A Review of the Panasonic 20mm f1.7 Pancake Lens For Micro 4/3 Cameras
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.ย. 2024
- A test and review of the the Panasonic 20mm f1.7 pancake Lens for Micro 4/3 Cameras from Panasonic and Olympus.
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We miss you David. I miss your way of reviewing. Thank you for all your videos. This is your legacy!
I found him right when he was passing. I'm going back through all his videos. He was a great one & is sorely missed.
I just cannot but soak-up all the information your videos provide, David, and enjoy and laugh out loud for your witty comments and remarks.
You are helping us enormously, David.
Keep on doing great videos. Which I am eagerly awaiting. With excitement and anticipation.
MrVoayer Great to hear that - thanks! I'm working on one at this moment.
Now it is 2020 and my 20/1.7 is still going as well as when it was new in 2009. At some point Panasonic updated the lens to a version 2. They claimed the optical formula was unchanged, yet it is not quite as sharp as this older version. It is like the Canon 40mm pancake. Sharper than it has a right to be, and because of the odd focal length, too often overlooked. It is a real gem.
20mm is a very useful focal length on Micro Four Thirds. It's actually close to the diagonal of the Micro Four Thirds sensor which makes it a true standard lens, I am told. Given its compact size and lightness, it's a keeper.
Panasonic really got a lot right with its first batch of lenses. The 14-140/4.0-5.8 and 20/1.7 made a nice tandem. Yes, the 20 is slow(er) to focus like you said and doesn't have stabilization. But it's pancake size means that the "old" lens is still worth carrying around, even if it means being relegated to a second, smaller body. Attach the 20 to a GM5 and it's a great choice to put in a pocket or purse and take out with you.
Yes, I agree. It's easy to forget how innovative these lenses were when they first came out and they are still as sharp as anything made since.
Your voice and mic setup is perfect for 1970's style documentaries.
My body was better set up for the 70s too :-)
I've have this lens for 3 years.
I couldn't be happier, much brighter than my friends' DSLR stock lenses.
It's a great feeling when you find a lens you really like. It makes you want to pick up the camera and take pictures and that's what it's all about.
this is my only single focus lens I own and I love it , it never fails and I can shoot anytime and anywhere plus in combination with my Olympus Pen it slides into my pocket like a valet
You sound like someone who knows what exactly they want. It's great asset, getting to know one combo very well means no lost shots wondering where something is.
@@DavidThorpeMFT : ) I just got tired hauling around a heavy brick of a camera and for city travel especially where one spends lots of time in the interiors a light fast lens makes life so much better , I think I may get one more of these but slightly wider
@@Ferda1964 The Olympus 17mm f/1.8 is nice, the 15mm f/1.7 Panasonic too. I've had my Olympus for many years and wouldn't part with it.
@@DavidThorpeMFT when I see someone with 4/3 or a rangefinder camera I get a feeling that they probably know how to use it well
@@Ferda1964 There's likely some truth in that. Both have to considered decisions rather than going the Nikon/Canon route by default that many do. No criticism of the big 2 there. They are there for good reasons.
dude. you rule. Seriously. Smart, informative, entertaining without being a goofball. And a certain level of gravitas that i'm inclined to attribute to your accent.
Thanks! It's funny how accents affect things. For me, when I hear certain Scottish accents I automatically feel the person must be reliable and trustworthy.
Hey...can you recommend a decent to good telephoto lens under $500 mark. Your 25-100mm looks great, but to pricey for me as i'm just a beginning hobbyist.
bastardluv The Olympus 40-150 f4-5.6 is on sale in the UK for £119 - $200 and that's a bargain and a good lens. It's tiny, too. Take a look at my review of it. Panasonic have the 45-150mm G Vario which is nice and has stabilzation if you have a Panasonic body. But the Olympus is a bargain.
I just picked up my first micro 4/3 camera, and all your reviews have been incredibly helpful. The mailman should be arriving with my Lumix 20mm tomorrow. I'm pairing it with a Panasonic GF6. Thanks very much for taking the time to post these informative reviews. Thomas
Nice to hear that, Thomas. You'll enjoy the new camera and lens. Compact but amazing quality.
I own this lens, and it is by far my favourite bit of glass. So much so that I have become lazy, and rarely switch lenses when I should. On the other hand, when I grab my GH2 and this lens is on it. I can go anywhere and nail the shots. There is a lot to be said about being comfortable with your kit. And that's exactly what this lens gives you.
Good to know that the slow focusing speed isn't just me. If Panasonic released a new version with OIS and faster focusing I would buy it immediately.
This and the GF1 was my first micro 4/3 camera, too and I loved the combo. It was lightweight, pocketable, and unobtrusive. The images were sharp and the 40mm field of view was so versatile. I sold the set and moved on to other lenses and bodies. But like an old crush, I still look fondly on the handling of the body and the good look of the images it produced. What am I trying to say? I think I may have to buy this lens again and take her for another spin. Thanks for the review - it brought back good memories.
Thanks Shaka - often, given how little you get for a lens when you sell it compared to what you paid for it you might as well keep it. But then you can finish up with a load of lenses that hardly very see daylight. No answer to that one, really.
Yes there is. On the LED screen when using the focus assist there is a + and a - . pressing the - allows you to make it just a square instead of the whole screen
The EPL5 and this amazing lense is the best combination in image quality,price and small form factor. Came to the same conclusion myself after researching for a micro 4/3 camera and lens and found that the Lumix 20mm f1.7 pancake with an economical Olympus body like the EPL5 is the best combo. Excellent video, thank you for affirming my instincts, this is my next purchase coming from a compact camera, avoiding alltogether the DSLR world.
grimpr I think that MFT is a very sensible and big step up from compacts. You have a large system of high quality lenses and accessories available with but without the bulk of DSLR. Plus, as you have done, you can pick lenses and bodies from various makers. Just so flexible.
A very welcome review! I'm thinking of buying it for my E-PM1. Heard a lot about the slow focusing. But it's not nearly as bad as I thought it was.
Glad it was helpful. Actually, the edge sharpness of the 20mm is much improved, probably enough for your needs, by f2. At f2.8 it is sharp across the frame so you won't need the high ISO!
I have an E-PL5 , lovely camera. It's a tricky question. If you use it only to photograph your daughter, I'd say the 45mm. Perfect lens for the job.
But if you'll be using the camera for holiday pix of the family, scenes at places you visit, the 20mm is more suitable. You are likely to use the camera for a wider range of subjects than just your daughter, I think, once you get going.
All in all, I'd go with the kit zoom as the most sensible choice with the 45mm on my wish list for later.
"The little black dress"!!! lol!!! Ok David... You have helped me to decide... Thank you...
Glad to raise a laugh! :-)
A very well put together and informative review! I always wondered how good these pancake lenses were…now I will not be so afraid to try one out. Thanks, David! Keep up the good work!
I use only MFT these days. Lenses, I use them all but my standard outfit is GH3, 12-35 and 35-100.
For carrying around, an Olympus E-PL5 with either 14-42mm Panasonic compact zoom or - probably mostly, the 20mm.
David, only just saw this review. I also got my 20/1.7 with a GF1 at the same time as I owned a Leica DRF kit. I was immediately impressed with this little lens which in testing gave similar results to my 28 and 35mm Leica lenses. I've always assumed that Panasonic engineers used some of the knowhow they developed with Leica to create this lens. Every m43rds owner should have one.
Thanks for your quick reply mate.
Im totally clear now to start my innings with the kit lens as you suggested.
Please bear with me for my future doubts reg. the camera as well :)
Cheers !
Yes, the point of a pancake lens is a bit lost on a larger camera but it still performs well optically for its price point.
That image looks fine. I noticed that banding occurs between ISO 1600-3200 in low light situations. Horizontal banding appears in the shadows. Also, if I take a photo with banding, sometimes I could take the same composition about 2 seconds later and not see any banding at all. If you take bursts, you can see the bands actually moving up the images. I also found certain settings determine the width of the bands as well.
Anyway I sold my 20mm hoping for the issue to be fixed in mk2.
It's sharper and a generally more useful lens than the 14mm but there's a good case for keeping both if you can.
Good review and spot on. The AF on this lens too noisy for video but then for me I usually use manual/external mike for video anyway. What this lens does do is sometimes produce one of those magical images you don't know you have until going through in post. I have the Panny 12-35 and its a brilliant lens but somehow in the low light of dusk, raining perhaps, (take care its not weather sealed) this 20mm delivers something special.
Well done. On the smaller cameras this looks appropriate where as on the GH-3 it is strangely dwarfed.
I love ur review, and ur accent is so pleasing to listen to. Gonna watch more of your videos now
noorur I'm blushing!
Wow!
This was posted a dog's year ago.
That is about right for us hicks out in the sticks. Fashion comes late in the form of hand me downs at about that interval.
Based partly on your humorous input, this 20 is a staple in my kit.
Most don't carry Colts up here, not that they went of fashion, but the little 20 lives on my $60.00 GF1.
That natural union is doing more than the rest of the kit combined. Thanks Chris
Everything gets updated but a combo that was good enough for what you needed 5 years ago won't have deteriorated just because something new comes along. As you prove. Thanks, Christopher.
@@DavidThorpeMFT All to true.
I can't imagine having so much flexibility 50 years ago.
Some times the impetus gets fuzzy to me with the unlimited ability to 'burn film'.
We love your work.
Thanks Chris
@@christophergallagher531 Thanks, Christopher!
Yea I personally contacted Olympus about this issue and they acknowledged that its there and would look into it. But then a few days later I got a call from them saying that at this point there is nothing that they can do, only to suggest for me to stay below 1600 ISO. I'm surprised they just didn't tell me to replace it with their 17mm 1.8.
It's a bit odd. It doesn't happen all the time. Some people think if the lens is "warmed up" from being on a while then it doesn't band anymore. The problem is well discussed on many message boards, and it has even been officially acknowledged by both Olympus and Panasonic. Olympus said they would investigate why this occurs on the OMD, while in the Panasonic GH3 manual, it warns that banding may occur at higher ISOs with the Panasonic 20mm lens. If your combo doesn't do it, you hit a gold mine.
I love your reviews, i just bought an oly epl5 based on yours and a few other sources reviews, now i am just going to have to get a lens or three lol
Arctic Gator Those b****y MFT lenses, for your money they are like having a hole in your pocket . And there are so many of them. But that never stops us, does it? :-)
But it gives you sooo many option's! it's a dangerous combo for us gear junkies!
Arctic Gator Buy one of everything - that's the answer. You know it makes sense :-)
Fantastic review, succinct yet very comprehensive and informative.
Kudos.
Useful and thoughtful comment, Marc, hanks.
It's from Gordy's Camera Straps. in the USA. He does all sorts - I like them becuase they are a bit different.
Unfortunately I have to buy all the stuff I review since no-one will lend me anything. But for now, it doesn't seem to offer much advance over the 20mm for the kind of things I would use it for,
I had one quite a while ago and sold it for the Olympus 12mm f2. It was a mistake, really because while the Olympus was optically a bit better, that didn't compensate for the extra bulk and weight.
I'd love to try them, I must say. I'm a big fan of Sigma lenses from my film and DSLR use and it's just great to see them making optics for m43.
Which Sigma lenses do you use with the m43 mount?
@@AbhaySharda The 56mm. I used to use a 105mm f/2.8 macro which was a great lens for general purpose use too but I replaced it with the 60mm Olympus as the focal length was a bit more general purpose use.
Hi David. A big fan here. Your reviews are direct to the point, very nice. I bought an Olympus E-PL5 the other day waiting for it to arrive (with just a kit lens though) and have been watching your reviews.
It's been a while since I haven't done photography. I used to have Canon 40D and paired with 50mm. That's my set up of doing a lot of portraits (& weddings of my friends) & food photography. That's was years ago.
Now investing to a new system. I am going to stick with my kit lens as I don't have budget to buy any lens as of now. Looking for pre-owned lenses but have no luck.
Keep it up David looking forward to more of your reviews. ;)
Jeffrey Daniels-Hamid Thanks Jeffrey. Luckily the days when kit lenses were second rate are gone. No-one seems to make bad lenses any more, computer aided design has put that to rest, I suppose.
David Thorpe thanks for the reply mate. I read some articles about 14-42mm kit lens and it's a positive overall. Hoping it is. :)
As always, an excellent review. It's also just at the right moment for me because I've been thinking about getting this lens to be a companion to my Oly 45mm. Ideally I'd like the Oly 17mm but it is expensive. There is a cheap Sigma 19mm but it's only F2.8 and it's big. This 20mm seems to be just right. Thanks again, you've helped me a lot.
I just received my new 20mm. I can't wait to try it out :-)
*If you take bursts, you can see the bands actually moving up the images. I also found certain settings determine the width of the bands as well.*
The clues are there somewhere - but that is beyond my pay grade, I think. Interesting, though
Fantastic, detailed and informative review.
We'll done.
Brendan Cumiskey Thanks!
"now for the performance..." - would 2nd that and add entertaining.
I've just shot a couple of pix of my black computer case under a table, 800 and 6400ISO, 30th f4. I've viewed at 100, 200 and 300% but there is no banding whatsoever there. On my E-PL5, by the way.
For me the logic is E-PL5 or OM-D. I'd check out the extra features that the EP5 has over the E-PL5 (better image stabilisation etc) and see whether they justify the extra money for my use. But always remembering that all 3 have the same superb image quality.
The GX7, is cheaper than the EP5 with EVF. Again, that question answers itself for me given that they appear to have similar iQ and the GX7 has the wifi.
New OM-D, matter of waiting to see which rumours are true. Interesting times!
It's a great lens for what you are doing, Bill, though I have to say that with your video ability and obvious people skills, the lens is just one small aspect of what you do. Though, as I always stress, if you enjoy working with the equipment you use, it does show in the finished work.
I particularly liked the Palestine stuff. I've been there so it was good to see your view of life there.
Very good video, very educational. I just bought one .
Glad it was helpful - hope you enjoy using it!
Great video David thanks for sharing
Nice review, thanks David.
That last line of the review nails this lens. So true! I just got the 25mm 1.4, but if I only have one lens, I still throw the 20mm because it can handle so many variations. Are you going to review the new 17mm from Oly?
You can. All Micro Four Thirds lenses work with all Micro Four Thirds camera bodies.
what if comparing the with m.zuiko 17mm f1.8 ? in terms of sharpness
My camera was cold, just started up and for myself I never use any ISO over about 1600 so perhaps that's it. I've put a jpg at dthorpe.net/viewing/banding.jpg - maybe I've missed it?
BTW, I am using EPL5. I am referring to Oly 17mm 1.8. thanks.
Try it in a low-light urban setting on a GH2 with Moon T-5 hack...fricking beautiful!!
Have you compared the image quality to that of the Olympus 17mm 1.8?
I do, it's excellent :-) Thanks for the review it helped me make the right decision.
You'll love it!
Thanks, glad i was helpful.
Thanks! Exactly what I was looking for. Comparing MFT pancake lenses at the moment, and I think I'm going to go with the 20mm f1.7 II . The real question is why do you prefer 17mm over 20mm? Do you prefer 35mm equiv over 50mm equiv?
Thank you, Carlos! I prefer 17mm over 20mm simply because I think it is about the best compromise for an all round lens. Wide enough to be flexible in town but ok for people provided you don't want to fill the frame with the head. The 20mm I find just that bit too long for buildings, for example. However, I have always had a 17mm or equivalent 54° horizontal angle of view so I'm used to it. That's purely personal and someone else would have prefer 20mm for their own reasons. The main reason, though, is that the 20mm doesn't have the focus speed of the 17mm, it rather slower which may or may not be important depending on the task. One factor, though - the 20mm really is a pancake lens, the 17mm isn't, so the 20mm slips in a bag much more easily.
Thanks - force of habit! I've amended it.
Very enjoyable review. Could you tell use about the short camera strap on the GH3, is it home-made? Thank you.
Excellent review
Thanks, Robbie!
Good review. However you failed to mention one major flaw of this lens with newer cameras. Any camera with the 16mpx Sony sensor such as the Olympus OMD, PL5, PM2, or the Panasonic GH3 will give very horrid banding with this lens in shadow areas at higher ISO settings. The banding is not fixable in post process and ruins pictures. Hopefully the new Panasonic 20mm mk2 will solve this issue.
Have you experienced this with your PL5. I have a PL5 too and it is very noticeable. Hate it.
Thanks!
thanks! very useful!
+sonomama82 Good to hear that - thanks for telling me!
I was just checking out the new EP5, I was surprised by how heavy it is, but it is a really nice camera, feels very solid, but it is almost two times the cost of the EPL5, so now I am wondering how good the EPL5 is in comparison, and i'm also wondering when the next generation of OMD will hit the stores, and i also want to check out the new Panasonic GX7 when i get a chance
Thank you for this WONDERFUL and easy to understand review! I am purchasing a panasonic gh2 and it is coming with a 14-42mm 3.5-5.6 kit lens. I am not able to afford another lens right now, but this looks like the perfect low light and versatile lens for my uses. If you are in bright day light filming a lake will it be sharp edge to edge if you stop it down to f4 or f5.6 during video capture and up the iso?
Once again, a great honest review. I have this lens on my GX1 90% of the time. I want to get the 12-35, but I don't know whether to invest in another MFT lens or just invest more in my 6D and get better lenses for that. What do you shoot With the most?
I'd like to review the Oly but I can't get anyone to lend me equipment so can only review stiff I have bought. None of the shops and magazines I approach or Olympus or Panasonic themselves even reply to my emails!
The field-of-view of this lens is so 'natural'; the AF whizz is a bit annoying, but it's inexpensive.
Hi David, thanks for sharing your thoughts abt this lense.
Im going to buy an EPL-5 this week, and im quite confused with panasonic 20mm 1.7 and olympus 45mm f1.8.
My subject is my 2 year old daughter.
or is it better to start my photography with a standard kit lense comes with the EPL-5 ?
Hi David, do you feel the lack of continuous autofocus support (it does kind of work but its slow and officially Panasonic stated there is no CAF support) for the 20mm and issue? I have just gotten the 20mm. Compared to the 45mm, the autofocus is slow, and I can't use CAF when photographing my kids (not to mention CAF with video is also quite slow). I am considering whether to bit the bullet and get the 17mm. Do you think the improvement is worthwhile?
Thanks for your video. Do you think that this lens could improve image quality in an old camera such as the Lumix G2, instead of the 14-42mm kit lens?
I believe the 14-42 is a very good lens. You'd get this if you want the better aperture e.g. for low-light or in order to get out of focus backgrounds
Hi again Anil! I'd buy an update to this lens on the lines you without question.
Pardon my language but bloody great stuff - as usual.
Thank you, Paul!
Great review.
As a newbie coming up from P&S cameras I'm pushing towards purchasing the Panasonic GX7. Bearing my inexperience would you stick with the kit lens or but the body with the 20mm? Mainly shooting kids indoor and out. Thanks.
joe nick Difficult! I'd go with the kit zoom because of its versatility for doing portraits as well as children running around plus it is stabilized. If you are inexperienced the zoom will give you an idea of how different focal lengths affect your picture and therefore a better idea of what fast prime you might want to buy at a later date. A tip - don't stand in one place and use the zoom to fill the frame. Put the lens on 14mm and frame, then on 20, then on 42mm, say, and move in and out to frame how you wish. Notice how much it changes the picture and the control it gives you over the perspective,
Thanks David. Especially thanks for your time in giving the extra advice. Very much appreciated.
Wonder if you can still get away with that "Black dress" ending in 2024...? lol!
Anywho, very nice review!
Didn"t know he passed away... Well, guess that will happen to all of us at some stage, now won"t it...
I have this lens. When I used it with my E-PL1 it gave mind blowing sharpness. But on my GX8, it's another history. I could not recognise this lens. Where has the sharpness gone?
It has to be a fault - the sensor on the GX8 is among the best ever made for Micro Four Thirds. Have you tried it with the electronic shutter to see if you are experiencing shutter shock?
What Len hood was that..What to look for on eBay
Is this really a summilux? I thought the only summilux for m43 was the 25 f1.4. This is just the standard pancake lens isn't it?
Does this have the same amount of background blur as the 25mm 1.7 when the composition of the is the same?
You'd be closer than you would with the 25mm, so yes, it'd be very similar. Depth if field is dictated by two things only, the physical size of the hole the light passes through and the distance from the focal point.
I have watched your Panasonic 20mm F1.7 pancake lens review and the Olympus 17mm F2.8 pancake lens - which would be your first choice out of these two to use on a GX7 body?
+Daniel Jones I'd go for the 20mm for sharpness and speed and better subject isolation. For street photography I'd prefer the 17mm f/2.8 but as an all rounder the 20mm is better. Its main fault is focusing speed which while not slow (no Micro Four Thirds equipment is slow), it is not as fast as newer lenses. Or the 17mm for that matter.
Great thanks for your answer thats very helpful.
good Review! what do think about the panasonic 14 2,5 ? i bought One for 60 € . i like it on my gx1. its so tiny😀
For €60 it's a real bargain. Tiny and sharp too. Very nice on a bit bigger cameras like the GX80, too. It's often the lens jutting pout that makes a camera difficult to carry in a bag.
I agree.
David. I have a question. I have Panasonic GF6 + 45-150 f.4/-5.6 Panasonic lens. I would like buy prime to get my second lens for landscape/everything else shooting. I want to pick this lens or Olympus 17mm 1.8. Which is better in your opinion?
Thank you for reply!
I'd go for the Olympus. It's a little wider which will be handy for landscape but also it also has much faster focusing. One of my favourite lenses in fact and great for general street and everyday photography.
Thank you David. One more question. If I will be photographed in JPEG, I should not to worry about the disadvantages of this lens, because what I understand that they will be eliminated in the software way in camera.
The 20mm has a lot of purple fringing which the Olympus 17mm does not since it is designed out. However, on Panasonic cameras the purple fringing is mostly corrected in camera.
Great to hear that. I am asking because many reviews says the Panasonic it's sharp from f.2.0 and the Olympus from f.2.8. Anyway, it's time to check it. ;)
I use my 17mm mainly at f/2 . It's true that the 20mm is a bit sharper but not to any extent that overcomes the focusing disadvantage. The sharpness difference is mainly something you'd see in test. In real world use you'd find no difference.
I heard a lot that Panasonic Pancakes has a lot of annoying noise while focusing ( like an old printer)… Why here we don't see that?
+Lipski photography An old printer is very loud. All modern lenses make noises when focusing to some extent. If it had been an issue for me, I'd have mentioned it but it wasn't. More of an issue with this lens is the comparatively slow focusing.
Hi David, just bought a Panasonic Lumix GX7 and noticed that I am not getting pin sharp images for landscapes and sunsets as I did with my old TZ7. I have a 45-175 telephoto and a 14-42, so what would be absolute best for the landscape shots please?
+Brad Brassman I can only think that you are being troubled by shutter shock. Try using the electronic shutter for your pictures and see if that helps. I use it as standard and just use the mechanical shutter for flash and exposures more than 1 second. With the mechanical shutter, see what happens if you use speeds above 1/500th or belwo 1/60th. That's where shutter shick normally occurs.
Many thanks I will try this!
Hi, I have seen several models for Panasonic Lumix 20mm. Do you know what are the differences? H-H020, H-H020PP,H-H020AK,H-H020AS. What is the one you have?
gerardo montemayor Garcia I have the H-HO20. The older and the newer version are optically identical as are all the 20mm lenses, Mk1 and 2. The Mk 2 has a slightly different coating but that's all. S means silver, K means back, other than that I don't know. But in the end, they are all the same lens.
David Thorpe Thank you David, it helped me a lot. Great pictures :)!!!
How well will this 20mm lens work on the panasonic g9?
It'll work as well on the G9 as on any other Micro Four Thirds camera but the lens is relatively slow focusing and not good for video because of focusing limitations. Given the excellent focusing ability of the G9, there are better lenses to match it with, though not of exactly 20mm focal length and not so compact. Take a look at the Sigma 19mm f/2.8 and the Olympus 17mm f/2.8. Or maybe the 25mm standards if that is not too long for what you want.
I have acquired the original of this...It almost stays on my EM1
It's nice when you find a camera/lens combination that really works for you.
what about the 14mm f2.5 have you tried yet sir ?
Can I use it with EPL1?
Here I am again in this great channel for a question: I have a gh2 for video, do you suggest me this lens to low light recording or do I have a better option? Regards
+M Pess Hi M Pess - thanks for the kind words. Actually, I wouldn't suggest this lens for low light video as its main fault is slow focusing, especially in low light. Alternatives would be the wider angle Olympus 17mm f/1.8 or - probably best - wait for the new 25mm f/1.7 which is coming soon apparently. That will have stabilization, I would think which, is useful for video. 20mm is an unusual focal length for MFT and there aren't any direct alternatives.
Thx a lot for your great help. Please, don't forget about gh2 I still have one here. hahaha
Is that the new lens you are talking about it:
www.imaging-resource.com/news/2015/09/01/presents-from-panasonic-new-25mm-f-1.7-lens-paid-v-log-software-upgrade-for
+M Pess yes, that's the one.
Thx man, those piece of information was a great help for me, Amateur video editor
Can you tell me please whats the best low light lens can i get for video? between 12 - 20 mm for gx80...
Most people find a 25mm good for video, in which case the Panasonic f/1.7 springs to mind. For wider, I wouldn't go for the 20mm here because its focusing performance is not so good for video. The 15mm Panasonic is a nice one, as is the 17mm f/1/8 Olympus, a big favourite of mine, though mainly I use it for stills. The 12mm Olympus f/2 is a nice lens too, if you are looking for something that wide. For the GX80, if you want the wider angle, my choice would be the Panasonic 15mm f/1.7
David Thorpe
Thank you, recently got 15mm and then 25mm for a good price but now want the compactness of 20mm :)
You'll find the focusing less certain and slower, especially so in low light. But it certainly wins on compactness.
thanks
You're welcome!
How do you find the 20mm AF speed in low light with GX7 compared to EPL5?
***** I've never found any material difference in focusing speed with either system. Not on the 20mm but I did a short video on the subjec here th-cam.com/video/QTlEXzIAAvQ/w-d-xo.html
Thank you.
Hello David thanks for your fine review. very helpful.
will this lens fit my old olympus e-pl2.
also i notice there are 2 versions. which will work and what is the difference.
many thanks
Panasonic Lumix G H-H020 20mm f/1.7 Aspherical Pancake Lens for Micro Four Thirds Interchangeable Digital SLR Cameras at .
Panasonic Lumix G H-H020AK 20mm F/1.7 II ASPH Fixed Lens for Panasonic/Olympus Micro Four Thirds Cameras (Black)
Is the AF alway quite loud?
Yes, it is . AF in general is the Achilles heel of this lens. Not bad but not so quick as later lenses.
i want this lens so bad.i want to replace my 14mm Pancake that came with my GF2
How does it compare to the 17mm f2.8 Oly?
The 17mm is faster focusing but optically much less good. It's a difficult choice because the Olympus is really tiny and I personally prefer the focal length.
But, overall I'd pay the extra and get the 20mm.
David Thorpe Thanks...im probably going to get the 17mm available from the second hand store..
Terry07 Probably best used at around f4 (like most MFT lenses). You could take a look at the Sigma 19mm f2.8 - an amzing lens at a bargain price.
David Thorpe Thanks! will look at the Sigma lens as well :)