PR
The new 12mm wide-angle lens enables photographers to capture beautiful group, event, and nature photography. It also allows indoor shooting in low lighting and produces an impressive, natural defocusing effect with its F1.4 aperture. In addition, the LEICA DG SUMMILUX 12mm/F1.4 ASPH. boasts a rugged, splash/dust-proof design (when combined with splash and dustproof LUMIX G Mirrorless camera models) to meet the needs of a wide-range of photographic situations.
Integrating two aspherical lenses, two UED (Ultra Extra-Low Dispersion) lenses and an ED (Extra-Low Dispersion) lens, the lens system is comprised of 15 elements in 12 groups. The adoption of five special lenses makes it possible to meet the stringent LEICA standard for exceptional image quality with high resolution and minimum distortion. In general, flare is commonly seen around the periphery of a point source with many high-speed lenses when a large aperture is employed. However, the new LEICA DG SUMMILUX 12mm/F1.4 ASPH. achieves high resolution from the center of the image to the corners by suppressing this flare. Users can take advantage of this lens to shoot a brilliant night skies or night scenes containing illumination to capture true-to-life images with minimal blurring and distortion at the edges. The multi-coated lens elements also minimize ghosting and flaring.
Incorporating an inner focus drive system and a stepping motor, the new LEICA DG SUMMILUX 12mm/F1.4 ASPH. is capable of smooth, silent operation together with the camera’s high-speed, high-precision contrast AF system for both photo and video recording. It is also compatible with the sensor drive at a maximum of 240 fps to take full advantage of cameras with high-speed AF. This stunning AF performance is excellent for recording 4K videos, where precise focusing is essential.
The LEICA DG SUMMILUX 12mm/F1.4 ASPH. comes with an aperture ring for direct, intuitive aperture control. Nine blades give the aperture a rounded shape that produces an attractively smooth effect in out-of-focus areas when shooting at larger aperture settings. A highly reliable metal mount assures durability for repeated use. The lens mount, the barrel and the hood are all made of metal to provide a sleek, sophisticated design that matches the entire line-up of LUMIX G Digital Single Lens Mirrorless (DSLM) cameras.
Panasonic LUMIX G Leica DG SUMMILUX Lens, 12mm, F1.4 ASPH, $997 deal
https://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-SUMMILUX-Professional-Mirrorless-H-X012/dp/B01H1MNW68/
At F4, it's the same as the Olly, just bigger, heavier, and more expensive. And who would shoot a 12mm wide open? But I would not mind using one if it came with a sherpa.
Summilux delivered sharp results into the corners even with the aperture wide-open. The optical and build quality are a step-up from the Olympus 12mm f2, but equally it's comfortably larger, heavier and a lot more expensive too.
http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Panasonic_Leica_DG_Summilux_12mm_f1-4_H-X012/
Another review
I don't like the bokeh--it's edgy, especially on parts of the background that have some detail. Look at the upper left corner of the photo, it's edgy, it's not still, it's turbulent. Even an old minolta lens has better bokeh. One of the reasons is that the lens is hyperfocal, of course.
If you are buying this lens, you aren't buying it for the bokeh anyway, there are many better choices for DOF.
@apefos et al.
It's quite common to see wildly varying measurements in reviews (look at the Sigma 60mm, it's insane). It's hard to say exactly why this is, but here's what we know:
This Panasonic lens provides excellent sharpness. Even when used wide open at ƒ/1.4 it is top notch. At open aperture it has only very slightly soft corners in the top left and right (showing perhaps a trace of de-centering in this sample) but otherwise excellent sharpness throughout the main region of the image.
http://www.imaging-resource.com/lenses/panasonic/12mm-f1.4-asph-leica-dg-summilux/review/
What you mean exactly?
As it is different reviews, different measurement methods and even lenses can vary.
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