Panasonic Announces the Leica DG Vario-Summilux 25-50mm f/1.7

Panasonic has unveiled the Leica DG Vario-Summilux 25-50mm f/1.7 ASPH lens for Micro Four Thirds cameras, which features a wide-open f/1.7 aperture across the zoom range and is designed to complement Panasonic's renowned Vario-Summilux 10-25mm f/1.7 ASPH lens.

The new Leica DG Vario-Summilux 25-50mm f/1.7 ASPH lens is made up of 15 elements in 11 groups and includes an aspherical lens as well as three extra-low dispersion (ED)lenses, which Panasonic claims significantly decrease axial chromatic aberration and magnification chromatic aberration. The aspherical element also corrects spherical aberration and distortion, giving Panasonic the opportunity to design a high-performance lens with a small size and light weight.

At the wide end, the 25-50mm f/1.7 has a minimum focusing distance of 0.28 meters (11.2 inches) and 0.31 meters (12.2 inches) at the telephoto end. The lens has a maximum magnification ratio of 0.42x (35mm camera equivalent) and is dust and splash resistant, as well as being able to withstand temperatures as low as 10 degrees below zero. The filter diameter of the 25-50mm f/1.7 is 77mm.

Panasonic claims that the lens's maximum 240 frames-per-second high-speed sensor drive allows it to achieve high speed and high precision autofocusing, and that the lens' stepless aperture ring and "micro-step" drive in the aperture control system allow a connected camera to easily and smoothly shift to adjust for brightness changes when zooming or panning, in addition to an inner drive focus system. Panasonic calls this barycentric stability in the optical architecture, which allows for minimum image movement while zooming. The lens also contains a focus ring that can be changed between linear and non-linear settings.

The new 25-50mm f/1.7 and 10-25mm f/1.7 span a wide range of focal lengths from 10mm to 50mm at a wide-open f/1.7. Panasonic claims that the two lenses span a wide range of focusing distances and can be used as eight different fixed focal length lenses (20mm, 24mm, 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 75mm, 85mm, 100mm translated to 35mm camera equivalent). Panasonic claims that the two lenses can provide the same or greater performance than a set of prime lenses covering the same range due of their adaptability. The two lenses have a comparable maximum aperture, form, and functionality, according to the business, allowing artists to produce with few workflow changes.

The Leica DG Vario-Summilux 25-50mm f/1.7 ASPH will cost $1,800 and will be available for pre-order in August.