A Pentaxforum user (Click here) had the luck to get and test the new Panasonic Nocticron 42,5mm f/1.2 lens. Many image samples and aperture tests can be seen on his Flickr page (Click here). He writes:
It’s quite large and heavy. I’d say the barrel is larger around than the 75, and it’s definitely a bit heavier. The whole thing is made of metal, and there’s an actual aperture ring with nice click-stops (though it doesn’t appear to function with my OM-D). The hood is super long, and also made of metal.
AF is pretty quick and very accurate. Bokeh is great for m43. Seems very sharp wide open, though there’s a loss of contrast. Some green LoCA, but nothing major.
Also confirmed that the aperture ring works on Panasonic bodies, but not Olympus. I assume this can be fixed with a firmware update.
Still no word about price and exact release date but it’s easy to guess that Panasonic will finally release it at the CP+ show in February.
147 Responses
…and, in traditional Panasonic fashion, it will cost $2000.
Then don’t buy it, there are other high quality prime lenses at the same focal length, why bitch and moan for no reason?
Why complain?
You can get TWO Noktons…
The faster 42.5mm f0.95 + a 25mm f0.95…
… for the price of ONE Nocticron.
First off, you are making an assumption on price, and you know what they say about people making ASSumptions?
Secondly, even if that is the case, you are comparing manual focus lenses to an AF lens. Some people WANT/NEED AF. If you don’t care about AF, sure, you have a vast selection of lenses you can even adapt to m43, so go on ebay, find a great deal and be happy.
Oops, I left out the smiley face.
I guess that little bit of humor flew right on past, eh? 😉
Of course, not everyone wants, can handle or wants to learn to use manual lenses. OR pay $1K for one lens, regardless of the image and build quality. I certainly get that.
One of the reasons I bought into M4/3, after the size advantage over Nikon (Canon? pffffft), was the ability to adapt my older manual lenses. It had been a few years since I’d used them and fell in love with the tactile element, the higher level of concentration and the process, as well as the greater level of control over AF lenses. It’s just damn nice to have a real aperture ring, distance scale and mechanical focus. I have a bunch of AF lenses, but aside from my 7-14mm and 100-300mm, always carry a few manual and adapted manual lenses. For me, it’s just more fun.
That said, I hope the Panny 42.5 isn’t $2000 or even $1200. The output looks very good indeed!
Sorry Jeff, all the trolls are getting to me I suppose 😉
I hope the price is more to my liking too, but even if it isn’t, I’m happy some people will be able to have another choice of a lens that can AF (we both agree that m43 is great because of all the lenses that can be adapted, and I have quite a few myself)
Remember, we’re ALL fanboi trolls here… 😉
You got that wrong Jeff, we are all ‘Troll’ Fanboys in here…….
Don’tcha just love semantics!!! 😉
Well for $2000 you can pickup either Olympust 43 F2 zooms!!!
It better be very good for a fixed FL lens… and its “only” F1.2 if it was 0.95 then it can carry a hefty price but F1.2 should only be around the $800 range… 2x as fast as the oly 45mm f1.8…
Only a troll posted the $2000 price – nobody is saying it will cost that much….
What are you on? There’s no pana m4/3 glass that even remotely costs that much. The most expensive one is the 35-100 2.8 and costs around $1300.
You must have inserted some overpriced crap brand name subconsciously. This is Panasonic, not pana-SONY-c.
@Gabriel
“This is Panasonic, not pana-SONY-c.”
Wow. That was an awful attempt at wit.
Anyway…let’s make a bet – you say “Panasonic isn’t Sony/Canon” – I bet this Panasonic lens will be priced in the same range as Canon’s 85mm F1.2L II – which sits around $2200, or around $1700 – which is the going price for Sony’s 85mm F1.4 Carl Zeiss Planar T Prime Lens – watch, you’ll see.
so what the heck is your point then? Are you sad you cannot afford premium lenses? You obviously think it will be fairly priced compared to the competition.
In any case, do like the rest of us, buy the Olympus 45 1.8, be happy with it and stop bitching about manufacturers offering more choices. (be it out of your price-range)
@Tom
You know, all these “stop bitching” responses are hilarious. It’s as if the only thoughts that may be expressed are ones of praise and jerk-off fanboyism. We should just go right ahead and censor the internet, because God knows what will happen if people continue to express their thoughts on an OPEN forum…
The ultimate hypocrisy is; those that kick and scream “stop bitching”, “stop moaning”, are in turn, bitching and moaning far more than anyone that expresses a critical or alternate point of view to begin with.
Ridiculous.
Just admit it already, you made an assumption (with no real basis in reality). I’m no fan-boy, but when people are making stupid comments, I call them on it.
If you have actual valid criticism, feel free to express yourself in a constructive manner. I see complaints about Olympus’ build quality of their 12-40 – perfectly fine to go after them on that, or that Panasonic must intentionally have crippled the GH3 by not including focus peaking.
LMAO… well then why not start your own website dedicated to complainers of photography gear pricing. I’m sure there is a huge market for that. Then you can come back here and thank us all for helping you realize your success. Win-win right??
Junius, u are totally right. Was thinking the same thing:(
They’re not going to do that. Panasonic’s entire point with m43 is that they can offer something more price competitive and smaller because of the smaller sensor.
The only device that ever deviated with in this regard is with the GH3 and the reason is because it was explicitly aimed at videographers.
In fact every high-end lens they have is cheaper than their APS-C/FF equivalent on other brands, for example:
Canon 24-70 is $2000, Nikon 24-70 is $1800 while the Panasonic 12-35 is $1100
Canon 70-200 is $2500, Nikon 70-200 is $2400 and Panasonic “only” 35-100 is $1300
It’s going to be $1000-1200 at most. Certainly nowhere near $2000.
If you truly need it, you’ll find a way to buy it and make enough money from it to pay for it. If you don’t need it, what does the price matter?
By an extension of your logic, the 2.8/35-100 should have cost about $2500 on release. Until we know for sure, I’d advise taking a chill pill or two.. such speculation is not exact science. Besides I remember, coming into the release of the 100-300, how the general consensus was that we’d be lucky if it would “only cost $1000”. Not even close. Ironically, the first m.zuiko 75-300 did cost that much on release…
But its ok not to have every toy you want in life. We’re already spoiled you know..
The thing we are all waiting for is “PRICE”!!!!!
Also, I like leather half cases..but the brown one on the black GX7 is making me gag a little before I hav had my breakfast, here! 🙂
Takes away from this masterpiece of a lens, too!
…the samples look IMPRESSIVE, though!….much better images than the other teaser that admin posted a while back!
yes I like the pics too…nice for portrait …but if 2k$ i would rather go with 2 voitglanders
but i “cant” imagine FF DOF …m43 is sometimes too much
recently I bough 25 1.4 and my wife when doing some pics to her blog…always claims why this/that is not in focuse
recently I lost patience and told her to buy some crapy compact
must admit that she dont understand A,S,ISO triangle at all
…but anyway sometimes even for me the m4/3 1.4 is too shallow when I had to use 1.4 due to crapy light and cant boost iso more as I used oldsenzor EPL3
That’s why wide apertures can be an issue for FF. It all depends on what you seek.
Panasonic has always been pragmatic with pricing (relative to Olympus), they’ll price this one to compete with the Oly 75mm and they will sell a lot of them to folks like me who need OIS and want a shorter focal length. I would guess $999 retail and $875-950 street price after about 6 months on the market.
$999 at launch seems fair and reasonable. $799 would be a homerun. The samples look sensational, and while “big” by M43 standards, seeing it next to the Oly 75 is a pleasant surprise. This could be the M43 answer to the beautiful Canon 85 1.2L. Can’t wait!
We can always hope. I do suspect it is north of 1K, but if it is less, I may bite the bullet and get it. For me, the speed isn’t the most important thing, but owning a GH3 which has no ibis, that is a great feature for me… combined with speed, and the ability to do 2x zoom(crop) in movie mode on the GH3, this could cover a lot of my needs.
maybe the aperture ring works i fully manual mode on oly bodies (a la voigt lenses)…
…but no AF. 🙁
Responding to Mr. Reee (this damn tablet F€£¥K!!)
MFT should take care that their bodies and optics stay compatible (would be nice to have CA-correction, oly-manual-snapfocus and those aperture rings working on pana and oly….
Given the price of 25/1.4 and 45/2.8, my best guess is that 45/1.2 may be around $800-$900. If it’s higher than $900, it won’t be attractive for investment.
I am guessing that this lens will be above $1500. They will get that for it too, based on the build and these image samples. There is no AF lens close to this other than the 75mm Olympus…and that (incredible lens BTW) clearly is less expensive to build than this monster. Plus, Panny is Leica branding this…so the price will be severe, no doubt.
Hopefully the price won’t be that expensive. At $1500, Fuji’s XF 56/1.2 will be more interesting. Or, I may stay with my D700 and 85/1.8g instead.
The build on this will be WAY better than the Fuji and you can expect to pay for it. This is a lot of glass, a lot of elements and from what I can see of the sample images here…a quite spectacular lens….$1499 at least.
“The build on this will be WAY better than the Fuji….”
How do you know ? Any source or reference please? Based on info I read at Fuji rumor site, 56/1.2 is built nicely, metal construction too.
Just my opinion.
Tell you what… After the two lenses hit the street…let’s meet back here and (although the Fuji may be larger) ….lets weigh them and we will see which one is heavier.
+1
I told same thing before in one of last news (last month). It can be 899$.
That’s the lens I’m waiting for. Samples speak enough about quality. There’s some green chroma aberrations but it’s easy to handle with it in PP. (and even summiluxes have purple fringing wide opened).
The price is the big question mark.
I got the Voigtlander 42.5 f0.95 a few month ago. I payed $999.00 . Wide open is pretty good, closed just one stop is superb. Here is a wide open sample
http://www.flickr.com/photos/42632173@N08/11575887654/lightbox/
This lens looks impressive judging from his samples. Tack sharp center at f/1.2
PS: Unbelievable that he didn’t care to clean the mess on the front of it before taking this picture?
What the heck was he doing anyway? I would not treat my lenses that way.. Based on the beating he is giving it, I take it that it must be weather-sealed?
It is not his lens, that is why. It was a loaner from Panasonic.
Question: do all new panasonic lenses have LUMIX written on the side?
I think so. I’ve got a 14-42mm II and a 45-150mm and they both have the “LUMIX” branding on their sides.
Speaking of ghastly brand names, at least they don’t say “SAMSUNG”… 😉
Haha! “SAMSUNG” would feet a mid/long tele! 😉
Imagine a Schneider Kreuznach !!! or should there be more !!!!!
For what I know, the old ones have that as well, at least my Leica branded 25/1.4 does:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrobjective/8354432806/in/photostream/
True, just checked mine 25mm. It is less visible because it runs around and not along the barrel.
It’s one of my fav and most used lenses and I have never payed attention to it! 🙂
I’d be surprised if it’s much over $1000. Definitely not $2000. I don’t quite understand the point of the aperture ring. Can anybody tell me what the advantage of the aperture ring is, other than trying to be retro?
Aperture ring?
You can set it. Look down and see what it is, even when you can’t see the LCD or EVF or when the camera is off.
It’s a shame that it lacks a focus scale.
I find it faster to change it on the go. You don’t have to touch dials or wheels or buttons on the camera, you simply rotate the ring with the hand that’s holding the lens.
And you can keep your eyes on the subject.
A distance scale should have been carved on the barrel though, as Jeff below pointed..
Marco, it would be worth reading the entire thread as towards the bottome is this comment, Also confirmed that the aperture ring works on Panasonic bodies, but not Olympus. I assume this can be fixed with a firmware update.
“Also confirmed that the aperture ring works on Panasonic bodies, but not Olympus. I assume this can be fixed with a firmware update.”
Geoff yes, I have read the article yesterday: a reader posted the link a couple of threads ago. Being a pre production model it’s not surprise that it works at full potential with Panasonic cameras and not on Olympus cameras. Even production models can have this “issues” and are fixed later (I remember Zuiko45mm being updated not so long ago, for example.
It’s just a matter of time, in few words.
In the meanwhile people using it on Oly cameras need to stick to AF only.
Panasonic using an aperture ring on their lenses isn’t new, but was so far limited to FourThirds lenses. This aperture ring has never been supported by Olympus cameras so far.
While Olympus support for non-Olympus options has improved since then, I still wouldn’t hold my breath for them implementing active support for this.
It depends on the camera your using. On the GX1 for instance when shooting in aperture priorty mode you need to press the rear thumb wheel to invoke exposure compensation control. Then you press it again to return to aperture control. This is not an issue for later models with front and rear control dials but I’m guessing that on the GX1 the aperture control ring would negate the need for switching between the two.
Yes. As Marco mentioned, it’s simply faster and easier to see and use an aperture ring.
You can also shoot in M mode, rather than A, because you’re only adjusting shutter speed with the camera. If you need to stop down or up, it’s very simple. It can easily be used while composing and even focusing without looking. For me, it’s simpler than two dials.
The dual dials on the E-M1 and E-P5 are just as easy as an aperture ring…although some might prefer one or the other.
The dual dials on the GX7 work well also, but dealing with dials is not nearly as simple as just glancing at the lens.
I tend to set my ISO and lens aperture and only need to adjust shutter speed, looking at the EVF/LCD and histogram for visual cues for exposure.
everyone is different or has a preference…the more choices the better…but it is a little difficult to glance at the lens when the VF is to my eye!!! LOL!
Some of my old Minolta cameras have a small ‘perescope’ in their viewfinder that allows one to see the aperture setting of the lens 🙂
I’ve had multiple cameras with dual dials, and still prefer having an aperture ring on the lens (something rarely seen these days). My left hand is already holding the lens, and the ring is right there in easy reach. My right hand already has multiple things to do. Shifting one of those things to the left hand is an improvement.
I’d love to see aperture rings on all future m43 lenses, but don’t expect to.
That is the stuff I waiting for long time .
Yes , everybody is right , the price ???
Even it make with metal like the 75mm , it should place below 2K considering FF stuffs is getting cheaper .
The Fuji 56mm F1.2 is coming too & Pana should think of the consequence if the price of Nocticron is far from acceptable level .
Panasonic 4/3 Leica should have a aperture ring, and it doesn’t work on Olympus 4/3 body.
Consequently, this Nocticron’s a-ring will not work on Olympus bodies forever (I don’t think Olympus will release firmware for it)
The Lens will work just fine, but possibly not the aperture ring as a way of choosing aperture..
85mm f2.4 full frame equivalent and they dare to call it a noctitron and I dread to think of the price. Just shows what an absolute laughing stock Mini Four Thirds is.
Regarding light gathering 1.2 on a FF sensor = 1.2 on MFT or APS-C sensors!. The only differences are regarding DOF and focal lenghts. So this lens is a 85mm f1.2 on FF regarding light gathering and 85mm f2.4 regarding DOF. Stop the trolling if you don’t know or you don’t want to read some optics!
stop correcting the troll’s writing.
he knows just how to do it – with careful omission of facts, mentioning only the needed bits to create a vehement counter-reaction.
trolling is an art – respect.
this said, I couldn’t care less about lens equivalency. It only matters what this lens offers for the system it is made for. In this case – plenty object separation in a good FL for portraits – with good AF performance.
A desirable lens for sure – might turn out a classic even.
Exactly right, and weak-troll fails to mention that stopping down is a requirement of full frame anyway… so you’re shooting at F2+ if you want more than eyelashes in focus. Still, you get to lug around that bigger, heavier glass and hope folks notice your swagger (aka gear limp).
Or call then F-stop and T-stop 😉
The crap named Leica Noctilux 50/F0.95 is just 76/F1.6 on medium format cameras. How they do dare to call it a Noctilux?!
You must be an amazing photographer! I hear Salgado also spends all his time whining on rumour websites!
This dude probably thinks Salgado is a clothing line.
Hopefully I’ll meet Salgado by the end of Jenuary/first days of February: I should suggest him a clothing line to raise more founds! 🙂
Hopefully Pana will set the price properly. At 85mm equivalent there are many competitors, and many people don’t use only m4/3 system.
Would you pay…let’s say, $1000 for this lens, when you can get a Samyang 85mm f1.4 for FF for $300? I couldn’t! It’s a shame because I want to love M4/3, but it’s very overpriced for what it is. AF is good, OIS is good, but sorry, final image is what matters most to me, and I can get a better image for less money on a much larger sensor.
It remains to be seen if you could get better image quality with the samyang or not… unless your only requirement is sshallowestd dof. But, if final image quality is what matters most, why you even looking at a m43 site? Just get a Nikon D800E and be done with it.
I think the point about m43 is small size and choice. You can get the oly45 for a good price and gives great results. I don’t know if I’ll get this new lens or not… But I’m glad there is the option.
Yes…I have a FF kit too…but when I do not want to haul it (and I haul it less and less)…MFT is the best “system” in town and soooo small. The Sam Yang gives you no autofocus and for so many (like myself) it is a must…so many more keepers in so many situations..especially with a short tele…can’t really zone focus like a wide angle. I am going to guess if you are on this site..you must be looking for an alternative to the monster, too!!!! 🙂
Folks are paying an extra price for smaller and lighter system, but how much smaller and lighter? Sure the difference is so huge? I’m not so sure, unless you are old men on wheelchairs. Any reasonably healthy person shouldn’t be bothered by actual size/weight differences between M4/3 and FF.
If M4/3 was noticeably cheaper than an equivalent FF setup, then great, but it’s not! It’s actually more expensive.
So true….while m4/3 gears are getting more expensive, FF gears obviously tend to be cheaper.
As soon as you want to take a few lenses with you, the system is quite a bit smaller. When you want it really small, you should also look at one of the small bodies available, like the GM1 or E-PM2.
If you are like many ‘cameragraphers’, you’ll just care about the sensor and the body, which can be as small indeed, but photographers do in fact care about putting lenses on their camera.
In case you want to mention the 35/2.8 for FE mount, look again, as it has a price (in corner performance) and is a best-case scenario for small size that won’t be possible for seriously longer or shorter focal lengths.
Leica M mount as an example?
Lessee.. the rather compact Elmarit-M 90/2.8 is twice as long as the 45/1.8, and close to 40x the weight (ok.. not fair, as one is metal and the other mostly plastic).
Oh, and yes, 1″ makes it possible to create an even smaller system.
Any reasonably healthy person….
You are an idiot, you know? You clearly have no idea what you’re talking about, either in terms of weight or health factors.
I agree..I have a ten-lens FF kit…It “literally” needs a hand truck…the system can do Maing things though.
I have a ten-lens MFT kit…can carry all the lens in one medium-sized bag…. Fisheye to 350mm + macro….It is simply amazing.
It’s funny… I have two ready to go shoulder camera bags at almost all times. A GH2 + 12-35 + 35-100 f/2.8 in one, and a D800E with 24-70 and 70-200 f/2.8 in the other. I’ll have to weigh them when I get a chance… but the difference is remarkable.
But, I took the D800E to a friends place on NYE for the fireworks, and left them there as I couldn’t be bothered walking home on NYE with that weight on my shoulder (a 10 minute walk)! It was nothing about health or being wheelchair bound, just enjoying life 🙂 A m43 kit I can easily throw on my shoulder anytime I’m going out, whether having the intention to take photos or not. And I assume you never travel by plane.
(According to specs – the Nikon combo should be 3.44kg, whereas Panny combo should come in 1.06kg. Not to mention size and bulk which means the bag to carry it will be heavier etc.)
FWIW: the camera combo I use more than any other these days is the EM-1 with the Panny 20mm and the Oly45mm. Easily throw into any tiny bag and is versatile. I’d been trying out a Fuji x100 as well, but, for me, I don’t find the ‘soul’ some others claim it has.
+1. No need to whine at all. If IQ and cost-vs-performance are top priority , then go choose FF and 85/1.8g.
Wow! A Samyang 85mm f1.4 for FF for $300? A manual lens such expensive and it weighs more than 500g! In m43 world we have Olympus 45mm F1.8 with autofocus for $250! 🙂
AND we can also use that Samyang in our m43 bodies, can you use our lenses?
the samyang is garbage. It amazes me how people compare the cheapest, softest lens they can find and then claim it doesnt make sense.
People who suspect in the performance of this lens have no idea what they are talking. Given the Leica name and highest standard, even $2000 it is a steal! I feel that this lens may blow away every equivalent 85mm lens on Earth. Let’s see!
Give me exactly this optics + electronics Lumix-branded, in a “cheap” plasic body like 14–42 (even with plastic mount, LOL) and I’d love to pay half of the price for it. 😀
+1
Too much cost in posing – not enough in product… Plastic is the best of the best material – all metal does is increase weight, cost and pose factor…
price info and i can judge
Ulli, I got the Voigtlander 42.5 f0.95 a few month ago. I payed $999.00 . Wide open is pretty good, closed just one stop is superb. Here is a wide open sample
http://www.flickr.com/photos/42632173@N08/11575887654/lightbox/
Two samples at f1.4
http://www.flickr.com/photos/42632173@N08/11575904054/lightbox/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/42632173@N08/11576377646/lightbox/
Mguarini, thanks for those, you right, very pleasing rendering the nokton has… I will end up with either a nokton or the noctitron I guess. If the Lumix enters at 1500 or more, The Nokton will definitely be the obvious choice. If the Lumix ends up in the nokton range, then i will prefer the AF over the 0.95 advantage.Whatever other manual focus people might say. I believe that contrast detection is the finishing touch especially with extreme wide apertures. Stopping down makes mf a bit less critical. But thats not what i buy a fast lens for anyway.Now i better shutup and figure out how to pay any of these jewels…
I’m expecting a retail price ranging from $1199 up to $1499 but I think somewhere in the middle of that price range is more realistic IMO.
The sample images look brilliant at f1.2 in the centre and in the shots stopped down but what really got me was that luscious looking colour and bokeh….absolutely wow! Panasonic has pulled it off.
I totally agree about this price range. If it is any more than this they would not sell a significant enough quantity to justify production. Latest earning reports show that Panasonic is still loosing money on their camera systems. Panasonic won’t go all out and manufacture a crazy expensive no cost spared lens to make a “just because we can statement”.
The m4/3 market share is already very small at about 10-15 percent. Panasonic’s share of that is even smaller still at around 5 percent. To think they would make a lens to sell to just a small percentage of that already small group of people is just asinine.
So far it looks like a great lens. I have been looking forward to this release for the past year. If it is closer to $1000 I will buy it, closer to $2000 and my money will go elsewhere.
stop moaneing about the cost if you can not aford it
dont buy it photography is a luxury not a necessity
if you think $2000 is a lot i would like a good telephoto (500mm-800mm f4) lens with AF look at those prices
looks like a nice lens not some thing i will buy
trolling is only an art when you are fishing
That is one DUSTY front element. Is it part of the design?
😀 nice one!
You need that magic dust if you want sparkling and magic bokeh! 🙂
Hmmm… showing off the weather-sealing perhaps? 😉
At least it is metal made, not like the plastic, 1k$ OLY pro :DD
BTW… samples are amazing. I guess it would be around 1500$
I’d prefer high grade plastic body over metallic body even if it wasn’t cheaper. Metal does nothing but increasing the weight.
While I feel that premium hyper primes like this nocticron and the voigtlanders are necessary despite the weight and size because of the prestige, speed and choice it’ll bring to the format I’m very surprised that Olympus and Panasonic haven’t tapped into what I believe is a market waiting to explode which is to release a small library of lenses at various focal lengths that all have the exact build quality size and weight of say an Olympus 45 f1.8 and a Panasonic 20 f1.7 and all priced at around the same price as the 45.
Such lenses would offer a lighter alternative for the travel needs of users who already own the heavier glass and would be the most popular prime lens options for the point & shoot upgrade brigade that are considering a second lens, perhaps a bright pancake or a cheaper and light dedicated portrait lens after the kit lens has shown it’s limitations.
I agree not all people care for the shiny premium metal and overall aesthetic experience but would prefer a straight to the point light and bright quality plastic lens that simply does the job at less than half the price. I think a lack of such lenses is hurting the format and consequently making it less accesable to the mass market.
Myself, I’m using both these types of lenses because thwy both have a necessary place and role to play in the system but if I was to tell you some quality plastic and light weight pancakes or even a 125 f2 prime made of quality plastic wouldn’t appeal to me than I’d be lying.
Thats a lens for professionals who do make her living from shooting…so if you work a lot with that focal length,and you look for best performance(for whatever price range) you have to take this one in consideration…
Anyway this lens is a stupid move for Panasonic, compete with the excellent and fast Olympus 45mm f1.8, that is 4-5 time cheaper?!
Panasonic should have done a fast 35mm f1.4 or 35mm f2.0 macro! this focal length is missing and on m4/3 is very useful. I have the Oly Zuiko 35mm f3.5 macro and other 35mm lenses and i like them a lot for a huge variety of application.
I agree about another macro lens, but there are already two macros (45mm and 60mm), so an even shorter one makes little sense. I’d love to see a 100mm or 105mm.
I use a Nikon 105mm f2.8 AI-S and it’s a great focal length for flying and skitterish critters, also doubling as a telephoto. It’s a fantastic lens, but it would be great to see a longer native M4/3 macro.
Geez, I don’t need it one bit, @f2.4 DOF is too thin for headshot.
But I do want it so badly!
God save my kidney…
Yay, a gigantic lens to go with my small camera. No wonder why the mirrorless “movement” is dying.
Your reasoning that if the lens is big/heavy (fast and with a good build), then the camera as well be big/heavy is hilarious.
Sure some people would love to log around an equally heavy body along with their superb lens, what’s half a kilo anyway? Go ahead I say.
Others who enjoy the combination of weight to performance ratio m43s can offer, like to minimize where it makes the most sense. The sensors are getting better still as optimization of semiconductors and micro circuits improve. Optics and glass however is very limited by physics in terms of scale, which is why all those super light pan-cake lenses are neither fast nor impressive. It simply takes a certain size to achieve certain capabilities and it’s one area a lot of “light load photographers” are willing to sacrifice on (when needed).
Personally I am looking forward to the day where I can just hold the lens with various ergonomic attachments and have the sensor as a rear lens cap (instead of an entire camera)with wireless real time feed to my glasses for view finder.
There are plenty of small, cheap lenses for you Dan. But fast apertures require bigger lenses. It’s physics. Maybe you should sign up for a class or two at your local community college.
Technically, it is physics, plus material science, plus manufacturing technology. I have been wearing glasses most of my life, until I got a laser operation, at the age of 46. Looking back in time, I never cease to be amazed, how my glasses (even the exotic varifocal, double aspheric, 1,73 diffraction index organic special order Nikon lenses I used to wear before the operation) were getting lighter and thinner, every time my prescription changed (for the worse). Mind you – they were not getting cheaper. In fact, they ended up more or less in the price range you are talking about (750 euros each lens!). So, I am sure that if you really want a pancake Noctikron you may eventually (although not in the near future) get it. Unless, that is, you ‘d rather buy a house with that money.
Manufacturing technology isn’t going to help with the diameter rewuired to get a specific f-stop at a given focal length.
That page with the samples in Smugmug is asking for a password to access the samples. Am I the only one that it happened?
+1
Thanks for the link. They’re asking for a password to see the gallery. Anyone ?
Hey guys,
Had to take the samples down. Sorry about that. You should be seeing a LOT more about this lens in the very near future. 😉
-deadwolfbones
Sorry that I was late to see the samples. =/ But will keep an eye for future updates. 🙂 Thanks.
42.5mm is a brillant move, don’t listen to the troll! I’m starting saving up for that piece of glass.
Performance is out of this world looking at the samples! Great pana.. Booh Oly for budget only 1.8!
Wow, for all those giving prices you really are doing the market research for Panasonic. I’m sure they will happy you are making their lives so much easier.
Based on what you y’all have said it wouldn’t surprise me if they start at $2000 to catch the early adopters here who don’t know what to do with their money. 6 months later it will be $1500 and then a full year later they will drop it to a price that the rest of the market will actually pay.
Right? It is crazy people are on here willingly admitting they will pay $2000 for it. Lets collectively demand that it is priced at $799 and see where that gets us.
Agreed 100% Either all you guys are independently wealthy, or have no idea of pricing ranges. This lens should be no more than $1000 at the maximum, judging by arguably the best prime (Oly 75mm/1.8). Thanks for giving Panasonic the great idea of pricing it between $1500-$2000. ::face palm::
+1
I like that picture of a GX7 with this fast lens. Just goes to show that you don’t need a camera any larger than the GX7 the handle any m4/3 lens.
It’s off topic, but there’s a nice article in the New Yorker praising the GF1 and GX1 (and seemingly indicating that mirrorless may be the future (at least until “networked lenses” become their own thing), or at least the next step until Smart Phones are more capable. Anyway, it was an interesting read.
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/elements/2013/12/goodbye-cameras.html
For some reasons, I think this blog post may be of interest to people here …
http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2013/01/rogers-law-of-new-product-introduction
For those who can’t bother to read some text, here’s a short version :
http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/media/2013/01/PERCEIVEDWORTH1.jpg
Hi,
the link is not working, in the sense of there is a password needed at the moment. Maybe due to high traffic or a NDA thingy…
Perhaps someone who can still view the samples would copy a few and post here?
The one question I have reading about this lens is this: Should we still believe Leica’s statements about NOT launching their own m4/3 body? Add a GX7-esque body with some solid Leica-esque tweaks and a 14/2 or similar and there’s a great kit to sell for good money.
I just don’t get. it. Panasonic makes an 42,5mm, but expensieve, heavy, not completely working on Oly . . . Meanwhile we have an fabuleus 45mm from Oly, not expensive, not heavy, full working on Oly and Pana, so who cares?
“not fully working” is complete bulls*** as long as only pre-production examples are out…
People who do need AF, or people like me who desperatly need Image Stabilization on a good video camera. Panasonic is still far better than Olympus for video, and i don’t have the money/gear/help/time to shoot my short films with a good tripod.
If Olympus changes its mind about video, i’ll go EMx with a Nokton…
. . . and it’s in black too!
just the fuji 56mm will be better quality and double size sensor
Facepalm… Learn kid…
Not very good at match, are you FF? Not very good at photography either, I’ll wager.
Oops. That should be “math.”
That is a sharp looking lens…reminds me very much of my v6 Summicron. Unfortunately, there will be no reason at all for me to buy it as I have the Oly 75/1.8 (a lens I use a lot despite the non-traditional focal length).
At this point, I’m more interested in the price/release date of the rumored 15/1.7.
many professionnals will want to switch from FF to m43 with this Nocticron.
switch? from ff people looking for mf of hight quality
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Amber Alert: Adult acting as a 12 year old found submitting useless comments on 43rumors
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Does m43 standard for control protocol support aperture rings, or is it proprietary extension from Panasonic?
Admin, it would be great if you could dig up the standard’s PDF from one of your sources.
I somewhat doubt you’ll ever get that standards pdf, as last time I checked getting access to it requires an nda.
With regards to control protocol, buttons and dials on the lens are supported, but its upto the camera to assign a meaning to them.
Did anyone download the images from the sample gallery before it was clamped?
It’s probably cheaper to get Nikon D610 + 85 f/1.8
Hardly.. you’re making a lot of assumptions on price here. There is no reason to think it will cost as much as even the D610 body alone.