In summary
DG Summilux 12mm f/1.4 ASPH. lens is an excellent performer, although a bit on the pricey side, particularly when compared with the Lumix G 25mm f/1.7 ASPH. lens. But when build quality is taken into account, it represents decent value.
The fastest 12mm lens available for Micro Four Thirds system cameras, it’s a full stop faster than the Olympus M.Zuiko 12mm f/2.0 lens, which is significantly smaller and less than half the weight and price. But that lens is not weatherproof.
Like other M4/3 lenses, it can be used on both Panasonic and Olympus cameras and the wide angle of view means the lack of internal stabilisation is less relevant than for lenses with longer focal lengths. Like all Olympus M4/3 cameras, the GX8 is ideal has stabilisation built-in, making it an excellent partner for this lens.
Full review
Panasonic’s Leica-branded DG Summilux 12mm f/1.4 ASPH. lens, which was announced on 15 June, 2016, is the fastest autofocus prime lens with a wide angles of view (equivalent to 24mm in 35mm format). It joins the existing Leica DG Summilux 25mm f/1.4 ASPH. and Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary lenses and the Panasonic DG Nocticron 42.5mm f/1.2 ASPH in providing a fast AF-enabled alternative to existing lenses for Micro Four Thirds cameras.
Angled view of the Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 12mm f/1.4 ASPH. lens. (Source: Panasonic.)
Fast lenses are characterised by large glass elements (required to capture imaging light) and this means exotic elements, precision engineering and relatively high price tags. The optical design of the new lens comprises 15 elements in 12 groups and includes a pair of aspherical elements, two ultra extra-low dispersion elements and one extra-low dispersion element for control over both spherical and chromatic aberrations.
This diagram shows the positions of the exotic elements in the review lens. (Source: Panasonic.)
Multi-coatings have been applied to the lens elements to minimise flare and ghosting. Like most wide-angle lenses, this lens is not stabilised. However, we found it benefited from the sensor-shift stabilisation built into the GX8 camera we used for our tests, particularly when shooting in low light levels.
The DG Summilux 12mm f/1.4 ASPH lens is supplied with the usual front and end caps plus a cylindrical metal lens hood that can be reversed onto the lens barrel for transport and storage. A soft carrying pouch with a drawstring closure is also provided.
Features
Key features of the new lens are as follows:
1. Solid, weather-resistant construction, with a splash/dust-proof design. The lens mount, lens barrel and lens hood are all made of metal to ensure long-term durability.
2. Internal focusing, driven by a stepping motor, provides smooth, silent operation, making this lens ideal for both photo and video recording. The AF drive is designed to integrate smoothly with the high-speed, high-precision contrast AF systems in G-series cameras and can handle the maximum sensor drive speed of 240 frames/second (fps) to take advantage of cameras with high-speed AF and support precise focusing when recording 4K videos.
3. The nine-blade diaphragm closes to a circular aperture, providing a pleasing bokeh quality for shallow depth of field images.
4. A manual aperture ring gives tactile control over exposure settings. The lens also has a dedicated AF/MF switch for switching between focusing modes.
Who’s it For?
This lens is best suited to photographers who prefer working in low light levels and want the maximum degree of depth-of-field control in shots. Its wide angle of view makes it ideal for taking photographs of groups in indoor situations, while its low level of rectilinear distortions enable it to be used for photographing interiors of buildings (with or without people). Other potential applications include architectural photography, night scenes (astrophotography, star trails and urban illuminations) and sports close-ups.
This lens is also suitable for landscape and wildlife photography and its rugged construction and weather resistance will withstand a wide-range of photographic situations when a weather-proof camera body is used. The 12mm focal length is ideal for street photography, where weather resistance can also be useful.
Build and Ergonomics
In the hands, the DG Summilux 12mm f/1.4 ASPH. lens feels very solid. Measuring 70 mm in length and with an external diameter of 70 mm, it weighs a substantial 335 grams. The lens cap and metal hood add a further 52 grams. The review lens felt nicely balanced on the GX8 we used for our tests but may be a little large and heavy for Panasonic’s smaller and lighter G-series cameras.
The front element is 49 mm in diameter and protected by a filter thread that is approximately 5 mm deep. It accepts 62 mm diameter filters. Externally, a bayonet mounting, located roughly 10 mm behind the front of the lens accepts the supplied cylindrical metal lens hood. The pinch-type lens cap is solid and easy to fit and remove, even when the hood is in position.
Immediately behind the hood mounting is the manual aperture ring, which provides tactile control over exposure settings when lined up against a white dot on the lens barrel just behind the hood mounting. It is calibrated in one-stop increments between f/16 and f/1.4 with 1/3EV click-stop intervals between. A red ‘A’ beyond the f/1.4 position allows the lens to be set in auto aperture mode.
Behind the aperture ring is the focusing ring, which is 22 mm wide and carries a 14 mm wide band of fine ridges. Behind this ring on the 15 mm wide, fixed section of the barrel is a switch for swapping between auto and manual focusing. Both the aperture and focusing rings operate electronically and, although they turn smoothly, they provide little tactile feedback to the user.
There’s no distance scale and no additional controls on the lens. The only other items are the red reference dot for attaching the lens and Panasonic’s branding marks. The barrel slopes in to the solid metal mounting plate which is encircled by a narrow rubber ring (part of the dust- and splash-proof protection).
The metal mounting plate clips securely onto the camera’s lens mount. Eleven gold-plated contacts convey electronic signals between the camera body and the lens.
Performance
We tested the review lens on the GX8 camera body, the same camera as we used for the Lumix G 25mm f/1.7 ASPH when we reviewed it in November, 2015 (INSERT LINK). In our Imatest tests (which used the camera’s 3:2 aspect ratio), the review lens proved to be almost as good, meeting expectations for JPEG files in the centre of the frame between f/2.2 and f/5.6.
Edge sharpness was very close to expectations across the same range of apertures but dropped sharply between f/5.6 and f/8 as a result of diffraction. The graph below shows the results of our Imatest tests.
Lateral chromatic aberration was effectively negligible at all lens apertures. The graph below shows the result of our tests with the red line marking the border between ‘negligible’ and ‘low’ CA.
We found very slight vignetting in raw files from the GX8 at the widest aperture settings. It was also present in JPEGs captured with the camera’s Shading Compensation switched off. The effect was most noticeable at f/1.4 but barely visible by f/2. Switching on the Shading Compensation eliminates it from JPEGs; raw files are easily corrected in conversion software.
Distortion was effectively negligible in both uncorrected JPEGs and raw files. Here, too, in-camera corrections make this aberration a very minor concern.
Because of its wide maximum aperture, the quality of out-of-focus blurring is an important criterion when assessing this lens. In low-contrast situations, the bokeh produced by the review lens was very smooth and attractive, particularly at the widest aperture settings. However, bright highlights tended to be outlined, even in such situations and some choppiness could be seen at apertures between f/2.8 and f/4 in contrasty lighting.
The review lens was relatively flare-resistant, retaining a high percentage of both colour depth and contrast in scenes when a bright light was included within the frame. We found traces of magenta flare in outdoor shots taken with the sun just outside the frame. But contrast and saturation in the rest of the frame were quite easy to adjust in a decent image editor.
Conclusion
DG Summilux 12mm f/1.4 ASPH. lens is an excellent performer, although a bit on the pricey side, particularly when compared with the Lumix G 25mm f/1.7 ASPH. lens. But when build quality is taken into account, it represents decent value.
The fastest 12mm lens available for Micro Four Thirds system cameras, it’s a full stop faster than the Olympus M.Zuiko 12mm f/2.0 lens, which is significantly smaller and less than half the weight and price. But that lens is not weatherproof.
Like other M4/3 lenses, it can be used on both Panasonic and Olympus cameras and the wide angle of view means the lack of internal stabilisation is less relevant than for lenses with longer focal lengths. Like all Olympus M4/3 cameras, the GX8 is ideal has stabilisation built-in, making it an excellent partner for this lens.
Although there appears to be a wide discrepancy between the local and US prices listed in our specifications, when currency conversion is applied there’s actually not much difference. Since the price of this lens is greater than AU$1000, once GST is accounted for you will be better off buying this lens locally.
SPECS
Picture angle: 84 degrees
Minimum aperture: f/16
Lens construction: 15 elements in 12 groups (including 2 aspherical lenses, 1 ED lens and 2 UED lens elements)
Lens mounts: Micro Four Thirds
Diaphragm Blades: 9 (circular aperture)
Focus drive: Stepping motor
Stabilisation: No
Minimum focus: 20 cm
Maximum magnification: 0.1x
Filter size: 62 mm
Dimensions (Diameter x L): 70 x 70 mm
Weight: 335 grams (excluding lens cap, lens rear cap and lens hood)
Standard Accessories: Lens front and end caps, lens hood, soft storage bag
TESTS
Based on JPEG files from the Panasonic DMC-GX8 camera.
SAMPLES
Vignetting at f/1.4.
Rectilinear distortion.
Close-up at f/1.4; ISO 100, 1/3200 second.
Close-up at f/4.5; ISO 100, 1/1300 second.
Close-up taken in low light conditions; ISO 800, 1/160 second at f/1.6. (Note the ‘hard-edged’ highlights in the background.)
Magenta flaring in a strongly backlit situation; ISO 100, 1/500 second at f/5.6.
ISO 1000, 1/100 second at f/4.5.
ISO 200, 1/200 second at f/1.8.
ISO 400, 1/60 second at f/2.5.
ISO 800, 1/250 second at f/2.2.
ISO 3200, 1/160 second at f/4.
ISO 800, 1/20 second at f/4.5.
ISO 1600, 1/30 second at f/5.
ISO 1000, 1/20 second at f/5.6.
Rating
RRP: AU$1799; US$1299
- Build: 9.2
- Handling: 8.8
- Image quality: 8.9
- Versatility: 8.5