UPDATE: BHphoto is the first worldwide store accepting preorder of the new Panasonic-Leica 15mm f/1.7 in Black (Click here) or Silver (Click here).
It’s finally official! The new Leica 15mm f/1.7 lens will ship from early June! There will be a Black and Silver version. It will come in standard GM1 package for £999.99 while the lens only will be £549.99. A bit strange to see that only Panasonic UK unveiled the news (and therefore only price in Pounds is available). UPDATE: This is the official lens page at Panasonic UK (thanks Dicahub for sharing this). UDPATE_2: Presentation page is now up at Panasonic Germany too.
Here is the full press text:
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Panasonic Announce New F1.7 High Speed Leica Summilux 15mm Lens to Allow Photographers to Capture Fashionable Defocused Reportage Pictures
24th March 2014 – Panasonic has unveiled a new digital interchangeable lens, the H-X015 LEICA DG SUMMILUX 15mm / F1.7 ASPH. (35 mm camera equivalent: 30 mm) for the LUMIX G range, based on the Micro Four Thirds standard, which is both compact and lightweight.
The new LEICA DG SUMMILUX 15mm / F1.7 ASPH. allows photographers to capture supreme daily life pictures with beautiful bokeh. Exceptional optical performance is assured with certification granted from the world-renowned LEICA.
The new lens system comprising of 9 elements in 7 groups uses 3 aspherical lenses. The aspherical lenses suppress spherical aberration and distortion effectively while enabling the lens unit to be made smaller.
Panasonic’s Nano Surface Coating technology is adopted to minimize the reflection at entire visual light range (380nm-780nm) resulting in the super clear picture quality by avoiding ghost and flare.
The lens incorporates a superior inner focus system, which enables excellent resolution and contrast from close-up to infinity. The inclusion of a newly developed stepping motor makes the focusing action smooth, silent and quicker for use in both photo and video recording.
Notably the performance of AF is by far superior to the phase-difference AF when fast lenses with a smaller F value are used. It is also compatible with the sensor drive at max.240 fps to take maximum advantage of the high-speed AF of LUMIX G cameras.
The LEICA DG SUMMILUX 15mm / F1.7 ASPH. comes equipped with aperture ring and AF/MF switch for direct, intuitive operation. Furthermore, the robust metal design of LEICA DG SUMMILUX 15mm / F1.7 ASPH., including the hood, is highly reliable and durable for repeated exchange of the lens.
New GM1 kit, DMC-GM1L
The LEICA DG SUMMILUX 15mm / F1.7 ASPH. is the perfect companion for Panasonic’s recently released LUMIX DMC-GM1 and will be available with this camera in a new kit (DMC-GM1L) giving the photographer a sophisticated style with the ‘Got To have It’ camera enabling creative high quality photography.
The GM1 kit will be available in black from mid June priced £999.99 while the lens only will be £549.99 arriving early June. The lens will be available in black and silver.
36 Responses
Great news! Do you have a link or pictures of the lens?
DPReview http://www.dpreview.com/news/2014/03/24/panasonic-announces-leica-dg-summilux-15mm-f1-7-and-gm1-kit
“Fashionable Defocused Reportage Pictures”?
This phrasing manages to sound patronizing while revealing utter misunderstanding of photographic past and present. Yes, defocus is fashionable, reportage is arguably fashionable too (although paid photojournalists are an endangered species these days) and pictures are definitely fashionable. However, defocused pictures have little to do with reportage (although they are the steeple of “fashionable reportage”, whatever it is).
I’m sure it will be an excellent lens, but this mish-mash of superlatives is not necessary.
People in marketing departments come up with stuff like this. Let’s just say that even more people would be without a job (or “job”) without this.
…not the best news for my bank account…
I would have prefered a slightly longer focal length like 17-18mm (for it to be an alternative to the Oly 17mm 1.8) but I might end up buying one. If the iq is great and I can make work of the focal length it could be a stunning lens for street and casual.
Interesting. How does that compare to the list price on the Olympus 17mm/1.8 when it was new? I feel like the two are very much competitors at this point.
Given how tiny that is, I may one day replace my 20mm/1.7 with this one as my pancake, and look into a 25mm, since I think I prefer slightly longer FLs. The 20mm is such a great lens, though, and the slightly odd in-between FL ends up making it super versatile…
Take a look at the DP Revue site, this lens is far from a pancake size.
It takes 46mm filters. It isn’t exactly big either.
From Panasonic Germany site the dimensions are 57x36mm vs 63x54mm for 25mm f1.4. Weight is 115g vs 200g. That is quite a bit smaller and lighter.
http://www.panasonic.com/de/consumer/foto-video/lumix-g-objektive/h-x015.specs.html
Are this lens too cover more than m43 sensor area ala rumor from Nocticron, preparing for Leica camera?
Not such a bad price taking into account that UK prices are usually the highest.
I’m interested in the lens, I’m fond of this in-between focal lenght. It would be great if Olympus could release a firmware update to support the aperture ring on Oly cameras (the same with the 42.5mm/1.2). But I’m not too hopeful… Does it really make sense for Panasonic to market it with the GM1…?
@eidrag: I was thinking along the same line, but does it cover APS-C?… we’ll learn (maybe) on April 24th.
Looks SWEET., could replace my 17mm f/1.8 and my 14mm 2.5…and give me sharp images with great contrast and in a small package….hmmmmm….
Any word on whether the aperture ring is de-clicked? A system like the Voigtlander 17.5mm f/0.95 would be nice, where it can be either clicked for photos, or declicked for video.
Aperture ring = Awesome. So glad to see this becoming a trend. But no weather sealing? Bummer. Every M43 prime should be sealed and have the ring. But this looks like another great lens. Curious about the new little Leica camera coming in April. I wonder if a mount change would let this work in both systems
While I really like this bundle I don’t feel compelled to rush out and buy it. The GX1/20mm combo has become my go-to rig and I think Panny has reached the point that sensor and lens improvements are so incremental that it’s not worth the upgrade.
Wait, GM1 has focus peaking and electronic shutter?
Crap.
Nevermind and take my money.
Yeah, focus peaking, EVF, and IBIS are going to be the things that ultimately make me upgrade my GX1. The differences in sensor performance are real, but not nearly enough. Even between other formats…
Agreed on your sensor comment. My new M10 is stealing some GX1 time, but it seems like when I get a shot I really like it’s usually with the Panny.
If only Pana was willing to gave us a really improved 20mm pancake (noise, focus speed… etc.)… Sigh… They probably feared that this might threaten sales of the 25mm.
like it a lot …wish there is 999eur bundle with GX7 though
This news just reminded me what a superb lens the Pana 14mm is.
Still, maybe for some professional there is some aspect which would make him spend 600 quid for switching over to this Leica branded lens.
I personally have no need for whatsoever nice bokeh on a wide angle lens.
I suspect this product is targeted at the “joy of ownership” more than anything else.
Well, suum cuique.
Perhaps, but let’s give it a chance: the 14mm is great but has some limits. Price is really depressing, especially with a GM1 body.
I might have to wait for a couple of yesrs.
So we have a:
– 20mm f1.7
-17mm 1.8
– 15mm f1.7
Can we get a 17mm f1.4 please??!?! (A semi-affordable f1.2 will also be acceptable)
Don’t forget the voigtlander 17.5/0.95 and SLR magic 17/1.6
Agree the Voigtlander 17.5mm is a killer lens! f0.95, clickless aperture ring for video, superb photos, etc.
These are manual lenses, can´t you imagine that ppl want AF?
Af or Mf, that’s not the point, it’s about lens. And can’t stop to repeat myself, the 17.5/.95 is very versatile and amazing. f/1.7 and f/1.8 are not enough light for me. Love isolation subject, love proxy, love low light photography, love tack sharp., love is ring, love everything 😀
Looks like a good fit between the 12mm and the 17mm from Olympus. Especially if the quality is on par with the 25mm 1.4
I was thinking about this lens after I was taking photos with the Zeiss 35mm 2.8 and I wished I had the Bokeh. Dreams just came true!!!
Is aperture ring clickless?
geez, with this lens having FULL Leica branding; how probable is it that the forthcoming Leica T 701 will use m4/3 lenses?
thank you fuji x into embarrassing the rest of the mirrorless industry into providing an aperture ring on the lens … with any luck they will emulate physical shutter speed control, customer service. and frequency of firmware updating to add value and functionality .
most makers cant buy a clue
Try google an picture of Panasonic 14-50mm f/2.8-3.5, announced in 2006.
Fujifilm XF lens are announced in 2012.
total props after a one off original 43 desigh of great beauty body and lens …panny dropped that ball pretty hard .ya think????..years later fujis is the only guys doing a 2.8 to 4 ….where is pannys or olys kit lens with that spec …..have any idea how many kit zooms have been created for m 43 ….id guess 10 or more all with the same lame spec
peace to you …..you know your history