In my search to make it easier on myself while shooting weddings I decided to buy the new Panasonic 42,5 f1.7 lens with stabilisation at a very cheap 400 euro. It was also the only focal length I was missing between 25 and 75mm.

Until now I shot the bride prep with my 25mm f1.4 lens but I needed to use a monopod because I otherwise would get small jitters in the image which needed to be post treated to stabilize, which did not always work well as edius own stabiliser something warped the entire image in the process.

On some occasions I just didn't want to use that monopod anymore and was hoping the 42,5mm would allow me to shoot handheld without having to stabilize it in post, the monopod also slowed me down as it was yet another thing that I had to drag around.

And boy, did the new panasonic lens perform, I"m very glad I got it, I was able to walk around all day with the sony rx10 attached to a belt and the gh4 with the 42.5mm with a strap around my neck so I could just take shots handheld whenever I saw something worth shooting, it was a delight just walking through the crowd during the reception taking some quick candid handheld shots that all turned out to be perfectly usable without any form of post treatment.

When I view the images on a big screen it just looks gorgeous and every shot looks more stable then what I could achieve with my 25mm on a monopod, the stabilisation is that good.

Focussing manually is fly by wire, not accurate like a real mechanical lens but much more usable then the focus on my sony rx10, I found it quite easy to focus manually with this lens.

Every m4/3 camera owner should have this lens in his gearbag, it's a must have.

Great to hear about your good experience with this lens. How about some screenshots?

Every m4/3 camera owner should have this lens in his gearbag, it's a must have.

Well, thanks a lot. I'm having a hard enough time trying not to buy this lens and here along comes a comment like that! :-D

How about some screenshots?

I only have screenshots from the last weddings where I used the lens but unfortunately I cannot share them here.

I own the 1.2 version and its an amazing lens, perfect for Reception and evening footage. I just need a decent wide angle now and I've covered all the bases re primes.

Yes, that f1.2 lens is quite an investment and it's priced accordingly but that f1.7 lens, even if it feels and looks like a cheap plastic lens has a very good price/performance ratio. I have been using it a lot now shooting handheld, it's stabilization is at it's best when you don't pan or tilt, it filters out jitters very effectively, only when you start to pan and tilt you notice the limitations of the stabilization.

Yes, that f1.2 lens is quite an investment and it's priced accordingly

Worth every penny. It's my top lens for quality and the f1.2 saved me from noisy footage during one very dimly lit Ceremony.

And boy, did the new panasonic lens perform, I"m very glad I got it, I was able to walk around all day with the sony rx10 attached to a belt

Noah, may I ask what belt you use to carry the Cam's on?

Thanks

Sigh Noa... now I have to sell my Olympus 45mm and get this instead. Hate you.

Here is a shot I took last wedding in a dark corner of the venue where you could get coffee, I took this shot to show how the stabilization works, the footage is unaltered, each time I reframe I refocus as well by pressing the shutter button which explains the focus shifts and a slight wobble caused by pressing the shutterbutton. This is taken handheld without any rig. Not that it's important but this was shot at f1.7 and 3200 iso.

password: test
Private Video on Vimeo

Noah, may I ask what belt you use to carry the Cam's on?

Thanks

The BH Camera Holster | b-grip (http://www.bgrip.com/bh-camera-holster/)

was that shot in 4k then downscaled? WHERE IS THE NOISE? I HAVE NOISE AT ISO 3200.

*deep breath*

Ohhhh.... now I'm getting tempted to get this one for my G6!

I HOPE YOU'RE HAPPY Noa.

On a more helpful note, for those of you who have the Olympus 45mm (I still do, trying to sell it), there is a significant difference between these two lenses. And it's the minimum focus distance: 50cm versus 31cm for the Panasonic. It's almost a macro lens. This, coupled with 4k or the 2x function in the GH3/4 will produce amazing results for rings and any other close-ups of accessories.

Just got this lens its excellent. Results like a full frame lens great lens and stabilised

Just found one "used-like new" on amazon at an attractive price a couple of days ago, should be here in a few days. I'm hearing nothing but good about the stabilization on it.

Hi Bruce, you will love it... Steve

@Steve - It's here and you're absolutely right, I love what it does. I have the Olympus 45mm f1.8 and would like to put that one up for sale but that lens is not bringing much on the used circuit. Reckon I'll hang onto it as a "spare".

@Noa - It was your original post about it that got me to seriously considering the Panasonic 42.5mm f1.7, your "test" video pushed me over the edge.

Thanks.

I wish panasonic would make more of these primes, if they can fit stabilization into that little 42mm then it should be possible to make a 25 or a 75mm as well.

A medium and wide prime of equivalent quality to the 42.5 Nocticron would be nice.

@Steve - It's here and you're absolutely right, I love what it does. I have the Olympus 45mm f1.8 and would like to put that one up for sale but that lens is not bringing much on the used circuit. Reckon I'll hang onto it as a "spare".

@Noa - It was your original post about it that got me to seriously considering the Panasonic 42.5mm f1.7, your "test" video pushed me over the edge.

Thanks.

Thats great Bruce, it was Noa post that got me to get it too, well done Noaaaaaaa

Great lens, I just wish you had the option to turn off I.S.