Hands-on with the LEICA / PANASONIC 10-25MM F-1.7 LENS for micro four-thirds cameras.

[@laurentyarp514]

Just got it 2 days ago. And, omg, it is marvellous: as sharp as a prime. I am mostly shooting during blue hours so the bright apperture is what drove my choice against the 8-18. So happy with it.

[@dunnymonster]

I've owned this lens for just over a month and needless to say have been very impressed. I'm a G9 user too and this lens matches it perfectly. Beautifully built without a doubt. I prefer zooms over primes so this lens gives me the benefits of both! 😊

[@wcbibb]

I bought a G9 and chose the 8-18mm and 100-400mm Panasonic-Leica. I gave my G7 and my 14-140mm and 100-300mm to my son. I wish I had chosen the 10-25mm Panasonic-Leica. Other systems get very big and heavy on long walks or hikes. I keep the 100-400mm on the G9 for wildbirds and use the 8-18mm for seascapes and landscapes. The 8-18 doesn't get to the 25mm (50mm equivalent). That is a serious drawback.

[@naturesimagephotography]

If only we all had money to burn and someone to carry our gear for us. Somehow every choice we make comes with an element of compromise.

[@jiffijoff9780]

Hi William, thats exactly my setting also and I love it. The 8-18 beats my old Canon L 17-40/4.0 in every aspect, and dont get me started with the old Sigma 120-300/2.8, which is a monster. If I need the speed I now grab the Oly 40-150/2.8, if I need the reach I chose the 100-400. Similar at the wide end: If I need UWA I take the 8-18, otherwise the PL 12-60. Out of those four m43 lenses its a perfect mix'n'match of two lenses I take with me. Tip: If you need the extra tele reach at the long end of the 8-18 you might consider using the G9s excellent HighRes mode and crop in afterwards. There you go, 36mm (72mm equiv!) focal length at almost no resolution loss. (that is: if subject allows for multishots and tripod available)

[@garybrown9719]

Great pionts

[@kiwijinxter]

Thanks for the straightforward review, loved it. When I first saw this lens, I laughed thinking to myself, what a dumb idea making such a godzilla lens for the micro four thirds system. Then I made the mistake of going into a store and try it out on my Olympus OMD EM1 Mk3. While it is larger than normal, it's surprisingly not as heavy as I expected. And the photos it took were just beautiful. I was surprised by how nice it felt to use this lens. I couldn't believe it, but this is certainly the "one lens that rules them all". Decided to trade in some lenses to get this (because I don't need so many prime and even my Olympus 9-18mm is not needed). This lens and the Olympus 40-150mm Pro lives on my camera. Definitely for the bigger m43 bodies like the Panasonic Lumix G9 or the Olympus OMD EM1. Brilliant, brilliant lens.

[@mediamannaman]

Thanks for sharing your perspective Andrew! This lens was released to rave reviews ("It's five prime lenses in one!") just over a year ago. I was VERY tempted, but for my needs I just stuck with my Panny 8-18. If I start doing more video professionally I will probably snag one. In the meantime I'll save my discretionary funds in hopes that a GH6 is on the horizon.

[@MichaelGerrard]

Excellent review, it was good to hear about how the aperture ring works. Not a lens for me but I see it's worth to some. M43 is great for choice.

[@Bakin]

Thanks Andrew; great review; surely a lens to put on my wish list but at its current price well out of my reach. Thanks again, keep well.

[@glsracer]

I generally fall into the smaller is better category of M43 shooters but this is one of the lenses that I have been wanting for a while now. It's about the size and weight of the Sigma 17-50 f/2.8 that I sometimes use on my G9 with Viltrox adapter, but offers a slightly faster aperture, sharper optics, and native focusing. You lose a bit on the long end but gain on the wide end. I just wish the 10-25 was a bit cheaper since I'm still paying off medical bills from the baby my wife and I had earlier this year.

[@garybrown9719]

VILTROX option. I have 17-50mm too i have xl hands i like the size. I also have sigma 18-35mm and 10-20mm they all hunt when focussing. My sigma 30mm 1.4 works best. Instant focus.

[@OzzieTech]

A lens i have been tempted to buy so great seeing your video :)

[@laurentyarp514]

Yep, I have been tempted to purchase it too. But fortunately for my purse I felt it was not for me. I think It is rather a video oriented lens. And since I am mostly shooting landscapes 10-25 is too wide for me. But I just had a look at the price, it has went down significantely since last year. Maybe I will reconsider my position in the future. I still believe it is not for my landscape type of shooting but would be a great addition as a prime lenses alternative :)

[@OzzieTech]

@@laurentyarp514 im more a video orintated guy with my Gh5 G9 ( mainly for photos ) and my BMPCC 4K so this lens is on my want list. Just need to sell a kidney to afford it :(

[@mikekay6288]

Thanks as always; very watchable and easy to understand. I might attempt to hire this lens 'if the price is right'. Mike in Oz

[@markschneider1396]

Your images at the end really sold it, have you used the 7-14mm F:4? Seems like a worthy comparison.

[@naturesimagephotography]

Thank you Mark. And yes I did get my hands on that lens, just for a day or two on Norfolk Island last year. Certainly a good sharp and versatile lens, but I didn't have enough time with it to really get to know it inside and out.

[@garybrown9719]

Another excellent video would you rather have this lens or the sigma 18-35mm

[@naturesimagephotography]

I'm not going to comment on a lens I have never used, so sorry I can't make that comparison. But based on focal length alone, I would be looking at a lens like this primarily for landscapes so I would prefer the wider angle of the 10-25mm.

[@RedSnowUI]

I can’t get the auto focus or manual focus to work well when I zoom on my gh5 this is a massive problem for me every time I zoom it’s out of focus for pictures and video

[@garybrown9719]

VILTROX Try to save money can sometimes cost you more. VILTROX option. I have 17-50mm too i have xl hands i like the size. I also have sigma 18-35mm and 10-20mm they all hunt when focussing. My sigma 30mm 1.4 works best. Instant focus. $1400 could have bought the leica10-25mm

[@MrFirstdance2000]

Finally picked this lens up and was wondering, for Landscapes, what have you found from a Sunrise shot or Sunset...is the sweet F-stop setting?

[@naturesimagephotography]

I am not analytical enough to go testing to find a sweet spot. I often shoot with the aperture wide open and find the lens nice and sharp. Occasionally just to be on the safe side I will close the lens down to around F-8, but only if that doesn't impact negatively on my choice of ISO or shutter speed.

[@MrFirstdance2000]

@@naturesimagephotography Great...very helpful..Thank you!

[@BarryBeckhamVideos]

👍

[@professionalpotato4764]

I'm still kicking myself for not buying a recent used offer of G9 + 10-25 at only $2,000

[@naturesimagephotography]

Hindsight can a blessing or a curse...

[@glsracer]

Agreed, I would have jumped on that. I was able to get a new UK spec G9 + PL 12-60 for $1275 earlier this year and I thought that was pretty good. I've never seen the 10-25 sell for less than $1400 new and in the $1300 range used. So a grand for it would have been a steal.

[@martysender5539]

can John loan one to me?

[@dan_kennedy]

Hi Andrew, thanks for this review. :-) Given you have since purchased the 12-60 leica, I guess it comes in second in your opinion? Did you find the constant f1.7 an advantage?

[@naturesimagephotography]

I took advantage of the wider aperture for one of my portrait shoots. But really since I would be using a lens like that more for landscapes I don't think it would come into play all that often...except maybe for night sky photography. The 12-60 mm lacks that wide aperture but the zoom range is more versatile if you want a lens that does a bit of everything. And much more within my price range.

[@dan_kennedy]

@@naturesimagephotography Thanks so much for your answer Andrew. Was just wondering because I have a 12-60 on order and got a little spooked by a couple of reviews that say they don't do well in poor light situations. (Have you had any issues in this regard?) When I heard this I thought it might not be a bad idea to also add a wider aperture lense to cover low light situations. Perhaps a prime. But which one I'm still to decide. On order also is a G9, a 100-400 for birds & a leica 45mm macro for bugs, portraits & food/product photography... Because, other than the macro we will have the same kit, what would you recommend as an extra lense? I'd like something that takes good sunset landscapes, would be capable around a camp fire and maybe some astro photography. What would your go to be? Or which of our existing lenses might be sufficient enough? I appreciate everyone has different styles and tastes, but I really click with your methodology and photos, so would value your opinion. Ps: I'll be enrolling in your different workshops once I have had a bit of practice with my new gear. ;-)

[@naturesimagephotography]

I guess it really depends what sort of photography you expect to do with it. For wildlife I shoot hand-held but the 100-400mm has that covered. With the 12-60mm I can still mostly work hand held, but the type of photography I would be doing in low light (sunsets, night photography etc.) are the type of subjects that can be shot with a tripod. And I always have a tripod handy. If astro is a big thing for you (it isn't for me) then that 10-25mm would be a great lens, both for the wider angle (for big skies) and the big aperture. Just very expensive to have it just for subjects I rarely shoot anyway. If I thought I really needed it I could probably justify it...but I will wait and see if I come up against any major limitations from the 12-60mm first. Remember at 12mm it is f-2.8, which isn't bad for night photography. I don't take it upon myself to recommend lenses I haven't used before so I wouldn't comment on things I have only read about. But I did get to borrow an Olympus 7-14mm lens which is a constant f-2.8. If I was going to buy for night photography and bigger landscapes, I would possibly be looking at that one before I coughed up the price for the 10-25mm. www.flickr.com/photos/natures_image/49186944957/in/album-72157653513451782/

[@dan_kennedy]

@@naturesimagephotography Thanks again Andrew. This is brilliant advice and extremely helpful. I figured a tri-pod would overcome any night issues when I watched those reviews and having you say this has given me peace of mind. I'm excited to receive my kit soon to start experimenting and look forward to learning more from you in person when I do :-) Thank you.