Thanks for your view on this lens. A couple of tips I've picked up over the years "55" of shooting out door concerts or anything out doors. I keep painters tape in my bag or pocket to lock in settings on a lens that I may not want to be change. Painters tape leave no sticky residue. I also keep a few different size zip lock baggies to store gear that doesn't like water, sand, dirt, dust and any unexpected things that can cause problems. Take care from Tulsa, Oklahoma.
I've been using this on my GX9 as a walkabout set up for city and street type photos. It's small and compact and doesn't draw attention. I sometimes shoot from waist level and straighten or crop when I process my images. It comes with a funky looking metal bayonet fit hood which helps protect it. I would say sharpness is good but not stunningly so. I have to say I don't put it on my G9, I think it looks a bit ridiculous on a larger body camera 😅 overall, as part of my walkabout kit, I always enjoy using it and it has produced some of my favourite images. Oh yes, it has good contrast which gives you plenty to work with in processing, e.g. in mono.
I bought the DJI version of this lens without realizing it due to what I now think was manipulated advertising. It comes with a rubber hood (for weather protection I guess) I believe it's set up that way for a drone. Everything else is identical. The hood sits over the aperture and focus rings. It's not a traditional lens hood as it covers the lens body. It's much harder to bump the aperture ring with this in place. Other than that it's a great lens like you've shown. The box it came with looks really up market.
Love your tip filled videos. The Lens Manual Focus + back-button focus trick works on other lenses, too. Not sure when I’d use that, but I didn’t even know it was a possibility until a couple minutes ago.
15mm f\1.7 is an awesome diverse prime. My most used prime lens: It does landscapes, multi row panoramas, dash cam, streel photo lens, close up bokey lens, Rainbow milky way panorama lens, night photo/video lens, and all around great lens for hand held motion video shots, without the need for a gimbal.
The fact that so many owners of this lens talk in glowing terms about it is very revealing. People in reviews seem to think that 15mm (30mm equiv) is an odd focal length, but when I was much younger 30mm and 28mm were popular street shooting lengths on 35mm SLR's. It is only in the last 20 to 30 years that 30mm became less common. The 30 was a good compromise if getting just one wide, but then people started wanting 24mm and 21mm lenses, and for those people it seemed to make sense to get a 35 instead of a 30 and have a 2-wide kit. It seems that a lot of younger photographers are enjoying discovering this great focal length. It is a great all-rounder sort of focal length. But to that you need to add great contrast and very pleasing sharpness. There is a lot to like in this lens, which is why it is so popular.
Excellent review, thanks! I would add indoor video to the list of good uses. Oh, and thanks for the tip about manual focus and simultaneous back-button focus capability!
Panasonic is releasing a new L-mount lens, the 35mm f1.8, so it is practically a full-frame version of this lens. They say it is also a great lens for video because it has some new mechanism to suppress focus breathing. Not sure if it is available yet, but if you still have that S1 when it comes out it would be fun to compare with this lens.
Got a similar manual lens in the SLR Magic HyperPrime 12mm 1,6 on a GH4, it was the first extra lens and it is my go to lens. Basically it is always on the body as walk around lens. Sure, the zoom 12-35 is an excellent alternative, just, like the SLR better.
Hi Andrew, I love this lens too. Have you tried the new manual focus settings available from the new 2.5 (2.6, 2.7)firmware? Changing the Focus Ring Control to Linear and setting the amount of throw is really great when using the VFR slow motion video is a huge help to me, as I never mastered non-linear lenses and manual focus.
Thanks for the info, and no I have not tried it. I don't shoot so much VFR video but this is something I want to improve on so I will try to put your tip to good use.
I really like the form factor and only wish Panasonic had taken the opportunity to replace the existing 14mm f/2.5 lens, which I briefly owned and founded to be mediocre and no better than the kit lens that came with my old G1 camera from 2009. This appears to be superior in every respect, but the very fact you had to ask what the focal length could be used for confirms that it's a bit betwixt and between for most people, myself included. But sincere thanks for the review, because I think the lens has been generally overlooked for that very reason. As I say, if and when a 14mm version is produced, Leica branded or not, I'd be very interested.
My 15mm f1.7 clicks out of Auto Aperture every single time I mount it to the camera, purely due to the overall compact size. I recently bought the Sigma 16mm f1.4 primarily to use on my gimbal because the focus ring is like 5 times the size.
@@naturesimagephotography Also my lens hood broke; the plastic locking tabs broke so the hood wouldn’t stay put (which is probably why you didn’t get one in the package!) but I just bought a cheap metal screw in Funnel shaped hood and attached that to a circular polariser so in times of Low Light I remove the polariser and lens hood combo 🤷
Thanks Andrew; I do like the 'A' setting on the f-1.7 and to see the tests you gave it. How do you think it compares with the Leica 12-60mm, which is also considered a 'general usage' lens? Looking forward to your future evaluations. Mike in Oz
Mike it's the usual comparison you would make between a prime and a zoom. The prime is probably a little sharper (although I find the 12-60mm very sharp) and it operates better in low light. The zoom is more versatile so less limiting in how you can use it.
Thanks for your view on this lens.
A couple of tips I've picked up over the years "55" of shooting out door concerts or anything out doors.
I keep painters tape in my bag or pocket to lock in settings on a lens that I may not want to be change. Painters tape leave no sticky residue. I also keep a few different size zip lock baggies to store gear that doesn't like water, sand, dirt, dust and any unexpected things that can cause problems.
Take care from Tulsa, Oklahoma.
I've been using this on my GX9 as a walkabout set up for city and street type photos. It's small and compact and doesn't draw attention. I sometimes shoot from waist level and straighten or crop when I process my images. It comes with a funky looking metal bayonet fit hood which helps protect it. I would say sharpness is good but not stunningly so. I have to say I don't put it on my G9, I think it looks a bit ridiculous on a larger body camera 😅 overall, as part of my walkabout kit, I always enjoy using it and it has produced some of my favourite images. Oh yes, it has good contrast which gives you plenty to work with in processing, e.g. in mono.
Hi Andrew, I’m a subscriber, I own a G9 and I just wanted to point out how insightful your videos are! Tks for your work and cheers from Canada!
Hi Frederick and thank you, very kind of you to take the time to comment.
I bought the DJI version of this lens without realizing it due to what I now think was manipulated advertising. It comes with a rubber hood (for weather protection I guess) I believe it's set up that way for a drone. Everything else is identical. The hood sits over the aperture and focus rings. It's not a traditional lens hood as it covers the lens body. It's much harder to bump the aperture ring with this in place. Other than that it's a great lens like you've shown. The box it came with looks really up market.
Love your tip filled videos. The Lens Manual Focus + back-button focus trick works on other lenses, too. Not sure when I’d use that, but I didn’t even know it was a possibility until a couple minutes ago.
15mm f\1.7 is an awesome diverse prime. My most used prime lens: It does landscapes, multi row panoramas, dash cam, streel photo lens, close up bokey lens, Rainbow milky way panorama lens, night photo/video lens, and all around great lens for hand held motion video shots, without the need for a gimbal.
Thanks Andrew. Just bought the G9 and I'm finding your videos really helpful.
Love this with my G100. Such a great travel/street photography kit.
The fact that so many owners of this lens talk in glowing terms about it is very revealing. People in reviews seem to think that 15mm (30mm equiv) is an odd focal length, but when I was much younger 30mm and 28mm were popular street shooting lengths on 35mm SLR's. It is only in the last 20 to 30 years that 30mm became less common. The 30 was a good compromise if getting just one wide, but then people started wanting 24mm and 21mm lenses, and for those people it seemed to make sense to get a 35 instead of a 30 and have a 2-wide kit.
It seems that a lot of younger photographers are enjoying discovering this great focal length. It is a great all-rounder sort of focal length. But to that you need to add great contrast and very pleasing sharpness. There is a lot to like in this lens, which is why it is so popular.
Excellent review, thanks!
I would add indoor video to the list of good uses.
Oh, and thanks for the tip about manual focus and simultaneous back-button focus capability!
Thank you Andrew, I've been thinking about buying this lens for awhile.
Looks like a nice lens and thank you for your video.
I love this awesome video! You are an awesome photographer! I love watching your videos!
Thanks Chuck.
The Leica 15 mm 1.7 is very great with the Lumix GX9. ;-)
Panasonic is releasing a new L-mount lens, the 35mm f1.8, so it is practically a full-frame version of this lens. They say it is also a great lens for video because it has some new mechanism to suppress focus breathing. Not sure if it is available yet, but if you still have that S1 when it comes out it would be fun to compare with this lens.
Yes, it's a great lens and worth getting if it suits your purposes. I agree with your review.
Good review of the PL15mm I own it but prefer it on my GX85 as opposed to my G9 as I think they pair more favourably size wise.
Got a similar manual lens in the SLR Magic HyperPrime 12mm 1,6 on a GH4, it was the first extra lens and it is my go to lens. Basically it is always on the body as walk around lens. Sure, the zoom 12-35 is an excellent alternative, just, like the SLR better.
Hi Andrew, I love this lens too. Have you tried the new manual focus settings available from the new 2.5 (2.6, 2.7)firmware? Changing the Focus Ring Control to Linear and setting the amount of throw is really great when using the VFR slow motion video is a huge help to me, as I never mastered non-linear lenses and manual focus.
Thanks for the info, and no I have not tried it. I don't shoot so much VFR video but this is something I want to improve on so I will try to put your tip to good use.
I really like the form factor and only wish Panasonic had taken the opportunity to replace the existing 14mm f/2.5 lens, which I briefly owned and founded to be mediocre and no better than the kit lens that came with my old G1 camera from 2009. This appears to be superior in every respect, but the very fact you had to ask what the focal length could be used for confirms that it's a bit betwixt and between for most people, myself included. But sincere thanks for the review, because I think the lens has been generally overlooked for that very reason. As I say, if and when a 14mm version is produced, Leica branded or not, I'd be very interested.
Thanks Michael. Re the 14mm...who knows, maybe Panasonic is listening.
My 15mm f1.7 clicks out of Auto Aperture every single time I mount it to the camera, purely due to the overall compact size.
I recently bought the Sigma 16mm f1.4 primarily to use on my gimbal because the focus ring is like 5 times the size.
Yep, sometimes it feels like my fingers and thumbs are just a bit too big for some of this compact gear.
@@naturesimagephotography Also my lens hood broke; the plastic locking tabs broke so the hood wouldn’t stay put (which is probably why you didn’t get one in the package!) but I just bought a cheap metal screw in Funnel shaped hood and attached that to a circular polariser so in times of Low Light I remove the polariser and lens hood combo 🤷
Thanks for an excellent video! (I still enjoy my old Lumix GH2). What software do you use for your merged panoramas?
th-cam.com/video/Q-3nBaN54Co/w-d-xo.html Check this video for the answer
Thanks Andrew; I do like the 'A' setting on the f-1.7 and to see the tests you gave it. How do you think it compares with the Leica 12-60mm, which is also considered a 'general usage' lens? Looking forward to your future evaluations.
Mike in Oz
Mike it's the usual comparison you would make between a prime and a zoom. The prime is probably a little sharper (although I find the 12-60mm very sharp) and it operates better in low light. The zoom is more versatile so less limiting in how you can use it.
It's a brilliant lens but I've had the problem with the aperture ring accidentely slipping from my setting on shooting
Agreed, I find each time I take the lens out of my camera bag I have to switch the aperture ring back to A because it slips out so easily.
Would u choose this or the sigma 16mm?
I have not used that lens.
If you want wider, would you use the Lumix 9mm or a Laowa 7mm?
I have never tried either lens so I can't really comment.
Celina looked pretty scary in those shots . . . well okay, more pretty than scary, to be fair. 😈
Yep, some things can't ever be fully hidden by makeup.