Panasonic LUMIX G Leica 15mm F 1 7 ASPH Review | 54 Data compared

The Panasonic Leica Summilux 15mm f1.7 is a highly recommended, premium semi-wide prime lens designed for the Micro Four Thirds system, offering a 30mm equivalent focal length that sits comfortably between traditional 28mm and 35mm fields of view. It serves as an excellent, versatile walk-around option for landscapes, architecture, and close-up detail shots, stepping up significantly in optical quality over standard kit zooms. Co-designed by Leica and manufactured by Panasonic, the lens provides a bright f1.7 maximum aperture that pulls in one-third of a stop more light than its closest competitor, the Olympus 17mm f1.8. It features exceptional physical integration with ultra-compact bodies like the Lumix GM1, as its barrel placement allows unobstructed tripod mounting. Additionally, it boasts a dedicated physical aperture ring, a smooth manual focus ring, a quick autofocus system, a closer minimum focusing distance of 20cm, and comes packaged with a high-quality metal lens hood. However, the lens does come with several distinct drawbacks and compatibility limitations. The physical aperture ring only functions when mounted on Panasonic bodies, becoming completely non-functional on Olympus cameras where users must...

The Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Summilux 15mm f/1.7 ASPH. is a high-performing, wide-angle prime lens built for Micro Four Thirds cameras from Panasonic and Olympus. Offering a 30mm full-frame equivalent field of view, it delivers excellent center sharpness that peaks at f/5.6. Reviewer Jim Fisher highlights its robust all-metal barrel construction, wide f/1.7 maximum aperture, and useful physical controls like a dedicated manual focus switch and an aperture control ring. Designed to be compact at 1.9 by 2.5 inches and weighing just 3.8 ounces, it stands out as an attractive option for low-light photography, street shooting, and wide-angle fans who want to focus on subjects as close as 7.9 inches. Despite earning an "Excellent" 4.0 rating, the lens has a few distinct performance drawbacks. Its notable cons include 2.4 percent barrel distortion that creates a visible outward bow in straight lines, as well as noticeable edge softness when shooting wide open unless the lens is stopped down to f/2.8. Additionally, at an MSRP of $599.99, it is considered pricey, carrying a $100 premium over its primary rival, the Olympus...

The DXOMARK review of the Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 15mm F1.7 ASPH lens awards it a strong score of 21 points, highlighting its status as one of the sharpest prime options in the Micro Four Thirds ecosystem. This fast f/1.7 optic features a high-quality metal barrel, an external aperture ring, a stepper-type internal autofocusing mechanism, and an included metal hood, making it a well-built, compact tool for street and landscape photography. Optically, its prominent pros include very high peak sharpness—which hits its absolute optimum performance at f/4—excellent light transmission at 2 T-stops, and a sharp center even when shooting wide open. On the other hand, the review identifies several notable optical cons, particularly its high levels of native barrel distortion and fairly high lateral chromatic aberration in the outer two-thirds of the image field. Furthermore, peripheral images appear noticeably softer when the lens is used wide open, requiring users to stop down to at least f/2.8 to improve uniformity across the frame. While these distortions and aberrations are heavily mitigated automatically when outputting JPEGs in-camera, Raw shooters must rely on...

The Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 15mm f/1.7 ASPH. is described by ePHOTOzine as a high-quality, compact wide-angle prime featuring exceptional all-metal construction, a physical aperture ring, and a dedicated AF/MF switch. It delivers outstanding center sharpness from f/1.7 and impressive edge-to-edge resolution at f/2.8-5.6, complemented by fast, quiet autofocus. However, the review notes that corner sharpness lags at wide-open apertures, requiring stopping down for peak uniformity. Additional drawbacks include noticeable vignetting at f/1.7 and higher pricing compared to competitors, though the, performance and build are deemed worth the cost.

The Panasonic Leica 15mm f/1.7 is a compact and premium semi-wide angle prime lens for Micro Four Thirds cameras, offering a 30mm full-frame equivalent focal length that is ideal for street and landscape photography. Built to a very high standard with a solid metal and plastic body, it weighs only 115 grams and measures 36mm in length, making it a perfect fit for even the smallest camera bodies. The reviewer notes that the lens delivers outstanding image quality with impressive sharpness even at its widest f/1.7 aperture, minimal chromatic aberration, and a smooth, pleasant bokeh produced by its seven rounded aperture blades. Additionally, it features quick and silent autofocus, a physical AF/MF switch, a smooth manual focus ring, a clicking aperture ring, and a well-designed metal lens hood with a protective rubber cap. Despite its stellar performance, the lens does have a few drawbacks, most notably the lack of optical image stabilisation and weather sealing, though the reviewer acknowledges these omissions help keep the lens compact. Furthermore, the physical aperture ring only functions on Panasonic camera bodies, which may disappoint...

The Panasonic Leica DG 15mm F1.7 is a compact, high-quality wide-angle prime for Micro Four Thirds, featuring robust metal construction and excellent, smooth manual focus. Key pros include a physical aperture ring with a satisfying click feel and a dedicated, intentional AF/MF switch. DPReview However, the lens lacks weather sealing, and the aperture ring is incompatible with Olympus camera bodies, requiring the use of camera dials instead. These design limitations, along with the lack of environmental protection, are noted as primary drawbacks.

The Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 15mm f/1.7 ASPH is a premium, compact, all-metal prime lens for Micro Four Thirds, offering a 30mm equivalent focal length and a bright f/1.7 maximum aperture. It is highly praised for fast, quiet autofocus, excellent low-light performance, and minimal distortion thanks to three aspherical elements. Key advantages include robust build quality with a dedicated aperture ring, attractive bokeh, and exceptional flare resistance, making it ideal for street photography. However, the lens lacks built-in optical image stabilization, has a limited 20 cm minimum focusing distance, and comes with a premium price tag.

The Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 15mm f/1.7 Micro Four Thirds lens is highly praised for its exceptional build quality, rich color rendition, and compact design. It features a dense metal construction, a premium metal lens hood, and a fast autofocus system that makes it highly effective for street and travel photography. The lens excels in producing vibrant imagery with distinct character and punchy contrast, while effectively controlling chromatic aberration and flare.

The Panasonic Leica DG 15mm Summilux f1.7 ASPH is a superb, ultra-lightweight (115g) everyday lens designed for Micro Four Thirds cameras, offering a versatile 30mm equivalent focal length. Its all-metal, compact design pairs excellently with smaller camera bodies like the Panasonic Lumix GX85. Reviewer Patrick highlighted several outstanding pros, including a fast f1.7 aperture that is ideal for low-light shooting and generating creamy, smooth bokeh when shooting close to a subject. Additionally, the lens boasts an exceptionally fast, silent, and accurate stepping motor autofocus system, alongside fantastic overall image quality that delivers punchy contrast, realistic colors, and exceptional sharpness throughout the entire aperture range. However, the lens does have a few minor cons to consider. The reviewer noted that there is some inherent distortion and visible vignetting when shooting wide open at f1.7, though the vignetting clears up significantly by f2.8. At larger apertures, the corners and edges of the images also exhibit a slight loss in sharpness compared to the excellent performance found in the center. Finally, from a usability standpoint, the bayonet-mounted metal lens hood felt a bit...

The Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 15mm f/1.7 is a compact micro-four-thirds prime lens designed jointly by Leica and Panasonic. In his review, Jim Nix praises the lens for its exceptional build quality, sharp image performance, and fast f/1.7 maximum aperture, which allows for effortless handheld low-light photography without a tripod. Weighing only 115g (4 ounces), its ultra-lightweight and small form factor makes it an ideal choice for minimalist travel and daily walk-around shooting. The author notes that the 15mm focal length (30mm full-frame equivalent) provides a highly versatile, wide-angle view that successfully encourages creative physical composition instead of relying on lazy zooming. Despite the overwhelming praise, the reviewer highlights a few drawbacks and compatibility limitations. The physical manual aperture ring built into the lens barrel is highly restricted, functioning seamlessly only when attached to Panasonic camera bodies. Users shooting on Olympus systems, like the reviewer himself, must bypass the ring entirely and adjust the aperture settings using the camera's internal control dials. Additionally, the lens carries a higher standard retail price tag when compared to its direct competitor, the Olympus...

The Panasonic LUMIX G Leica DG Summilux 15mm f/1.7 ASPH is a premium, all-metal lens praised for its superior build, fast autofocus, and excellent sharpness/contrast in low light. It provides a 30mm equivalent field of view with pleasing bokeh and high-quality, consistent imaging suitable for street photography. Conversely, the review notes that the focal length may feel slightly too wide and lacking in distinct "special character" for some users. While it performs admirably for general use, it was not considered the most creative lens for specialized artistic applications.