Panasonic announced the development of the new 30mm f/2.8 macro lens. Here is the official press text:
Development of the 30mm/F2.8 Digital Interchangeable Macro Lens
Panasonic is announcing the development of a new digital interchangeable lens – the 30mm/F2.8 single focal length macro lens based on the Micro Four Thirds system standard.*1
The new 30mm/F2.8 macro lens enables not only life-size macro photography but also offers further versatile styles of capturing photos, such as landscape photography thanks to a focusing distance of 60mm (35mm camera equivalent). For high precision focusing in macro photography the new lens also supports 240 fps high-speed AF, while integrating optical image stabiliser. It features a sophisticated exterior design in metallic finish for the stylish appearance.
Panasonic is committed to continuous development of imaging products to meet the diverse needs of customers in the expanding Interchangeable Lens camera market.
*1: Details of the product specifications, the date of release and the price are yet to be advised.
･Product image shown above is not final.
･Design and specifications subject to change without notice.
18 Responses
On a 30mm design the focus distance for 1:1 should be very low, which makes me sceptical about it.
why 30mm macro lens, isn’t short? and what about the PL 45/2.8 macro? why did they not refreshed it?
Excuse me if it is a silly question. When using for macro, what is the difference in focal length?
PS: Today is my b-Day, any salutation is welcome 😀
Working distance is what changes. With a 30mm you need to be really really close. Like a couple of cm from the object. Which is why most people don’t see the point as usually these kind of lenses are used in a studio with lights
Bokeh changes. Even if the DOF is the same, you get more background blur with longer focal lengths.
Sigma rebrand 🙂 ?
Isn’t it LEICA?
btw, I used Oly 4/3 35mm macro often to take any show event’s objects (e.g. CP+, Photokina).
so 30mm macro is welcome. currently Oly 35mm is usable only with E-M1 as you know.
but this 30mm macro is the native m4/3 lens, it can be used with any of m4/3 bodies, like my GX7.
Really disappointing announcement. I have no interest in this focal length. Still waiting for a uwa prime or a good lightweight 9-20 zoom for the GM1.
there is pancake 12-32mm lens zoom.
not 150 2.8 ???
helly oly….bye bye pana
keep your 30mm macro and your 14mm ….
I certainly hope, i actually EXPECT the 150mm to be announced in the coming days. It must be so !
Why a 30mm macro lens? M43 system needs more longer macro lenses, not shorter ones…
180mm FF is the best focal length. So we need a 3X extender with this !
Finally! I waited so long for a MFT version of the Olympus 35mm FT macro lens. I was really getting bored by all those fast prime lenses and telephoto-zooms announced in the past years. People who won’t understand the utility of a middle-focal macro lens should shut up and go whining elsewhere! Their needs have been served plainfully in the past; now it’s time for other wishes to get fulfilled. I just hope the Panasonic 30mm MFT macro lens won’t be too expensive; it’s FT-counterpart from Olympus wasn’t and that made this lens really attractive too…
Agreed. I too have been waiting for an equivalent to the Oly 35mm Macro. That was my favorite lens on FT. I have the 45mm PL Macro, but it’s just a bit too long to use as a general lens. This 30mm will be perfect for me as long as it’s also 1:1. You just know it *will* be expensive though. That’s what Panasonic does. I’ll sell the 45mm for this one though. I do worry of that’s an actual picture of the lens being developed. Doesn’t look any smaller than the 45mm, and that’s a bummer. One of the many great things about the Oly 35mm was it’s small size. Oly has been snoozing too much on MFT lenses.
Just curious: which working distance at 1:1 scale does the 35mm FT macro have?
still waiting for a good native 100mm macro, performing like the zeiss 100
What is the need for 30 mm macro? Just to be able to use it as standard lens?