Panasonic Announces LUMIX G 20 mm / F1.7 II ASPH – Fast Single Focal Length Digital Interchangeable Lens in Sophisticated Exterior Design
A newly designed 20 1.7 Lens from Panasonic is on the way! This lens is a legend in the Micro 4/3 world and the new version is set to hit very soon. I am a huge fan of the original 20 1.7. Check out this comparison I did quite a few years ago between this lens on a PEN and the Nikon D3s with a 50 1.8. Goes to show, it is all about the glass!
B&H ARE TAKING PRE-ORDERS NOW AT $399 WITH AN AUGUST SHIP DATE!
The Official Press Release:
Panasonic is pleased to announce the addition of a new single focal length lens LUMIX G 20 mm / F1.7 II ASPH. (H-H020A). Joining Panasonic’s well regarded family of digital interchangeable lenses of LUMIX G based on the Micro Four Thirds standard, this model features a newly designed metallic profile, and sleek, sophisticated design elegantly finished in black and silver. Maintaining the stunning performance of LUMIX G 20 mm / F1.7 ASPH., the new LUMIX G 20 mm / F1.7 II ASPH. is extremely compact and lightweight & its F1.7 brightness that enables beautiful soft focus on the background for the subject to stand out impressively.
Comprising seven lenses in five groups, the new lens system uses two aspherical lenses effectively to minimize both distortion and chromatic aberrations, achieving super high resolution from corner to corner. The versatile 20 mm focal distance (equivalent to 40 mm on a 35 mm film camera) is suitable for a wide variety of occasions from daily snapshots, to beautiful sceneries like sunsets, and dimly lit indoor shots taking advantage of its beautiful soft focus. The new lens supports Contrast AF system for high precision auto focusing.
Seven blades give the aperture a rounded shape that produces an attractively smooth effect in out-of-focus areas when shooting at larger aperture settings. The new LUMIX G 20 mm / F1.7 II ASPH. lens also features a highly reliable metal mount, and uses multi-coated lens elements that minimize ghosts and flare to further enhance its optical performance. The new addition will be available from 29th July 2013.
The old model is pretty impressive already, can’t wait to see what improvements they have in store for this baby!
I am not a 3/4 user. I known Leica behind some of Panasonic lens. Where do these other lens come from? Electronic makers like Sony, bought out Minolta, so they must use Minolta for disigns and manufacturing.
I don’t mean to be a wet blanket but based on the press release and available information, there appears to be little that’s new here, optically or electronically. The casing is different and now, the all-important “black or silver?” question can be tackled by shoppers.
I’d hope they’ve at least addressed focusing noise (to support video) and whatever interference the existing 20 is creating to cause high-iso banding, notably on the E-M5.
Regardless of those niggles, I like my 20 and am unlikely to trade up unless the new edition offers a compelling improvement. It’s a sweet little lens.
Cheers,
Rick
Totally agree with you!!
Cool!
You do look a lot happier today than you did in your mirror self portrait back then, when reviewing the 50 1.8.
Thanks for a great site 🙂
They are not telling us what we all want to know, fast AF and fixed front element, or at least fixed filter thread so I don’t keep thinking the lens hood is about to destroy the lens.
… Of course, I just bought the old model like a month ago … *sigh*
Better af? That’s the only improvement the original needs
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