Panasonic 12-35mm lens versus Panasonic 25mm prime.

davidgalavan · Apr 16, 2017

my question: is there a noticable difference in finished product ie. prints 8'' x 12'' after using the prime as compared to same setting on the 12-35. Im considering the prime 25m f1.7 as an alternative if the results are significantly better. Subjects are portrait, street, scenery.

jalywol · Apr 16, 2017

davidgalavan said:
my question: is there a noticable difference in finished product ie. prints 8'' x 12'' after using the prime as compared to same setting on the 12-35. Im considering the prime 25m f1.7 as an alternative if the results are significantly better. Subjects are portrait, street, scenery.

As far as I am concerned, the 12-35mm is going to have far nicer output than the 25mm f 1.7. The 12-35mm is a high grade lens with exceptional microcontrast and excellent color. Output from it is punchy and dimensional. The 25mm f1.7 is a basic consumer grade prime with murky contrast, and undistinguished colors and overall output.

The ONLY reason to get the 25mm f1.7 is if you need to shoot in low light or want shallower DOF than you can get with the 12-35mm f2.8.

Now, if you were asking about the 12-35mm vs the PL 25mm f1.4, and you wanted better DOF control or were shooting in low light, I'd say to get the 25mm f1.4, as it's a terrific lens. However, I do not recommend bothering with the 25mm f1.7 when you have the 12-35mm, as you are probably not going to be particularly pleased with its output compared to the zoom.

-J

davidgalavan · Apr 16, 2017

Many thanks for your comment. I read a lot of reviews and think its easy to get caught up in the hype. I will look into the f1.4 in due course.

photofan1986 · Apr 16, 2017

jalywol said:
davidgalavan said:

my question: is there a noticable difference in finished product ie. prints 8'' x 12'' after using the prime as compared to same setting on the 12-35. Im considering the prime 25m f1.7 as an alternative if the results are significantly better. Subjects are portrait, street, scenery.

Click to expand...

As far as I am concerned, the 12-35mm is going to have far nicer output than the 25mm f 1.7. The 12-35mm is a high grade lens with exceptional microcontrast and excellent color. Output from it is punchy and dimensional. The 25mm f1.7 is a basic consumer grade prime with murky contrast, and undistinguished colors and overall output.

The ONLY reason to get the 25mm f1.7 is if you need to shoot in low light or want shallower DOF than you can get with the 12-35mm f2.8.

Now, if you were asking about the 12-35mm vs the PL 25mm f1.4, and you wanted better DOF control or were shooting in low light, I'd say to get the 25mm f1.4, as it's a terrific lens. However, I do not recommend bothering with the 25mm f1.7 when you have the 12-35mm, as you are probably not going to be particularly pleased with its output compared to the zoom.

-J

+1!

Stejo · Apr 16, 2017

jalywol said:
davidgalavan said:

my question: is there a noticable difference in finished product ie. prints 8'' x 12'' after using the prime as compared to same setting on the 12-35. Im considering the prime 25m f1.7 as an alternative if the results are significantly better. Subjects are portrait, street, scenery.

Click to expand...

As far as I am concerned, the 12-35mm is going to have far nicer output than the 25mm f 1.7. The 12-35mm is a high grade lens with exceptional microcontrast and excellent color. Output from it is punchy and dimensional. The 25mm f1.7 is a basic consumer grade prime with murky contrast, and undistinguished colors and overall output.

The ONLY reason to get the 25mm f1.7 is if you need to shoot in low light or want shallower DOF than you can get with the 12-35mm f2.8.

Now, if you were asking about the 12-35mm vs the PL 25mm f1.4, and you wanted better DOF control or were shooting in low light, I'd say to get the 25mm f1.4, as it's a terrific lens. However, I do not recommend bothering with the 25mm f1.7 when you have the 12-35mm, as you are probably not going to be particularly pleased with its output compared to the zoom.

-J

Could you post some examples? I find the 25/1.7 great and I've compared it extensively to the 25/1.4 when I had the chance a few months ago. I couldn't see any measurable difference. Nobody else could either.

If you got some comparison shots I'd love to see them.

Tim Reidy Productions · Apr 16, 2017

print output should be the same with the same camera, you just have to see if you like said lenses.

I was working on mostly fz200 for printouts today so you should be fine with either lens for 8x12

jalywol · Apr 16, 2017

Stejo said:
Could you post some examples? I find the 25/1.7 great and I've compared it extensively to the 25/1.4 when I had the chance a few months ago. I couldn't see any measurable difference. Nobody else could either.

If you got some comparison shots I'd love to see them.

I do not. I bought the 25mm f1.7 when it first came out, as I had sold my 25mm f1.4 when I left M43 for a while, and had just gotten back into the format. The 25mm f1.4 produced the most remarkable output, so I was hoping the 25mm f1.7 would be somewhat close. It wasn't. I kept trying to like the thing, but every photo was just lacking something. I sold it a few months later. Fast forward to a couple of months ago, and I finally got another copy of the 25mm f1.4. It's everything the 25mm f1.7 was not.

So, the moral of the story is, yup, this is my subjective opinion based on having used both lenses (actually having used all 3), and no, I do not have comparison shots to show you. Someone out there might though, so keep asking, you may get lucky.

By the way, I had a similar experience back in my Nikon days, when I got the 50mm f1.8. It's got fabulous reviews because it is a very sharp, yet very cheap lens. I bought one, and absolutely hated its output, and could never figure out what I was doing wrong. Turns out...nothing. It is indeed very sharp, but it has ugly bokeh and just has no "magic" or whatever you want to call the things that make a really good lens special. The 25mm f1.7 impressed me in a very similar way. It's just murky and unpleasant.

-J

larsbc · Apr 16, 2017

davidgalavan said:
my question: is there a noticable difference in finished product ie. prints 8'' x 12'' after using the prime as compared to same setting on the 12-35. Im considering the prime 25m f1.7 as an alternative if the results are significantly better. Subjects are portrait, street, scenery.

I really, really doubt that you'll have a preference for the 25/1.7 aside from, perhaps, its shallower DoF. Or the fact that it might flare less when shooting directly into the sun vs. the 12-35/2.8.

I don't have the 25/1.7 but I do have the PL25/1.4 which many people have raved about. Compared to my 12-35/2.8 (and disregarding the DoF and flare differences) I haven't seen much, so far, that makes me choose one over the other in terms of image quality concerns. I basically use the 25/1.4 when I prefer its size or need its f/1.4 aperture.

_vlad · Apr 17, 2017

Agree - there are some characteristics that can´t be measured o matter how hard you try. They are even hard to describe. The fact is not everybody is able to percieve them. And this might be even some kind of luck - lot of money is left in vallet.

Stejo · Apr 17, 2017

jalywol said:
Stejo said:

Could you post some examples? I find the 25/1.7 great and I've compared it extensively to the 25/1.4 when I had the chance a few months ago. I couldn't see any measurable difference. Nobody else could either.

If you got some comparison shots I'd love to see them.

Click to expand...

I do not. I bought the 25mm f1.7 when it first came out, as I had sold my 25mm f1.4 when I left M43 for a while, and had just gotten back into the format. The 25mm f1.4 produced the most remarkable output, so I was hoping the 25mm f1.7 would be somewhat close. It wasn't. I kept trying to like the thing, but every photo was just lacking something. I sold it a few months later. Fast forward to a couple of months ago, and I finally got another copy of the 25mm f1.4. It's everything the 25mm f1.7 was not.

So, the moral of the story is, yup, this is my subjective opinion based on having used both lenses (actually having used all 3), and no, I do not have comparison shots to show you. Someone out there might though, so keep asking, you may get lucky.

By the way, I had a similar experience back in my Nikon days, when I got the 50mm f1.8. It's got fabulous reviews because it is a very sharp, yet very cheap lens. I bought one, and absolutely hated its output, and could never figure out what I was doing wrong. Turns out...nothing. It is indeed very sharp, but it has ugly bokeh and just has no "magic" or whatever you want to call the things that make a really good lens special. The 25mm f1.7 impressed me in a very similar way. It's just murky and unpleasant.

-J

As I said, I did have both lenses side by side and tested them with a couple friends. None of us could see any measurable differences other than the faster aperture. Sure, the rendering wasn't exactly the same, but there was no consensus as to which was better; simply mildly different.

I keep seeing people praise the 25/1.4, but I think it's that special Leica touch that you only get to see after you paid for it. Seriously though, I'm more than willing to see the difference if anybody can point it out with some shots. Maybe we weren't looking hard enough when we tested.

Sa7724473 · Apr 17, 2017

Stejo said:
jalywol said:

Stejo said:

Could you post some examples? I find the 25/1.7 great and I've compared it extensively to the 25/1.4 when I had the chance a few months ago. I couldn't see any measurable difference. Nobody else could either.

If you got some comparison shots I'd love to see them.

Click to expand...

I do not. I bought the 25mm f1.7 when it first came out, as I had sold my 25mm f1.4 when I left M43 for a while, and had just gotten back into the format. The 25mm f1.4 produced the most remarkable output, so I was hoping the 25mm f1.7 would be somewhat close. It wasn't. I kept trying to like the thing, but every photo was just lacking something. I sold it a few months later. Fast forward to a couple of months ago, and I finally got another copy of the 25mm f1.4. It's everything the 25mm f1.7 was not.

So, the moral of the story is, yup, this is my subjective opinion based on having used both lenses (actually having used all 3), and no, I do not have comparison shots to show you. Someone out there might though, so keep asking, you may get lucky.

By the way, I had a similar experience back in my Nikon days, when I got the 50mm f1.8. It's got fabulous reviews because it is a very sharp, yet very cheap lens. I bought one, and absolutely hated its output, and could never figure out what I was doing wrong. Turns out...nothing. It is indeed very sharp, but it has ugly bokeh and just has no "magic" or whatever you want to call the things that make a really good lens special. The 25mm f1.7 impressed me in a very similar way. It's just murky and unpleasant.

-J

Click to expand...

As I said, I did have both lenses side by side and tested them with a couple friends. None of us could see any measurable differences other than the faster aperture. Sure, the rendering wasn't exactly the same, but there was no consensus as to which was better; simply mildly different.

I keep seeing people praise the 25/1.4, but I think it's that special Leica touch that you only get to see after you paid for it. Seriously though, I'm more than willing to see the difference if anybody can point it out with some shots. Maybe we weren't looking hard enough when we tested.

Dunno about that. I bought that lens because there wire so meny sample photographs that wowed me from it. Even noe when I look in my image archives, so meny of the greats are om that lens. Photography is mostly science but not purely...

davidgalavan · Apr 17, 2017

thanks everyone for your contributions, very helpful. I do usually print in 8 x 12, but it makes me wonder how big most people print and when does size of print start to show the failings of 12-35 or 25mm 1.7 prime.

I admit to reading many reviews btw and wonder if I should just stick to my 12-35.

My mind is saying stay with what you have and my heart is saying 1.4

thanks again

carlgorski · Apr 17, 2017

No. I have both. I think 12=35 is better.

David · Apr 18, 2017

davidgalavan said:
thanks everyone for your contributions, very helpful. I do usually print in 8 x 12, but it makes me wonder how big most people print and when does size of print start to show the failings of 12-35 or 25mm 1.7 prime.

I admit to reading many reviews btw and wonder if I should just stick to my 12-35.

My mind is saying stay with what you have and my heart is saying 1.4

thanks again

I own the Panasonic Leica 25 f/1.4 and I treat this lens as a complement to my Olympus Zuiko 14-54 II 4/3 lens when I shoot in lower light and need the special bokeh. What's unique about the 25 f/1.4 is its ability to render focus transition areas very smoothly. The other lens in the Olympus line up that does the same is the 25mm f/1.2. The bokeh is also nice and the color rendering is very Leica like with the Panasonic 25 1.4. The same with my Panasonic Leica 45 f/2.8 which I also shoot with as a complement to the Zuiko 14-54 II.

Under specific lighting conditions, the 25 f/1.4 can outshine my Zuiko 14-54 or even my 35-100 f/2.8 because of its unique rendering. Lens is a paint brush and the camera is a canvas. Every lens performs slightly differently in different lighting conditions because light has 2 components -- the quality of light and the quantity of light. So in normal lighting conditions, you might not see a difference between the 2 lens compared. But once you know which light condition excels, then you would use that specific lens to do the job. In my case, the Leica 25 f/1.4 comes out a lot more in low light (even if the Zuiko 14-54 can handle it) or during the golden or blue hour and overcast. There is something special with the 25mm f/1.4 that gives it a bit more pop and dimensionality compared to the zoom in these lighting conditions.

In regards to prints. Both lenses you mentioned are very sharp and if you shoot with a low ISO, you can do up to 24x36" no problem. I have printed up to 16x20" with a Panasonic 14-42X Vario @ 14mm wide (prosumer lens) and the quality and detail and the rendering of the colors are superb. So superb that even during the Canon printer event, people with full frame cameras show my prints and thought it was shot with a full frame or medium format camera! So much detail. Again, it all comes down to light and how well you use it to capture your subject matter.

Photography is about visual presentation and how well you present it. It's not about the specs of the lens and how sharp it could capture an image, because without good light, a lens is just a lens.

Hope this helps..

Aaron801 · Apr 18, 2017

larsbc said:
davidgalavan said:

my question: is there a noticable difference in finished product ie. prints 8'' x 12'' after using the prime as compared to same setting on the 12-35. Im considering the prime 25m f1.7 as an alternative if the results are significantly better. Subjects are portrait, street, scenery.

Click to expand...

I really, really doubt that you'll have a preference for the 25/1.7 aside from, perhaps, its shallower DoF. Or the fact that it might flare less when shooting directly into the sun vs. the 12-35/2.8.

I don't have the 25/1.7 but I do have the PL25/1.4 which many people have raved about. Compared to my 12-35/2.8 (and disregarding the DoF and flare differences) I haven't seen much, so far, that makes me choose one over the other in terms of image quality concerns. I basically use the 25/1.4 when I prefer its size or need its f/1.4 aperture.

I can't speak to the 12-35 (though I'd really love to have this lens... or the Oly 12-40) but I have the Pana/Leica 25mm 1.4 and I really like the look of the images that I get from it. There's something about it that produces really nice images.... and I don't always use it wide open (or even close to that).

wrbluepearl · Apr 18, 2017

jalywol said:
jalywol said:

By the way, I had a similar experience back in my Nikon days, when I got the 50mm f1.8. It's got fabulous reviews because it is a very sharp, yet very cheap lens. I bought one, and absolutely hated its output, and could never figure out what I was doing wrong. Turns out...nothing. It is indeed very sharp, but it has ugly bokeh and just has no "magic" or whatever you want to call the things that make a really good lens special. The 25mm f1.7 impressed me in a very similar way. It's just murky and unpleasant.

Click to expand...

I had a similar experience with the Canon 50mm f/1.8 lens...heard all the rave reviews but really the only thing going for it was that it was cheap. Horrible ergonomics (felt like you were grinding pepper when you focused manually), slow/inaccurate autofocus, and blah image quality. Bought Canon's 50mm f/1.4 USM and it was a totally different experience. Yes, I get that the f/1.4 lenses are a lot more money (2-3x) than the f/1.7 or f/1.8 lenses, but I felt it was money well spent.

I currently own the 12-35 f/2.8, and I haven't really encountered many situations where I was wishing I had that extra stop or two; your shooting scenarios may be different. Based on my experience with the Canon 50mm f/1.8 vs f/1.4, I'd say hold out for the f/1.4 unless you really need it now, or the lower weight is of value to you (the two lenses are within 2mm of each other in diameter/length, but the f/1.7 is about 30% lighter).

davidgalavan · Apr 19, 2017

thanks David, yes it does help and I appreciate you taking the time/trouble to explain your views. I understand the subtle differences your refer to re the type of lens. I will be pursuing this avenue no doubt.

davidgalavan · Apr 19, 2017

many thanks for your reply, most helpful.

davidgalavan · Apr 19, 2017

thanks Aaron.

davidgalavan · Apr 19, 2017

thanks Carl.

Panasonic 12-35mm lens versus Panasonic 25mm prime.

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