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PanaLeica M4/3 lenses - no zoom lens offered


dkCambridgeshire

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There is a lot of interest and demand for the latest Olympus and Panasonic M4/3 cameras but so far no PanaLeica M4/3 zoom lens has been offered.

 

PanaLeica M4/3 prime lenses include: 15mm f1.7 Summilux (due for release this month), 25mm f1.4 Summilux, 45mm f2.8 Macro Elmarit and 42.5mm f1.2 Nocticron.

 

Given the fact that one of the finest 4/3 zoom lenses, the 14-50mm f2.8/3.5 Vario Elmarit, was designed by Leica, maybe there's a case for a PanaLeica M4/3 zoom being offered - but maybe with a wider zoom range. The technology is available and if the price was right the demand could be there too.

 

Best wishes

 

dunk

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I see that Panasonic has on its pricelist a pair of zooms (12-35 and 35-100) which are presented as "professional grade" lenses... with prices in the 1K-1,3K US$ range : probably they think it's a satisfactory lineup without needing to "play" the Leica brand on zooms too.

Edited by luigi bertolotti
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Indeed, I have the Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 and it would be very hard to beat. With an impressive f/2.8 across the focal range for a zoom it is still slower than most prime lenses, but that's about it, the image quality puts many primes (that were previously considered good) to shame.

 

Steve

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I see that Panasonic has on its pricelist a pair of zooms (12-35 and 35-100) which are presented as "professional grade" lenses... with prices in the 1K-1,3K US$ range : probably they think it's a satisfactory lineup without needing to "play" the Leica brand on zooms too.

 

Yes, they have, but, Leica Society members are obliged to use Leica lenses for their 'Leica Circle(s)' and TLS Exhibition image entries. And Leica Panasonic lenses usually have 'extended' specifications compared to Panasonic optics.

 

But apart from TLS members there are probably many other Leica enthusiasts who would buy into the M4/3 system if PanaLeica M4/3 zooms were made available.

 

I use the 4/3 PanaLeica zoom lenses with a 4/3 to m4/3 adaptor but the lenses are rather top heavy with the smaller M4/3 cameras.

 

Best wishes

 

dunk

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Dunk,

 

As you know, many of us have the same problem with the TLS Digital Circle and other forum posts. It is nice to to have that Leica link in all work. I've had some excellent results from the Fuji X100S, for instance, but cannot post them. I am currently in the market for an APS-C or M4T CSC with zoom for pocketing when I don't want the weight and bulk of an M and lenses. It seems that the only choice, to retain the Leica link, is the the new Leica T and that is an expensive and so-far untried prospect.

 

All that said, if I were being brutally honest and objective (removing my Leica hat for a moment), a compact Olympus or Panasonic with one of the several really excellent new zooms could give me all the ultra-portable performance I need--as, indeed, would a Fuji X-E1 with the very inexpensive but well-respected 18-55mm Fujinon.

 

So, indeed, Panasonic could be successful with at least one P-Leica-branded zoom. They would sell at least two: One for Dunk, one for me. Anyone else?

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LOL, it beggars belief.

 

Steve

 

It is of importance because we submit images every month - and we comment on and discuss not only the image results and methodology but the cameras and lenses too - which is not much different to e.g. submitting images to this forum and discussing Leica cameras /lenses here …

 

But if it beggars your belief maybe you might consider joining TLS ;)

 

Any pocketable M4/3 camera with an equally pocketable Leica M4/3 zoom lens would make a lot of sense to a lot of photographers. Such a zoom could be half the size and weight of e.g. previous Leica 4/3 zooms and could probably offer wider apertures and greater zoom range than the X Vario and T zoom. If Leica is happy to use its name on M4/3 prime lenses then why not also develop M4/3 zoom lenses - which could prove just as popular - especially if they have that Leica 28-90mm R DNA.

 

Four Leica M4/3 prime lenses exist covering 15mm to 45mm - that's 30mm to 90mm equivalent FF … not wide enough and not long enough … there is room for a zoom :)

 

Some might suggest, "Use a D-Lux 6 or a 'C' " … which are fine cameras. But making A3 size exhibition prints at ISO 400 and above pushes them to the limit.

 

dunk

Edited by dkpeterborough
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Dunk,

 

As you know, many of us have the same problem with the TLS Digital Circle and other forum posts. It is nice to to have that Leica link in all work. I've had some excellent results from the Fuji X100S, for instance, but cannot post them. I am currently in the market for an APS-C or M4T CSC with zoom for pocketing when I don't want the weight and bulk of an M and lenses. It seems that the only choice, to retain the Leica link, is the the new Leica T and that is an expensive and so-far untried prospect.

 

All that said, if I were being brutally honest and objective (removing my Leica hat for a moment), a compact Olympus or Panasonic with one of the several really excellent new zooms could give me all the ultra-portable performance I need--as, indeed, would a Fuji X-E1 with the very inexpensive but well-respected 18-55mm Fujinon.

 

So, indeed, Panasonic could be successful with at least one P-Leica-branded zoom. They would sell at least two: One for Dunk, one for me. Anyone else?

 

I know someone who last week purchased an E-M1 and 25.1.4 Summilux (after PP-ing RAW files from mine) and who plans to sell his X2 and D Lux 6; the X2 AF is too slow and the D Lux 6 images lose definition above ISO 400. He may well consider a PanaLeica M4/3 zoom if it becomes a reality.

 

dunk

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Yes, they have, but, Leica Society members are obliged to use Leica lenses for their 'Leica Circle(s)' and TLS Exhibition image entries. And Leica Panasonic lenses usually have 'extended' specifications compared to Panasonic optics.

 

But apart from TLS members there are probably many other Leica enthusiasts who would buy into the M4/3 system if PanaLeica M4/3 zooms were made available. dunk

 

I concur with this as the Leica Fellowship and indeed this our very own Forum also require that a Leica labelled lens is used for posting images or publishing in the Forum Charity books.

 

I was fortunate to have two images used in this year's 2014 LUF book, both taken with my Olympus m4/3 rds camera and using a Panasonic Leica DG 45mm macro lens.

 

I would jump at the opportunity to use m4/3 Leica DG zoom lenses. Instead I use the Oly mZuiko 12-40 f2.8 and I will also get the 35-150 F2.8 mZuiko when it is available at the end of this year.

 

Whilst the Panasonic and Olympus zoom (and prime) lenses are extremely sharp, there is something about the rendering of the Panny Leica DG lenses that draws images more artistically than the biting clinical sharpness of many of the other lenses. So come on Panasonic let us have some Leica DG zooms please!

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There is a lot of interest and demand for the latest Olympus and Panasonic M4/3 cameras but so far no PanaLeica M4/3 zoom lens has been offered.

 

The Lumix 14-140mm F4.0-5.8 kit lens is just fine.

.

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The Lumix 14-140mm F4.0-5.8 kit lens is just fine.

.

 

 

Sure… it is a decent lens … but it's not a PanaLeica lens thus not eligible to be used for Leica specific image forums … which is one of the reasons for starting his thread.

 

dunk

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Sure… it is a decent lens … but it's not a PanaLeica lens thus not eligible to be used for Leica specific image forums … which is one of the reasons for starting his thread.

 

dunk

 

My fault. Thank you for the correction.

.

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...this our very own Forum also require that a Leica labelled lens is used for posting images or publishing in the Forum Charity books.

 

No it doesn't Images taken using another manufacturer's lenses are ok provided they were taken using a Leica body.

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No it doesn't Images taken using another manufacturer's lenses are ok provided they were taken using a Leica body.

 

 

Oh my gosh. We need a source of authority. Anyone?

 

 

 

Sent from my Etcha-sketch.

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Oh my gosh. We need a source of authority. Anyone?


Prerequisite for placing a photo is that it has been made with Leica equipment and/or has a strong relationship to a Leica subject. For the avoidance of doubt, this includes the use of Leica lenses on third party bodies, Leica lenses on Leica partner cameras (e.g. Panasonic) and the use of third party lenses on Leica bodies. In general, photographs taken without the use of Leica equipment are not permitted.


Source of authority: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/rules.php
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Leica being busy with designing new T lenses, the chances for a MFT zoom lens are slim. Leica has never been exactly enamoured with MFT and unless Panasonic desperately needed a Leica zoom I don’t they would bother.

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Leica being busy with designing new T lenses, the chances for a MFT zoom lens are slim. Leica has never been exactly enamoured with MFT and unless Panasonic desperately needed a Leica zoom I don’t they would bother.

 

Very true …but they have cooperated to design and release the latest 42.5mm f1.2 and 15mm f1.7 PanaLeica prime lenses - and given the interest in and sales of M4/3 it seems to me unlikely that these will be the last PanaLeica M4/3 offerings.

 

dunk

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But fact remains that currently, there are no PanaLeica M4/3 ZOOM lenses for use on M4/3 bodies.

 

I can and do use PanaLeica 4/3 zooms on M4/3 bodies but they are too bulky.

 

dunk

 

The two PanaLeica zooms for 4/3, the 14-50 Vario-Elmarit and the 14-150 Vario-Elmar, are really great, but I think that it could be really difficult to give the same performances in a smaller m4/3 packege.

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given the interest in and sales of M4/3 it seems to me unlikely that these will be the last PanaLeica M4/3 offerings.

I suppose so, but Panasonic seems to be the driving force here and I gather Panasonic is regarding zoom lenses as their own territory, with Leica augmenting the portfolio with the odd prime.

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