Panasonic has released details of a new ultra-wide angle lens for its Lumix G Series cameras that will be available in July 2022 from leading Australian photographic specialist retailers.
Angled view of the new Leica DG Summilux 9mm f/1.7 ASPH. (H-X09) lens. (Source: Panasonic.
The new lens encompasses an angle of view equivalent to 18mm on a 35mm camera and claims to offer ‘impressive optical performance for professional videographers and photographers’. Priced at AU$849, it is expected to be popular for vlogging, landscapes, macro and astrophotography. Featuring a dust and splash-resistant design and weighing only 130 grams, it can focus to within 9.5 cm of subjects to achieve a magnification ratio of 0.25x (35mm camera equivalent: 0.5x) plus smooth bokeh with background separation as well as realistic rendering.
The optical design consists of 12 elements in nine groups, including two aspherical lenses to address astigmatism, two ED (Extra-Low Dispersion) lenses and one UHR (Ultra High Refractive Index) lens to suppress both axial and magnification chromatic aberration and achieve uniform image quality from the centre to the edges of the image. The filter diameter is 55 mm and the lens has a seven-bladed iris diaphragm that closes to create a circular aperture. The new lens is compatible with the Lumix G sensor drive at 240 fps. In the non-linear setting, focus is shifted with a variable amount according to the rotation speed of the focus ring; while for linear setting, focus is shifted with a designated amount according to the rotational quantum of the focus ring. Sensitivity (the amount of focus shift per rotational quantum) can be selected from 90 to 360 degrees in 30-degree increments. The lens mechanism suppresses focus breathing when video recording.
Click here for full details of the new lens.
