PANASONIC LUMIX G LENS, 42.5MM, F1.7 ASPH., MIRRORLESS MICRO FOUR THIRDS, POWER OPTICAL I.S., H-HS43K (USA BLACK)

Ive meandered around buying this f1.7 version and the f1.2, but settled on 1.7 as I thought that I could also use it on another m4/3 camera in the arsenal if I really wanted the f1.2 later. However, I was pleasantly surprised by this lens, though by now I probably should not be. Ive worked with the Panasonic 15mm f1.7, 25 f1.4, and the 20mm f1.7, all of which deliver a great deal of quality in their images. It has a very minimalist style to it with almost nothing except the focal range and lens hood alignment dots written on the lens body. The front of the lens body flange can be removed and in its place the lens hood can be attached. This is similar to the Panasonic 15mm 1.7 lens does, but without the 15mms aperture ring in the way (if you have large fingers) Im surprised that this tiny lens delivers optical OIS in the lens body, but the images from the lens are very good. A wee bit soft at f1.7, but still quite nice. It has a minimal focal distance at around 12 inches which makes it decent for "macro" inspired shots. The part that Im really concerned about is the attachment of the lens to the camera. While it is indeed a micro four thirds attachment, the issue that I have is that the lenss mount seems to "grate" against the camera mount, seemingly rubbing the metal points of both -- giving me the feeling I get when my own nails are scratching a blackboard. I find myself wondering if this is an issue of quality in the lens build itself-- which does not have the Leica logo on it and is mostly a durable plastic. I also wonder whether or not the eventuality will be that metal bits from the lens mount might fall into the sensor. This compares unfavorably then to the attachment of the 20mm f1.7, which does not have this grating/attachment issue (and is also not Leica logo-ed). Unlike the 20mm 1.7 though, the lens is virtually noise less. The 42.5mm does not have the AF focusing noise of the 20mm and is much faster at focusing on the subject than the 20mm. All-in-all the experience is good and the lens is a fine addition to the m4/3arsenal. The small stature I feel lends it very well to the smaller bodies of the m4/3 lineup, though still works very well on larger bodies like the GX-8. I dont have the 42.5 f1.2, but I could imagine that the body of the f1.2 would be much hardier and probably metallic. This smaller f1.7 is quite lite, void of menacing doodads on the actual lens body and stylish enough to just throw onto your camera and head out the door.

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0:00 0:00 This video is not intended for all audiences. What date were you born? January February March April May June July August September October November December 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 1943 1942 1941 1940 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 1931 1930 1929 1928 1927 1926 1925 1924 1923 1922 1921 1920 1919 1918 1917 1916 1915 1914 1913 1912 1911 1910 1909 1908 1907 1906 1905 1904 1903 1902 1901 1900 Submit Adobe Flash Player is required to watch this video. Install Flash Player Ive been very impressed by this lens so far. I use it on my Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GM5 . For me its more of a "specialty" lens. If Im going on vacation, or doing portraits, etc., then Ill use it. If its just another day, commute across campus or whatever, then its too large for my needs. I prefer a pancake lens for general purpose. Anyway, for the price, its a great performer. In the video the lens was at minimum focusing distance, ~12 inches. No hood attached. Tripod mounted. The subject here was a large brown carpenter bee. I wonder if he may have been exhausted or sick. Eventually, he flew away. Hope hes OK.

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Nice sharp lens at a great effective focal length (85mm equivalent) for portrait photos. My lens is quite sharp even wide open but I usually stop down a bit, maybe to 2.2, to still get the blurred background effect but with a little bit more depth of field to make sure entire faces are in focus. The other great thing about this lens is that it can be used as a pseudo-macro, with a minimum focus distance of a foot, Ive gotten some nice close up pictures of quite a few things (of course I said pseudo-macro, an actual macro lens can magnify things much more). The Olympus 45mm lens has a much further away minimum focus distance so you cannot use that one as a pseudo-macro lens. The Image Stablization helps me a lot as well, though if you have an Olympus camera or one of the few Panasonics that have that, it isnt as much of a concern.

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This is an amazing lens paired with the GX85. The color and clarity with this lens is absolutely top notch. Dead sharp even wide open. Its the perfect size paired to the GX85. IT all just fits nice in the hands. Focus is spot on perfect every shot.

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Im an Oly guy these days for serious µ4/3 still cameras since they introduced better IBIS, HR Mode and Focus Stacking. I quite like my Oly 45/1.8 lens for portraits and general use. But my great favorite compact body is the Panny GM5, which doesnt have IBIS, negating the speed advantage of both Oly and most Panny primes. So this Panny 42.5/1.7 with IS is replacing the Oly in my compact kit. The reviews show it to be at least as good, apparently better in the corners, than the excellent Oly. 58 shots in, Ive got one big winner and several shots I like a lot. It also looks great on the black GM5, so Im a very happy owner.

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tIve owned Canon, Nikon, Olympus and now a Panasonic Lumix camera. Full disclosure, Ive never bought a pro level lens. That said, Ive bought lenses that were more expensive than this one. But, nothing is as clear as this lens that Ive owned. I waited a few months, shoulda bought it when I started getting curious. Its small, and on the small G7 body, it looks like it doesnt mean business...but its dead serious. Fast, clear, lightweight...No reason not to buy. Dispel the stories and opinions that you cant get crazy bokeh with a M4/3 with this lil fella.

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This is my first lens that I bought for my camera besides the kit lens and this is a seriously powerful and beautiful lens. You can get some amazing portrait shots and focus shots. Just an excellent lens. Id recommend it to anyone.

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Absolutely amazing lens!! I bought this for my Panasonic G7 and I just love the professional results of this lens. The only negative I can think is the video autofocus is a bit slow with this lens. Im sure most people are using this for photography anyway and in that right, it excels! Low-light with the f1.7 capability and 85mm equivalent focal length are superb. This is the PERFECT portrait lens for the Micro 4/3 mount cameras. You can completely separate subject and background with the large aperture. I love this lens and the G7 combo. The setup is much lighter than my big Canon 7D and 50mm f1.8 combo Ive used for years.Highly recommended!

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Fantastic lens. Ive been using the Olympus 45mm f/1.8 for years, and its a great inexpensive portrait lens. The Panasonic adds image stabilization (not needed on my Olympus cameras) and, more importantly, much closer minimum focus distance. This makes this lens useful in more situations than the Olympus - instead of being strictly a portrait lens, the Panasonic can handle food and other close-up photography tasks, as well. Highly recommended.

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Ive been a pro for 40 years and own very sharp Nikon glass. But I cant always carry the larger lenses now that Im older & slower. This lens is sharp enough and when you add the low cost and portability, it becomes a bargain!

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