Panasonic announces Leica DG Vario-Summilux 25-50mm f/1.7 ASPH lens

Angled view of the new Leica DG Vario-Summilux 25-50mm f/1.7 ASPH lens. (Source: Panasonic.)

Boasting a fast, constant f/1.7 maximum aperture and dust- and splash-resistant construction, the new lens has been designed to be a pair with the current, Leica DG Vario-Summilux 10-25mm f/1.7 ASPH (H-X2550) lens to deliver impressive video and stills shooting performance for professional users. With a minimum focusing distance of 28 cm at 25mm and 31 cm at 50mm it provides a maximum magnification of 0.42x to allow close-up shooting. The optical design contains 16 elements in 11 groups, with an aspherical lens and three ED (Extra-low Dispersion) lenses that suppress axial and magnification chromatic aberration as well as spherical aberration and distortion. The use of aspherical lenses and the design of the system delivers high resolution in a compact, lightweight lens with minimal shifts during zooming. The filter diameter of the lens is 77mm.

The lens is compatible with the Lumix G sensor drive at 240 fps to take advantage of the high-speed, high-precision auto focusing. Silent operation is achieved by the inner focus drive system. A stepless aperture ring and the micro-step drive system in the aperture control section allow the camera to smoothly adjust to brightness changes when zooming or panning. The focus ring provides precise focusing and incorporates linear/non-linear settings. A special mechanism suppresses focus breathing across the entire zoom range.

The Leica DG Vario-Summilux 25-50mm f/1.7 ASPH lens will be available in August 2021 from leading photographic specialists with an RRP of AU$2,899. Click here for more information.