New PL 25mm!?!?

hmpws · #1 July 6th, 2010, 08:03 AM

Olympus and Panasonic rumors Blog Archive (FT4) Panasonic will make a new 25mm MicroFourThirds lens…f/1.4 or faster!!!

As you may have already read... not trying to feed a rumour mill but, could it be a new combo for a new camera (GF2??

). Personally I would like a wide angle prime instead though.

BBW · #2 July 6th, 2010, 08:19 AM

Uh oh, time to sell some stuff.

Brian Mosley · #3 July 6th, 2010, 08:26 AM

It's very close to the 20mm f1.7... I'd rather see a 45mm f1.4 or 57mm f1.4 for portraits.

The Olympus mZD 50mm f2 could do the trick, if it's as fast to focus as the two new mZD zooms.

We live in hope!

Cheers

Brian

BBW · #4 July 6th, 2010, 08:33 AM

True Brian and I have to agree about the 9-18mm (it's the only one of the two new Oly lenses that I have) that it is excellent...so much so that well... I digress.

Bokeh Diem · #5 July 6th, 2010, 03:48 PM

A micro 4/3rds 25/1.4 might be handy for some, as would any fast prime, like 38/1.2 etc. We all have our wants.

I recently bought a Pany/Leica D 25/1.4 adapted into the format, from its native 4/3rds. Helluva thing. Big, and heavy. And brilliant.

This discussion tends to make me wonder if Panasonic are considering abandoning 4/3rds entirely. Are they still producing the Leica D series 4/3 lenses? They are very, very good. And, they don't get much play on this forum, against the backdrop chatter of legacy glass etc.

LEICA D LENS | PRODUCTS | LUMIX | Digital Camera | Panasonic Global

Bokeh Diem

arpoador · #6 July 7th, 2010, 01:15 AM

The full-sized four thirds version just dropped by 20% on Amazon:
Amazon.com: Panasonic 25mm f/1.4 Four Thirds Lens for Panasonic Digital SLR Cameras: Camera & Photo

hmmm... maybe they know something?

soundimageplus · #7 July 7th, 2010, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bokeh Diem

I recently bought a Pany/Leica D 25/1.4 adapted into the format, from its native 4/3rds. Helluva thing. Big, and heavy. And brilliant.
This discussion tends to make me wonder if Panasonic are considering abandoning 4/3rds entirely. Are they still producing the Leica D series 4/3 lenses? They are very, very good.

I had one of these, and you are right. its big, heavy and with amazing image quality. As can be seen, its not really a "snug fit" on m4/3.

If the rumours are true I would think its an obvious move for Panasonic. These lenses are still available, but whether they are still making them I wouldn't know. I presume it would be relatively easy to just change the mount & they could have the lens out while working on some other fast primes. If the rumours are true and they are responding to the general desire for this type of lens, then that is very encouraging.

Like you I would wonder about their commitment to 4/3 as it seems obvious that they are putting all their energies into m4/3. Indeed the future of 4/3 in general may hinge on what Olympus do next. They obviously have a huge lens lineup to "find a home for" and the rumours about their "modular camera" are intriguing and exciting. I'd be very interested in a camera that let me use both 4/3 and m4/3 lenses, particularly If they can keep it relatively light and small but still have options for battery grips, video, interchangeable finders etc.

The D series lenses are still available. I've had a 14-50mm f2.8-3.5 for a while and have just bought the 14-150mm zoom. I posted a thread on it here:-
My new best friend!
I would have thought these are a little large for changing to m4/3 mount, but who knows? They are certainly superb lenses.

igi · #8 July 7th, 2010, 03:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBW

Uh oh, time to sell some stuff.

time to sell my kidney

Brian Mosley · #9 July 7th, 2010, 03:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by igi

time to sell my kidney

Careful igi, you need at least one!

Cheers

Brian

hmpws · #10 July 7th, 2010, 03:18 AM

I hope they are actually micro-size.. rather than simply changing the mount.

Quote:

Originally Posted by soundimageplus

I had one of these, and you are right. its big, heavy and with amazing image quality. As can be seen, its not really a "snug fit" on m4/3.

If the rumours are true I would think its an obvious move for Panasonic. These lenses are still available, but whether they are still making them I wouldn't know. I presume it would be relatively easy to just change the mount & they could have the lens out while working on some other fast primes. If the rumours are true and they are responding to the general desire for this type of lens, then that is very encouraging.

Like you I would wonder about their commitment to 4/3 as it seems obvious that they are putting all their energies into m4/3. Indeed the future of 4/3 in general may hinge on what Olympus do next. They obviously have a huge lens lineup to "find a home for" and the rumours about their "modular camera" are intriguing and exciting. I'd be very interested in a camera that let me use both 4/3 and m4/3 lenses, particularly If they can keep it relatively light and small but still have options for battery grips, video, interchangeable finders etc.

The D series lenses are still available. I've had a 14-50mm f2.8-3.5 for a while and have just bought the 14-150mm zoom. I posted a thread on it here:-
My new best friend!
I would have thought these are a little large for changing to m4/3 mount, but who knows? They are certainly superb lenses.

arpoador · #11 July 7th, 2010, 03:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hmpws

I hope they are actually micro-size.. rather than simply changing the mount.

Agreed.

My understanding is that the four-thirds lenses aren't dramatically smaller than the full-size lenses for two reasons:
1) (self-inflicted) The fact that the four-thirds standard called for parallel light rays hitting the sensor, to improve digital image capture, and
2) (simple geometry) The flange depth is as important to the overall lens size (amount of glass, distance from camera, etc) as the size of the sensor.

With the micro four-thirds format, the second issue is basically resolved by creating a new flange depth that is proportionate to the smaller sensor size. That's why our new lenses can have much less glass, and be much lighter than the equivalent full frame lenses.

The original Leica D lenses were hampered by having to fit the deeper four-thirds bodies. One strategy would be simply to make them longer, effectively adding in the adapter to the length of the lens. What I hope they do, instead, is to scale down the entire lens design to match the new sensor/flange depth geometry, which would result in a really small lens, even if it has a very large maximum aperture.

noodlehaus · #12 July 7th, 2010, 03:49 AM

I've sold both and replaced them with sponges and a well-placed zipper for that periodic maintenance :D

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Mosley

Careful igi, you need at least one!

Cheers

Brian

Boyzo · #13 July 7th, 2010, 05:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arpoador

Agreed.

My understanding is that the four-thirds lenses aren't dramatically smaller than the full-size lenses for two reasons:
1) (self-inflicted) The fact that the four-thirds standard called for parallel light rays hitting the sensor, to improve digital image capture, and
2) (simple geometry) The flange depth is as important to the overall lens size (amount of glass, distance from camera, etc) as the size of the sensor.

With the micro four-thirds format, the second issue is basically resolved by creating a new flange depth that is proportionate to the smaller sensor size. That's why our new lenses can have much less glass, and be much lighter than the equivalent full frame lenses.

The original Leica D lenses were hampered by having to fit the deeper four-thirds bodies. One strategy would be simply to make them longer, effectively adding in the adapter to the length of the lens. What I hope they do, instead, is to scale down the entire lens design to match the new sensor/flange depth geometry, which would result in a really small lens, even if it has a very large maximum aperture.

I would expect the 25/1.4 will be smaller it probably will have focus by wire and OIS but not for certain it may be ommited in the interests of compactness and lower cost.

If this is a joint effort with Leica and its a summilux lens configuration then center sharpness at f1.4 could be amazing.

Looking forward to this lens for me its high on my list.

Boyzo · #14 July 7th, 2010, 05:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arpoador

The full-sized four thirds version just dropped by 20% on Amazon:
Amazon.com: Panasonic 25mm f/1.4 Four Thirds Lens for Panasonic Digital SLR Cameras: Camera & Photo

hmmm... maybe they know something?

I get my lenses from here

the PL 25/1.4 is US $980 currently check back here they may drop the price more 980 is ongoing Amazon had it high anyways

Damn great lens full manual and very well built

Panasonic LEICA D SUMMILUX 25mm F1.4 ASPH

igi · #15 July 8th, 2010, 03:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noodlehaus

I've sold both and replaced them with sponges and a well-placed zipper for that periodic maintenance :D

Thanks Brian but above is a more sound advice. Now nothing can stop me