Panasonic Lumix Leica 15mm f1.7 lens full review with sample image and autofocus test

[@AiurMedia]

once again we are featured on 43rumors site, thank you www.43rumors.com/a-bit-of-everything-1694/

[@laurentyarp514]

That little gem is in my purchase list for 2023. I really want it. And I really need it for my GX9.

[@laurentyarp514]

@@StefanHundhammer Thank you for the advice. I've heard only good from the 56mm f1.4. I currently have the 45mm f1.8 but I am not using it that much.

[@laurentyarp514]

@@StefanHundhammer I previously had the Panasonic 42.5 f1.7. I do regret that lens. The reason is it focuses much closer.

[@evernam993m8]

So you have it now?

[@laurentyarp514]

@@evernam993m8 Nope not yet. Still in my purchase list for the 42.5 but yes I have the 15mm. I decided to have a no gear year and I am currently saving for the G9 II.

[@TheKentaurion]

This Leica 15/1.7 is glued to my GX9. The perfect combo that never misses and always feels just right. Love them!

[@ElectronInc]

I purchased this lens as second hand because I have always felt put off half way through with my OLY 17mm 1.8 in terms of how my eyes were pleased with it : It is sharp but not enough and contrasts rendering never satisfied me. Even if I LOVE the manual clutch. Then a few weeks ago I started shooting this PANA 15 f1.7 and I AM VERY SATISFIED with what I lacked when using the 17mm 1.8. The look and feel of the pictures I took was so satisfying. I do not regret my swap.

[@Chilliwillikers]

I really appreciate you going into such depth and detail about this lens. I think this one will be my first Leica 😊

[@reeshmalms6686]

Who ever wants this lens but is on a budget, there is a rebranded version from dji built for there MFT mounted drone cameras. It has the same design opticaly and housing. Only noticable difference is the dji version have a different front element coating to fight flares better since it is meant to be on drones. Check it out if you are interested in this fical length.

[@tomCGNpics]

Thanx for this video and the nice pictures from Venice. Maybe not in hyper touristic Venice but on any other city trip I would definitely bring both combos, the G9+10-25/1.7 and the GX9+15/1.7. The size difference makes big differences in handling and on the people around. There moments where one of them does make no sense and vice versa. And yes it‘s the 15 not the 7,5 or 12 or 20 mm I‘d pick first from my primes arsenal. Only when taking pictures in a pup from friends I‘d prefer the 12/1.4. This year I‘ve been an a music festival and I took the 20mm instead just to have the smallest package and it turned out to be really important to have more reach in this case. So even though there is a favourite try others as well… only talking of lenses. ;-)

[@JoshDoob]

Just bought one after watching this, thank you!

[@benmcconnell6008]

Yes, loose hood and aperture ring, don't see a focus soft spot. Great lens for street on Gx9 and Gx85. Love the colors I get but I don't usually carry when I have the 12-60 Leica with me.

[@funkyneto]

Pentax as a full frame 31mm 1.8 lens. that would be the closest to the FOV. This is the mini version. :)

[@Deetroiter]

Fantastic video! When using that aperture ring and that AF/MF switch...do you still have to go into the body to turn on the MF setting, or does the lens switch override that? Also, will the aperture ring change the aperture if you have the camera in manual or aperture mode? Thanks!

[@AiurMedia]

lens AF/MF switch works the same as the AF/MF switch on your camera body(if it has one), you don't have to turn on MF settings, it just goes into MF mode. Yes aperture ring works in manual or aperture mode, those are the exact modes where they are supposed to work the best.

[@endah08]

Would be curious to see you review some other MFT mall primes like the Olympus 17mm 1.8 and 12mm 2.

[@AiurMedia]

I dont have those two, i will review lumix 20mm f1.7 II by the end of this year tho

[@1redgate8]

My next lens...

[@ktbikefun]

Bought it !

[@VK184]

All of these images look a bit soft, is that the camera or the lens?

[@AiurMedia]

@VK184 the lens is very sharp, its the photo editing software. You are the first one to point out the softness, heres the explanation kzbin.info/www/bejne/m5CVZoiEf7GLgq8si=onwcY5NzBx9axtMv

[@muslihatkedua7422]

hey which one you prefer, lumix gx85,gx9 or sony a6400? please help me to decided i like lumix because they have small lens that are sharp and sony dont But I prefer Sony because the body is smaller, lighter, and the sensor is larger. im not sure about image quality

[@AiurMedia]

i'd probably go for gx9, the only drawback for lumix cameras are their contrast based autofocus, if you dont need to shoot fast moving subject lumix is totally fine. If you shoot sport & wildlife, video with dynamic movement then pick a6400 for its excellent autofocus. The sensor size difference between apsc and mft is actually not that big, performance is pretty similar.

[@cameraz99]

The lens hood has a rubber lens cap that snaps into it. I always use it.

[@sunjoy1010]

Helps me a lot. Thanks

[@slows728]

I always think about selling my 10-25mm and only keep the 15mm and 25-50mm. However each time I look at my pictures with the 10-25mm I always found them sharper than the 15mm + I like the rendering of the 10-25mm more. But this 15mm is still a great little lens, perfect combo for the GX9. However Im very disappointed by the Leica 12-60mm, the lens is very expensive and not very sharp wide open past 40mm. I tried 3 copies and I need to stop to f5 to get "good" performance. Each copy was sligtlhy decentered in the left side too. Not worth 900$ in my opinon.

[@AiurMedia]

interesting to know your experience with leica 12-60, because i have the exact same problem! ALL the online reviews say it's sharp through out the range wide open but it was not true for my copy and i thought it was just my copy! at 40mm-60mm i always stop down to f5-5.6

[@slows728]

@@AiurMedia I tried two copies back in 2017 and another copy last month, they performed the same. Maybe I'm unlucky. But for 900$, I expected more. I also tried the Lumix 12-60mm, this lens is even worse at 60mm F5,6. The sample tested by photographyblog looks like the copies I had.

[@AiurMedia]

@@slows728 really a shame, i think it does better on a tripod but i never really tested it that thoroughly, will do that soon

[@slows728]

@@AiurMedia I tried even with IBIS off with tripod, same results.

[@tobiasmoeckel]

I can confirm that the lens is sharp wide open, including at 60mm. I guess the sample variation is quite high, which is a shame since they are constantly marketing the high standards that need to be fulfilled in order to get the Leica label. You would think that QC is part of that.

[@mustaphaelalia7799]

Hello, thank you for what you do.. I want to ask you a question, I've just got a Lumix G9 and I noticed that Autofocus in video mode does not work until I press record.. is that normal ? or some setting I should fix ? or is it an issue with the camera ?

[@AiurMedia]

maybe try set continuous AF on mode 2 where the AF work all the time instead of only when recording. Mine works without having to start recording.

[@mustaphaelalia7799]

@@AiurMedia Thanks alot

[@ulfjonsson2122]

Great video

[@Maebbie]

I gotta be honest I don't see the point to use that lens, when there is a 14mm f2.5 that is much smaller, but then again if used on a big body maybe this one wont make much of a difference and you get a slightly better image.

[@GallicGarlic]

F/2.5 …

[@dennisrogers4665]

No, you won’t get a better image quality with the 15mm f1.7 compared to the 14mm f2.5. Both are ASPH and the image quality shines on both lenses. However, the 14mm f2.5, from my own experience (and consistent with many pancake lenses) appears to be unit-focus versus internal-focus. This results in much slower focusing and can be a drawback depending on what you are shooting.

[@mistergiovanni7183]

@@dennisrogers4665 Robin Wong did a review of both lenses and the truth is that there is a lot of difference in favor of the Lumix 15 f1.7 in image quality and aberrations. The only advantage of the 14 f2.5 is that it is a pancake, more compact and much cheaper.