the focus speed of cameras like our GH4 are only getting faster and faster. I for one cant wait for this along with the 300mm lens from Oly. The image from these cameras are great for most things and if they don’t fit your needs either rent or just don’t buy. Its simple.
Why are there so many comments about 2.8 not being fast enough for a super telephoto prime? This is a 15 element lens in 12 groups from what the patent looks like. It’s probably highly corrected and looks to be a great lens. The real question is what price the lens will get retailed at. People looking at the Oly 40-150/2.8 are not all the same people looking at this 150/2.8. I’m hoping that for the price, Panny is going to be as highly corrected. That would make a huge difference.
Also, it will shoot like a horny rabbit on the best 43 body, the Panasonic GH4 with DFD AF — a camera on which the Oly 40-150 will be nearly useless.
what happend ???
no 150er at photokina
No idea,wondering the same thing. I think they “only” cancelled the 100-300 pro, right? In any case, with the 40-150 coming out from Olympus, probably not good timing for this. They should really have a 200+ 2.8 w/1.4 teleconverter either as an option, or as a built in switch.
Nice patent.
No lens ! (Again…)
Any news about the Panny 150 f2.8 ?