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Panasonic develops 45-150mm F4.0-5.6 ASPH tele-zoom for Micro Four Thirds

Jul 18, 2012 at 05:00:00 GMT

LENS NEWS MICRO-FOUR-THIRDS PANASONIC

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Panasonic has announced the LUMIX G VARIO 45-150mm F4.0-5.6 ASPH Mega OIS, a compact entry-level telephoto zoom for Micro Four Thirds cameras. At just 73mm/2.9" in length and weighing a mere 200g/7.1oz, it's the smallest lens in its class. It features a metal-clad barrel reminiscent of Sony's NEX lenses, includes optical image stabilization and Panasonic's Nano-Surface Coating to minimise flare, and will be available in either silver or black.

To illustrate the size of the 40-150mm, here it is alongside Panasonic's existing telephoto zooms and the Leica-branded 45mm F2.8 Macro.

Left to right: Panasonic Leica DG Macro-Elmarit 45mm F2.8 ASPH OIS, Lumix G Vario 45-150mm F4.0-5.6 ASPH Mega OIS, Panasonic Lumix G X Vario PZ 45-175mm F4.0-5.6 ASPH OIS, Panasonic Lumix G Vario 45-200mm F4-5.6 OIS

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Press Release
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Press Release:

PANASONIC INTRODUCES NEW DIGITAL INTERCHANGABLE LENS FOR LUMIX G SERIES

Panasonic’s Premium LUMIX G X VARIO 45-150 mm Telephoto Zoom Lens Achieves Exceptional Image Quality in a Compact, Lightweight Design

July 18, 2012 (Secaucus, NJ) – Panasonic is pleased to announce a new interchangeable telephoto zoom lens for the Digital Single Lens Mirrorless LUMIX G that complies with the Micro Four Thirds System standard, the LUMIX G VARIO 45-150 mm / F4.0-5.6 ASPH. / MEGA O.I.S. (H-FS45150). Featuring an ultra-compact size and lightweight body, the new LUMIX G VARIO 45-150 mm / F4.0-5.6 ASPH. / MEGA O.I.S. lens offers a versatile zoom range of 45-150 mm (35 mm camera equivalent: 90-300 mm) which is suitable for impressive telephoto shots.

The new LUMIX G VARIO 45-150 mm / F4.0-5.6 ASPH. / MEGA O.I.S. lens incorporates Panasonic's MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer), which makes it easy to shoot super clear shots even in low-lit situations by suppressing the blur caused by a hand movement. The lens’s superior inner focus system enables excellent resolution and contrast from full life-size magnification to infinity and the inclusion of a stepping motor makes focusing action smooth and silent for use in both video and photo recording. When mounted on the cameras of the LUMIX G line, users can also take advantage of the high-speed, high-precision AF (Auto Focus) System.

Comprised of 12 elements in nine groups, one UHR (Ultra High Refractive Index) lens and two aspherical lenses in the LUMIX G VARIO 45-150mm / F4.0-5.6 ASPH. / MEGA O.I.S. achieves uniform sharpness from the center to the corners for high optical performance. The lens’s seven aperture blades produce an attractive smoothness in out-of-focus areas, even when shooting at large aperture. Additionally, a multi-coated lens element reduces ghost and flare, to deliver high optical performance.

Available in a sophisticated metal look, the new LUMIX G VARIO 45-150mm / F4.0-5.6 ASPH. / MEGA O.I.S. will be available in black or silver. Pricing and availability will be announced 30 days prior to shipping. For more information about Panasonic LUMIX digital cameras and lenses, please visit www.panasonic.com/lumix.

·Four Thirds™ and Micro Four Thirds™, and Four Thirds and Micro Four Thirds Logo marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Olympus Imaging Corporation, in Japan, the United States, the European Union and other countries.

Panasonic Lumix G Vario 45-150mm F4.0-5.6 ASPH Mega OIS specifications

Principal specifications
Lens type	Zoom lens
Max Format size	FourThirds
Focal length	45–150 mm
Image stabilisation	Yes (Mega OIS)
Lens mount	Micro Four Thirds
Aperture
Maximum aperture	F4.0 - F5.6
Minimum aperture	F22.0
Aperture ring	No
Number of diaphragm blades	7
Aperture notes	circular aperture
Optics
Elements	12
Groups	9
Focus
Minimum focus	0.90 m (35.43″)
Maximum magnification	0.17 x
Autofocus	Yes
Motor type	Stepper motor
Full time manual	Yes
Focus method	Internal
Distance scale	No
DoF scale	No
Physical
Weight	200 g (0.44 lb)
Diameter	62 mm (2.44″)
Length	73 mm (2.87″)
Sealing	No
Colour	Black
Zoom method	Rotary (extending)
Power zoom	No
Filter thread	52 mm
Hood supplied	Yes
Tripod collar	No

Additional images

Panasonic Lumix G Vario 45-150mm F4-5.6 ASPH Mega OIS

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Comments

Total comments: 34

Zooms, one after the other. How about a prime 24mm equivalent. f2.8 would do me fine.

0 upvotes

I agree. There are no wide primes other than for full frame. I guess the market rules. My choice would be a fixed 18mm eq.

0 upvotes

I think this lens is ok; m43 is about portability
I would prefer getting 45-150 rather than the more bulky 45-200
I think panasonic should discontinue 45-200 as it's not good especially in the 150-200 range

0 upvotes

This is not what I need. Please, PLEASE, I need urgently a new 45-147mm!!
Come on... what about a 300mm F4 with really good IQ??

Comment edited 1 minute after posting

0 upvotes

I was considering the Oly 40-150 for my G camera, but it did not have in-lens stabilization. Looked at the Panasonic 45-200 but it seemed big and heavy, and the 14-175 was expensive on its own. If it is is up to the quality and colour rendering of the comparable Olympus it will fill a niche that I am just now exploring. Look forward to samples and tests.

0 upvotes

After the 45-175 came out I was expecting that Panasonic would discontinue the 45-200... Instead they must have thought that the market needs a choice of 3 (three) lenses, more or less of the same quality, more or less of the same focal range (45-150/175/200) all of them slow....
I have an E-M5, and am playing with the idea of replacing the Olympus 12-50 (which is very nice, but slow) with the Panasonic 12-35/2.8 which is the kind of lenses that Panasonic and Olympus should concentrate on making. Instead, why did Panasonic waste time with those three lenses? wasn't one good enough?

3 upvotes

Do they just keep shaving longer lengths from 45-200 which were blurry anyway? ;)

Regarding the smallest, Oly 40-150 is still lighter (although by just a bit now, for IS I guess). And 40mm is very useful, given that standard zooms only go to 42 mm and extremely dark by this point. At $99 with an Oly camera it was a steal. :)

3 upvotes

The next one has to be 45-125

5 upvotes

Almost, it will be 35-100. :)

1 upvote

Is this the first Panny lens offered in silver? If so, it seems a little odd. I don't pay that much attention to Panny cameras but it seems like their camera bodies are usually black except as an option for the low end GF models.

Comment edited 2 times, last edit 3 minutes after posting

2 upvotes

Previous X lenses were available in silver too, probably some previous models too.

0 upvotes

I'm optimistic. It seems Panasonic wanted to make a smaller lens with good IQ for a double kit. This is perfect. It's no slower, but it is smaller than similar lenses--especially the APS-C mirrorless counterparts. While not an exciting announcement for the lensaholics, speed demons, or prime fanatics, it makes sense to me and could be a really great kit lens.

Imo, kit lenses have improved (and needed to) over the past years due to the development of better sensors. Mirrorless has pushed this alone (but also pushed up the price a little). Still with a double kit, or on rebate this will be a great lens to pick up.

Cheers,
Seth

3 upvotes

I would really like to see something like
15 - 200

or a 40 - 240 with 2.8-4.0

or a f2.0 - f3.5 aperture with 15-100 ... would be great i think

I just would LOVE to see something like an upgraded general pupose DELUXE-KIT-Lens with a longer zoom range and a bit brighter.

currently i am ok with my 45-200 ... i don't need the 45-175 nor the 45-150

0 upvotes

Nah, 15 is too long for a general-purpose lens. Standard zoom for m43 should start from 12 or 13 at most - very useful on my 12-50. Should have been 12-60, starting from 2.8, f/4 at 50 and then rapidly decreasing to f/5.6 at 60 (these 10mm should be almost free this way in terms of weight and cost), and 50-250/2.8-5.6 made the same way. Some overlap is useful in practice, say, you shoot action happening at 40-60, or 50-80, changing lenses is impractical.

Comment edited 2 times, last edit 5 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

Peevee1, you make too much sense to be posting here. That sounds like my dream zoom pair (being realistic). I was excited about the 12-50, but I'd trade the weather sealing for greater compactness and a lower price. A 12-60 that's not too big would be easy to have around my neck on vacations and would meet 80 percent of my general needs. The way things are progressing, I may see it in my lifetime.

0 upvotes

What about a f/4 constant zoom for a change? I like small zooms but I'm getting bored by f/5.6 zooms at the long end.

Comment edited 13 seconds after posting

0 upvotes

If they made it large enough to be f4 at the long end, it could easily be f2.8 at the other. I'd take that over a constant aperture any time.

2 upvotes

Great size and surface appearance!
If it can even optically equal the mZuiko it should be popular, and we should see good value twin-lens G5 kits straight out of the gate.

1 upvote

This one gotta be CHEAP !

I assume it will be something like a tele-kit-lens for a double-zoom-kit or something. It will be almost available for FREE i assume.

Comment edited 12 seconds after posting

0 upvotes

Yes, the two-lens G5 kit will sell for only $1,300, and the two lenses come "free." Oh, and if you buy first class tickets, you get champagne for "free," plus all the nuts you can eat.

0 upvotes

LMAO...the picture above:
Evolution.... 45-200 --> 45-175 --> 45-150 --> 45mm

4 upvotes

" At just 73mm/2.9" in length and weighing a mere 200g/7.1oz, it's the smallest lens in its class."

NO! It's in it's own class.
I've seen quality 3x zoom lens (Tokina 50-150 F2.8, CaNikSony 70-200 F2.8)
But a slow 3x zoom lens, you've got to be a class of your own.

1 upvote

Comment edited 2 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

Why? As far as I can see, because it's smaller and plays to the smaller camera and lens benefit that comes with m4/3. Aside from price, which is always more for a new product, it seems like a fairly good alternative to the 45-200 for someone who is more concerned about the size of their camera and lens (especially if the IQ is improved over the 45-200).

Certainly not a lens I am excited about, but I can see how it makes sense as part of the overall system and as a decent new double kit lens for something like the G5.

0 upvotes

The weight is listed as 380g. That can't be right because that's how much the 45-200 weighs.

0 upvotes

slrgear says 200g.

0 upvotes

Quite simply. Why?

5 upvotes

yeah, i don't get it too.

0 upvotes

Compactness. I doubt it takes a great deal of energy, I don't mind less than exciting lenses as long as they keep on putting cool ones out there.

One lens that could definitely use a revamp is the 14-42, although if they decided to pretend it never existed an bring back the 14-45, that'd be fine as well.

0 upvotes

no OIS switch...

0 upvotes

Same for the 14mm, RRP is $300 something, I bet this one will be down to $200, since this is a kit lens the price will be dropping

0 upvotes

$300 for this is absurd when the 45-200 costs $236 and the silver 45-175 costs $290.

1 upvote

The price will come down (the other lenses were significantly more expensive at launch). But even at the current price I suspect there will be many takers. I'll likely be one myself: this is exactly the tradeoff between telephoto reach and size/weight I'd been looking for (assuming the spec is actually 200g). Much like the Olympus 40-150, but with stabilization.

0 upvotes

"Much like the Olympus 40-150, but with stabilization."

And without 20% of picture on the wide side. And heavier. And 50% more expensive alone.

1 upvote

Total comments: 34


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