The following rumor comes from two very good sources! They told us that Panasonic will launch new prime lenses in Q4 of this year (after Photokina) and Q1 of 2011. One of those lenses will certainly be the MicroFourThirds version of the current
[shoplink 14959]Panasonic/Leica 25mm f/1.4 FourThirds Lens (click here to see that lens on eBay)[/shoplink]!
But there will be a difference…one of our source told us that Panasonic will make that lens even faster! Not by much but Panasonic has understood that fast primes are what people is looking for. I expect Panasonic to release a new lens roadmap at Photokina (September). But we hope to give you more details about the 25mm and other prme lenses before September! 🙂
Months ago we asked what prime lenses are the most needed by our readers. That was the result:
– 25mm (982 votes)
– 12mm (823 votes)
– 17mm (475 votes)
– 14mm (373 votes)
The Panasonic 25mm f/1.4 Four Thirds Lens is not exactly cheap ($1,099.95 on amazon.com)
DEAL Reminder: The Panasonic LUMIX G 20mm f/1.7 Lens is in Stock on amazon.com for $360.39!
38 Responses
Niiiice.
Oh yes!
That’s what everybody is waiting for…. already on my wishlist for christmas!!!
I think that 25mm is too close to the existing 20mm pancake.
What’s really needed now is a fast medium long portrait prime. E.g., a prime somewhere between 35-50mm f/1.4-f/2.
We know that Olympus are planning to release a 50mm prime lens, but the other specs are not yet known.
Also, pro spec standard zooms are needed. E.g.,
14-50mm f/2.8 HD Mega O.I.S.
35-100mm f/2.8 HD Mega O.I.S.
God I’m excited!
Are you sure it’s an FT4?
how about 45 f/1.4,
why we need 2 fast primes at 20-25 while we dont have anything for portraits? like 45 f/1.8 or faster
Why 25mm if there’s 20mm = not so far away?? IMHO fast wide angle is what we need (12mm)…
I agree with Alex, although anything F1.4 or faster under 25mm is excellent. 25mm F1.1 with autofocus would be the next best seller. Put a wide converter on it, and you can make it wide enough for indoor shooting.
@admin: Why don’t you make a poll on how fast we would want the new 25mm lens to be?
Well, if it’s an f/1.2, it’s not really a duplicate of the 20/1.7. It’s certainly going to be bigger and more expensive.
and hopefully sharp without the need of software-correction for distortion. the 20mm sacrificies a lot sharpness because of distortion-correction.
a fast prime would be awesome, but please keep the price in an reasonable region…
Panasonic just realized that mFT needs more fast primes :D.
@oluv: F1.4 sounds more pro-like lens so maybe no distortion correction.
Thank Jeebus! This is the one lens I absolutely HAVE to have with any camera system. I used a fast fifty 85% of the time. Not having one was the main reason I sold me E-P1.
Some may be underestimating how different 25/1.2 (I assume, because we’re told it’ll be a little faster) would be from 20/1.7.
Plug some numbers into dofmaster.com…. you’d get much narrower depth of field with the rumoured lens.
As for longer, true “portrait” lenses, the existence of the 45/2.8 suggests to me that if a faster lens ever appears in the 40-50mm range, it’ll come from Olympus, not Panasonic.
Why 25mm ? Because I don’t like 20mm. Obviously, others want it too, it’s the most wanted according to the poll …
Then maybe a fast 5mm UWA ?
I’m with M43photo blog guy: what is needed is a fast prime for portraits and fast constant tele pro spec lenses. If they are serious about this format of camera for the long run, then the more fast primes the better and high quality constant tele is really needed, especially since the sensors in this format when considering high iso could stand quality improvement.
Faster lenses allow both lower iso and bokeh a win win as far as I am concerned. I would really like this format to grow and with competition in other sensor sizes they need to empower users with usability via EVF and quality via improved lenses and improved sensors. The biggest danger to this format is a full frame EVIL, the advantage for 4/3 is size and SONY leaving out the EVF and in their typical minimalist approach leaving out any good controls on their nex units. Apparently SONY is targeting people who only shoot indoors want quality but don’t want to really control the camera but want interchangeable lenses. Kind of like photography unicorns or eunuchs, i.e. immaginary or non-functional photographers. Why bother with a larger sensor interchangeable lens and create a camera that drags its knuckles? What the sun never shines in Japan and nobody takes a pic outside? Frankly I think the camera companies have failed to man-up in the EVIL area.
Of course it is all IMHO. Being a humble guy and all….
john
Did I miss something? Leica wasn’t even mentioned in the rumor! Well it’s obvious now, that Leica is going to be dumped, but I say good riddance.
I think the earlier poster has it right in that this is likely a new kit lens for the upcoming GF-2.
I also share the frustration that we are getting this *kind of redundant* lens instead of some of the other fast primes that are obviously missing from the m43 lineup – i.e. 10mm, 12mm, 70mm, 100mm
I’m happy to hear this rumor, and if it comes true it means Panasonic is starting to recognize the potential of this format for pro-sumers and other types of professional photographers. Could be a sign of some pro-oriented bodies coming out (like the GPx rumor that came out a few months ago). I think the fast 25 is fairly easy for them to bring out since it wouldn’t take a whole lot of re-engineering the optics (perhaps only the rear element and the mount). I’d want to see a fast-ish 12mm, and a fast 40mm personally. I think the fast 40 would make for an awesome portrait lens for these cameras.
I agree with the folks who say what is needed as a fast portrait prime and a relatively fast wide angle (at least 12mm). This lens is too close to the 20mm pancake.
I absolutely love the 25 mm Leica Summilux on my E-620, and I cannot wait to try it on the new E-5.
Jeez, and i had almost orderd the 20/1,7, neither fully happy with focal length and maximum aperture, and just refrained because of current pricing and availability. I guess the 20/1,7 won’t make it into my lens basket now. Until the 25/1,4 (or so) gets available, i’ll do with legacy glass. Just the initial price point will be fearsome.
Why are m43 (and also 43) users are the only photographers you don’t seem to need a fast 45mm or 60mm portrait prime? Hello? The 40-50mm legacy primes are the most popular manual focus lenses so why don’t we finally get a decent af lens to take portraits?
@Henrik: By all means get the 20mm f/1.7. It’s a great lens at a great price (at least among other m43 lenses). Even if this rumor is true, it’s gonna cost above $1000 (my prediction). Also, the 20mm is a pancake, will make carrying your PEN (or GF1) more practical.
Reza, thanks for input 🙂 It will be on a G2 and it’s not anyway meant as a walkaround lens, more for “reproductional”-like stuff, only brought for special occasions or used around the house, sometimes with a (hi-quality) close-up lens or with a retro adapter.
Agreed though with another poster up there that a fast portrait prime with a bit of macro talent is needed even more (know of the Pana 45/2,8).
I’d love a 50mm f1.4
I use a 50mm f1.4 and a 35mm f2 and I think both are great for portraits. Instead of the 25mm, I wish they would release a 35mm or a 40mm. I also use this little 40mm f1.9 and it is great:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcram/4375099284/sizes/o/
but auto-focus and automatic aperture setting in Shutter priority are a pretty big deal.
@The Who:
If I have to bet, it will be branded Leica.
Anyways, if it is going to be 1.4/25 which actually usable at f1.4, as in “sharp without corrections”, it will never sell under $800. Even without the red dot.
25 is definitely too close to the existing and good 20mm f/1.7. I want a fast 12mm (I know, a 14mm is in the works.. not wide enough though I’d probably buy it if there’s no 12mm prime on the horizon) and a fast 45-50mm. Give me a 24 and 85mm (35mm equivalent) pair of primes and I’m set.
Right now I’m getting by with the 7-14mm and 20mm Lumix’s. Very nice lenses.
@Simon
I don’t think there is anyone that wants a 25mm f/1.4 that doesn’t also want a nice portrait prime, but for me a 25mm is the bigger priority. True, we already have a 20mm/1.7, but I personally prefer the classic 50mm angle of view over the 40mm view. Also, I love shallow DOF, so the faster the aperture the better.
Also, I think the reason you see so many people buying classic manual 40-50mm primes is because, yes, we need a portrait lens, but also because there are simply tons of cheap primes between 40-50mm’s to choose from (I bought a 40mm Voigtlander f/1.4 myself). Try finding a 24mm f/1.4 prime for under $500. And even if you can find one you have to really really want a “nifty fifty” to buy one over the Panasonic 20mm/1.7.
I think a 30-35mm with a sub-f/2 would be the most likely next fast prime for MFT. It hits the sweet spot of not being too close in focal length to any existing offerings and also gives another good portrait option (for those who find the 20mm too wide and the 45mm too slow [or too expensive]).
I have been waiting for a fast 50mm equiv lens. I have the Pany 20mm but at times I find it too wide, and it distorts people’s faces. I also have a 35mm manual focus lens, and it is too long for a “normal lens,” so the 25mm will be ideal. Thank you Panasonic. But please don’t make it too expensive!
Since I’m not into portrait photography, please explain this one to me. According to FourThirds Matching Simulation there are three fast portrait lenses in FourThirds mount ( not m4/3 ): Olympus 50mm f2.0 Macro, Sigma 50mm f1.4 and Sigma 30mm f1.4. What’s wrong with those lenses? OK, they auto focus slowly, but I guess that’s not an issue in portrait photography – your subject stops for a while anyway.
What this system doesn’t have is wide fast ( <20mm, <F1.7 ) prime with AF ( for indoor and night shooting ) and I think the manufacturers should fill that gap first. The mentioned 25mm F1.2 with wide converter could do the job …
Hope panasonic will release a
leica badged 25mm f1.2
pancake 12mm f1.4 – f2
Very interested here. To those that say it is too close to the 20mm f/1.7, I disagree. The combination of longer focal length and bigger aperture will be different enough. I’d have to guess the 25mm wont be a pancake, and will be targeted as a high end lens and would therefore be more expensive than the 20mm. My only hope is that it comes with a short minimum focus distance so it’ll double as a makeshift macro too. At least 0.25x magnification.
And yes, I’d like a fast 12mm too, at least f/2.0 preferably f/1.4 but that could be dreaming…
They need a prime between the current 45 and 20.
The 20mm is a normal lens on MFT, which should be the simplest to design. If Panasonic couldn’t make it faster than f/1.7, I seriously doubt we’ll ever see an f/1.4 wide angle pancake. See for instance the upcoming 14mm f/2.5.
I wonder if these new lenses will function with the different meter modes.
i love prime lenses… zoom just not my cup of tea..