Panasonic launches 35-100mm zoom, 14mm prime lenses for Micro Four Thirds

 

 

Alongside its new Panasonic GM5 compact system camera, there are a couple of other Micro Four Thirds announcements from Panasonic at the 2014 Photokina tradeshow. Both are lenses -- the LUMIX G VARIO 35-100mm / F4.0-5.6 ASPH. / MEGA O.I.S. (H-FS35100) zoom, and the LUMIX G 14mm / F2.5 II ASPH (H-H014A) prime. Both lenses are set to ship from mid-November 2014, and pricing hasn't been disclosed for either.

The LUMIX G 14mm / F2.5 II ASPH will be offered in black or silver variants to match your camera body, and has a 28mm-equivalent focal length when mounted on a Micro Four Thirds camera body. Offering a bright f/2.5 maximum aperture, it has six elements in five groups, three of which are aspherics. It's also extremely compact, with a length of just 0.8 inches (20.5mm).

 

 

With an inner-focusing design based around a stepping autofocus motor, focusing is said to be smooth and silent, earning this optic the Lumix HD designation that indicates it's well-suited for video capture. Other features include a seven-bladed aperture diaphragm, and a metal mount.

Moving on to the LUMIX G VARIO 35-100mm / F4.0-5.6 ASPH. / MEGA O.I.S. zoom, meanwhile, this metal-bodied, retractable lens has a 70 to 200mm-equivalent focal range on a Micro Four Thirds body. It, too, has a seven-bladed aperture, and its optical formula includes 12 lenses in 9 groups, including two ED elements and one aspheric element.

 

 

Panasonic's MEGA O.I.S. optical image stabilization system is included, and again the lens has an inner-focusing design with stepping motor for smooth, silent and video-friendly autofocus. Other features include multi-coated lens elements and a metal lens mount. This optic will also be available in both silver and black-bodied versions.