Panasonic Lumix 20mm f/1.7 Aspheric G- Series Lens
The Panasonic Lumix 20mm f/1.7 Aspheric G-Series Lens, a Micro Four Thirds system large-diameter wide-angle f/1.7 20mm (40mm in 35mm camera equivalent) manual focus pancake-style lens. The lens operates a unique manual focus system which drives the focusing group indirectly via the lens's autofocus motor. The feel of the manual focus ring remains the same whether the camera is set to auto or manual focus which can be problematic in some shooting scenarios. The advantage is that turning the manual focus ring quickly makes very fast initial adjustments, but then turning it slowly allows very fine focusing.
This lens produces bright photos with a dramatic soft focus even in dimly lit locations. Its compact, easy-to-carry size is also ideal for capturing everyday scenes and snapshots.
Go To
| Performance | |
|---|---|
| Focal Length |
20 mm Comparable Four Thirds and Micro 4/3 Focal Length: 40 mm |
| Aperture |
Maximum: f/1.7 Minimum: f/16 |
| Camera Mount Type | Micro Four Thirds |
| Format Compatibility | Micro Four Thirds |
| Angle of View | 57° |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 7.92" (20 cm) |
| Magnification | 0.13x |
| Maximum Reproduction Ratio | 1:7.69 |
| Groups/Elements | 5/7 |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 |
| Features | |
|---|---|
| Image Stabilization | No |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Tripod Collar | No |
| Physical | |
|---|---|
| Filter Thread | 46 mm |
| Dimensions (DxL) | Approx. 2.48 x 1.81" (6.30 x 4.60 cm) |
| Weight | 3.5 oz (99 g) |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 417 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
99%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Lightweight (352)
- Fast / accurate auto-focus (233)
- Consistent output (226)
- Nice bokeh (217)
- Easily interchangeable (214)
Cons
- Slow focus (46)
- Pricey / poor value (10)
- Tough to attach (10)
- Weak casing (6)
- Expensive but unmatched (4)
Best Uses
- Low light (343)
- Night photography (225)
- Landscape/scenery (202)
- Weddings (104)
- Video (96)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Photo enthusiast (215), Casual photographer (78), Semi-pro photographer (74), Pro photographer (28)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (338), Yes (8)
Most Liked Positive Review
Excellent in low light, perfect for GF1
This lens goes perfectly with my Panasonic GF1. At 20mm (40mm equivalent), it is many times faster than my Panasonic 14-45mm micro 4/3 lens at the same focal length and yet ...Read complete review
This lens goes perfectly with my Panasonic GF1. At 20mm (40mm equivalent), it is many times faster than my Panasonic 14-45mm micro 4/3 lens at the same focal length and yet still wide enough to be useful for everyday photos. It weighs about the same as the other lens (less than one pound), despite being so compact.
This lens is so much faster than the 14-45mm that you will be able to shoot at ISO 100 what would take ISO 800 or higher with the 14-45mm. It's an excellent lens for indoor lighting and low-light conditions.
The only downsides I have encountered are slight vignetting and slight coma at maximum aperture. Above f/2.0 these minor issues are diminished. Not a big deal.
Note also that the auto focus mechanism makes some noise, which may be audible when taking video with sound. This has not been a problem for me, but YMMV. Manual focusing is an option.
Since Panasonic's other micro 4/3 lenses take 52mm filters, I use a B+W 46mm to 52mm (lens to filter) step-up ring to make this one compatible (you will need to add a 52mm lens cap, of course). I recently switched to B+W filters for the build quality (brass rings!) and the exceptional lens coatings which eliminate flare and are easy to clean.
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
Compact and reasonable quality
There aren't too many options for fast primes for micro 4/3rds. This is a nice little compact and lightweight 40mm equivalent that performs similarly to most of the cheap 50mm f/1.8 primes out...Read complete review
There aren't too many options for fast primes for micro 4/3rds. This is a nice little compact and lightweight 40mm equivalent that performs similarly to most of the cheap 50mm f/1.8 primes out there at substantially higher cost. On my G2 it tells me to switch out of AF-C into AF-S focus mode when I put it on the camera. The lack of ability to allow continuous focus at shallow DOF makes it much more difficult to get the focus right and thus makes the wide open shooting less effective. However, the quality of the image is reasonably good provided you can get the critical focus at the right point.
The lens is difficult to mount and unmount since it's so short and Panasonic did not give any kind of grippy thing on the barrel to assist with twisting it on. Consequently my fingers slip and I find it more difficult to put on or remove than any lens I've ever owned.
Another, surprising thing for me is that this is the only Lumix lens I've bought thus far that doesn't come with a lens hood. I imagine that's to keep it looking as tiny as possible and because the lens isn't physically long enough to flip the hood around for storage. I imagine the lack of a hood will lead to reduced contrast and a higher level of flare when shooting in heavily side lit situations.
If you have a need for a fast prime in the bag then this is really the only current option. Optically it is superior to the kit lens (14-42) but no where near the Lumix 7-14 or Leica 45 macro.
When another fast prime becomes available I will probably consider it and swap this one out. It does fill a need but doesn't stand out to me in any way other than its diminutive size.
Reviewed by 417 customers
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Pros
- Fast / accurate auto-focus
- Lightweight
- Nice Bokeh
- Strong Construction
Cons
Best Uses
- Indoors/Low Light
- Night Photography
- Weddings/Events
Comments about Panasonic Lumix 20mm f/1.7 Aspheric G- Series Lens:
I shoot natural/available light often. This lens is my favorite go-to tool for capturing low light subjects. It is a wonderful portrait lens; fast, accurate focusing, just the right size. Truly a joy to use!
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Durable
- Easily Interchangeable
- Fast / accurate auto-focus
- Lightweight
- Nice Bokeh
- Rugged
- Strong Construction
Cons
Best Uses
- Indoors/Low Light
- Landscape/Scenery
- Night Photography
Comments about Panasonic Lumix 20mm f/1.7 Aspheric G- Series Lens:
Much better lens then I thought it would be. Sherp and contrasty
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Lightweight
Cons
- Slow Focus
Best Uses
- Indoors/Low Light
- Landscape/Scenery
- Night Photography
Comments about Panasonic Lumix 20mm f/1.7 Aspheric G- Series Lens:
Light and sharp.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easily Interchangeable
- Fast / accurate auto-focus
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
- Indoors/Low Light
- Video
Comments about Panasonic Lumix 20mm f/1.7 Aspheric G- Series Lens:
I'm using this lens with a GH2.
I've had the lens for about a week now and have taken 100 or so pictures and shot some video (100mbps). Awesome lens.
-Very small
-Very light
-VERY fast
-Very sharp
-Very nice video
-Auto focus is a little noisy/loud
-Wasn't free ^^
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
- Indoors/Low Light
- Landscape/Scenery
- Night Photography
Comments about Panasonic Lumix 20mm f/1.7 Aspheric G- Series Lens:
I have the 14-45 which I like, but I wanted something small enough to go in a roomy pocket and that I can operate with one hand. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a prime in the this focal length. It is sharp and the colors great.
I wish it had VR, a lens hood and a 52mm size. I'd love to share filters with the 14-45.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Easily Interchangeable
- Fast / accurate auto-focus
- Lightweight
Cons
- 46mm filter thread
Best Uses
- Indoors/Low Light
- Landscape/Scenery
- Travel
Comments about Panasonic Lumix 20mm f/1.7 Aspheric G- Series Lens:
This lens turned out to be a lot better than I expected. It seems to be one of those lenses that owners rave about but reviewers pick apart based on things like corner softness. Well, I am pretty picky and I have nothing to complain about! It's sharp, fast and very small. The corner "softness" is a non-issue IMO as it's better in this respect than most standard zooms. I'm using it on a G2 so maybe a newer 16MP body would show some weaknesses. However, the combination of image quality and compactness is hard to beat. AF speed is fast and quiet and of course as with all CDAF systems, bang-on for accuracy.
One thing I am not a fan of is the 46m filter thread size, and the lens cap is rather fiddly and easy to drop. So I got a step-up ring to allow using 52mm filters and chunky Nikon or Tamron lens caps. This makes it somewhat less slim overall but on a G2 the difference is not a big deal. I haven't owned it long enough to comment on durability and ruggedness but the build quality does seem very nice and "tight".
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easily Interchangeable
- Lightweight
- Nice Bokeh
- Strong Construction
Cons
- Slow Focus
Best Uses
- Indoors/Low Light
- Landscape/Scenery
- Night Photography
Comments about Panasonic Lumix 20mm f/1.7 Aspheric G- Series Lens:
I've had this lens for several weeks, and it's quickly becoming a favorite. The size and feel is wonderful, and the field of view is very versatile and comfortable. Focuses relatively, but focus speed is not great, at least not on my E-M5 body. Usable, but not fast. A bit expensive for what it is, but still, an optically excellent, well built lens. Here's hoping Panasonic releases an updated version.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
- Recommended:
- B+W 46mm collapsing rubber hood, B+W haze filter
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Lightweight
- Low distortion
- Low Light
- Nice Bokeh
Cons
- Slow Focus
Best Uses
- Indoors/Low Light
- Landscape/Scenery
Comments about Panasonic Lumix 20mm f/1.7 Aspheric G- Series Lens:
I have a Lumix G3 with previously an Olympus 45 f1.8 mounted for daily shoot which is quite small and lightweighted. BUT, this pancake beats the 45/1.8 on both the size and weight. Really amazing.
For optical part, this lens provides very high resolution on the center of a image with F1.7 to F8 on my G3. The distortion is almost negligible. And the aperture of f1.7 makes it possible to take pictures with higher shutter speed in a relatively dark environment without flash (important for me to take pictures for my baby). Bokeh is also very nice of this lens.
And for construction part, I have to say Olympus looks and touches better. Anyway, this one is still good: metal/strong mount, well-designed lens cover, smooth ring, etc
If I have to say one weakness of this lens, it would be the speed of the auto-focus. I think it's acceptable, but if it can be faster, I would love it more.
In a word, it matches my G3 perfectly. Exellent optical performance within such small size. I'll use it for my daily shoot. Strongly recommended.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Durable
- Easily Interchangeable
- Fast / accurate auto-focus
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
- Indoors/Low Light
- Landscape/Scenery
Comments about Panasonic Lumix 20mm f/1.7 Aspheric G- Series Lens:
This lens performs great in low light conditions and as a general high quality all around utility lens.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easily Interchangeable
- Fast / accurate auto-focus
- Nice Bokeh
Cons
- Susceptible to reflection
Best Uses
- Indoors/Low Light
Comments about Panasonic Lumix 20mm f/1.7 Aspheric G- Series Lens:
I bought it here at BHPhoto because they had the best price and as a bonus, they ship to Candada. Hassle free.
The lens is very sharp and pairs well with my Lumix GF-2. The combination is very portable but not really pocketable.
Optically, it is a very good lens, though I notice that it seems to be susceptible for internal reflections and flare. Sometimes unavoidable (for example when shooting at a scene with specular lights).
As with most autofocus M43 lenses, the focusing is very fast, thought not as fast as the Panasonic 14mm f2.5 in most conditions except in low light.
Overall a great lens with some limitations.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Lightweight
Cons
- Awkward focus
Best Uses
Comments about Panasonic Lumix 20mm f/1.7 Aspheric G- Series Lens:
I'm using this lens with an AF100. The camera looks absurd with this lens, but it absolutely delivers in low light, with a lovely shallow depth of field. It's also surprisingly sharp, even wide open.
Because the lens is so short, it is a little awkward to focus, particularly if you're used to following a moving subject around. Also be aware, and this isn't unique to this lens, that in bright sun on the AF100, you can't go much lower than f/2.8 with the build in ND filters without blowing out the exposure.
Overall, it's a lot of bang for the buck, and an excellent lens to have in the case with your AF100.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Fast / accurate auto-focus
- Lightweight
- Nice Bokeh
Cons
Best Uses
- Indoors/Low Light
- Landscape/Scenery
- Night Photography
Comments about Panasonic Lumix 20mm f/1.7 Aspheric G- Series Lens:
I use this lens on my E-pl3 and it makes for a very small kit with fantastic IQ. I think this lens is the must have standard prime all M4/3 users must have. As always it was great working with B&H.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Durable
- Easily Interchangeable
- Fast / accurate auto-focus
- Lightweight
- Nice Bokeh
- Rugged
- Strong Construction
Cons
Best Uses
- Indoors/Low Light
- Landscape/Scenery
- Night Photography
- Sports/Action
- Video
- Weddings/Events
- Wildlife Photos
Comments about Panasonic Lumix 20mm f/1.7 Aspheric G- Series Lens:
Great, especially for indoor pictures in low light. Allows clean, crisp indoor photos without a flash. Can't beat for the price.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easily Interchangeable
- Fast / accurate auto-focus
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
- Indoors/Low Light
- Landscape/Scenery
- Macro Photography
- Night Photography
Comments about Panasonic Lumix 20mm f/1.7 Aspheric G- Series Lens:
Must have lens in m4/3 system!
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Fast / accurate auto-focus
- Lightweight
- Nice Bokeh
- Rugged
- Strong Construction
Cons
Best Uses
- Indoors/Low Light
- Landscape/Scenery
- Night Photography
- Video
Comments about Panasonic Lumix 20mm f/1.7 Aspheric G- Series Lens:
First of all, amazing size and build quality. Sharp even wide open, with a slight edge upon stopping down just 1/3 of a stop. Makes my G3 look like a rangefinder size and practicity. I can shoot everywhere and nobody will notice. A bit on the pricey side, but, you are buying premium stuff.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easily Interchangeable
- Fast / accurate auto-focus
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
- Landscape/Scenery
- Macro Photography
Comments about Panasonic Lumix 20mm f/1.7 Aspheric G- Series Lens:
this wonderful little lense is so easy to create shallow depth of view. i use it on my lumix gf-2; before this lense, i had to take pictures with manual setting to get true colors, but with this 20mm lense, even the iA setting can give me pleasant colors. i am very happy with my purchase.
Pros
- Fast / accurate auto-focus
- Lightweight
- Nice Bokeh
Cons
Best Uses
- Indoors/Low Light
- Landscape/Scenery
- Night Photography
Comments about Panasonic Lumix 20mm f/1.7 Aspheric G- Series Lens:
After reading all the great things about this lens from people on the Mu-43.com forum, I knew I wanted one for my GF1. Took it on a walk-about shoot on Sunday at the park, and I'm impressed with the results. Great bokeh on wide open up-close shots, good lens for landscapes, sharp across the board. And would you believe, B&H's retail NEW price is better than any online auctions or Buy It Now prices.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
- Indoors/Low Light
Comments about Panasonic Lumix 20mm f/1.7 Aspheric G- Series Lens:
Cant expect much more from this lens, especially at this price! Very enjoyable to shoot with. Works well on my Olympus ep-3 too!
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Durable
- Easily Interchangeable
- Lightweight
- Nice Bokeh
- Strong Construction
Cons
- Slow Focus
Best Uses
- Landscape/Scenery
- Night Photography
- Sports/Action
Comments about Panasonic Lumix 20mm f/1.7 Aspheric G- Series Lens:
A recent Micro 4/3rds convert, I found it annoying that there wasn't a GX1 kit option w/ the 20mm pancake - just the 14-42mm (Non-Power X version - which, has its own merits).
After playing with a colleagues 20mm, I thought I'd give it a go, even though initially I was unimpressed with how fast the AF was (in comparison to the 14-42, and one of the main reasons I bought the GX-1).
But... great lens. Extremely versatile, light, and makes my GX-1 instantly more portable than with the 14-42mm. This might just be perception, but I feel that the 20mm has faster AF than the version my colleague has, which he got with his GF-1. From casually browsing some forums, there has been talk that silent changes were made to the 20mm, which made them faster, but that's hearsay. Either way, I'm happy!
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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Manhattan @ Night
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What's in the Box
- Lens Cap
- Rear Lens Cap
- Lens Storage Bag
- 1-Year Manufacturer's Limited Warranty
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