Things have been rather quiet from Panasonic on the Micro Four Thirds lens front just lately. With the company primarily focusing on its full-frame S series output, you'd be forgiven for thinking that its smaller system had been somewhat forgotten.
With the launch of the Panasonic GH6 earlier in the year however, it's perhaps no surprise to see new optics also appearing on the market, and the firm says it's committed to developing and releasing more. Its new 9mm f/1.7 lens is the latest to be made in collaboration with Leica, meaning that the lens must pass a stringent set of standards.
Four Thirds has a crop factor of 2x, so the 9mm lens gives the equivalent angle of view to 18mm on a full-frame camera. Given just how much Panasonic has concentrated on video in the past few years, it seems reasonable to assume that one of this lens's intended consumers is the vlogger, with that focal length being ideal for filming pieces to camera in small spaces, or handheld.
However, it's also a very versatile focal length for plenty of stills applications, with the two most obvious subjects being landscapes and architecture. With its close-focusing skills and large aperture, it can also be used for close-up work or isolating the subject from the background. Similarly, the f/1.7 maximum aperture suggests it should be ideal for low light or night photography too.
With a retail price of £449, the Leica DG Summilux 9mm F1.7 is priced very reasonably. Compared to the Laowa 10mm f/2, for example, it's wider, offers a faster aperture and includes autofocus, but only costs £50 more. It’s also much cheaper than the compact wideangle zooms you can buy for Micro Four Thirds, including the Panasonic 7-14mm f/4 (£799) and the Olympus 9-18mm f/4-5.6 (£549). Of course, this being a Micro Four Thirds lens, it can also be used with Olympus and OM System cameras.
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