Panasonic 25 f1.4

Tdon123 · Aug 3, 2012

I just purchased a new Panasonic 25 f1.4.

It exhibits the following quirks relative to my Oly lenses. 1.) When I press shutter button down, acquiring focus, the image in the LCD "jumps" momentarily. 2.) Then, when I Actually press shutter button all the way down, it makes a "clacking" sound followed by the normal shutter sound.

The camera is an E-M5 which works great with my Oly 12f2 and 45 f1.8. Please note that there is no rattlesnake syndrome what so ever!

Oh, and I should add, if you rotate the lens from a horizontal to a vertical position, on or off the camera, there is an ever-so faint clicking sound. Again, the Oly lenses do not exhibit any of these quirks.

Is the 25 f1.4 a defective lens?

929406 · Aug 3, 2012

Does sound like a defect, I haven't had any issue with my 20mm 1.7, great lens.

Separate question, does anyone have both the 25mm 1.4 and the 20mm 1.7? Is there enough of a difference to warrant getting both?

Jim T · Aug 4, 2012

Don't have the EM5 but the 25/1.4 does some interesting things on my GH1, EPL2 and GH3. Yours sounds to be normal.

Tdon123 said:
I just purchased a new Panasonic 25 f1.4.

It exhibits the following quirks relative to my Oly lenses. 1.) When I press shutter button down, acquiring focus, the image in the LCD "jumps" momentarily. 2.) Then, when I Actually press shutter button all the way down, it makes a "clacking" sound followed by the normal shutter sound.

The camera is an E-M5 which works great with my Oly 12f2 and 45 f1.8. Please note that there is no rattlesnake syndrome what so ever!

Oh, and I should add, if you rotate the lens from a horizontal to a vertical position, on or off the camera, there is an ever-so faint clicking sound. Again, the Oly lenses do not exhibit any of these quirks.

Is the 25 f1.4 a defective lens?

Jim T · Aug 4, 2012

The 25 and 20 are very different lenses, that's why I have both.

929406 said:
Does sound like a defect, I haven't had any issue with my 20mm 1.7, great lens.

Separate question, does anyone have both the 25mm 1.4 and the 20mm 1.7? Is there enough of a difference to warrant getting both?

tt321 · Aug 4, 2012

Jim T said:
Don't have the EM5 but the 25/1.4 does some interesting things on my GH1, EPL2 and GH3. Yours sounds to be normal.

Yes agree. Quite normal.

I just tried to turn the lens around off camera, could not hear a thing, but shaking it produces this clicking sound as well as a mechanical feeling in the hand that something small inside is clicking around. This is a lot less than some of the M43 zooms but still noticeable.

The OP should search for "aperture noise" related to this lens, both in this forum and elsewhere.

Tdon123 · Aug 4, 2012

Jim T said:
Don't have the EM5 but the 25/1.4 does some interesting things on my GH1, EPL2 and GH3. Yours sounds to be normal.

Jim T; Could you clarify "does some interesting things" for me? And you do believe my quirks are not indicative of a defective copy of the 25f1.4?

I should mention that the images are quite sharp when viewed in CS6!

The "clacking" sound at the time of taking the image puzzles me the most.

Thanks for your response

Member said:
Tdon123 said:

I just purchased a new Panasonic 25 f1.4.

It exhibits the following quirks relative to my Oly lenses. 1.) When I press shutter button down, acquiring focus, the image in the LCD "jumps" momentarily. 2.) Then, when I Actually press shutter button all the way down, it makes a "clacking" sound followed by the normal shutter sound.

Click to expand...

Member said:
Member said:

Is the 25 f1.4 a defective lens?

Click to expand...

Tdon123 · Aug 4, 2012

tt321 said:
Jim T said:

Don't have the EM5 but the 25/1.4 does some interesting things on my GH1, EPL2 and GH3. Yours sounds to be normal.

Click to expand...

Yes agree. Quite normal.

I just tried to turn the lens around off camera, could not hear a thing, but shaking it produces this clicking sound as well as a mechanical feeling in the hand that something small inside is clicking around. This is a lot less than some of the M43 zooms but still noticeable.

The OP should search for "aperture noise" related to this lens, both in this forum and elsewhere.

I do tend to be somewhat anal

, I must admit; however it is a $500 plus lens.

So, tt321, you think that it's a form of aperture noise when taking the image that
Is symptomatic with a Pany 24 f1.4?

And I will do a forum search....Thanks for pointing me in that direction.

929406 · Aug 4, 2012

Jim T said:
929406 said:

Does sound like a defect, I haven't had any issue with my 20mm 1.7, great lens.

Separate question, does anyone have both the 25mm 1.4 and the 20mm 1.7? Is there enough of a difference to warrant getting both?

Click to expand...

Care to share some specifics?

filterman · Aug 4, 2012

The clicking sound when you rotate from horizontal to vertical is Ok and no problem. The click is just the lens locking into position on the OM-D. Does the same on the ePL3 and is normal.

Mine does not jump when pressing the shutter down. This would bother me and should not happen.

When the shutter opens and closes it is loader and a different sound than the Oly but does not cause a problem.

Filterman

Tdon123 · Aug 4, 2012

tt321 said:
Jim T said:

Don't have the EM5 but the 25/1.4 does some interesting things on my GH1, EPL2 and GH3. Yours sounds to be normal.

Click to expand...

Yes agree. Quite normal.

I just tried to turn the lens around off camera, could not hear a thing, but shaking it produces this clicking sound as well as a mechanical feeling in the hand that something small inside is clicking around. This is a lot less than some of the M43 zooms but still noticeable.

The OP should search for "aperture noise" related to this lens, both in this forum and elsewhere.

Just did a forum search, tt321, a key phrase popped up. "It stops down to focus and when the light changes" Now, given that the 25f1.4 aperture is noisy, it explains why it Happens when taking the image; but, why Does the aperture noise not happen when I move the camera around to varying light levels.

I.E. why don't I experience the "rattlesnake" syndrome?

I'm beginning to believe that my copy is ok; and, if I can avoid returning my copy and receiving another with the same symptoms.......great

It gets down to learning to accept the "quirks"!

filterman · Aug 4, 2012

When you say the screen jumps perhaps it is possible this is just the lens acquiring focus or going from a non focusing position to a focus position. This would cause the screen characteristics to change.

Can you lock focus than take two photos in a row and see if it jumps? Not sure how to lock focus or shoot in manual focus mode and take two images one after another but I bet the screen will not jump if you do this...

Filterman

Tdon123 · Aug 4, 2012

filterman said:
The clicking sound when you rotate from horizontal to vertical is Ok and no problem. The click is just the lens locking into position on the OM-D. Does the same on the ePL3 and is normal.

Mine does not jump when pressing the shutter down. This would bother me and should not happen.

When the shutter opens and closes it is loader and a different sound than the Oly but does not cause a problem.

Filterman; ok we're closing in on the problem. Gathering anecdotal evidence as to the operating quirks of the Pany 25 f1.4 lens.

Let me play with my gear and really try to observe symptom number 2, the LCD jumping about.

When I press the shutter down.

Thank you filterman. And everyone who have contributed to my understanding. I do live in a somewhat remote area, when it comes to camera shops with Oly gear. And Dpreview really helps!

Tdon123 · Aug 4, 2012

filterman said:
When you say the screen jumps perhaps it is possible this is just the lens acquiring focus or going from a non focusing position to a focus position. This would cause the screen characteristics to change.

Can you lock focus than take two photos in a row and see if it jumps? Not sure how to lock focus or shoot in manual focus mode and take two images one after another but I bet the screen will not jump if you do this...

Filterman

Thanks, I'll give this a try as well. Plus, another idea popped in my mind as well, I did make a change in my E-M5 menu settings wherebye when I take an image the LCD
Does not preview what I just shot, but immediately gets ready for another shot.

This may have some bearing on the problem.

filterman · Aug 4, 2012

Try this:

Bring up the super control panel. Navigate to the focus setting that allows you to select MF instead of S-AF. Select MF. Set you camera on the table and point it at an object. Acquire focus manually by turning the focus ring. Take a shot. Without moving the camera or object take another shot. You should notice no jump in your LCD screen. If your LCD screen "jumps" then you lens is probably defective. Hope your screen does niot jump. Then in all likelyhood the lens is Ok.

The Pany is louder than the Olys when pressing the shutter button to take a shot. Panys ARE JUST LOUDER.

Don't forget to set the focus back to s_AF or what ever it was set to.

FM

Tdon123 · Aug 4, 2012

filterman said:
Try this:

Bring up the super control panel. Navigate to the focus setting that allows you to select MF instead of S-AF. Select MF. Set you camera on the table and point it at an object. Acquire focus manually by turning the focus ring. Take a shot. Without moving the camera or object take another shot. You should notice no jump in your LCD screen. If your LCD screen "jumps" then you lens is probably defective. Hope your screen does niot jump. Then in all likelyhood the lens is Ok.

The Pany is louder than the Olys when pressing the shutter button to take a shot. Panys ARE JUST LOUDER.

Don't forget to set the focus back to s_AF or what ever it was set to.

FM

Filterman; testing complete! No movement in LCD screen whatsoever!

And just to clarify, I have image stabilization in the viewfinder set, on my E-M5, so
When I am in S-AF, there is slight jerking when I acquire focus, both on my Oly
Lenses and on the Pany, it's slightly more pronounced!

Management summary

having learned the Pany quirks and receiving great input from everyone who responded.......much, much, Thanks to all of you. Issues are settled, I have a good working copy of the Pany 25f1.4 lens.

Hat's off to you Dpreviewers

!

ryan2007 · Aug 4, 2012

The lens is fine, its the Olympus body that's defective not matching body and lens I think. I have a Panasonic MFTs body with all Panasonic lenses for this reason.

Tdon123 · Aug 4, 2012

ryan2007 said:
The lens is fine, its the Olympus body that's defective not matching body and lens I think. I have a Panasonic MFTs body with all Panasonic lenses for this reason.

Ryan2007; that makes good sense. It's just I jumped back into MFTs by getting the E-M5 w/o realizing that these compatibility issues existed. That's what caught me off guard

pinnacle · Aug 4, 2012

The GX1 combo seems to respond quickly and without any clicking with the exception of the focus lock which is amazingly fast even when moving from infinity back to closer focus points or the other direction from close focus back to infinity.

I wonder if either Olympus or Panasonic might look into this and possibly address it with firmware (if it is truly a problem, which it may not be...)

Dan
--

Will I learn from life's lessons or will I lose my faith in the goodness life's promise had to offer?

ryan2007 · Aug 4, 2012

Oh well, maybe don't buy more Panasonic lenses if your invested into the Olympus system. At minimum test the lens and return it ASAP if it does not work as it should. That is what I'm saying. For the most part these lenses are expensive you know that and I would have no issue quickly returning a lens that I had tested to either wait for the right one, save more money for a lens that Olympus has or completely switch and sell that OMD.

IMO its your money, hobby, time etc that you get involved. Maybe, Panasonic is investing more into the MFT's system OR Olympus is fine and just needs to catch up to things.

Tdon123 said:
ryan2007 said:

The lens is fine, its the Olympus body that's defective not matching body and lens I think. I have a Panasonic MFTs body with all Panasonic lenses for this reason.

Click to expand...

Ryan2007; that makes good sense. It's just I jumped back into MFTs by getting the E-M5 w/o realizing that these compatibility issues existed. That's what caught me off guard

Tdon123 · Aug 4, 2012

ryan2007 said:
Oh well, maybe don't buy more Panasonic lenses if your invested into the Olympus system. At minimum test the lens and return it ASAP if it does not work as it should. That is what I'm saying. For the most part these lenses are expensive you know that and I would have no issue quickly returning a lens that I had tested to either wait for the right one, save more money for a lens that Olympus has or completely switch and sell that OMD.

Ryan2007; given that I was trying to build up a 12, 25, & 45 set of lenses initially, the Pany 25, on paper, seemed the optimal fit.

And, once I understood that the quirks were just that, and no impact on image quality, I was ok with that knowledge!

However, given what I've learned, and my high regard for the OMD features; when I might want a 2nd body, which of the Panasonic bodies would approximate the OMD in overall still image quality?

Panasonic 25 f1.4

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