12-60mm F3.5-5.6 Power OIS Panasonic lens

Vitaliy_Kiselev

Specs

24-120mm Full-Frame 35mm Equivalent
F3.5 to F22
One Extra-Low Dispersion Element
Three Aspherical Elements
POWER O.I.S.
Splash and Dust-Proof Construction
Rounded Seven-Blade Diaphragm
Available at May 2016
Price is $500 at http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-H-FS12060-12-60mm-F3-5-5-6-Mirrorless/dp/B01C56V72Q/

PR

Panasonic is introducing a new zoom interchangeable lens, the LUMIX G VARIO 12-60mm / F3.5-5.6 ASPH. / POWER O.I.S. (35 mm camera equivalent: 24-120 mm) for the LUMIX G line of Micro Four Thirds System cameras. Featuring a splash/dust-proof design, the new lens offers a versatile 5x zoom range of 24-120mm (35mm camera equivalent) that covers a variety of daily shooting situations from dynamic landscapes to portraits.

For everyone interested in a modern alternative to bulky DSLR interchangeable lenses, Panasonic LUMIX Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds lenses deliver impressive, no-compromise optical performance. The durable, all-weather LUMIX 12-60mm F3.5-5.6 Lens features the highest standards of detail and sharpness. Built for travel and great photo and video capture, it comes complete with a splash and dustproof sealed body.** And with Dual I.S. (Image Stabilization) compatibility, you'll shoot with unprecedented hand-held stability anywhere you go.

Incorporating an inner focus drive system and a stepping motor, the new LUMIX G VARIO 12-60mm / F3.5-5.6 ASPH. / POWER O.I.S. is capable of smooth, silent operation to work 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 max. 240 fps to take maximum advantage of cameras with high-speed AF. This stunning AF performance is able to record 4K video, where precise focusing is required.

Seven 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 active use, and uses multi-coated lens elements that minimize ghosts and flare to further enhance its shooting performance.

It also features 0.54x (35mm camera equiv.) magnification capability for impressive macro close-up shots. Comprised of 11 elements in 9 groups, the lens system features three aspherical lenses and an ED (Extra-low Dispersion) lens which effectively suppresses spherical distortion or chromatic aberration to achieve stunning picture quality.

The LUMIX G VARIO 12-60mm / F3.5-5.6 ASPH. will be available in May at www.shop.panasonic.com and valued channel partners in metallic black for $499.99.

Vitaliy_Kiselev

New firmware v1.2

Improved focusing stability when using the Lens Position Resume function.

http://av.jpn.support.panasonic.com/support/global/cs/dsc/download/fts/dl/fs12060.html

Vitaliy_Kiselev

Very good deal, $497.99 with $300 gift card

https://www.adorama.com/ipc1260.html

Vitaliy_Kiselev

Samples and usage of lens on GX8

http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/review/newproduct/1031172.html

MaxDepth

Interesting small lens. Hope to try one soon.

Vitaliy_Kiselev

Good lens at the center, not so at the edges - review

http://www.lenstip.com/index.php?test=obiektywu&test_ob=487

Vitaliy_Kiselev

New firmware for improved Dual I.S.

http://av.jpn.support.panasonic.com/support/global/cs/dsc/download/fts/dl/fs12060.html

Vitaliy_Kiselev

http://photoreview.com.au/reviews/lenses/m4-3/panasonic-lumix-g-vario-12-60mm-f-3.5-5.6-asph.-power-o.i.s.-lens

Vitaliy_Kiselev

Available for $446 at https://www.amazon.com/PANASONIC-12-60mm-F3-5-5-6-Mirrorless-H-HS12060/dp/B01C56V72Q/

Vitaliy_Kiselev

http://www.pixelmania.nl/2016/07/review-panasonic-lumix-g-vario-12-60-mmf3-5-5-6-power-o-i-s/

IronFilm

I use a 24-120 F4 Nikkor on both a D600 (for stills) and paired with a 0.71x speedbooster on a GH4 making it an effective: 17-85mm F2.8 Big yes, but for a constant aperture zoom and a fast-ish f2.8 I'll take it! I use the mounting foot on the SB to help balance & stabilize the weight/mass. It's smaller than the Tamron 28-105 constant f2.8 (Nikon mount) I used to use, lol.

Is a pity there are no active F to MFT adapters so that the IS of the 24-120 could be taken advantage of.

Vitaliy_Kiselev

Sharpness at 12mm is already very good wide open, on tele end lens becomes softer, but not very much. Corners although are quite soft. Distortion and chromatic aberrations are very small.

AF is fast and silent. Lens is fully compatible with Dual I.S.

http://www.mirrorlessons.com/2016/07/20/panasonic-lumix-12-60mm-f3-5-5-6-review/

Vitaliy_Kiselev

http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/review/lens_review_2/1009732.html

Vitaliy_Kiselev

This zoom offers a versatile focal range of 24-120mm in a relatively small package, backed-up by very good image quality throughout the focal range and impressively fast and quiet autofocusing.
It is a little soft wide-open, so you can try to stop it down for the best results,

http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/panasonic_lumix_g_vario_12_60mm_f3_5_5_6_asph_power_ois_review/

Vitaliy_Kiselev

http://www.photographyblog.com/previews/panasonic_lumix_g_vario_12_60mm_f3_5_5_6_asph_power_ois_photos/

LPowell

@kurth Oops, my bad, confused it with the 14-42mm power zoom.

CFreak

I use a 24-120 F4 Nikkor on both a D600 (for stills) and paired with a 0.71x speedbooster on a GH4 making it an effective: 17-85mm F2.8 Big yes, but for a constant aperture zoom and a fast-ish f2.8 I'll take it! I use the mounting foot on the SB to help balance & stabilize the weight/mass. It's smaller than the Tamron 28-105 constant f2.8 (Nikon mount) I used to use, lol.

I do wish Pana would make something similar: 5:1 zoom constant f2.8 in MFT mount with AF. Unfortunately this 12-60mm doesn't do for me what my Nikkor does.

kurth

@LPowell.....wish you were right...but it ain't PZ

LPowell

For anyone who'd use the powered zoom function on a video shoot (e.g. outdoor events), this is a 12-60mm f5.6 zoom. That makes it a highly compact focal length equivalent to a Nikon 24-120mm f4 zoom on a full frame camera, which is an unpowered and bulky lens. Downsides of the Panasonic are its autofocus probably isn't fast enough to stay in focus while power zooming, and f5.6 isn't really adequate indoors and at dusk. With a Nikon DSLR, f4 is fast enough because you can get acceptable results up to ISO 3200. With a GHx camera, you're pushing the limit at ISO 1600 and f5.6 puts you two stops down in the shadows.