PANASONIC LEICA 9MM F1.7 Review: Tiny, Fast, AND FUN

The trim calculate on Micro Four Thirds comes in helpful with telephoto lenses — but the inverse is genuine when it comes to capturing ultra-wide sees. Finding an ultra-wide, shinning opening MFT lens that isn’t aspherical may be a challenge. The Panasonic Leica 9mm f1.7 ASPH DG Summilux is one such lens. Comparable to an 18mm lens, the lens captures an ultra-wide see without infringing on fisheye domain. What’s indeed more noteworthy is that the Panasonic Leica 9mm does it all in a little body and for under $500.

PANASONIC LEICA 9MM F1.7 Review

The Panasonic Leica 9mm f1.7 could be a travel photographer’s dream, with the capacity to shoot wide, near and in dim areas all in a lens that weighs a third of a pound. Whereas there’s a parcel to cherish around this 2022 discharge lens, pixel peepers might discover some things to complain approximately.

Table of Contents

  1. The Big Picture
    1.1 Pros
    1.2 Cons
  2. Gear Used
  3. Innovations
  4. Ergonomics
  5. Build Quality
  6. Focusing
  7. Ease of Utilize
  8. Image Quality
    8.1 Bokeh
    8.2 Color Rendition
    8.3 Lens Character
    8.4 Sharpness

THE Big PICTURE

THE Big PICTURE

With a modest body and ultra-wide see, the Panasonic Leica 9mm f1.7 could be a imaginative, versatile tool for Micro Four Thirds shooters. The lens is simple to carry around all day — indeed in snow or rain. The autofocus performed better than longer lenses. And the pictures this lens captures have pleasant colors, fun perspectives, and indeed a few delicate bokeh. Better however, the focal point records for beneath $500.

Whereas there’s lot to adore about this lens, pixel peepers may not be very so excited. The lens is milder around the edges and bokeh isn’t impeccably circular. Whereas it needs stabilization, that’s not a deal-breaker on today’s stabilized bodies. I do wish it had the metal body of a Leica rather than the plastic body of a Panasonic, but for under $500, it’s a give up worth making.

Pros

  • Compact and lightweight
  • 9mm that’s not a fisheye
  • Bright f1.7 aperture
  • Fabulous half macro close-up capabilities
  • Autofocus engine does well with activity and low light
  • Great colors
  • Captures lovely blooms of light flares
  • Makes a few fun perspective distortion
  • Excellent weather-sealing
  • Budget-friendly

CONS

  • I wish it had a metal barrel
  • A few edge softness
  • 7-blade aperture isn’t perfectly round

Gear USED

I utilized the Panasonic Leica 9mm f1.7 with the Panasonic G9 II. Both the camera and lens are brief term rentals given by Panasonic for review purposes.

Innovations

Ultra-wides tend to battle to focus up near, but that’s not the case with the Panasonic Leica 9mm f1.7. The lens’.3 feet magnification and .25x magnification makes it proportionate to a half macro in 35mm equivalency. That’s a few impressive versatility for an 18mm comparable lightweight lens.

ERGONOMICS

ERGONOMICS

The Panasonic Leica 9mm f1.7 could be a compact prime that’s easy to carry around. It weighs fair a third of a pound and is approximately two inches long.

ERGONOMICS

The visit of this lens is shorter than a visit of a New York City closet — the as it were control is the manual center ring. It doesn’t get any simpler than that. The front of the lens accepts 55mm screw-in filters.

Build QUALITY
 

Build QUALITY

I shot with this lens in light but solidifying rain, as well as a few snow. Panasonic’s claims for tidy, dampness and freeze-proof capabilities held up fair fine. I didn’t encounter any issues with the lens after working with it within the rain. I also didn’t spot any tidy on the sensor or interior the lens.

Whereas the little measure would make the 9mm a great candidate for a metal outside, the barrel is tragically plastic. It doesn’t feel terrible, but it doesn’t feel like a Leica either.

Focusing

Focusing

The Panasonic Leica 9mm f1.7 can focus amazingly near. The .3 foot center separate interprets to a .25x macro magnification. Twofold that for the 35mm equivalent and the lens may be a half macro. Blending the near centering capabilities with the perspective mutilation of a wide point lens can make a few fun comes about. Getting down to snowflake level detail is beautiful noteworthy for an 18mm identical lens.

The ultra-wide see that broadens the profundity of field moreover gives the lens an autofocus boost. Photographing a dog running straight to the lens, the autofocus dropped a number of outlines, but performed better than the long lenses that I’ve utilized on the G9 II.

I did have a number of dropped outlines in low light, but not at a level to be concerned about. In general, the autofocus bolted on to a majority of the shots that I took that were lit exclusively by Christmas lights and street lights.

EASE OF Utilize

EASE OF Utilize

The Panasonic Leica 9mm f1.7 may be a mount and shoot lens. It couldn’t truly be any simpler, as there are no controls exterior of the manual focus ring to mess with.

The lens, be that as it may, needs stabilization. That’s not a deal-breaker with the ultra-wide focal length and the capabilities of in-body frameworks. On the G9 II, I was indeed able to require a few fireworks photos handheld. Shots around half a moment hit that sweet spot with deliberateness movement obscure whereas keeping camera shake out of a majority of outlines.

Image QUALITY

Image QUALITY

The Panasonic Leica 9mm f1.7 is ultra-wide, ultra-bright goodness. The wide view mixed with the near centering capabilities and wide aperture can make for a few exceptionally fun shots. I knew precisely what I needed to shoot with an ultra-wide that had the G9 II’s stabilization and genuine to desires this lens delivered some lovely handheld shots of Christmas lights. But, pixel peep and you may rapidly come up with a list of loathes, like the delicateness towards the edges or bokeh balls that aren’t quite circular.

BOKEH

BOKEH

A 9mm isn’t ordinarily a bokeh machine. You’ll want to use that wide f1.7 aperture and get in near to the subject for soft foundations with this lens. Utilizing the half macro, the lens creates a few pleasantly delicate foundations.

BOKEH

Whereas troublesome to do with the ultra-wide see, obscured focuses of light gotten to be exquisite bokeh balls with delicate edges. Pixel peep at 100 percent though, and the bokeh balls aren’t very flawlessly adjusted — I seem check the number of gap edges without looking at the tech specs. Bokeh on the edges stretch more than at the center.

COLOR Rendition

COLOR Rendition

The Panasonic Leica 9mm f1.7 didn’t wash out any of the colors, keeping in tune with the color profiles I chosen. Christmas lights and fireworks on a rainy night were pleasant and vivid. I too didn’t spot any colored bordering amid the course of my review.

LENS CHARACTER
 

LENS CHARACTER

The Panasonic Leica 9mm f1.7 has the unmistakeable see of an ultra-wide lens — it makes no endeavors to bashful absent from the regular characterizing characteristics of such a lens. The edges are a bit gentler than the center and perspective distortion can be very emotional. But, once you blend that perspective distortion and edge delicateness with near centering and a wide f1.7 opening, it’s a beautiful combination.

When coordinated towards light, the lens makes a few pleasant delicate blossoms of light. There’s a bit of potential for lens flare here, and it’s exquisite. The lens inclines towards soft sprouts of light instead of sensational flare with ghosting spots. But, I might once in a while get a few little ghosting spots beside the soft, hazy flare.

SHARPNESS

SHARPNESS

I needed to touch the sharpness slider in post fair a small bit with this lens, especially with off-center subjects. Subjects within the center are sharp without being as well sharp. But the edges need the clarity of numerous advanced lenses. Still, fair a bit of flexing in post can still make a few beautiful comes about. But, if you need JPEGs that are sharp right up to the exceptionally edge, this ultra wide likely isn’t your stick.

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