Both from 43rumors above and via a source of my own, it seems there are two new X type zooms coming from Panasonic next year. These are the previously rumoured 12-35mm f/2.8 and 35-100mm f/2.8 lenses. Both with f/2.8 throughout.
With the X design, these should be around the size of the current 14-42mm and 45-200mm lenses. So pretty small and light for what they are, which is m4/3 versions of the 24-70mm f/2.8 and 70-200mm f/2.8 35mm / FF lenses which have been regarded as the "workhorses" of "pro" photographers for some time now. These are the particular favourites of many wedding and event photographers.
In many ways, they seem a strange choice for Panasonic. I wouldn't have thought that they add any particular benefits to the system. Particularly with the release of the three fast primes this year. The 12mm f/2 , 25mm f/1.4 and 45mm f/1.8 all give faster, high quality options, and strike me as much more useful for the situations for which these zooms are intended. My own thoughts on zooms like 24-70mm f/2.8, have always struck me as not wide enough, not long enough and not fast enough. When I was shooting weddings, I never used one of these, for either my Canon or Nikon DSLR's, and preferred to use fast primes instead.
Whether Panasonic think that this gives their m4/3 lens range a certain "pro" gravitas, who knows, but I certainly haven't seen a great clamour for lenses like this to be released.
Having said that, for what I do, they could in fact be very useful. 12mm at f2.8 still gives bags of depth of field, and could be very useful for low light location shooting. Plus it would be nice to have a telephoto zoom that doesn't always end up at f/5.6 or f/6.3 at the long end. True a 200mm equivalent isn't that long, but I can see lots of uses for that 2-stop advantage, particularly if the lenses turn in a decent performance wide open.
Whether I'm still using m4/3 when they get released is something I can't really be sure of at the moment, but if I am then I will probably give these a try.
Actually, photo says 12-35mm (so its 24-70mm equiv.). Thing is, that DOF of 12-35mm f2.8 will be similar to DOF of 24-70mm f5.6 (tho in reality it will be slightly better probably, something around 4-4,5). There is reason why Olympus made their pro zooms f2. Panasonic should too, if they really wanted to make "pro" lens. Actually they probably should do f1.8 (f1.7 looks nice) to be able to compete.
ReplyDeleteSure it wouldnt be cheap, but then its supposed to be "pro" lens, it can be expensive. They could ask Leica to do something for them, given Leica 14-50 or 14-150 zooms for 4/3, Im sure Leica is more than capable of doing pretty much anything for m4/3s.
I think that instead of buying those two zooms, it would be better for customers to get Olympus 12mm f2 and just 35-100mm f2.8 Panasonic zoom (maybe throw 25mm f1.4 Leica as standart "normal" lens). And one is ready for pretty much everything.
Still, Im slightly disappointed with Olympus and Panasonic. I expected E-5 build camera, just mirrorless and bunch off "pro" lens for that..
Yes sorry, I should have been more awake. It is a 12-35mm f/2.8. I've altered the post.
ReplyDeleteI think Panasonic is too wary of competing with the big boys directly, and prefers to offer a niche product after their 4/3 failures. Thus far, they have been mighty conservative with their offerings.
ReplyDeleteI'd really like a 12-35/2.8. I read about people wanting 2.0, but that is just insane for a system like m43. I bet no-one calling out for the 2.0 would actually buy one were it available. If they make a 14-35/2.8 I won't buy it though. I want the 12 (or 24 in FF) in it as that is where wide angle starts. BTW I also have the 7-14/4 and love ultra wide angle.
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