Panasonic 20mm 1.7 ii on epl-5

47872Mike wrote:

Yes, the banding with this lens on the OM-D, E-PL5 and E-PM2 is well-documented, although some users seem to find little problem with it. From reading everything I can about it recently, I think there are clearly all sorts of variables at play...quite apart from the photo composition, the temperature seems to be a factor and there may well be differences between different examples of lens and camera. Some users report differences according to camera firmware version. Lots of people don't shoot much in low light and may have low expectations when they do.

For me, I find that obvious and intrusive banding is an ever-present danger when shooting outside at night as low as ISO 1250, but it isn't always present and varies from shot to shot. In dull daylight or indoor lighting, I find that band-free ISO 2500 seems almost a given, even if, for now, I still have a tiny bit of doubt about the outcome when I go above ISO 1000. When I've shot this lens at very high ISO, the banding becomes even more obtrusively obvious...I no longer do this, which is a great shame.

I have an E-PM2 and find this a definite limitation, since I enjoy shooting outdoors in low light. Updating the camera firmware didn't affect the issue at all, although some users have suggested that they now consider it "cured" after previous problems.

Feel free to report how yours is in this regard.

This is a post of someone testing the new version of the 20mm right after it came out. Problem is NOT resolved. I had 20mm version 2 on preorder hoping the issue was fixed, until I saw this post....

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3528108