As we've already mentioned in the introduction, it would be difficult to find any direct rivals of the tested Panasonic among Micro 4/3 lenses. If you change the size of the sensor into APS-C there are more similar instruments and their basic parameters we show in the following chart.
Only the Viltrox is faster than the PanaLeica but it provides the narrowest angle of view for a change. The Panasonic profits from its design, optimized to cooperate with the smallest detector – it is easily the smallest and physically the lightest lens in this group. Additionally, along with the Sony, it allows you to use filters of the smallest diameter.
A minimum focusing distance of the Panasonic also sticks out here because it amounts to just 0.095 of a meter.
Please Support Us
If you enjoy our reviews and articles, and you want us to continue our work please, support our website by donating through PayPal. The funds are going to be used for paying our editorial team, renting servers, and equipping our testing studio; only that way we will be able to continue providing you interesting content for free.
Tiny dimensions of the Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 9 mm f/1.7 ASPH are well visible in the photo below where we put the tested lens among the Voigtlander Nokton 25 mm f/0.95 and the Olympus M.Zuiko 12-40 mm f/2.8 PRO ED.
The tested lens starts with a metal mount that goes round the contacts and a rear element, 18 mm in diameter; the element sticks out just slightly over the mount and is surrounded by a black ring made of plastics. On that ring you can find the serial number of the lens and information that it was made in China.
The other part of the lens is also made of plastics; it starts with an immobile ring on which you can find the focal length of the lens, its minimum focusing distance (0.095m/0.31ft - ∞), 'Lumix' inscription, the name of the model, the Micro 4/3 badge and a red dot, making an alignment with a camera easier.
A manual focus ring, 20 mm wide and devoid of any distance or depth of field scale, is the next part of the lens. It is a focus-by-wire construction that works quite smoothly and is properly damped. Running through its whole range needs an angle of about 150 degrees when you turn it faster and about 300 degrees when you move it slower. Both these values allow you very precise settings.
Further on you see an immobile ring with an inscription stating the full name and parameters of the lens; it ends with a hood mount.
The front element doesn't move, is convex, and 29 mm in diameter, surrounded by a ribbed part of the barrel and a non-rotating filter thread, 55 mm in diameter.
The producers mention the fact that the lens is weather-sealed, dust-proof and fit to be used in humid conditions. Its construction is also designed to perform in temperatures as low as -10 deg C.
When it comes to optical construction you deal here with 12 elements positioned in 9 groups. Producers weren't skimpy with special elements either – you get two low dispersion ED glass lenses, two aspherical ones and one element made of glass with high refraction index. Inside, you can also find a round aperture with seven diaphragm blades that can be closed down to a value of f/16 at the maximum.
Buyers get in the box with the lens: both caps, and a petal-type hood. Unfortunately the producers don't offer you any kind of case.
