Reddit reviews PANASONIC LUMIX G LENS, 42.5MM, F1.7 ASPH., MIRRORLESS MICRO FOUR THIRDS, POWER OPTICAL I.S., H-HS043K (USA BLACK)
We found 7 Reddit comments about PANASONIC LUMIX G LENS, 42.5MM, F1.7 ASPH., MIRRORLESS MICRO FOUR THIRDS, POWER OPTICAL I.S., H-HS043K (USA BLACK). Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
31cm Closest Focusing DistancePOWER O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) / 240fps Drive AFPerfect for low light photography with a bright F1.7 aperture.31cm Closest Focusing DistancePower O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) / 240fps Drive AFFocal Length, f=42.5mm (35mm camera equivalent 85mm)Maximum Magnification Approx. 0.2x / 0.4x (35mm camera equivalent)F1.7 Large Diameter & Mid-Telephoto 85mm Focal Length; Mount : Micro Four Thirds mount
The kit lens is good because it can zoom across a wide range of perspectives but bad because it's "slow" in light gathering terms. This means that you'll be less able to get non-blurry shots as the lights get dimmer (sun set, indoors, dinner time lighting, etc).
So my suggestion would be to, assuming you want to take photos at dusk/night, get a fixed focal length prime lens. These lenses are bad because they can't zoom at all and so you have to use your feet to zoom but good because they can shoot in significantly dimmer light.
But which prime lens to get? You can get them at a reasonable price in the zoom levels of: 15mm, 17mm, 20mm, 25mm, and 42.5mm. I'd say the way to go would be to buy the G85 with the kit lens, use it, and see which focal length you take the most photos at or your favorite photos at. Some people suggest taping the zoom lens to be fixed at a focal length of whatever prime lens you might buy and shooting with that for a week or so to see if you can handle being stuck at that range.
A lot of people are also of the opinion that using a prime lens as a beginning photographer will help you get better quicker by limiting the range of things you can do (no more zooming) and forcing you to think more outside the box.
Personally, I like the 15mm range for all around shooting (it's similar to the perspective a phone camera would give you). And I like the 42.5mm for specifically taking portraits, which I do a lot of when hanging out with friends. The Olympus lenses are worth considering if you can save some money by going with them. Theoretically they won't autofocus as quickly, but the difference should be negligible (we're talking milliseconds here).
I'd also suggest looking at used lenses (ebay or Amazon's used marketplace give me the best results). Anything in good to excellent condition that says there's no mold or scratches on the glass will perform fine. You can usually expect to save about 20% of the new price by going used, sometimes more. The majority of my lenses are used and I've never had a single issue.
/u/amrtnz - congratulations on the new camera!
At the long end, I recommend the [$347.99 Panasonic 42.5mm f1.7 with OIS] (https://www.amazon.com/PANASONIC-42-5mm-Mirrorless-Optical-H-HS043K/dp/B00H36U69Y/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ll1&tag=battleforthew-20). Longer reach than your kit lens - and better in low light. It also has image stabilization to steady your handheld shots.
Here is the image quality the G7 can produce when combined with this lens:
If you want something wider (and less expensive), I recommend the [$179.99 Panasonic 25mm f1.7] (http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?icep_ff3=2&pub=5575034783&toolid=10001&campid=5337235943&customid=&icep_item=182012172949&ipn=psmain&icep_vectorid=229466&kwid=902099&mtid=824&kw=lg).
I prefer this lens to the 20mm f1.7 because the 20mm's autofocus motor is unacceptably noisy, as seen [here] (https://youtu.be/Iu-E4vs_8h0) - while the 25mm's motor is [near-silent] (https://youtu.be/sxPYSsZEIsE).
And the 25mm produces high quality video, as seen in these examples (please watch at 2160p and your monitor's highest resolution):
If you haven't already, you might want to subscribe over at /r/PanasonicG7 - lots of knowledgeable folks there who can help you get the most out of your new camera.
Hope this is helpful and good luck finding the right lens for your needs!
most of the time my 12-35mm sits on my camera, but if i need the lowlight I'll bust out the 25mm f1.4, images are super sharp and the lens is nice and small. only downside is the aperture blades can be a little noisy. I also have the 42.5mm f1.7 which is my favourite portrait lens right now, looks gorgeous and for video has a nice reach. also it's nice and small!
Looking into getting the viltrox speedbooster next
This is great because it's so cheap. Basically gives a "normal" field of view, but the wider aperture can give you both a shallow depth of field and it'll let you shoot faster shutter speeds/lower ISOs in lower light. https://www.amazon.com/PANASONIC-LUMIX-MIRRORLESS-THIRDS-H-H025K/dp/B014RD6RC0
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The 42.5 is a bit smaller physically, but is more a portrait lens, allowing you to have your model a bit further away for head shots at similar apertures to the 25mm, but with more in focus of the model compared to the background. It is more than double the price of the 25mm.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H36U69Y/ref=psdc_7161083011_t4_B014RD6RC0
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I rented the 42.5 at the same time as the 14-140, and while I loved it, the 14-140 seemed more useful to me at the time because I already had the 25mm, but I will probably get the 42.5 at some point.
There's also the Panasonic H-HS043K 42.5mm f/1.7 with Power O.I.S.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00H36U69Y?keywords=panasonic%20micro%20four%20thirds%20lens%201.7&qid=1451757035&ref_=sr_1_4&sr=8-4
The best low light lens with image stabilization is Panasonic Leica Nocticron 42.5 f1.2. Money, though.
The next best is Panasonic 42.5 f1.7 and is much cheaper.
Hey guys so I am about to buy a new camera lens and I need your expertise. I am a photographer and videographer, I tend to shoot portraits as well as landscapes. Lately I have been shooting with the kit lens but it's is time for an upgrade. I am stuck between three choices, the Rokinon 50mm t1.5, Rokinon 50mm f1.2, and the Panasonic 42.5mm f1.7. Which would you guys think is the best choice? Thank you.
Rokinon DS50M-MFT Cine DS 50 mm T1.5 AS IF UMC Full Frame Cine Lens for Olympus & Panasonic Micro Four Thirds https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N1B47B8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_5-7BybC8VFJM8
Rokinon RK50M-MFT 50mm F1.2 AS UMC High Speed Lens for Olympus & Panasonic (Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015IUF6K0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_v.7BybFA330R2
PANASONIC LUMIX G Lens, 42.5mm, F1.7 ASPH., Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds, POWER Optical I.S., H-HS043K (USA BLACK) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H36U69Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_3.7Byb0FD6VAZ