What lens to get for your Panasonic Lumix G9?
Released in January 2018, the Lumix G9 (see on Amazon Australia here) is a hybrid 4/3 micro sensor camera that closely resumes the excellent video capabilities of the GH5 but in a dedicated camera body. It has a 20MP sensor stabilized on five axes and a continuous AF burst mode at 20 frames/sec. Features include a Pixel Shift mode that allows you to create 80Mpx images, in RAW or Jpeg, and a 4K video mode at 60 fps and Full HD at 180 fps. The autonomy is very good since we can take (on paper) about 900 photos with a single charge.
Ergonomically speaking, the G9 looks like a reflex camera, with a fairly large size compared to most Micro 4/3 sensor cameras. There is also a backlit LCD control screen on top, a very comfortable handle and a swivel and touch screen. It also has a dual SD card slot, a 3.6 million point OLED viewfinder, and extensive connectivity (headphone, mirco, HDMI, etc.). It’s also completely tropicalized, making it ideal for travel. In short, the Panasonic Lumix G9 is among the best in hybrid technology, both for photography and video. The range of lenses compatible with the Lumix G9 being very wide, compromises had to be made fort this list.
- Professional photo and video performance 20 3-Megapixel (Plus 80-megapixel high-resolution Jpeg or raw in-camera image) micro Four Thirds sensor with no low pass filter to confidently capture sharp...
- Rugged splash or freeze proof design durable magnesium alloy body withstands heavy use out in the field and is freeze proof down to -10-degrees splash or dustproof construction with weather sealing on...
- Class-leading dual image stabilization 5-axis Dual image stabilization corrects all lenses including classic lenses not equipped with O I S to eliminate Blur and nearly eliminate body and lens shake...
Here is a selection of the best lenses compatible with the Lumix G9 to help you make a good arsenal useful in all situations, whether for travel, portrait or landscape photography.
Please leave a comment if you have any suggestions or ideas to improve this list!
Note: Product links in this article lead to Amazon.com
Summary
- Panasonic Lumix G 42.5 mm f/1.7
- Panasonic Lumix G 25mm f/1.7
- Panasonic leica DG vario-elmarit 50-200mm f/2.8-4.0H
- Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18 mm f/2.8-4 ASPH
- Panasonic Leica Summilux DG 12mm f/1.4
- Panasonic Leica Summilux 15mm f/1.7
- Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60 mm f/2.8-4 ASPH
- Olympus M. Zuiko Digital ED 60mm f/2.8 Macro
- Panasonic Lumix 35-100mm f/2.8
- Panasonic Lumix 100-300mm f/4.0-5.6
- Comparative Table
- Useful accessories & links
1. Panasonic Lumix G 42.5mm f/1.7
Weight: 130 g
Filter size: 37 mm
Here is the lens to get if you want to make a portrait, compact, light and solid at the same time. Nothing to say about its optical performance, which is just excellent, we get superb images with a particularly high sharpness. Its focusing distance of 31cm allows it to be used in proxy photography. The maximum aperture of f/1.7 is particularly useful for shooting in low-light conditions and provides a very beautiful background blur. However, it should be noted that the vignetting is quite marked after a few returns.
It also has integrated optical stabilization, and a relatively quiet autofocus. A serious option if you want to take portrait photos with your Lumix G9.
Check the price on Amazon.com (Amazon Australia HERE)
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☛ OTHER OPTION
- Panasonic 42,5mm f/1.2 Leica DG Nocticron Power OIS ASPH A more expensive and heavier alternative, but one that offers incredible image quality.
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2. Panasonic Lumix G 25mm f/1.7
Weight: 125 g
Filter size: 46 mm
Great value for money for the G9, this 25mm is also very light and compact. Equivalent to a 50mm on a full format, it’s in fact a standard focal length that offers the same rendering as the human eye.
If you take a portrait photo, the aperture of f/1.7 allows you to have a nice background blur, with a natural look even in low light. The focus is perfectly silent, which is an advantage for video. The tests are unanimous as to its optical performance, which is really excellent.
Despite its plastic design it looks pretty solid (it’s not tropicalized though, be careful under poor shooting conditions). It’s not stabilized, which is not really a problem since the G9 integrates 5-axis stabilization directly into the case.
In short, it’s an s and perhaps the first lens you should have.
Check the price on Amazon.com (Amazon Australia HERE)
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3. Panasonic leica DG vario-elmarit 50-200mm f/2.8-4.0H
Weight: 655 g
Filter size: 67 mm
Equivalent to a 100-400mm full size zoom, this zoom lens offers a focal range very popular for sports events or animal photography, but also for certain types of portraits or landscape photos. In short, we have a rather versatile approach here. The variable aperture of f/2.8-4 is a compromise made by Panasonic to offer a minimum weight and a minimum space requirement (only 655g, a very low weight for a focal length of this type). However, it benefits from an excellent integrated stabilization that offers great results combined with the five-axis stabilization of the Lumix G9.
In terms of construction quality, it’s one of the most solid of this selection and can be used even in difficult conditions (rain, cold, dust). As for the quality of the images delivered, it’s just as excellent, with a super fast and quiet autofocus that will be very useful if you’re making video. If you have the budget to afford it, it’s simply one of the best zoom lenses available for the G9.
Check the price on Amazon.com (Amazon Australia HERE)
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☛ OTHER OPTION
- For fans of animal photography (birds, safaris…) or sports, the Panasonic Leica DG Elmarit 200mm f/2.8 Power O.I.S allows you to take superb images, has a lightning fast autofocus and is sold with a teleconverter that doubles the focal range. The price hurts the portfolio very much, but the equivalent on a full format costs three times more and weighs much more.
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4. Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18 mm f/2.8-4 ASPH
Weight: 315 g
Filter size: 67 mm
Recently released, this wide angle offers the equivalent of a 16-35mm on a full format. Highly recommended by many American and French sites, this is the best that is currently being done in wide angle for the G9. It has little distortion and vignetting, and even if the aperture is not constant it remains efficient even in low light (thanks to the five axis stabilization of the G9!).
It benefits from a good quality of construction, with a very pleasant design and handling, while keeping a modest weight. In short, it offers fantastic image quality and is an almost perfect tool if you want to take architectural or landscape photos with your Panasonic G9. Its only flaw: its price, quite high.
Check the price on Amazon.com (Amazon Australia HERE)
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☛ CHEAPER OPTION
- Olympus M. Zuiko Digital ED 9-18mm f/4.0-5.6 Technically, this 9-18mm doesn’t really make you dream: a weak aperture of f/4-5.6, an all-plastic design that looks very “toy”, it’s not stabilized or tropicalized… but it makes very beautiful images, and especially it’s super light, compact and costs half as much as the 8-18mm.
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5. Panasonic Leica Summilux DG 12mm f/1.4
Weight: 335 g
Filter size: 62 mm
In the fixed focal length wide angle category, Panasonic’s 12mm f/1.4 offers spectacular image quality, with excellent sharpness and contrast, even at full aperture. Equivalent to a 24mm in full format, it’s especially suitable for those who take street pictures or who would need a reliable lens in low light.
Two other options are the Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 12mm f/2 (expensive), and the Samyang 12mm f/2.0, which produces excellent images with superb sharpness and low distortion, but it has no autofocus (its price is not very high though).
Check the price on Amazon.com (Amazon Australia HERE)
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6. Panasonic Leica Summilux 15mm f/1.7
Weight: 115g
Filter size: 46 mm
This 15mm f/1.7 is compact and lightweight, with a quiet and faster autofocus than the 25mm or 20mm pancake. All metal, its manufacturing quality is excellent. One downside, however, is that the dive is not as good as other Panasonic lenses, even though it offers excellent contrast in return.
If you are looking for the full size equivalent of a 30mm, there is no reason not to add it to your photo equipment. Its price is a little high, but you will not be disappointed by this lens.
Check the price on Amazon.com (Amazon Australia HERE)
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7. Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60 mm f/2.8-4 ASPH
Weight: 320 g
Filter size: 62 mm
If you are looking for a versatile, versatile and capable all-purpose lens for a wide variety of situations, then the 12-60mm f/2.8 is a good lens for the Lumix G9. Equivalent to a 24-120 mm on full format, it has nothing to see in terms of size compared to pancake lenses, but it remains easily transportable when travelling. It’s tropicalized and can be used in difficult conditions in combination with the G9. Too bad though that the aperture is not constant and that the aperture of f/2.8 is only available at 12mm and not beyond….
Overall, it’s a lens that provides a good balance between image quality, weight and compactness, with impressive stabilization and a discreet and powerful autofocus in both still and video. In terms of optical quality, it does not offer a glaring difference with the 12-60mm sold with the G9, but its construction is much stronger and it’s a better choice if you make video (and you have the necessary budget).
Check the price on Amazon.com (Amazon Australia HERE)
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8. Olympus M. Zuiko Digital ED 60mm f/2.8 Macro
Weight: 185 g
Filter size: 46 mm
For macro enthusiasts who would like to make super close-ups on insects, flowers or other tiny objects, the Olympus 60mm f/2.8 is the lens to own. The focal length is the same as a 120mm in full format, and the rendering of the images that can be made with it’s impressive: look at examples of photos on the Flickr.com website, you will hallucinate by the sharpness of the details. Big enough for a 4/3 micro lens, it fits perfectly into the G9’s size. Finally, even if it’s not its main use, it’s also powerful for portrait photography.
Another option is the Panasonic 30mm f/2.8, less expensive and bulky, but which requires to get twice as close to the subject (which can be embarrassing in the case of insects for example).
Check the price on Amazon.com (Amazon Australia HERE)
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9. Panasonic Lumix G X Vario 35-100mm f/2.8 II POWER O.I.S
Weight: 357 g
Filter size: 58 mm
An excellent zoom for the G9, sold at a reasonable price compared to the equivalent 70-200mm focal length lenses from Canon and Nikon, while being much more compact and lightweight.
The sharpness of the images delivered by this 35-100mm constant aperture 35-100mm f/2.8 is excellent over the entire focal range (especially in the center, a little less in the corners), with little distortion and a beautiful bokeh that offers a great rendering if you make wedding photos or portraits.
Its construction quality is also excellent and taking it on a trip will not be a problem. If you have the budget, there is no need to hesitate.
A cheaper alternative is the Lumix 35-100mm f/4-5.6 but it’s not as good in low light or for portraiture.
Check the price on Amazon.com (Amazon Australia HERE)
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10. Panasonic Lumix 100-300mm f/4.0-5.6
Weight: 520 g
Filter size: 67 mm
With a focal length equivalent to 200-600mm on a full-format camera, it’s simply a powerful zoom that can be used for animal photography, or during a trek.
Its internal stabilization works very well, especially in combination with the G9’s five-axis stabilization, and allows you to obtain superb photos even remotely by freehand, with lots of detail.
There are some limitations however: it will have to be photographed in good light conditions, and it weighs relatively heavy compared to the other lenses in this selection, but given the price at which it’s sold and its performance, it’s a must-have if you want to take pictures from a distance.
Another possible choice: if the focal length range of 100-300mm is not large enough, there is also the Panasonic Leica DG 100-400mm f/4-6.3, but its price (and its weight of almost 1kg) makes it more suitable for true fans of animal photography who want a perfect image quality.
Check the price on Amazon.com (Amazon Australia HERE)
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11. COMPARATIVE TABLE
All of the Panasonic Lumix G9 compatible lenses mentioned above are included in this comparison chart to help you choose the right equipment. You will be able to compare them according to their price, the weight and the utility of each one to choose which will suit your budget and your style of photo.
12. USEFUL ACCESSORIES & LINKS
A small selection of useful accessories to have in addition to your lenses and your Lumix G9:
- Cleaning accessories
- Fast SD card
- Buy the Lumix G9 now!
- Professional photo and video performance 20 3-Megapixel (Plus 80-megapixel high-resolution Jpeg or raw in-camera image) micro Four Thirds sensor with no low pass filter to confidently capture sharp...
- Rugged splash or freeze proof design durable magnesium alloy body withstands heavy use out in the field and is freeze proof down to -10-degrees splash or dustproof construction with weather sealing on...
- Class-leading dual image stabilization 5-axis Dual image stabilization corrects all lenses including classic lenses not equipped with O I S to eliminate Blur and nearly eliminate body and lens shake...
Links:
- All G9 compatible lenses on Panasonic.com
- Lumix G9 reviews round-up