PanaLeica 10-25mm F1.7 Questions

Hey all,

I have production copy of the new Panasonic/Leica 10-25mm F1.7. We're testing it as a video lens for DPReview TV, but if any of you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer any that don't require hours of testing.

Thanks!

A few questions come to mind, but these are more impressions type questions, and I assume that you would cover it when you come out with the video on the lens.

Obviously the main competitor to this lens is the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 EF lens with the Viltrox or Metabones speed booster adapter (as you alluded to in the announcement video). Do you see any scenarios where the Sigma/speed booster is the obvious winner compared to the Panasonic? From a raw specs point of view, the Sigma combination wins over the Panasonic lens in the range they share, by being a step faster. Also, if you are starting out, the Sigma/speed boaster is 1/2 the price of the 10-25mm. But the Panasonic gives you more wide angle, is splash proof, and is a bit lighter.

How well does the clickless apertures work in real life for video work.

Given the preview mentioned that it didn't have hard stops for focusing and zoom, how does this affect using things like follow focus in real life?

If you have used the Olympus pro lenses, how does the manual focus clutch compare to those lenses? I know with the Olympus lenses, every user goes through a stage where the lens isn't auto-focusing, and it turns out they had the clutch right enabled. I assume something similar will happen with this lens.

If you have older Panasonic bodies on hand or any Olympus bodies, are there things that don't work on other gear than the G9/GH5/GH5s (and maybe G95) that were unexpected? The lens doesn't have OIS, so that isn't an issue.

Given the lens is a heavy lens, how is the balance for run-and-gun video shooting?

Are you already lobbying Panasonic to come out with a companion lens for this that is longer (say a 25-75mm or 25-50mm f/1.7 lens).

How is flare on the lens?

How's the CA handling? Longitudinal and lateral. I don't care about anything else.

Thanks for the offer!

• Are AF and the iris mechanism truly quiet?
• Is the lens (close to) parfocal?
• Any signs of focus breathing when aperture is closing?
• How is vignetting at f/1.7 through the focal range?
• How is center sharpness at f/1.7 through the f. range? (your impression, not MFT)
• Bokeh at f/1.7 and say f4: Creamy and Smooth or Nervous and Abrupt?
• Balance - does it feel good in hand when coupled to a small camera body?
• When used without digital correction, any dramatic geometric distortions?

After all the the questions about quality, weight, etc the one that will be on everyone's lips is "how much is the RRP?" This will allow a due amount of ranting and hair tearing over the fact that it might not be affordable everybody. Followed by finding the smallest issue that can be turned into a good reason to reject it.ne[orth of mention ,,,

After all this is the "micro" forum.

I am quite happy to wait for an official evaluation but confess that (like many) I have no interest whatsoever in video. But I could possibly find the money to buy one if in fact it was a great lens for stills.

Tom Caldwell said:

After all the the questions about quality, weight, etc the one that will be on everyone's lips is "how much is the RRP?"

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The recommended retail price of US $1799 / € 1999 has already been announced and was generally received with relief.

See also: https://www.dpreview.com/products/panasonic/lenses/panasonic_10-25_1p7_asph

Tom Caldwell said:

After all the the questions about quality, weight, etc the one that will be on everyone's lips is "how much is the RRP?" This will allow a due amount of ranting and hair tearing over the fact that it might not be affordable everybody. Followed by finding the smallest issue that can be turned into a good reason to reject it.ne[orth of mention ,,,

After all this is the "micro" forum.

I am quite happy to wait for an official evaluation but confess that (like many) I have no interest whatsoever in video. But I could possibly find the money to buy one if in fact it was a great lens for stills.

Click to expand...

Tom, while looking for something else I did find the Aussie price at a Brisbane store https://www.camerapro.com.au/panasonic-leica-dg-10-25mm-f-1-7-asph-lens.html

Start saving now.

Regards....... Guy

Two questions on aperture ring -

1) Does the aperture ring of production version still has 'detent' on 'A' position?

2) Especially in still shooting, how does the ring operates in manual F-no settings? Clickless only?

Thanks in advance.

JordanDrake said:

Hey all,
I have production copy of the new Panasonic/Leica 10-25mm F1.7. We're testing it as a video lens for DPReview TV, but if any of you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer any that don't require hours of testing.
Thanks!

Click to expand...

This zoom is the only wide aperture alternative to the venerable 20mm f1.7. Would be interested to see some comparisons of still image quality vis the 20mm f1.7, at f1.7 and f2.

Guy Parsons said:

Tom, while looking for something else I did find the Aussie price at a Brisbane store https://www.camerapro.com.au/panasonic-leica-dg-10-25mm-f-1-7-asph-lens.html

Start saving now.

Click to expand...

The AUD will really kill demand for gear like this!

How does it perform on say an Em 1 mark 2 or E M1 X?
How its performance wide open and compared to it stopped down?
How does it AF in video?
Flaring in sun or under artifical light?



Thx for asking Jordan!

Thanks for reaching out to us, Jordan.

How's the focus perform, comparatively, on the EM1 mark 2?

Would love to see how it renders sunstars, and street lights at various apertures

JordanDrake said:

Hey all,
I have production copy of the new Panasonic/Leica 10-25mm F1.7. We're testing it as a video lens for DPReview TV, but if any of you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer any that don't require hours of testing.
Thanks!

Click to expand...

Can the lens be used as a blunt object to defend oneself from a bear attack?

=)

Actual question, could you try shooting something with specular highlights in the background to see if there is any odd bokeh behavior?

whumber said:

JordanDrake said:

Hey all,
I have production copy of the new Panasonic/Leica 10-25mm F1.7. We're testing it as a video lens for DPReview TV, but if any of you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer any that don't require hours of testing.
Thanks!

Click to expand...

Can the lens be used as a blunt object to defend oneself from a bear attack?

=)

Click to expand...

If you are going to use this lens to take picture of large predators, you are going to need a a barrier or a defense mechanism.

Perhaps the 50-200mm is better suited.

whumber said:

Actual question, could you try shooting something with specular highlights in the background to see if there is any odd bokeh behavior?

Click to expand...

Bokeh will be very interesting indeed.

--
Cheers
Eric

Manual Focus - Linear?

That to me is the last piece of the m43 filming jigsaw with native lenses

JordanDrake said:

Hey all,
I have production copy of the new Panasonic/Leica 10-25mm F1.7. We're testing it as a video lens for DPReview TV, but if any of you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer any that don't require hours of testing.
Thanks!

Click to expand...

I'm starting to consider adding video to my customers in the future, but for now, that lens looks like an event photographer's dream. Although the size and weight worry me a bit. How does it balance on a gripped or un-gripped G9?

[nt]

Coma, vignetting etc? Any perceptions?

Albert Valentino said:

Would love to see how it renders sunstars [..]

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Poorly or not at all, I'm afraid.. the specifications say that its aperture has 9 rounded blades. A nicely rounded aperture like that does not create sunstars (explanation).