Panasonic Leica 25mm f/1.4 Summilux review (Digitalrev)
The video on top shows the Panasonic-Leica 25mm f/1.4 review made by Digitalrev. The lens itself is in Stock in most part of the worlds with one single exception…USA! Looks like Panasonic has something against the states? Is the market not important enough for you? We europeans have plenty of Panasonic-Leica in Stock in many stores. This is the list I usually check to see where I can get the lens. As usual just click on the shopname to see the Panaosnic-Leica search page:
Australia: Amazon, BHphoto, Digitalrev, eBay.au
Austria: Amazon.at, Pixmania.at, eBay.at
Belgium: Amazon.co.uk, Pixmania.be, eBay.be
Canada: Pixmania Canada, Adorama, B&H, eBay.ca
China: Amazon.cn, Digitalrev, eBay
Denmark: Pixmania.dk, eBay
Finland: Pixmania.fi, eBay
France: Amazon.fr, Pixmania.fr, eBay.fr
Germany: Amazon.de, Pixmania.de, eBay.de
Hong Kong: Digitalrev, eBay, Amazon, B&H
Ireland: Amazon.uk, eBay.ie
Italy: Amazon.it, Pixmania.it, eBay.it
Japan: Amazon.jp, DigitalRev, eBay
Netherlands: Amazon.co.uk, Pixmania.nl, eBay.nl
Norway: Pixmania.no, eBay
Poland: Pixmania.pl, Redcoon.pl, eBay
Singapore: Digitalrev, eBay
Spain: Amazon.es, Redcoon.es, Pixmania.es, eBay.es
Sweden: Pixmania.se, eBay
Switzerland: Amazon.de, Pixmania.ch, eBay.ch
United Kingdom: Amazon.uk, Jessops, Pixmania.uk, eBay.uk
United States: Amazon, Adorama, B&H, J&R, eBay
Share
Recent comments
Comment from Panalover: I have tried both lenses and optically I...
Comment from REP96ST: Yeah! Props for using the GF2!!
Fina...
Comment from IcelandicBunny: I was using a small Gorillpod Focus in s...
Comment from MJr: Obviously my post went completely over y...
plutoniumhunter
7 months ago |Skip to 3:55 for the start of the lens review.
WT21
7 months ago |Argh… I should have read these comments first. I could have saved 4 minutes of my life.
Doc
7 months ago |That’s the most stupid lens review I’ve ever witnessed.
Greg Hall
7 months ago |c’mon-its meant to be tongue in cheek due to the “leica” lens (which its not)-Kai is always entertaining….(altho he looks good he’s better suited to jeans and t-shirt (pls save the comments)
Bob
7 months ago |china man with english accent
jonnymedia
7 months ago |Man with white mans name posts dumb comment.
Tobias W.
7 months ago |+1
Tulio
7 months ago |I wonder how it compares to the NEX Zeiss 24mm f1.8 at $900
Simon
7 months ago |+1
And…people….please stop complaining about Kai’s reviews. They are meant to be fun, entertaining videos. If you’re looking for serious 100% tech reviews, just skip digitalrev-tv and save your time : )
MJr
7 months ago |+1
I’m amazed how people always seems to think they have a say in it at all. This is what DigitalRev is, and this is how it’s always been with Kai. You either like it or you don’t. As if you’re going to change the minds of thousands of subscribers, and millions of viewers, with a lousy observation that it’s not a 100% tech review. Duh!
Mr. Reeee
7 months ago |+10
And spare us …
andy
7 months ago |Ive had this lens for a while…if you already have the 20mm f1.7 dont worry too much about buying the 25mm….Ive found the extra speed betwen the two negligable.
Although the AF is great on the 25mm f1.4…its not worth its pricetag.
Brod1er
7 months ago |Yes, the 20mm suits the format better although the old skool AF is a shame. The 25mm does have it’s strengths though (the “bor-kay” and rendering) and a good option if you don’t need super compact size. It’s not that much more expensive (+50%) in the UK.
MJr
7 months ago |Well it’s more like double here €330 vs €600.
I think that’s worth it for the rendering, and ‘having something special’, but i probably won’t go for it, not right away at least, because m4/3 is supposed to be carry-around compact for me and the 20mm slips into bags and pockets much easier (on camera). Plus, 40mm equivalent is a much better all-round angle than 50mm, which can be a bit narrow.
They differ more than one might think. Funny how in the old days there used to be pancake 40/2.8 and 50/1.8 alongside each-other also, by multiple brands. I guess with this smaller sensor it was easier to make that f/2.8 a f/1.7.
IcelandicBunny
7 months ago |I recently shot some video in Reykjavik with this Leica 25mm lens on a GH2 (including some extra tele conv shots) and the footage looked pretty good:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yv5Rgeyq0tY
MJr
7 months ago |Nice footage. Thanks to Craig Ferguson, i actually know where Reykjavik is.
But please, use the electronic level!
These crooked horizons annoyed the hell out of me.
Frederic Hew
7 months ago |Well, the GH2 does not have an electronic level but You can always tilt the screen if you find that so annoying
I was surprised to learn that many of my shots were not level, maybe I have a crooked view of reality? I use framelines to fix that and to help with composition. I do not find them distracting so they are permanently on.
MJr
7 months ago |I find that framelines can help with composition, but often give a false impression of ‘level’, due to perspective. Even if you’re well aware of the rules of perspective, the mind fools you to occasionally line up lines that weren’t supposed to be level. Something that might not have happened simply relying on ‘feel’, looking at the image as a whole.
IcelandicBunny
7 months ago |I was using a small Gorillpod Focus in strong winds, so was just happy the camera didn’t blow away!
Mr. Reeee
7 months ago |Level horizon?
I’d guess you’ve never seen a Chardin still life.
http://goo.gl/GEgEK
The Master
7 months ago |I’ve had the 25 for a week or so. Had the 20 for a couple of years. I’ve always been a fan of 50 mm equiv. focal length, so, the 25 is a welcome addition. I would say it’s worth the price over the 20. The bokeh is much less distracting and there is a noticeable improvement in micro contrast, color, and sharpness, in my opinion. Panasonic did it right with this one and they didn’t seem to over price it, like they did with the 4/3 version, so I bet they sell a bunch.
MJr
7 months ago |‘Got a online gallery ? =D
Going from 40 to 50mm, don’t you feel like you’re missing something ?
Is the focus speed/accuracy noticeably different ?
Have you used it on Manual Focus ?
Frederic Hew
7 months ago |I for one was very happy to give up the 20mm in favor of the older (4:3) Summilux simply because it renders nicer looking (though not sharper) images.
On the other hand, it is absurdly big and heavy, especially when mounted on the G3, and the 40mm FL is more versatile for a walk around lens.
Instead of “upgrading” to the new version, I am considering getting a 20mm. I’d prefer a fast 35mm but doubt we will ever have one for m43.
MJr
7 months ago |I assume Olympus’s 17/2.8 is not up to your standards then ? Yeah i don’t like that one much either. But the main reason for me to like m4/3 is that they already have so many primes already that i Do like, in such a short time, and i don’t think the end is anywhere in sight yet. Stupid APS-C Canikon DSLRs still don’t have ANY dedicated wide primes. m4/3 is lucky.
Frederick Hew
7 months ago |The Oly 17mm is most probably the simplest, cheapest design Olympus could come up with, as is the case with the 4:3 25mm pancake. It is not sharp enough and too slow.
I like nice lenses… APS-C canikon have many fast primes such as 1.4 24 and 35mm, 1.2 and 1.4 50mm, 1.4. 85mm and a long list of super fast teles.
MJr
7 months ago |I was talking about DEDICATED aps-c, meaning EF-S for Canon or DX for Nikon. Just like m4/3 lenses are small but still fast and good quality, making a lens dedicated to a smaller sensor than one originally for fx would make it cheaper and smaller without losing aperture. The topic was pancakes (or at least decent size), not those big hunks of glass. Also i noted WIDES, which on DX only leaves the 24mm from your list, but barely, if you count 35mm eqv as wide.
Frederic Hew
7 months ago |That would be because FX lenses are PERFECTLY USABLE on DX bodies, and because of the availability of many FINE wide angle zooms from Canon, Nikon, Tokina, Sigma and Tamron (did I forget anyone?).
Most people find APS-C makes a very sensible compromise because offers great image quality at very reasonable costs.
It only looks stupid when one PURPOSEFULLY chooses to present it as such for whatever reason (other brand loyalty/ appetite for intrigue/ ignorance/ choose your pick).
I personally DON’T HAVE an APS-C camera but nevertheless your view DOES NOT MAKE SENSE to me… you are of course entitled to it.
Kind regards, F. Hew.
MJr
7 months ago |Obviously my post went completely over your head.
If you don’t see the benefit of a lens that is both smaller and cheaper without losing any performance, well, then why are you even here.
ps. Yes i use CAPS when sites don’t allow italic. SUE ME. You seemed to have trouble noticing those words before in plain type. I don’t have a reading disorder myself tho, so way for being a douche.
ero
7 months ago |I have both 20mm and 25mm, the 25mm’s auto focus speed, color, and micro contrast do make different. in most of the cases, pictures do “pop up”!
ps. I use GF1.
rUY
7 months ago |Good snap shoots by Kai. By the way, some tests show that the distortion of 25/1.4 is not as serious as 20/1.7. the lens has it value to some people. even though, I agree that 20/1.7 still very attractive.
minornik
7 months ago |I get the impression that Kai likes the 25mm 1.4 but not to any great extent since he mentions Leica’s name so often. I guess he was expecting more with the Leica name.
I haven’t used the lens yet. Overall it seems to be a good lens.
Björn Utpott
7 months ago |Kai’s videos are always entertaining, best enjoyed first thing in the morning with a cup of hot coffee in one hand.
As to the Leica 25/1.4, I’d certainly like to own one as well. The size doesn’t bother me; that seems to be the price for the superior rendering. But I’m in no rush, since the 20mm pancake is still serving me well. I’ll wait until the price drops a little.
REP96ST
7 months ago |Yeah! Props for using the GF2!!
Finally, some GF2 Love!
Panalover
5 months ago |I have tried both lenses and optically I find it really hard to see a significant difference. At least not one that justifies the price difference. Autofocus is faster on the 25mm, but it’s a rather large and heavy lens and did I mention the price difference? Your choice depends on what is most important to you I guess.