Review of the Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 25 mm f/1.4 ASPH Micro 4/3 Lens

[ed9119]

Clubsnap managed to snag the (currently) ONLY working copy of this lens in Singapore on Monday and we'll have been putting it through its paces for this week and next.

CS'er Wong_se, a regular in the M4/3 subsection of the forum has kindly agreed to help review the lens.

In a few words, the lens (a Leica top-of-the-line Lux' design no less) boasts
1. an aperture of f1.4
2. 1 Super ED extra low disperson lens element
3. No less than 3 ED lens elements to control chromatic abberation
4. a built in Aperture ring
5. has a circular aperture diaphragm
6. a Durable Metal Mount
7. 38cm min focus distance


...... the look is clean and build quality is excellent

Aperture
Maximum aperture F1.4
Minimum aperture F16.0
Aperture ring Yes
Number of diaphragm blades: 7 (Circuar aperture)
Elements 10 (1 super ED and 3 ED elements)
Groups 9
Minimum focus distance 38cm
Maximum magnification 0.18 x
Autofocus Yes
Motor type Panasonic Micro-motor
Full time manual : yes
Focus method Rear focussing
Focus notes floating focus
Distance scale Yes

Weight 525 g (1.16 lb)
Diameter 78 mm (3.07")
Length 75 mm (2.95")
Colour Black
Filter thread 62 mm
Hood supplied Yes (petal shaped )

 

[ed9119]

lets start with some sample images from the lens at various f-stops

ISO kept constant, camera was set at 2sec self timer shutter release and point of focus at the wedding invite (2 photogs getting married tomorrow )

f1.4

f1.8

f2.8

f3.5

f4.5

 

[ed9119]

f5.6

f7.1

f8

f10

 

[ed9119]

f13

f16

 

[ed9119]

The following images are ISO test images

iso160

iso200

iso400

iso800

iso1600

 

[ed9119]

iso3200

iso6400 ..... looks blotchy but it gets the job done

 

[ed9119]

Wong_se will be putting together his comments on the lens as well as share other images shot with this lens

 

[MichaelLee]

Made in Japan, Summilux, Nano surface coating

How big is the lens ?

Height vs Olympus EP1

Olympus 14-42mm II R vs Panny Leica 25mm

 

[MichaelLee]

All shot are shot with JPEG, AWB (pardon for inconsistent WB) with Olympus EP1.
No other processing besides resize.


Distance of scale for reference on apperture testing. The closest subject (doll on the right) to furthest subject (招财&#29483 is approx 10inc.

f1.4

f1.8

f2

f2.5

 

[MichaelLee]

f2.8

f3.5

f4

f5

f6

 

[MichaelLee]

f7.1

f8

 

[MichaelLee]

The Summilux optical quality give a very sharp output.
Now look at the center vs 100%, and corner at 100% crop.


Full picture

Center crop at100%

Top Right corner at 100%

Full Picture

Center crop at 100%

 

[MichaelLee]

Full picture

100% crop

 

[MichaelLee]

Performance at night

Full picture

Center at 100% crop

Full Picture

Corner at 100% crop

 

[MichaelLee]

CA testing

100% crop

100% crop

 

[NazgulKing]

What camera was it tested on?

 

[Luzer]

Thanks for the images!
When will this lens be available in Singapore?

 

[MichaelLee]

Bokeh
Only one comment, Sweet ! Besides of Nokton f0.95, this is m4/3 largest aperture AF lens. f1.4 allow good indoor shot. (indoor/lowlight field test in next thread)

Optical Quality
Very sharp. I have not shot with Leica Summilux/summicron mounted on m4/3 cam before, but up to date, this is the sharpens m4/3 fens I have used. It is certainly a mile ahead of Panny 20mm f1.7

Corner Sharpness
Have not done pixel mapping or MTF chart. But based on eye ball judgment, the corner performance has held up pretty well. Only at the 3-5% corner, you would see some softening.

CA
Very well controlled and hardly noticed. In extreme conditions, there is only small amount of purple fringe.

AF
Though mounted on first m4/3 camera EP1, the focusing is pretty fast. I have also tested this lens on GF3 and EP3, the AF is almost instant. Hardly imagine how could the AF can further improved. However, similar to Lumix 20mm f1.7, it has some unpleasant motor sound when the apertures move during focusing.



Below is the field test on low light shot ;

 

[MichaelLee]

What camera was it tested on?

With EP1, first m4/3 camera.
I would believe if it is on EP3 or GH2/GF3, it would be able to draw more detail/resolution from the lens.

 

[MichaelLee]

Bokeh Field Test at f1.7 - simply awesome