In the zoom-versus-speed debate, Panasonic’s 10-25mm f/1.7 gives you both

By Daven Mathies May 31, 2019

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Panasonic is tallying up the “world’s firsts” in a slew of announcements made Friday, May 31. In addition to revealing the first full-frame 6K camera in the Lumix S1H, it also announced a new lens for its smaller Micro Four Thirds system, the Leica DG Vario-Summilux 10-25mm f/1.7. The zoom lens is designed with both still photographers and video shooters in mind, and is the first standard zoom to feature a constant f/1.7 aperture.

Impressive as it is, such a combination of wide aperture and zoom range is certainly easier to achieve on the Micro Four Thirds format compared to lenses for larger full-frame sensors. The 2.5x zoom offers a 20-50mm full-frame equivalent focal length, while the f/1.7 aperture is equivalent to f/3.4 on full-frame. Still, it is by far the fastest zoom lens to grace the Micro Four Thirds format thus far, while also offering a unique focal range not quite matched by other zooms.

Recommended Videos

Composed of 17 elements in 12 groups, including three aspherical elements and four extra-low dispersion (ED) elements, the 10-25mm f/1.7 promises image quality worthy of its Leica nameplate (as part of its partnership with Panasonic, Leica lends its name to certain Panasonic lenses that meet stringent quality standards). It also features a 9-blade aperture which should provide more circular out-of-focus highlights.

Beyond optical quality, the new zoom is sealed against dust and moisture for use in all weather conditions. Targeting Lumix GH5 and GH5S owners, it also incorporates a special mechanism to suppress focus breathing — where a lens appears to zoom slightly when adjusting the focus — which is important to videographers.

In addition to the Micro Four Thirds lens, Panasonic also introduced two teleconverters for its full-frame S series cameras. The DMW-STC14 and DMW-STC20 provide magnifications of 1.4x and 2x, respectively, and are compatible with the existing 70-200mm f/4 and upcoming 70-200mm f/2.8 lenses.

Prices for the new teleconverters haven’t been announced, but the 10-25mm f/1.7 lens will go for $1,700 when it releases in July — certainly not cheap, but we might have expected worse. Panasonic’s older 12-35mm f/2.8 has an MSRP of about $1,000, and while the 10-25mm doesn’t have as much range, the aperture is over twice as wide.

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Daven is a contributing writer to the photography section. He has been with Digital Trends since 2016 and has been writing…

Mobile

The best camera phones in 2024: our top 9 photography picks

A person holding the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

In the past decade or so, cameras on smartphones have evolved so much that they can pretty much replace a standalone digital camera for most people. The results you can get on some of the best smartphones these days are just so impressive, and being able to be with you at all times means you'll never miss a moment.

But what if you want the best possible camera phone money can buy? A camera that won't let you down no matter what you're taking a picture of? You've come to the right place. Here are the very best camera phones you can buy in 2024.

Space

An ace photographer is about to leave the ISS. Here are his best shots

The moon and Earth as seen from the ISS.

NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick is preparing to return to Earth after spending seven months living and working aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

After arriving at the orbital outpost, Dominick -- who is on his first mission to space -- quickly earned a reputation for being an ace photographer. He's been using the facility’s plethora of high-end cameras and lenses to capture amazing shots from his unique vantage point some 250 miles above Earth. Sharing his content on social media, the American astronaut has always been happy to reveal how he captured the imagery and offer extra insight for folks interested to know more.

Photography

Filter-free and fun, the Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 Instant Camera is on sale Right Now for Prime Day

fujifilm instax mini 11 camera prime big deal days

It's 2024, and you’re considering a point-and-shoot camera. Zero judgment here. I miss the good ol’ days of flipping through actual photo albums instead of doom-scrolling on Instagram. You can get back to those days by snagging a (in the ice white color), and it’s the perfect time because it’s on sale. Get it for 24% off during Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days, but hurry while inventory is going strong.
There’s something magical about having a physical photo right in your hand seconds after snapping the shot, and it adds a fun, retro vibe to moments you want to capture and keep. Plus, having an actual picture to hold and display can be so much more satisfying than just another digital file on your phone. I picked one up two years ago for my eight-year-old daughter, and it’s been an instant hit in our household. And now, at its $59 sale price, I'm definitely going to be stocking up on a few to gift ahead of the holiday season.

How the Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 works
The delightful throwback comes with a FUJINON 60mm lens and an automatic exposure feature that adjusts the shutter speed for the best shot, even in low light. While the picture quality won’t be as crisp as what your smartphone can capture, it’ll still produce a quality image worthy of slapping on a refrigerator.
If selfies are your thing, this camera has a dedicated Selfie Mode (with a mirror). We set up a DIY photo booth for my daughter's birthday party with sticker frames so each kid could go home with a photo souvenir, and it was a total hit.
You can opt to make it a set with a range of accessories to buy separately, like a carrying case, a handy strap, those sticker borders I mentioned, and photo albums to hold the memories.