@DrDave You might be waiting a while ;)
Waiting for price to go under $400.
Optically, this lens rates among the best performers available for M4/3 cameras. For photographers who really need this performance level from a very fast lens that provides excellent depth-of-field control the asking price would probably justify the investment.
Interview with engineers (in Japanese)
http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/interview/20140224_633945.html
It is AF ultrasharp lens with AF. So, I think that owners of manual lens + SB are quite different.
I wonder how this would stack up against a good 58mm lens, like the Voigtlander f/1.4 for Nikon, with a Speedbooster (41mm equiv)? With that setup you'd get shallower DOF, and gain a half stop of brightness. It would also be a more affordable solution - even if you have to buy a Speedbooster with it, you're only looking at $900, instead of $1300. Of course you'd lose OIS, but you'd have a lens that will work on larger sensors if you ever change to FX or DX.
Sharpness in the centre of the frame is already excellent at maximum aperture, with clarity being very good towards the edges of the frame. Stopping down to between f/4 and f/8 produces peak performance across the frame. Here sharpness is outstanding from edge to edge.
http://www.ephotozine.com/article/panasonic-leica-dg-nocticron-42-5mm-f-1-2-asph--lens-review-23872
Centre sharpness is more than acceptable wide open at f/1.2, and simply outstanding from f/2-f/11, with diffraction adversely affecting f/16. Edge sharpness is impressively almost as good, with the best results obtained from f/2.8-f/8.
Chromatic aberrations, typically seen as purple or blue fringes along contrasty edges, are only conspicuous by their almost complete absence.
http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/panasonic_leica_dg_nocticron_42_5mm_f1_2_asph_review/
this lense loooks like a keeper...but I am in conflict now...I have the 12-35 and the 35-100 lenses...I am short on budget and this one is very expensive...I am new to MFT and I need a lense to shoot videos with more the look of those for example: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOCjoq4cms20Ik39r1aOqXA the shallow DOF won't hurt but the image itself...it is too clear for some of the videos I want to shoot I know that is off topic but maybe not? Maybe I can achieve this look with my lenses or this lenses and with some other filters/setting or post editing? thanks for any advice
The graph looks surreal...was there ever an m43 lens this sharp?
If you want razor-sharp images, then the Panasonic 42.5mm ƒ/1.2 Nocticron lens delivers! Even wide open at ƒ/1.2, this lens produces stunningly sharp images with almost no softening in the corners. Stopping down to ƒ/4-ƒ/5.6 shows even sharper images with excellent corner-to-corner sharpness.
This lens is not only great for shallow depth of field and low-light work, but also studio shooting where you tend to stop down for maximum sharpness and a bigger depth of field ensuring your subject is tack sharp everywhere. When stopped down all the way to ƒ/16, softness from diffraction limiting is well-controlled. Note: No ƒ/22 or smaller apertures, so be careful when shooting in very bright conditions, particularly with video recording, as high shutter speeds can lead to very choppy-looking video.
http://slrgear.com/reviews/showproduct.php/product/1675/cat/all
http://cameras.reviewed.com/features/hands-on-with-the-leica-dg-nocticron-45mm-f12-gallery
Another preview at http://www.quesabesde.com/noticias/leica-nocticron-42-5mm-f1-2-analisis-fotos_11255 has raw files for your to research.
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