Lumix G Vario 7-14mm f4.0 Micro Four Thirds Ultra Wideangle Lens

In comparison with some of the other Micro Four-Thirds lenses on the market [well, most of them], this Ultra-Wide Angle [UWA] from Panasonic shares the expensive end of the spectrum, in company with the likes of the Voigtlander 25mm f0.95. Can in stand the comparison? Well yes, it can. Simple to use, well balanced in terms of weight, this lens is something of a delight. It's 7-14mm range yields 14-28mm in 35mm equivalent focal lengths, but is surprisingly accommodating... Try it with architecture and use the image-distorting power of the optics to artistic effect, or venture outdoors for a wide sky or dramatic landscape. Either way, this lens will not disappoint. An offering of f4.0 throughout the range makes this it relatively fast for this class of lens, but in practice you will find it works best stopped down a bit further, since you need a little more depth of field to get the best results from the superbly wide and wacky focal lengths. Obviously you're going to get image distortion [it's what you're paying for], but you will also find impressive edge-to-edge sharpness, great tonal and contrast, along with crisp, clear colour reproduction. My previous foray into such optics came courtesy of a Sigma 12-24mm Canon-mount lens for my digital SLR, and it's fair to say that the Panasonic trounces it in every respect: size, weight, optical quality, auto-focus precision, speed of use, the works. I've yet to give mine the workout it deserves, but am already looking forward to a hiking trip to the Sierra Nevada range, with a GX1, a tripod and this little masterpiece... If you enjoy your photography and are looking for something that will challenge you to find new angles, new perspectives, new ways of looking at your subject, then this lens will not disappoint. There is only one point to be careful of - the primary lens element has such an intense outer curve that you won't find a traditional filter for it - so keep a close eye out for dust, dirt and contamination. But, if you've not experienced ultra-wide angle before, give it a go... You won't regret it.

Although on the large side of many of the lenses in the micro four thirds system, this fantastic lens offers a new 'angle' on photography to almost anyone moving to it. In the words of another reviewer, this is the lens that I switched to micro four thirds for (from Nikon). The build quality and autofocus are great - the lens isn't light but has a good solid feel and the zoom ring is well balanced. On my GH2 it is a perfect size but I don't think it would be completely out of place on the (much smaller) GF1/2 or the Olympus PENs. It takes some getting used to in order to make the most of the lens' uniquely wide capabilities - I was genuinely astonished at just 'how' wide it is. However, be prepared to experiment, and/or look around for some other work done with it and similar UWA (Ultra Wide Angle) lenses, and you'll very rapidly get some great shots. The maximum aperture of f/4 might seem un-ideal for such a pricey lens but is more than sufficient over this wide an image to get sufficiently shallow depth of field - in any event it's probably not something you'll be aiming for in most UWA pictures. Some have suggested that image stabilisation would have been ideal, but with such a wide field of view I don't see it helping significantly - for the vast majority of uses blurring will never become apparent and hence it's better to keep the weight and complexity down. All in all, a fantastic lens and, despite its price, worth every penny of it.

This is the lens I bought a Micro Four Thirds camera for. I already have equivalent lenses for my Nikon D3 and Oly E3 systems, but they are huge, and this is tiny (because it can extend backwards into where the mirror box would be on a normal SLR). The quality is good, though not quite as good as the other two, and the only winge is that it ought to be not only smaller but also cheaper to make. Panasonic must be making a packet on this one. Still, if you need a really compact camera system with an ultra wide field of view (and I do), here's the lens. I love it!

lovely light little lens, wider and with less vignetting than my canon 16-35 of my full frame canon 5dmark2, only bummer is that filters cant go on the front but in terms of optical performance, focus speed and build quality, all top notch. i am able to use it Professionally for property photography, video example here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iNAPVLfmg8 3 things to make a future one better, 1)an f/2.8 would be nice to be that much brighter, 2)vibration reduction would be also good as a lot of the shots i am shooting at f/4 in dark properties requires me to go all the way down to 1/25th of a second. 3) a flat front to easily attach filters both circular polarisers and nd grad filters

I give this lens the highest rating because it performs brilliantly. Images are bitingly sharp across the aperture range and across the zoom range. It handles high contrast subjects very well and build quality is excellent. I have used it for over a week in difficult conditions. Just be sure at the widest setting you examine your view finder for objects like your finger or foot aren't in the frame Yes it is expensive, but for those who like the compact micro four thirds system would not be disappointed with this lens. One very minor thing, the carry pouch could be more substantial for a lens of this price.

The people at Amazon who put the headings for some equipment like autofocus that is actually the camera not the lens image stabilising which is done in the body and not the lens this is a nice lens and it does very clean pictures

Un'ottima lente per chi ama i grandangoli wide. Colori stupendi, ottima definizione anche ai bordi, leggero e maneggevole, AF rapidissimo. Difficile trovare difetti, forse l'impossibilità di montare filtri, ma su un grandangolo così servono a poco, ed il prezzo un pochino alto ma vale i soldi che costa. consigliatissimo.

Die Bildqualität ist hervorragend bis in die Ränder. Eine Vignetierung am Rand habe ich noch nicht gesehen.. Die Verarbeitung scheint auch sehr gut. Ein sehr großer Vorteil ist das geringe Gewicht und die kleine Baulänge wenn man es auf Reisen mitnimmt.Sonnenblende und ein Objektivschutz, der schnell über die Sonnenblende geschoben werden kann ist ein Pluspunkt. Bislang habe ich das Objektiv für Architekturaufnahmen außen und innen verwendet, wo dieser Bildwinkel erforderlich ist. Wie bei der Brennweite zu erwarten wirkt das Bild ggf. unnatürlich verkleinert, genauso ist natürlich eine Verzerrung extrem,. Wenn man das Objetiv genau gerade ausrichtet ist sie jedoch nicht vorhanden. Ein Fisheyeffekt entsteht jedoch nicht. Das Objektiv ist zusammenfassend sehr gut wenn man sich über die Grenzen aber auch die Möglichkeiten klar ist.

Bon prix pour ce grand angle présentant une belle ouverture constante.

prodotto di alta qualità conforme alle aspettative.completezza degli accessori e prezzo ragionevole. Piena soddisfazione anche per gli accessori l'imballo e la consegna

Habe das Objektiv schon einen Tag nach der Bestellung erhalten. Das Gerät kam perfekt verpackt an. Alles vollständig. Es liegt keine Rechnung dabei, aber ich habe in meinem ganzen Leben noch keines meiner Objektive zurückgeben müssen. Der Preis ist unschlagbar ( sorry lieber Handel in der Nähe - ihr wolltet ja nicht über den Preis verhandeln !) . Das Objektiv eröffnet für mich neue Welten, da ich bislang nur Geräte ab 28 mm hatte. Der Objektivdeckel wird nur aufgesteckt, aber das gefüllt mir gut, solange er so fest sitzt wie jetzt gerade. Die Bildqualität ist sehr gut. Sicher gibt es noch empfindlichere Objektive (F 2.8) , aber ich konnte am Abend selbst im Wohnzimmer mit "rundum Blick" ohne Blitzlicht mein erstes Photo schiessen. Hier meldete sich also ein bislang äußerst zufriedener Kunde.