Is this the best MFT lens ever? Panasonic Leica 25-50mm f/1.7

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Is this the best MFT lens ever? Panasonic Leica 25-50mm f/1.7 - In Depth Review

Рет қаралды 15,572

Күн бұрын

Is this Panasonic Leica 25-50mm f/1.7 the perfect, constant aperture tele zoom lens for Micro Four Thirds? Take a look for yourself and find out, how this lens performs on the Panasonic Lumix GH5.
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📃 TABLE OF CONTENTS
0:00 - Introduction & Overview
1:52 - Build Quality
3:41 - Focal Length
4:27 - Aperture
5:23 - Image Quality
7:26 - Autofocus
9:58 - Image Stabilization
10:30 - Price
10:49 - Conclusion
🔍 LINKS
valentinkossen...
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⭐ MY EQUIPMENT
kit.co/Valenti...
❓ QUESTIONS I ANSWER IN THIS VIDEO
Is the Panasonic Leica 25-50mm f/1.7 worth the money?
Can the Panasonic Leica 25-50mm f/1.7 compete with the Nocticron 42.5mm f/1.2 lens?
How good is the image quality of the PL 25-50mm f/1.7?
✔️ HASHTAGS
#MFT #LEICA #GH5 #MicroFourThirds #PortraitLens #LensReview

Пікірлер: 69

@superzero4250 2 жыл бұрын

I agree that the 10-25mm and the 25-50mm/1.7 are probably all you really need. But the GH5II is more than likely the ideal camera to pair them with… A perfect triumvirate would include the M.Zuiko 45mm/1.2. If only the Nocticron were weather-sealed… …

@ValentinKossenko 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah, the GH5 II is definitely sitting on top of the GH5. If you're on a tight budget, you can get very good deals on used GH5's though and the GH6 seems to be just around the corner too. I haven't tried the M. Zuiko 45mm f/1.2 personally, but the images I have seen so far look great!

@slows728 2 жыл бұрын

The Zuiko 45mm f1.2 is a magical lens. I had the Nocticron before and I sold it when I got the Zuiko. The bokeh is so smooth, the lens is also sharper wide open. I found the pictures I've taken with the Zuiko have more slightly depth (3D) than with the Nocticron, both have very good microcontrast. However the colors are nicer on the Nocticron (imo) and the images SOOC are punchier (more pop). I tested the 25-50mm and this lens is also magical. I think I still prefer the rendering of the Zuiko Pro (but not by much) but the 25-50mm is more versatile with better colors.

@SergeGolikov 2 жыл бұрын

I bought my Leica 10-25mm f1.7 in April 2021, and a few weeks back while being just still under warranty, my issue surfaced. Out of the blue, without any physical knocks, the lens zoom ring seized up just past the 12mm setting. I did not try to force the zoom, but now having heard your case, I think the seal may be the issue also, jamming the lens inoperable. I took it back to the retailer a few weeks back, and today was delighted to get an email, Stating that Panasonic Australia is going to replace the lens! Happy days 🍷

@ValentinKossenko 2 жыл бұрын

Great to hear you're getting a free replacement! Things like these can always happen, but when a company responds to it properly, that's when you know you're in good hands. Thanks for sharing your experience!

@SergeGolikov 2 жыл бұрын

@@ValentinKossenko Yes, I was delighted with the outcome, and I suppose that brand loyalty pays off eventually in some cases. Last year I purchased the GH5 plus 14~140 Lumix zoom lens, the S5 kit with the 20~60 zoom, and the Leica 10-25mm f1.7. In the recent past, the FZ1000, FZ2500, FZ80, TZ60, TZ90. In fact since 2014, a total of 14 Lumix camera models of which, I still retain 10! Many of which I recommended to my students, friends and family.

@slows728 2 жыл бұрын

I just tried the 25-50mm, the image quality is on part with the 10-25mm indeed. You speak about something like more dynamic range or contrast coming from this lens. I can see the same thing with this 25-50mm (and the 10-25mm). I think it's because Leica is involved in the design. The microcontrast is very high, giving more depth and three dimensional feel to the picture. Of course, we can't see this magical effect with every shots, but I can see it with contrasty lightning with the subject not too close and not too far from the camera.

@ValentinKossenko 2 жыл бұрын

I'm happy to hear that you have found the same thing about the micro contrast. I've been reducing my kit over the last few years and now with the 10-25 and 25-50 I feel like I have the perfect kit for almost all type of work. I rarely use the other lenses now and will probably only keep the 50-200 alongside these two lenses for when I want to shoot some wildlife, etc. Thanks for your comment!

@slows728 2 жыл бұрын

@@ValentinKossenko I think you made the right choice, I have too many lenses as well .. I sold the 50-200mm for the 70-300mm S. The 70-300mm has better lowlight performance, colors are more vivid and there is more "pop" to the image (mostly due to the full frame sensor). I use it with the S1 for the open gate 6K mode. This is a very good lens. However the 50-200mm has more reach and like most of the Panasonic Leica lenses has more microcontrast. The rendering is not the same. I would like to have a FF Panasonic Leica 100-400mm with the microcontrast of the 50-200mm and the full frame sensor capability for better "pop", better color tonality and ISO performance.

@slows728 2 жыл бұрын

After some shooting with this lens I can say the global contrast, local contrast and colors are better than my Oly 45mm Pro. Only the bokeh is not as smooth but overall I'm blow away by this 25-50mm.This is the first PanaLeica lens that feel like a real Leica for image quality.

@ValentinKossenko 2 жыл бұрын

Sounds great. I also feel like this is their best one so far in terms of image quality. Thanks for sharing your experience!

@RhettThompsonFilm 2 жыл бұрын

You son of a gun my video is coming out about this lens soon! Glad to see you back on here man!

@ValentinKossenko 2 жыл бұрын

Hey Rhett, can't wait to see your review. I am very excited about this lens and feel like this, together with the 10-25 is the perfect kit for me.

@RhettThompsonFilm 2 жыл бұрын

@@ValentinKossenko I think the 10-25 is much more versatile but the 25-50 is obviously good if you need the reach.

@BackusCreativeImaging 2 жыл бұрын

To you and Rhett ... I watch both of your videos (subbed to both of you guys) and these two lenses are absolutely why I've stayed with MFT format. I own the GH5 II and it's an amazing setup. I upgraded from the GH5 for some perks like "linear focusing" which you can set in degrees, rendering the clutch obsolete. Used the 10-25 on a short film in manual focus and loved it (short film isn't done yet, still doing VFX shots for it). No one cared that I didn't have full frame or whatever. Even got great shots in low light at like 2000 ISO with VLOG ... used Neat Video and Video Enhance AI to clean up. No biggie. Love this setup. I still don't own the 25-50 yet but will be getting it this year. These really are the only two lenses I will ever need (aside from the occasional use of the Panasonic 100-400 which I'm getting too for some wildlife). I love what Panasonic did with these ... they are the perfect blend of photography and videography lenses in my opinion. What is the one killer feature that might make me upgrade to the GH6? If they have some form of build in ND array / system at the sensor level perhaps ... aside from that ... I don't need any of the extra recording options etc :)

@ValentinKossenko 2 жыл бұрын

Built in ND inside of the GH6 is my dream feature too! That would make that system absolutely perfect for my needs. I have learned to work around the defecits of the GH5 like mediocre autofocus for example and just appreciate the many pros this system has to offer, like awesome IBIS, great menu, unlimited recording and last but not least, these two beautiful lenses. Thanks for your comment! I highly appreciate it.

@andriykozuryak 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Valentin, it would be great if would do more detailed comparison to nocticron lense. I have nearly bought nocticron lense, but after you mentioned in this video that 25-50 is much better in terms of chromatic, I glad I didn't buy it. also did you have chance to try olimpus equivalent lens to nocticron, there is olso much cheaper sigma 56mm 1.4 portrait lense avaliable on market too.

@ValentinKossenko 2 жыл бұрын

I think the 25-50 is just a lot more versatile in many regards (like macro & that is is an actual zoom lens) and overall a newer lens design with better optical performance. The Nocticron has a lot of purple fringing, while the 25-50 has more of the opposite color in high contrast areas, which isn't as distracting around edges in most cases. Things like these are often referred to as lens character and might be somewhat subjective though. I personally think that the Nocticron creates a more beautiful picture as I like that lens' character. In terms of sharpness however, the 25-50 zoom doesn't need to hide behind the 42.5 prime lens, which I think is really outstanding for a constant aperture zoom lens. I haven't tried the other lenses, so I can't really comment on that. But I'm pretty sure the 25-50 will be the most versatile of all as it gives you a nice range and great features for both photo and video work. Hope that helps!

@slows728 2 жыл бұрын

For me the best combo is the 10-25mm + the 45mm f1.2 Oly. The rendering of the Oly is out of this world.This 25-50mm is very interesting though.

@ValentinKossenko 2 жыл бұрын

I've never tried the 45mm f/1.2. But the fact that the 25-50 is almost as fast and has the ability to zoom makes it so incredibly versatile.

@slows728 2 жыл бұрын

@@ValentinKossenko The 45mm Pro is faster and lighter but I see your point. The 10-25mm and the 45mm Oly are my best lenses for my GH5, mainly because of their rendering (great microcontrast). The 25-50mm seems to have great microcontrast as well. I saw some pics with nice depth (3D pop) from this lens.

@superzero4250 2 жыл бұрын

I have to agree about the M.Zuiko Pro 45mm/1.2. I also picked up the 17mm/1.2 too. Both are amazing, with the GH5/GH5II. The AF is quite good, and usable on the GH5II, and arguably usable on the GH5 as well. When choosing between the 45m/1.2 and the Nocticron, weather sealing tipped the scale in favour of the Zuiko. I rounded out my kit with the 12-40 and 40-150/2.8’s… If the Leica 10-25 or the 25-50 ever go on sale, I might have to take advantage. I hesitated a while back and missed out when the 10-25 had a $200 discount. I regret not getting it then, but funds might have been tight at the time. I can’t recall… …

@slows728 2 жыл бұрын

@@superzero4250 Yes the 45mm Pro AF is still very good with the GH5. I had the Nocticron but I sold it when I bought the 45mm Pro. I prefer the rendering and colors of the Pro. The 10-25mm is also great. For me both the 45mm Pro and 10-25mm are the best combo ever, but I would like to try the 25-50 though !

@MrJapanforce 2 жыл бұрын

Yes it is. With the nocticron 42.5mm 1.2

@ValentinKossenko 2 жыл бұрын

It's insane that a zoom lens can compete with a prime lens in terms of sharpness and other optical performance like that.

@jakkedtide 3 ай бұрын

Will this lens or the 10-25mm work on the ronin Rs4, I don't want to buy the pro if I don't need too. Use the Panasonic g9 mark II

@ValentinKossenko Ай бұрын

I think so. I have used it on a smaller gimbal like the Weebill S and it worked completely fine.

@przybylskipawel 2 жыл бұрын

Technically, if you consider 25-50mm range f/1.7 lens captures 5-6x more light (2,5 EV stops) than f/2.8-4 given that at 25mm and beyond Leica 12-60 is basically f/4.

@ValentinKossenko 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah, the 25-50 f/1.7 does capture a lot more light than the 12-60 f/2.8-4. Many people underestimate these differences.

@ProfoundProductions 2 жыл бұрын

Wish they would have gone with a 12-35 1.7 instead. 10mm is too wide for filming weddings and 25 doesn’t allow me to get close enough when needed. Then the new 25-50 is just too telephoto to leave on the gimbal but not telephoto enough to use as a bride camera during the ceremony. Very odd combo.

@ValentinKossenko 2 жыл бұрын

I do get your points and agree that depending on your use case, the focal length can be less practical. Perhaps this is something they will do in the future to close the gap for use cases like these.

@JeremyHalterman Жыл бұрын

I completely agree. I have-and love-both of these lenses, but I've found that the split at 50mm equivalent means I'm switching between the two way more often than I'd like. I'd gladly trade the 10-50mm range for a single 12-35mm. For my casual photography I don't mind quickly changing lenses, but for video the swap also involves transferring a matte box and resetting a follow focus. A 12-35mm f/1.7 alongside the 42.5mm f/1.2 would be a dream setup and the obvious upgrade path from the common 12-35mm f/2.8 and 42.5mm f/1.7 setup.

@nightdonutstudio 10 ай бұрын

I like 20mm equivalent. I can leave ultra wide zoom lens at home most of time. Plus 20mm is a lot more useful for wedding as in tight space I often find 24mm is not wide enough. Can not go back to zoom start at 24mm now😂😂

@nightdonutstudio 10 ай бұрын

I see the issue with 25-50 being not telephoto enough. I think Panasonic want to make these two lens same size and weight. So the 25-50 only weigh 6xx grams. Personally I know telephoto zoom always weigh more than standard zoom. So I am ok with larger zoom range and more weight. I think Panasonic can certainly make it 25-60/65ish and add 200 grams. 8xx grams is still lightweight for what it is. That is my opinion.

@fthprodphoto-video5357 9 ай бұрын

You can always use the 1.5x crop/zoom to film closer on Panasonic cameras

@mitchcaluori Жыл бұрын

I love the 25mm-50mm look but I’m worried it may be too close up for my purposes which are mainly music videos and indoor video shots with me playing my instrument… thoughts?

@ValentinKossenko Жыл бұрын

Depends on the room size for sure. If you want full body shots, it will be too tight of a focal length eventually. But it's great for close ups and detail shots, portrais, etc. The 10-25 matches it really well and will likely be a better choice for your needs. It won't offer the same level of background compression and separation though!

@Filmmaker809 2 жыл бұрын

Great video review Valentin, I have the 10-25mm lens. What gimball do you recommend please? I saw one briefly in your video.

@ValentinKossenko 2 жыл бұрын

I use the Weebill S and its great value for the price you pay. Thanks for your feedback!

@Filmmaker809 2 жыл бұрын

@@ValentinKossenko Thanks Valentin! One of the best video reviews on KZfaq for this lens.

@GrenlandUnderVann Жыл бұрын

Lens seems designed by Konica Minolta according to published patent. The same is true for the 10-25 mm.

@ValentinKossenko Жыл бұрын

Yeah, recently found out about that on 43rumors as well and was quite surprised by it. They did a pretty good job on these two lenses anyways!

@professionalpotato4764 2 жыл бұрын

Is the manual focus as smooth as true mechanical focus? From what I know, the clutch is not mechanically coupled, but still controls it electronically. Please lemme know if I'm mistaken.

@ValentinKossenko 2 жыл бұрын

I would say it's good enough, you probably won't notice a difference to a mechanically coupled focus when using the clutch. I didn't know it was still working electronically because it has worked perfectly fine for me.. and I am someone who can't deal with any type of latency, be it in Gaming, Field Monitors, etc. Always best to test it for yourself though of course!

@sirzackefeller Жыл бұрын

Love your review! I have and love the nocticron for portraits, but when traveling I've begun to grow tired of the many primes in my bag.. I'm tempted to get the 10-25, and the 25-50, but still want to be able to make the best portraits I can on the system, in your experience since you have used all these lenses do you think the 25-50 could take over for the nocticron despite the slightly slower aperture? I guess do you notice much of a difference in terms of dof and light gathering abilities? Thanks!!

@ValentinKossenko Жыл бұрын

The difference is negligible in my opinion and I can wholeheartedly recommend both the 10-25 and 25-50. I sold almost all of my other lenses because these two are perfect for everything I need. If you can rent the lens to try it out, you should definitely give it a go as your specific use case for portraits might be a little different from mine. I love that setup though and these two lenses are my main reason for sticking to MFT. Hope that helps, cheers!

@sirzackefeller Жыл бұрын

@@ValentinKossenko Thank you for the speedy response! I think these twins are the next glass I get.. they'll go perfect with the 50-200 and the teleconverter for the ultimate versatile travel kit in 3 lenses.

@TopshelfJunior 2 жыл бұрын

GH5 owner, BMPCC4K owner so...MFT mount, yup...I'm into it lol. Thinking about BOTH of these lenses, question for you.... Do you know of any good VARIABLE ND's (77m front thread) that would work on these lenses ?

@ValentinKossenko 2 жыл бұрын

I use the PolarPro VNDs 2-5 and 6-9 and they work great. I heard Freewell is making great magnetic VNDs too, haven't tried them myself though.

@kanohane 2 жыл бұрын

Can somebody please explain what situations to use the 10-25 in vs the 25-50....? I don't understand lensed :(

@ValentinKossenko 2 жыл бұрын

The 10-25 is great as an all around lens and can be used for almost anything. It might be a little too wide though for portrait photography and absolutely not suited for wild life, where a longer lens would be more useful. The 25-50 is very nice for portraits and detail shots, close ups, etc. It is easier to separate things from a background with a longer lens like the 25-50. Hope that helps!

@truliapro7112 Жыл бұрын

Both of these lens 10-25 and 25-50 work with panasonic Gx85 ?

@ValentinKossenko Жыл бұрын

Yes, they should since they're both MFT mount just like the GX85. Handling could be pretty awkward though as the lenses are huge compared to that specific camera body.

@przybylskipawel 2 жыл бұрын

It seems like an outstanding lens! However it is not as groundbreaking as 10-25 1.7 was. For me the 10-25 was almost like having Tokina 14-20 and Sigma 18-35mm in one lens. Extremely convienient for recorging choirs and ensambles. This one though is only 2x zoom and does not cover any unique focal length that is not covered by a set of few primes, let's say 30mm, 42.5mm and 56mm that are cheaper combined. It also cannot compete with Sigma 50-100. Sigma is 2.7 FF equivalent and longer reach. More suitable for portraits. Panasonic is only 3.4 FF equivalent. And not exactly portrait focal range. Bodyshot lens rather. Very usefull though. I could use it to film a conductor or a soloist. It is always a bit of dillema when you have to design a zoom set, whether to leave a gap between them to cover bigger focal range (after all you don't need two 25mm lenses) or to make one a direct extension of the other. Both approaches seems reasonable to me. Panasonic chose the latter approach and I am truely tempted to buy this lens, however IMO for what it is, it is a bit too expensive. A lot will depend on what Panasonic GH6 will show. I am still torn between these two and Panasonic GH5S/6 and the holly trinity of EF Zoom to pair it with BMPCC 6K and Sony a6600 with Sigma MC-11.

@ValentinKossenko 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Paweł, thanks for your comment! I agree with you that the 10-25 is a more versatile lens and also a more difficult lens design to realize, which should make the 25-50 cheaper in comparison. After trying the 25-50 out myself though, I absolutely fell in love with it and immediately thought about getting rid of my 42.5mm f/1.2. The 25-50 might not cover as many useful focal lengths as the 10-25 but the look is really special. I also like that both lenses share the same design, which makes balancing on a gimbal really easy. I also hope the GH6 will be worth the wait and make me stay with the system. Since I often film myself and the autofocus isn't the best, I have thought about switching to another system though. So far, I have always adjusted the aperture enough so that it didn't bother me, but there are some limitations that hinder me in my creative process. Let's see...

@ExidiumRespaun 2 жыл бұрын

Хочется конечно такую пару иметь в арсенале. Еще добавить к ним Олик 45-150 2.8 - и вопрос репортажа закрыт. Но, цена дико кусается.. а тут еще сони выпускает свою 4-ку

@ValentinKossenko 2 жыл бұрын

Да, цена действительно не из дешевых, но объектив однозначно стоит своей цены. Спасибо за комментарий!

@CelestialTrieye 2 жыл бұрын

thx

@ValentinKossenko 2 жыл бұрын

Welcome!

@sybarix Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the great review. At 6:08, you mentioned that the 25-50mm is sharper than the 10-25mm when both are set to 25mm. Do you have any comparison photos to show this, and are there any other differences in their images? I've heard that both lenses are designed to have a similar rendering to allow for minimal disruption when switching between them.

@ValentinKossenko Жыл бұрын

I think I saw it in someone else's review of the 10-25 and 25-50. Not sure if I made any side-by-side shots though. If I find any, I'll let you know. Afaik, the difference is there, but not as drastic as you might think. Both lenses have pretty much the same characteristics. But the 25-50 gives you better separation and therefore looks a little more cinematic and is the better choice for portraiture for sure. Hope that helps!

@sybarix Жыл бұрын

@@ValentinKossenko Great, thanks!

@slows728 10 ай бұрын

I can confirm the 25-50mm is sharper than the 10-25mm at 25mm. Both lenses are great, and I use the 25-50mm 80% of the time. I feel sorry for my full frame lenses ...