Just bought the PanaLeica 25mm f/1.4. Using it on my GH3 and liking it a lot! I can't wait till I 'need' this 42.5mm! Probably not till I 'need' the GH5 though.
Rock solid review, Steve. It never ceases to amaze me that people think f1.2 lenses should be available with ED glass but only be $499... whereas in reality you always get what you pay for. Peace to you and your clan!
I have the panny 42.5 1.7 and Leica 15mm 1.7. I really like the build on the Leica lens and aperture ring. Now you make me want to go out and get this nocticron. Luckily the nocticron is more affordable today, still expensive but a good deal less than $1600 today. Awesome review buddy!
I enjoy these types of videos. I just recently purchased my first camera body (GH4). Now im investing in glass. I currently only have the Panasonic 12-35 1.8.. This Nocticron 42.5 will be my next purchase.. I a few years late but its only the beggining for me...
I shot with this lens at at a demo day. And everything he says is trues. I will put the sharpness and bokeh up against just about any lens for portrait. It's worth every dime.
So Steve is the honeymoon over with the Olympus E-P5? I bought mine for the fact that it came with the 17mm 1.8 for $200 less then the E-M1 body alone. Your review of the Pen also had something to do with it. Do you find any use for the Pen after you got your E-M1? The plastic EVF and no weather sealing troubles some but I kind of like the sleek styling of the Pen and the slightly smaller size without the E-M1's "DSLR-like" grip. BTW awesome look at the Nocticron, if only I could justify buying it!
What you think between this and nokton 42.5 ? I have two em5 body, I don't need IS on lens and AF is not very important because my setting is AF+MF in same time.
Hi Steve, About 7 months ago, you did a review on Voigtlander 42.5 f/0.95. Is there a way you could compare this lens with voigtlander? There is a huge price difference between them. Voigtlander is about $1100 here in Australia and Panny is about $2100. price wise it's a no brainer but what about the image quality, sharpness etc etc. Could you please include that in your review?
The Voigtlander Nokton 25mm f/0.95 Type II just came out not too long ago! Cost about one grand. I wonder Voigtlander Nokton 25mm f/0.95 Type II & Voigtlander 42.5 f/0.95 compare to this Panasonic Nocticron 42.5 f/1.2, too.
You said the bokeh is best on the nocticron over the voitlander. Was that a mistake in saying so? I'd imagine a f-stop that goes down to .95 would produce more bokeh over 1.2?
Subjective quality he prefers the nocticron. The nokton definitely produces more bokeh. But bokeh is usually referring the quality of the oof areas not the quantity. Its subjective. Others would disagree with him.
The crop doesn't directly apply to the aperture equivalency because of how stops are calculated, something to do with square roots or squaring.. the point is it's more complicated to find aperture equivalency's than just multiplying the aperture by 2 just because the crop factor for the focal length is multiplied by two.
That may be, but the difference is still two stops. And according to Wikipedia, f/1.2 plus two stops equals f/2.4. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-number#Stops.2C_f-stop_conventions.2C_and_exposure
thanks for great info - and yes I love the IS on a prime - something DSLR users and Fuji users do not get to enjoy - you are spot on on the GX7 and OMD-em1 both great cameras -
No. There is no better image stabilization than what Olympus 5-axis is offering now in E-M1 unless you want to go to steadycam body setups. The IBIS on E-M1 is crazy... literally. When you take the camera on hand and half-press shutter and it enables IBIS, you just laugh a loud when you check how well it keeps shot still when you are radically shaking camera around all axis. And when in extreme low light situations where shooting f/2.8 with 2-4 second shutter speeds while standing and you get 90% of photos sharp, you laugh even more. I have found that only problem is when wind blows so hard that I get unbalanced because it. If you are not totally drunk, you will get amazingly often sharp shots, even when being acceptable drunk ;)
paristo Oh ok that's interesting, I have an E-M5 myself and find the IBIS amazing especially when used with an Olympus lens. I just remember reading an article about the reason why some of the other big name brands opt for OIS rather than IBIS because it's generally better.
Francesco Romano They opt for in lens IS because they don't want to spend the money on researching good in body IS, their existing line of lenses already have IS, and they can charge you a lot more for a lens with IS than one without. Canikon will not switch to in body IS anytime soon because it will undermine their existing product line, so they shift the losses over to you, the user instead, by making you pay for IS in each lens, and going without on fast primes.
I just have so hard time to accept the Panasonic lenses to Olympus body. Why? Because the OIS in this lens just makes it more expensive and more fragile! There is one glass element moving inside that lens so it isn't so sturdy as would be without it. And then you get a extra switch on the lens what you will never use and even might accidentally turn it On to cause problems. I am comparing this to the Voigtländer f/0.95 what I would buy, but the AF in this just hard decision divider because when using E-M1 face detection and eye focus options, it would make perfect portrait lens when eye would always be sharp. The price isn't a problem, it is just few shooting sessions and it has paid itself.
I say raw vs. raw the em1 & gx7 are equal. The big difference in IQ between the 2 in my opinion is the em1 has more natural colors than the gx7 but does that make for a better looking image to the eye? I myself like more vivid colors on the gx7. I though agree as of now the EM1 is the best of best on the market for photo in an all in one package but for how long? Remember the panasonic gh4 is around the corner and from the photos Ive seen It edges the em1 in IQ. Lastly remember colors and contrast look different when you match Olympus bodies with Panasonic lens & vise versa. Lastly the Nocticron is YES the best micro four lens to date from IQ to build to handling. YES I can say 100% its in another league against the likes of the Olympus 75mm. Other than its weight, its my 2nd favorite lens besides the lumix 20mm II for multiple uses.
Steve: you said at the very end of this video that the bokeh of the Panny f1.2 was better than the bokeh of the Voight f0.95! Can you expound on this please? Thanks.
He means quality. Its perceptive. The voigtlander produces a shallower depth of field and therefore more bokeh. But he prefers the way the oof areas look wkth the panasonic. Some people would disagree since its a matter of opinion. I find the voigtlanders to produce a delightful bokeh. I disagree with him on one point the 45mm 1.8 from Olympus is probably the best bokeh performer of the entire system.
Every time I here you say I bokeh, I hear bouquet. In Japanese, the word, I believe, is split like this bo-keh and sound like this bow-keh, and not bow-kay. But honestly, nobody cares so just ignore this comment.
I'm not convinced that Leica deisgned the lens. I think Panasonic designs those lenses, and Leica approves the design when they consider it has reached their quality standard. Still, doesn't really matter: the Panasonic Leica lenses are fantastic.
The panaleica lenses use patented leica designs. Leica doesnt entirely design them. hut they allow panasonic engineers to use their designs and technology and assist with the process
Just bought the PanaLeica 25mm f/1.4. Using it on my GH3 and liking it a lot! I can't wait till I 'need' this 42.5mm! Probably not till I 'need' the GH5 though.
Rock solid review, Steve.
It never ceases to amaze me that people think f1.2 lenses should be available with ED glass but only be $499... whereas in reality you always get what you pay for.
Peace to you and your clan!
I have the panny 42.5 1.7 and Leica 15mm 1.7. I really like the build on the Leica lens and aperture ring. Now you make me want to go out and get this nocticron. Luckily the nocticron is more affordable today, still expensive but a good deal less than $1600 today.
Awesome review buddy!
i would like to see you review Panasonic GX8. Please kindly do so.
I enjoy these types of videos. I just recently purchased my first camera body (GH4). Now im investing in glass. I currently only have the Panasonic 12-35 1.8.. This Nocticron 42.5 will be my next purchase.. I a few years late but its only the beggining for me...
do you have a flickr or somewhere to see more photos with this lens?
Great video Steve! It looks like this will be an awesome choice for MFT users who are looking for a world class portrait lens.
what ND filter do you use with this to get the shallow depth of field?
and can you do any taLKINg head video tests? Id love this for interview footage
Thanks Steve. Will you review de Voigtlander MFT 17.5mm F/0.95 Nokton for me?
How is the bokeh compared to the SLR Magic 25mm f0.95?
would be cool if you could do a gh4 review with that 42.5 Steve!!
Too right!
another great video steve! thanks for sharing.
hi Steve, this or Voigtlander 42.5mm f0.95? Thanks!
I shot with this lens at at a demo day. And everything he says is trues. I will put the sharpness and bokeh up against just about any lens for portrait. It's worth every dime.
As always, very nice review!
I`d like to see 1080p uploads if possible, due to youtube compression.
Looks great but on the Oly a little too bulky. But the manual aperture ring is quite sexy!
So Steve is the honeymoon over with the Olympus E-P5? I bought mine for the fact that it came with the 17mm 1.8 for $200 less then the E-M1 body alone. Your review of the Pen also had something to do with it. Do you find any use for the Pen after you got your E-M1? The plastic EVF and no weather sealing troubles some but I kind of like the sleek styling of the Pen and the slightly smaller size without the E-M1's "DSLR-like" grip.
BTW awesome look at the Nocticron, if only I could justify buying it!
The PEN is awesome..I love it. I prefer the body to the E-M1 for sure.
What you think between this and nokton 42.5 ? I have two em5 body, I don't need IS on lens and AF is not very important because my setting is AF+MF in same time.
Hi Steve,
About 7 months ago, you did a review on Voigtlander 42.5 f/0.95. Is there a way you could compare this lens with voigtlander?
There is a huge price difference between them. Voigtlander is about $1100 here in Australia and Panny is about $2100. price wise it's a no brainer but what about the image quality, sharpness etc etc.
Could you please include that in your review?
The Voigtlander Nokton 25mm f/0.95 Type II just came out not too long ago! Cost about one grand.
I wonder Voigtlander Nokton 25mm f/0.95 Type II & Voigtlander 42.5 f/0.95 compare to this Panasonic Nocticron 42.5 f/1.2, too.
Hot review, Sir!
Where can I see sample shots?
Review will be up on Monday at the website.
I thought you were talking rubbish until I saw those example images at the end. I get the price, I do!
You said the bokeh is best on the nocticron over the voitlander. Was that a mistake in saying so? I'd imagine a f-stop that goes down to .95 would produce more bokeh over 1.2?
Subjective quality he prefers the nocticron. The nokton definitely produces more bokeh. But bokeh is usually referring the quality of the oof areas not the quantity. Its subjective. Others would disagree with him.
I think you are thinking of depth of field and not bokeh, Sam.
Man, I wish I was made of money like you, Steve. =P Great video as always.
It has super power of the light or how can I call it in english. I mean aperture.
I read somewhere it was 85mm f3.5 equivalent?
x2 crop means equivalent to 85mm ƒ/2.4 in 135 format.
Willi Kampmann * f2.4 for DOF, f1.2 for light gathering
The crop doesn't directly apply to the aperture equivalency because of how stops are calculated, something to do with square roots or squaring.. the point is it's more complicated to find aperture equivalency's than just multiplying the aperture by 2 just because the crop factor for the focal length is multiplied by two.
That may be, but the difference is still two stops. And according to Wikipedia, f/1.2 plus two stops equals f/2.4. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-number#Stops.2C_f-stop_conventions.2C_and_exposure
thanks for great info - and yes I love the IS on a prime - something DSLR users and Fuji users do not get to enjoy - you are spot on on the GX7 and OMD-em1 both great cameras -
thanks steve, i stop thinking about buying the X-T1
Bravo! Thank you!
Your son at the end of the film looks like Leonardo Di Caprio.
isn't OIS always better than in body IS? Even if it is Olympus' amazing 5-axis IS?
No. There is no better image stabilization than what Olympus 5-axis is offering now in E-M1 unless you want to go to steadycam body setups.
The IBIS on E-M1 is crazy... literally. When you take the camera on hand and half-press shutter and it enables IBIS, you just laugh a loud when you check how well it keeps shot still when you are radically shaking camera around all axis. And when in extreme low light situations where shooting f/2.8 with 2-4 second shutter speeds while standing and you get 90% of photos sharp, you laugh even more. I have found that only problem is when wind blows so hard that I get unbalanced because it.
If you are not totally drunk, you will get amazingly often sharp shots, even when being acceptable drunk ;)
paristo Oh ok that's interesting, I have an E-M5 myself and find the IBIS amazing especially when used with an Olympus lens. I just remember reading an article about the reason why some of the other big name brands opt for OIS rather than IBIS because it's generally better.
Francesco Romano They opt for in lens IS because they don't want to spend the money on researching good in body IS, their existing line of lenses already have IS, and they can charge you a lot more for a lens with IS than one without. Canikon will not switch to in body IS anytime soon because it will undermine their existing product line, so they shift the losses over to you, the user instead, by making you pay for IS in each lens, and going without on fast primes.
did someone tried it with the GH2??
Can the Nocticron be adapted to the Leica M mount? Would be nice not to have to shell out $11k for the Noctilux.
the best review ever
I just have so hard time to accept the Panasonic lenses to Olympus body. Why? Because the OIS in this lens just makes it more expensive and more fragile! There is one glass element moving inside that lens so it isn't so sturdy as would be without it. And then you get a extra switch on the lens what you will never use and even might accidentally turn it On to cause problems.
I am comparing this to the Voigtländer f/0.95 what I would buy, but the AF in this just hard decision divider because when using E-M1 face detection and eye focus options, it would make perfect portrait lens when eye would always be sharp. The price isn't a problem, it is just few shooting sessions and it has paid itself.
I say raw vs. raw the em1 & gx7 are equal. The big difference in IQ between the 2 in my opinion is the em1 has more natural colors than the gx7 but does that make for a better looking image to the eye? I myself like more vivid colors on the gx7. I though agree as of now the EM1 is the best of best on the market for photo in an all in one package but for how long? Remember the panasonic gh4 is around the corner and from the photos Ive seen It edges the em1 in IQ. Lastly remember colors and contrast look different when you match Olympus bodies with Panasonic lens & vise versa. Lastly the Nocticron is YES the best micro four lens to date from IQ to build to handling. YES I can say 100% its in another league against the likes of the Olympus 75mm. Other than its weight, its my 2nd favorite lens besides the lumix 20mm II for multiple uses.
i wish panasonic\olympus make a 12mm f1.2
Steve: you said at the very end of this video that the bokeh of the Panny f1.2 was better than the bokeh of the Voight f0.95! Can you expound on this please? Thanks.
He means quality. Its perceptive. The voigtlander produces a shallower depth of field and therefore more bokeh. But he prefers the way the oof areas look wkth the panasonic. Some people would disagree since its a matter of opinion. I find the voigtlanders to produce a delightful bokeh. I disagree with him on one point the 45mm 1.8 from Olympus is probably the best bokeh performer of the entire system.
joshuassonjs Thank you. I have both the Voightlander and the 45 1.8 on my list to buy.
tkarlmann check ebay for the 45 f1.8. I got mine for 200 dollars
Every time I here you say I bokeh, I hear bouquet. In Japanese, the word, I believe, is split like this bo-keh and sound like this bow-keh, and not bow-kay. But honestly, nobody cares so just ignore this comment.
I'm not convinced that Leica deisgned the lens. I think Panasonic designs those lenses, and Leica approves the design when they consider it has reached their quality standard. Still, doesn't really matter: the Panasonic Leica lenses are fantastic.
The panaleica lenses use patented leica designs. Leica doesnt entirely design them. hut they allow panasonic engineers to use their designs and technology and assist with the process
For most of the time, the lens and the bodies were out of focus
Oooo, Fuji is not going to be happy with you, again. :-)
Good video
Yo... Don't diss Fuji man... Not cool.
I think you broke
You sound like a sails rep..
okay bokeh ;)
A little less ego, Plz. A bit more "getting to the point?"
NOT Leica Design!!!
It is designed by Panasonic itself & then "certified" by Leica!!!