Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Nocticron 42.5mm F1.2 Review
Let's dispense with the downsides: The Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Nocticron 42.5mm F1.2 ($1,599.99) is big, heavy, and expensive. But it delivers edge-to-edge sharpness even at its widest aperture, captures a heck of a lot of light, shows no distortion, is optically stabilized, and makes it possible to capture images with a very shallow depth of field, which is not always the case with Micro Four Thirds cameras. If you can get past its bulk and price, you'll be rewarded with a lens that earns a very rare 5-star rating, which also makes it our Editors' Choice. If you're on a budget, the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 45mm f1.8 ($289.00 at Amazon) is a solid alternative, but its photos can't quite match the look of an image shot at f/1.2.
The Nocticron ($1,397.99 at Amazon) is hefty, especially when paired with a compact Micro Four Thirds camera. It measures 3 by 2.9 inches (HD), weighs 15 ounces, and supports 67mm front filters. It balances well with the Panasonic GX7 ( at Amazon) ,...
The Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Nocticron 42.5mm F1.2 is the best Micro Four Thirds lens we've seen for portraiture thanks to impeccable sharpness and a wide aperture. It's an easy Editors' Choice.
Very wide aperture; Sharp from edge to edge at f/1.2; No distortion; Optical stabilization system; Physical aperture ring; Fantastic build quality
Big; Heavy; Expensive