Introduction

This blog is a user's perspective on the Micro Four Thirds camera system. Read more ...

Lens Buyer's Guide. Panasonic GH4 review.

My lens reviews: Olympus 9mm f/8 fisheye, Lumix G 12-32mm f/3.5-5.6, Leica 25mm f/1.4, Lumix X 12-35mm f/2.8, Lumix X 35-100mm f/2.8, Sigma 30mm f/2.8, Sigma 19mm f/2.8, Lumix X PZ 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6, Lumix X PZ 45-175mm f/4-5.6, Olympus M.Zuiko 45mm f/1.8, Panasonic Lumix G 100-300mm f/4-5.6, Panasonic Leica Lumix DG Macro-Elmarit 45mm f/2.8 1:1 Macro, Panasonic Lumix G 45-200mm f/4-5.6, Panasonic Lumix G 20mm f/1.7 pancake, Panasonic Lumix G 14mm f/2.5 pancake, Panasonic Lumix G HD 14-140mm f/4-5.8, Panasonic Lumix G HD 14-140mm f/3.5-5.6, Panasonic Lumix G 8mm f/3.5 fisheye, Lumix G 7-14mm f/4, Samyang 7.5mm f/3.5 fisheye, Tokina 300mm f/6.3 mirror reflex tele, Lensbaby 5.8mm f/3.5 circular fisheye lens
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Thursday 31 December 2009

Lumix G 20mm f/1.7 pancake

The Panasonic Lumix G 20mm f/1.7 pancake lens was launched in the autumn 2009, and became an instant classic even before it was widely available.

Most people who had a Micro Four Thirds camera by this time probably already owned a kit lens which covers the 20mm focal length, e.g., the Lumix 14-140mm, Lumix 14-45mm, or Olympus 14-42mm. So why add another lens in the same range?

There are several reasons why a lot of people like this lens. The focal length corresponds to 40mm on an old style 35mm film based camera, which can be considered as a slightly wide normal focal length. While there is nothing magical about this "normal" focal length, it is considered to give images that look normal to a human observer, in terms of perspective. It sits between wide angle and tele lenses, and while different photographers have different tastes, it remains a useful focal length for a lot of situations.



Another reason for the popularity of this lens is the speed. The lens features a large maximum aperture, f/1.7, the largest aperture so far for a micro four thirds lens. This gives two advantages: A large aperture means that you can take pictures in less available light, e.g., indoors without a flash, or at a concert where a flash would disturb the artist.

A large aperture also gives a narrow depth of field. When you focus on an object at a certain distance, the depth of field is the range of distances in front of and beyond this focus point that are also in focus. When taking a portrait, it is common to use a narrow depth of field, to make the background go out of focus, making the subject stand out more. This subject isolation technique may be impossible to achieve using a kit lens with a maximum aperture of, say, f/4. Hence, adding a fast prime to your lens collection may be a neccesity, if you want to take traditional portrait pictures.

The lens is also loved for it's pancake characteristic: It is very small, as can be seen by the comparison with the Lumix G HD 14-140mm kit lens here. It delivers the compact size promised by the Micro Four Thirds system.

Sharpness

A large aperture comes at the expense of sharpness. At maximum aperture, this lens is remarkably sharp in the center, but soft in the corners. This is not unusual for a fast prime lens like this. Stopping the lens down to f/2.8 improves the corner sharpness, but not by an impressive amount. To get the best sharpness across the whole frame, you will need to stop down to f/4 or f/5.6. In real life, this is not a big issue, since you're not likely to need sharp corners when you're photographing at full aperture.

I have compared the 20mm lens with the more recent Lumix G 14mm f/2.5 pancake lens. My study shows that both lenses are very capable. The 14mm lens might be slightly less sharp in the corners. But for most uses, neither lens will disappoint.

I have made a sharpness comparison with the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 lens, which is priced similarly. In my experiment, the Lumix 20mm lens is by far the sharpest. On the other hand, I used different cameras in the experiment, and the Pentax K10D, on which the Sigma 30mm lens was mounted, has an older generation sensor.



Chromatic aberrations

I have made a study of the chromatic aberration (CA) artifacts of this lens, and some other prime lenses. It shows that there are some quite small red/green fringing artifacts in the corners of the frame, but it is effectively corrected by software.

All the example images on this page are from the out of camera JPEG images, which have been adjusted for CA artifacts. Panasonic Lumix G cameras automatically apply this correction when it produces JPEG images, and it is also done by some RAW conversion programs.

Even before this correction, the artifacts are not very annoying. So users of Olympus cameras, which to date do not apply this correction, should not find this a big problem.

Autofocus

This is not an "HD" designated lens, and the autofocus speed is not stellar. For normal use, this should not be any issue at all. But for action photography, you may experience that the focus is not fast enough. The autofocus is more noisy than the Lumix G HD 14-140mm lens, but it should not be any problem.

According to the specifications of the lens, it is not supposed to autofocus while recording movies. I've found this to be untrue; on the Panasonic GH1 it does actually autofocus continuously while recording movies, however quite slowly. It takes a couple of seconds to regain focus if you move it around.

Here is an example video capture using the Lumix 20mm f/1.7 pancake lens. Notice how the lens focuses in and out now and then. This is the camera's way of verifying that the image is in focus, I guess.

The focus mechanism is the traditional one, in which the whole lens assembly moves back and forth. This has a positive side, that the focal length remains fairly constant during change of focus, and it avoids the "focus breathing" effect during video recording.  On the other hand, a moving lens assembly is slower, requires more power from the batteries to operate, and is less solid and water resistant compared with rear focus or internal focus. The newer 14mm f/2.5 pancake lens features internal focus.

Not a portrait lens

You would not normally classify this as a portrait lens. If you move close enough to get a head-and-shoulders portrait with this lens, you're so close that you're going to get distortions of the perspective. The can be noted by objects close looking too large, typically the nose or the chin. To get naturally looking portraits, you need a longer focal length, so that you can take a picture from distance.

On the other hand, you can of course take a step back and take the picture at a larger distance, for an environmental portrait. That can solve the distortion problems. Keeping a distance of at least 1 meter (3 feet) from your subject will solve the distortion problems when photographing people.

Portrait lenses for traditional 35mm film cameras are typically 85mm f/1.4-1.8. This would correspond to a focal length of 43mm on Micro Four Thirds. At the moment, the Panasonic Leica DG Macro-Elmarit 45mm f/2.8 1:1 Macro Mega O.I.S. is the closest to a portrait lens in the Micro Four Thirds lineup. However, with a maximum aperture of f/2.8, it is not really fast enough to be considered a genuine portrait lens. The Four Thirds Olumpus 50mm f/2 is closer, but it requires an adapter, and does not auto focus on Panasonic Micro Four Thirds cameras.

Distortion

Traditionally, lack of distortion in one factor which is commonly associated with quality lenses. The Lumix 20mm pancake lens is special in this way, since it features a fair amount of barrel distortion. However, this distortion is automatically corrected in post processing inside the camera. So most users will never notice.

Employing post process distortion correction has the potential of keeping the lens smaller, less complicated, and less expensive. At the same time, the designers can concentrate on having the optics correct for issues which can not be corrected in post processing. I think this system is a very good idea, since it gives the user better lenses at smaller sizes. So far, we don't really see better prices for the optics, though.

Bokeh

I have investigated the bokeh of the lens, and found that it has somewhat hard edges for out of focus highlights, but otherwise the bokeh is pleasant and even, without ringing.

Here is another bokeh study, where I compare the Lumix 20mm lens with the sigma 30mm f/2.8 and Olympus 45mm f/1.8.

Filters and hoods

The filter thread diameter is 46mm. No hood is supplied with the lens, which is quite unusual for Four Thirds lenses. Personally, I would have liked to see a hood for this lens, as the hood not only protects against stray light, but also protects the front lens element from objects touching it accidentally. To find a hood for this lens, you could try searching the internet for a 46mm screw-in hood. Here is an example hood that can be got on ebay for about US$10.



Originally intended for Leica Summicron, this hood is not optimal for the 40mm field of view of the Lumix G 20mm, but it does some job of keeping out stray light, and it does protect the front glass element against foreign objects. There is no extra vignetting due to using this hood.

My preferred solution is to use a 46-37mm step down ring as a hood for this lens. It looks like this:



You'll also need a new front lens cap with a 37mm diameter. Both can be ordered from various auction sites for less than US$10 in total.




Be warned that you cannot use a step-up ring on this lens. When powering up or down, the lens will retract the filter thread a little bit into the chassis of the lens. A step up ring is wider than the thread, and hence will jam the focus mechanism when attached to the lens. This could potentially damage the focus motor. A step-down ring could also be problematic, since they usually have a wider collar which could jam in the same way. I have had the lens jam when using a step-up ring, so be careful. Mounting a stand off extension ring between the lens and the step-up ring should be ok.

Image stabilization

This lens does not feature any image stabilization. When used with Panasonic Micro Four Thirds bodies, you do not get any optical image stabilization at all. Some would say that with a fairly wide angle (40mm in 35mm camera equivalent), and with a fast aperture, the need for image stabilization is minor. However, there are many cases where the available light is not enough for a handheld image, and OIS would have made a difference.

Using the lens on an Olympus body with sensor based image stabilization, e.g., E-P1, E-P2, or E-PL1, will give you working image stabilization with this lens.

Another drawback of the lens not having any image stabilization built in, is that it also lacks an orientation sensor. This means that a Panasonic camera cannot autorotate the image based on the orientation when shooting. Again, using an Olympus body will fix this problem.

New version of the 20mm lens

In the summer 2013, this lens was discontinued, and a new version of the lens, Lumix G 20mm f/1.7 II (H-HS020A) was released. The new version has the same basic specifications, and has the same optical design. The exterior design is new, though, with a black or silver metal finish.

As the new lens has the same optical design, it still has the old style focus assembly which moves all the lenses back and forth. Reports indicate that the focus speed is the same as the first one, i.e., not very impressive. Even with the new design of the lens, the autofocus is still the slowest among the Micro Four Thirds lenses.

So the only reason to buy the new version of the lens would be if you prefer the new design to the old one.

The new designs of the Panasonic Lumix G 20mm f/1.7 II:


Compared with the Lumix 14mm f/2.5 pancake

It is natural to compare the lens with the other slim pancake from Panasonic: The Lumix G 14mm f/2.5. In the picture below, in which I am using a step down ring as a simple hood on the 20mm, it is very clear that the newer 14mm lens is significantly smaller. However, note that the 14mm lens has the slimmer rear lens cap mounted, which makes it even smaller.


The lens designs are rather different. The 20mm lens features 7 lens elements in 5 groups (2 aspherical), while the 14mm lens has 6 elements in 5 groups (3 aspherical).


The two lenses are quite different when it comes to autofocus, as well. The Lumix 14mm lens uses a different focus mechanism compared with the Lumix 20mm. Whereas the Lumix 20mm lens uses a traditional focus method, in which the whole lens assembly moves back and forth, the newer Lumix 14mm lens has internal focusing.

The advantages with internal focusing are apparent: The elements that need to be moved are smaller, hence, they can be moved faster, more quietly, and using less energy. Also, the front of the lens does not move at all, which makes the lens more rigid, and less prone to water contamination.

In use, it is immediately apparent that the Lumix 14mm has the fastest autofocus. My examination reveals that it is about twice as fast. Still, it is not as fast as the HD rated Lumix G HD 14-140mm superzoom lens.

In terms of field of view, the lenses are rather different. The 14mm is a wide angle lens, while the 20mm lens can be considered a slightly short normal lens.

So which lens should you choose? The Lumix G 20mm f/1.7 lens is the true low light lens, with a significantly larger aperture. It is a good lens for indoor photos of people, without using flash.

On the other hand, it can be a bit narrow for photography indoors, if you want to include a group of people. If the space is limited, you may want to use the 14mm lens to cover a sufficient field of view.

A fun fact is that the lens is smaller than the Nikon F adapter alone, as shown in this comparison image.


Example videos

A low light concert movie using the Lumix G 20mm f/1.7 pancake lens on a GH2:



More information about the video parameters used.


The following video was recorded outdoors using the Lumix 20mm f/1.7 lens on a GH1. You'll see that the camera loses focus now and then, which is a bit annoying. Both the lens and the camera have had firmware updates since this video was recorded, and the autofocus performance during video has improved.



More information about the video parameters used.

24 comments:

  1. Can you leave the hood on the lens when turning off the camera? Does the hood interfere with the retraction of the lens? I'm looking at buying the same hood and want to make sure I won't need to remove it constantly.

    ReplyDelete
  2. The particular hood that I bought can be left on the lens when powering down. The hood is made out of pretty thin material, which does not interfere with the lens chassis when it retracts the front element a bit upon powering down.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Buy a 46mm stand off or 'extension' ring and you can mount any lens hood or step up ring without fear of damaging the lens focus motor.

    ReplyDelete
  4. That is true. The extension ring will give some more weight to the moving lens elements. Which will bog down the focus motor more, and cause wear. But if you are planning to mount a glass filter or metal hood, the weight difference will be quite small anyway.

    This is most likely no problem at all, since the lens is designed to take accessories mounted to the filter ring.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wich could be the best portrait lens for a GF3, in order to get a nice backgound disfocus?

    ReplyDelete
  6. The best portrait lens for Micro Four Thirds at the moment is without doubt the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 45mm f/1.8. It is reasonably priced, and performs well.

    ReplyDelete
  7. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Are there any less expensive lenses equivalent to the this lens that would work well with my Lumix GF-2?
    Current prices on a new and used 20 mm pancake Lumix are $300 to $350+. A bit high for a budding photo enthusiast. I'm looking for a lens that does well in low light.

    ReplyDelete
  9. The best portrait lens for Micro Four Thirds at the moment is without doubt the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 75mm f/1.8. It is rather expensive, and performs well.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Robert in Arabia5 October 2012 at 07:16

    I was in the Panasonic store in Al Khobar looking for an EVF for my GF2. They did not have one in Arabia. While in the store, I asked to look at the lenses they had in stock. They had the 20mm F1.7 for 2,088 riyals. I wondered around the store and saw that they were selling a GF1 with the 20mm F1.7 for 1,050 riyals. Guess what I did.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha, that sounds like a good deal! There are still quite som fans of the Panasonic GF1 camera, much, I think, due to the design and materials used.

      Delete

  11. I'm now dealing with my new OM-D and wondering which pancake could be the right one for me. The two are sure Lumix 14 and 20 mm, but sure they have some differences.

    14mm is wider and AF faster

    20mm is a "normal" and faster aperture (but they all say so slow AF)

    For the pancake my ideal use is for "street life" photography, so sure a "normal" IMHO could be better then "wide" and the faster aperture (for low light and also for a shallow DOF) would be "wow!". But also very important is "picking the moment" and this sure depends strongly from a quick AF, making catch that 1 moment smile, and if the lens was too slow, all the wide aperture and the "normal" view is gone as soon as the camera reaches the subject in focus.

    That said, I ask myself if the slow AF speed (I woder HOW much slow...) of 20mm that thay all say, is OR is not worth against the quick AF response of the 14mm, paying a lesser DOF and less closer view.

    would ask your opinion about it.
    Forgive my "English" and thanks from now for your answer.

    Mauro

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In normal use, I would say the AF speed of the 20mm lens is no issue at all. Normally, you only need to make small changes to the focus distance before taking a picture, which is very fast. So for street photo use, I think the Lumix G 20mm lens is just fine.

      See also this comparison between the 14mm and 20mm lenses.

      Delete
  12. i already have the 14mm (which came as a kit lens with my gx1). would i be well served to invest in the 20mm as well? or will my money be better spent elsewhere? i'm a beginner photographer. my only other lens is the 14-42 kit.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It depends ... If you also have the 14-42mm kit lens, then I think the 14mm lens primarily gives you compactness, and also stealth, it doesn't scare people as much. Beyond that, the 14mm lens doesn't give so much extra value, as an addition to the kit lens.

      The Lumix G 20mm f/1.7, on the other hand, gives you more possibilities. It is a true low light lens, and is very sharp. I think the focal length is sufficiently different from the 14mm to justify having both.

      The 20mm lens is good for indoor pictures of people, for example head-and-torso pictures from 1-1.5 meters distance.

      If you are looking into head-portrait pictures, then you could look for longer lenses, for example the Olympus 45mm f/1.8, which is also great. It is not useful for indoor pictures of groups of people though. It is too long and narrow for that.

      BTW, be sure to read the comparison between the 14mm and 20mm lenses.

      Delete
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