Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 9mm F1.7 ASPH Assessment

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Introduction

The Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 9mm F1.7 ASPH (H-X09) is a quick ultra-wide-angle prime lens for Micro 4 Thirds system mirrorless cameras.

The Panasonic 9mm supplies a focal size which precisely matches that of an 18mm optic in a 35mm full-frame system, making it a really wide-angle prime lens that is appropriate for landscapes, cityscapes, and close-up scenes.

It has an optical components comprised of 12 lens components in 9 teams together with two aspherical lenses, two ED (Additional-Low Dispersion) lenses and one UHR (Extremely Excessive Refractive Index) lens to attenuate aberrations and guarantee excellent decision.

Key options embody a mud, splash, and freeze-resistant design that may stand up to harsh circumstances even at -10 levels Celsius, a minimal focusing distance of 9.5cm and most magnification of 0.25x, and an iris diaphragm with seven rounded blades.

The Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 9mm F1.7 ASPH lens is accessible in black solely priced at £449 / $499 within the UK and the US, respectively. This lens is manufactured in China.

Ease of Use

The Panasonic Leica 9mm F1.7 is extremely gentle, weighing a mere 130g / 4.6oz. It measures 60.8 x 52 mm / 2.4 x 2″ and has a smart 55mm filter measurement.

By way of this len’s principal rivals, there’s the Panasonic LUMIX G VARIO 7-14mm F4.0 ASPH zoom and Panasonic LUMIX G FISHEYE 8mm F3.5 prime, each of which at the moment are 12 years outdated.

From Olympus, there are the Olympus M.ZUIKO Digital ED 7-14mm f/2.8 PRO, Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 8-25mm F4.0 Professional and Olympus M.ZUIKO Digital ED 9-18mm f/4-5.6 zooms, plus the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 8mm f/1.8 Fish eye Professional to think about.

Except for the Olympus fish eye prime, none of them can match the quick most aperture or low weight and small measurement of the Panasonic Leia DG Summit 9mm F1.7 ASPH.

This tiny newcomer to the Panasonic lens vary nonetheless really feel well-balanced on the newest Lu combine GH6 digicam that we examined it with, which is likely one of the bigger Micro 4 Thirds our bodies presently accessible.

Collectively they kind a well-balanced and light-weight package deal with the lens matching the physique by way of its construct high quality.

Climate-resistance has been built-in to the 9mm F1.7 lens to assist shield it towards water and mud and permit it to totally function in temperatures all the way down to -10°C (14°F).

Regardless of its low weight and price ticket, the Panasonic 9mm lens nonetheless boasts a metallic relatively than plastic mount. The focusing ring, lens barrel and non-rotating 55mm filter threads are all product of composite plastic.

The Leia 9mm F1.7 has a clean guide focusing ring that’s focus-by-wire, relatively than utilizing a mechanical clutch-based focus ring, however that is additionally true of a lot of different MFT lenses.

The main focus ring is clean in motion with out being unfastened, though it has no “exhausting stops” at both finish of the main focus vary, making it harder to concentrate on infinity.

The Panasonic Leia DG Summit 9mm F1.7 ASPH lens has an inside focusing (IF) system that makes use of a linear motor, which ends up in quick, correct, and just about silent auto-focusing on the GH6 digicam that we examined it with.

Because of the IF mechanism the entrance of the lens doesn’t rotate on focus, which is superb information for anybody wanting to make use of the lens along side a polarizer or graduated impartial density filter.

Aside from the focusing ring, this lens has no exterior controls in any respect, maybe reflecting the truth that it will likely be generally used remotely on a gimbals or drone.

By way of equipment, the Panasonic Leia DG Summit 9mm F1.7 ASPH ships with customary lens and mount caps plus a really slim plastic petal-shaped lens hood which locks into place. There isn’t any bag or case included with this lens.

Focal Vary

The 9mm focal size supplies an angle of view of 100 levels.

Chromatic Aberrations

Chromatic aberrations, sometimes seen as purple or blue fringes alongside distinction edges, aren’t an excessive amount of an issue with the Panasonic Leia DG Summit 9mm F1.7 ASPH lens, besides in areas of very excessive distinction.

Vignetting

With the lens set to its most aperture of f/1.7, there’s some apparent gentle fall-off within the corners, requiring you to cease down by a minimum of 3 f-stops to fully stop it.

Distortion

The Panasonic Leia DG Summit 9mm F1.7 ASPH displays little or no barrel distortion, as you may see within the picture of a brick wall beneath.

Solar stars and Flare

The Panasonic Leia DG Summit 9mm F1.7 ASPH is able to producing very good solar stars when stopped-down to f/16 and flare is properly managed even when capturing straight into the solar, as you may see within the following pictures.

Macro

The Panasonic Leia DG Summit 9mm F1.7 ASPH doubles up as a helpful macro lens, providing an extremely shut focus level of 9.5cm / 3.72in from the sensor aircraft and a most magnification of 0.25x (0.5x in 35mm phrases).

Hoboken

Hoboken is a phrase used for the out-of-focus areas of {a photograph}, and is normally described in qualitative phrases, equivalent to clean / creamy / harsh and so forth.

Panasonic have paid shut consideration to this side of lens use, using a 7-segment diaphragm with rounded blades for extra pleasing bokeh.

In our view, their efforts have been fairly profitable for a wide-angle prime lens – see the examples beneath to evaluate for your self