Lumix G7 beginner/intermediate lens

Hi everyone

New here and hopefully I'm on the right section.

Currently I've got a Lumix G7 and a Lumix G 25mm f/1.7 ASPH lens which I bought a couple of years ago.

I've only used it on auto mode (been using smartphones more), but now I'm wanting to move up and learn more about the camera and what it can do.

I wanted to get a some advice on which lens to get. I'm a beginner so bare with me, but this is basically what I want. I need it for landscape shots (maybe wide angle), and maybe with a zoom option and I want to be able to shoot fast moving subjects as well. Is that possible? or am I asking too much?

I'm happy to answer questions, at the moment I can only think of these details.

Thanks in advance!

Since you have a fast prime lens, you might consider buying a more versatile zoom. The Panasonic 14-140 II covers a broad range, it's light and small for what it is, and it has excellent image quality for a 10X superzoom. It costs $600. You can probably find a used one for around $450. I'm sure others will have more suggestions for you. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1182743-REG/panasonic_h_fs14140ak_14_140mm_f3_5_5_6_ois_lens.html

Outdoors in good light, you should be able to use it for moving subjects.

If you have the kit 14-42, that and your 25 f1.7 are a solid start.  The 25 f1.7 is my most used lens.  If you want to add to it, the 45-150 is a solid choice.

Otherwise,  go out and shoot!  Aperture priority is your friend,  that 25 is a solid portrait and street photo lens.

which is particularly useful if OP doesn't want to swap lens often.

This 10x zoom lens, covering the 28mm standard wide angle to 280mm long telephoto, could be good enough for many general application. It has IQ close to the premium class 12-35 f/2.8 on similar aperture.

To OP: might consider to:

• use e-shutter (avoid possible shutter shock which can produce soft result),
• vivid photo style (more pleasant Straight Out Of Camera jpg result),
• use A mode, set the lens wide open, and adjust Exposure Compensation in according to what the Live View will tell us (can guide us to set the exposure we wanted instead of dictated by the default of the camera).

great do it all 14-140mm type two. (latest)

closer range but also very good the lumix 12-60mm (kit lens for g80)

12-60mm is often cheap to buy from people who bought a set and don't need the kitlens.

There are more cheap isch lenses( compared to prolenses), consumerlens as it seems to called.

But these two are the best of the bunch.

I have been using a G7 for over a year, with 14-140, 25 f1.7, 42.5 f1.7, 12-32 f3.5-5.6, 35-100 f4-5.6. A few months ago I added the 20 f1.7 and the 12-60 f3.5-5.6 which came bundled with a GX8 on 2018 black Friday.

All these lenses are very good and work OK on G7, which is a more advanced and enjoyable camera than many believe. The G7 can grow with you for any kind of photography, it is fast and responsive.

Your 25mm prime lens is optically excellent and its f1.7 aperture and fast AF will allow you to shoot moving targets even in dim light. It is also very sharp and contrasty, which means it is good for landscapes.

I recommand you read the G7 in-depth review here on DPreview, and also on Imaging resource, where you will also find interesting lens reviews.

If you dont already have a 14-42 or 12-32, I recommand you to buy a zoom to begin with, as it will allow you to explore different focal lengths to extend your creativity.

Avoid Olympus zooms, because they are not stabilized, as Olympus has chosen to rely on in-body stabilisation, called IBIS.

Your G7 doesnt have IBIS ,but all Panasonic zooms have in-lens optical stabilisation, called OIS.

OIS is very effective against blurr due to photographer's hand shake: usually it allows you to get sharp results when shooting still targets at shutter speeds 8 times slower than without OIS (i.e. 1/20 versus 1/160).

Beware that wide angle and normal primes dont have OIS, you must use a faster shutter speed.

Do check that on Panasonic official website that your G7 has the latest firmware, which has an "auto electronic shutter mode" which protects you of "shutter shock". Shutter shock can cause a slight blurr when using some lenses which are prone to it (like the 14-140 for instance).

The 14-140 is a very nice and convenient lens, but expensive.

If you like going wide, beware that 12mm is much wider than 14mm in M43 world. 14mm in M43 is close to the angle of view of a smartphone.

The 12-60 f3.5-5.6 is sharper and better than the 14-140 accross their common range.

The 12-60 can be found new "dekitted" from professional vendors for rather cheap, with a guarantee, and its range (24-120 in 35mm equivalent) covers the most used focal lengths, from very wide to medium telephoto.

The 12-32 should be cheaper than the 12-60, it is almost as good as the 12-60 across their common range, and its tiny size makes it an easy useful addition to your bag even if you already have the 14-140. The only con is that 32mm is rather short and you often need longer.

Going to Tuscany (Firenze, Siena, Pisa) and Peru last year,with the 14-140 and the 12-32, I often used the 12-32 in crowded areas, inside museums or churches, or for cityscapes, though the 14-140 was my most used lens.

Below, a few samples with the 12-32 kit lens; many more of my M43 photography on my Flickr gallery.