Leica Prime Lens for Panasonic and Olympus Goes On Sale This Month

Panasonic is reportedly showing the second Leica 4/3rds lens for Panasonic and Olympus DSLRs at PMA, saying it will go on sale at the end of this month (a date of March 24th has been reported, although we're not sure how accurate that might be). The Leica D Summilux ASPH. 25mm ƒ/1.4, equivalent to a 50mm lens on a 35mm camera, has a whopping 10 elements in 9 groups, including four extra-low dispersion glass elements (blue in the block diagram above) and one large-diameter aspheric element (pink in the block diagram).

As you might expect, the lens is extremely large, approx. 3 inches max. diameter by 3 inches long, and it weighs 18 oz. Close-focusing distance is 15 inches, and the lens takes 62mm filters. No word on pricing yet, but don't expect it to be cheap. At right is the MTF at ƒ/1.4, from the Panasonic website. Performance remains to be seen as well, although your hopes should definitely be on the high side.

Posted by: MIKE JOHNSTON

ADDENDUM: Below are the latest "Lens Roadmaps" for 4/3rds System lenses: The upper chart for Leica lenses (from dc.watch.impress.co.jp) and the lower one for Olympus lenses.