Panasonic’s lens lineup now includes affordable macro and portrait options

By Les Shu February 25, 2015

panasonic adds 30mm macro 42 5mm portrait lenses to micro four thirds lineup h hs030 front slant — Lumix G Macro 30mm/F2.8 ASPH./MEGA O.I.S. Image used with permission by copyright holder

Panasonic is adding two new Micro Four Thirds lenses to its lineup: a 30mm macro (H-H2030) and 42.5mm (H-HS043) portrait.

The Lumix G Macro 30mm/F2.8 ASPH./MEGA O.I.S. (short for optical image stabilization) is a wide-angle lens with an f/2.8 aperture. Shown above, it has a focusing distance of 4.13 inches, giving you 1x magnification and deep depth of field, Panasonic says. The lens is coated to minimize ghosting and flaring, and it is designed to deliver fast and accurate autofocusing.

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In the Lumix G 42.5mm/F1.7 ASPH./POWER O.I.S., the lens has an aperture of f/1.7 with full-time (continuous) autofocus. It uses 10 lens elements in eight groups to “deliver portraits with a rich stereoscopic effect as well as close-ups with beautiful defocus,” Panasonic says. It can get as close as 12.2 inches to an object or subject. Like the macro lens, it’s coated. The stabilization system has been optimized to help prevent blurring.

Panasonic Lumix G 42.5mm/F1.7 ASPH./POWER O.I.S. — Panasonic Lumix G 42.5mm/F1.7 ASPH./POWER O.I.S. Image used with permission by copyright holder

The macro lens will be available in April, while the portrait lens will hit camera stores in May. Each will cost $400.

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