The Panasonic 20 1.7 Lens Review for Micro 4/3 – I am back again with another lens review and this time it is one that I have had some real fun shooting for the past 3+ weeks on a daily basis. This review should be simple, right? Possibly the simplest I have ever written. Why you ask? Well, mainly because this lens is just a 20 mm 1.7 prime lens with a fast aperture. Nothing fancy, no features, and what I am going to write about is my time shooting with it on a daily basis. I am also going to share the images I snapped along the way. No scientific testing to be found here besides a crop or two.
You will notice I shot this lens on the Olympus E-P2 and not the Panasonic GF1 which is where this lens is usually mounted. The Panasonic 20 1.7 comes in kit form with the Panny GF1 and damn, it sure is a hell of a kit lens. That is one of the areas where Panasonic has Olympus beat. The kit lens. Both their 20 1.7 and 14-45 beat Olympus’s 17 2.8 and 14-42 Kit lenses but it is pretty cool that you can mount the Panny lenses on the Oly bodies and vice versa.
When I saw this lens come in stock at B&H Photo a few weeks ago I snagged one before they sold out (and they sold out within a few hours). At $399 it seems like a screaming bargain (to me) but then again, that is probably because I am used to Leica prices where $399 will not even get you close to a lens. I actually had low expectations for the 20 1.7’s build quality but I had HIGH expectations for the image quality.
Olympus E-P2 – ISO 200 – 20 1.7 at F2.5
What I wasn’t prepared for was that the image quality of this little E-P2 and 20 1.7 would surpass a Nikon D3s with a Nikon 50 1.8 (more on this later). I guess that right there is proof that a lens can make all of the difference in the world. When the lens arrived from B&H I opened the box and was pleased to see a lens pouch was included. Not that I ever use them really, but it’s a nice touch.
When I held the lens it felt light and not even close to my Leica glass for build and luxury feel but hey, this was $399 not $3999 
I mounted it to my wife’s E-P2 (which has somehow been “mine” since we bought it) and I shot a few frames of my cat. Ahhhhhhhhh. So much nicer than the kit zoom! The Olympus Kit Zoom is a good lens for what it is, but it is not a GREAT lens. Yes it is sharp, but it is slow (as in aperture) and it is slow to focus with its constant in/out hunt routine.
The Panasonic 20 1.7 lens and E-P2 camera sure is a handsome combo!
I am happy to say that the 20 1.7 mounted to the E-P2 is pretty snappy when you compare it to the kit zoom. It’s still no speed demon but it is perfectly acceptable and locks on fairly quick, even in low light. The image below of the dirty sneaker is not an action shot of course, but it is pretty impressive considering the specs of 1.7 and ISO 2500.
Yes, that is ISO 2500 on the E-P2 with only the in cam NR (yes, its a JPEG). Like the Leica M9, I found if you get the exposure just right (usually, its pure luck) then you can get great high ISO results. But usually this is not the norm with the m4/3 cams. This was focused as close as I could go and wide open in my dark living room. I had one lamp on in the room and that was it. Goes to show that this combo of the E-P2 and 20 1.7 can do low light.
The little brick like look is pretty cool and reminiscent of a rangefinder and small prime.
The one thing I really enjoyed about this lens and body combo is the size. I mean, here I am with a pretty small setup that is also a high quality kit. I realized this one day when I brought out this m4/3 conbo along with the Nikon D3s (see my review here) and at the end of the day the E-P2 images were, umm, dare I say…better? How can this be?? Just like I said in a previous D3s post, I blame it on the Nikon 50 1.8 which is kind of a dog of a lens up to F5.6. Once you stop down to that aperture its decent.
While I walked and braved the zero degree temps and wind I snapped this scene with the E-P2/20 1.7 combo at F2.8 and also the D3s with the 50 1.8 combo at 2.5. Since the 20 on the E-P2 equals a 40mm equivalent, the 50 on the full frame $5200 D3s was pretty close. I thought I had the E-p2 at 2.5 but my glove hit the wheel and knocked it to 2.8, so its not 100% fair really. Still, you can get an idea. After looking at both of these, I was a bit surprised:
Olympus E-P2 – 20 1.7 at F2.8 – ISO 200 (base ISO of E-P2) – RAW converted in ACR 5.6 w/defaults
below…Nikon D3s – 50 1.8 at 2.5 – ISO 200 (base ISO of D3s) – RAW converted in AVCR 5.6 w/defaults
Now, of course the D3s is a massive professional camera that puts the E-P2 to shame in almost every area but for IQ at base ISO the E-P2 and 20 1.7 did amazingly well.Yes, the D3s is full frame. Yes, I was using a $150 lens on the D3s. BUT the D3s/50 combo runs about $5350. The E-P2 combo runs about $1400. Look at these crops. Which looks better to you? I processed both in ACR 5.6. In any case, I know the D3s can do better, it has to. It must be the lens. Even the dynamic range in the E-P2 shot is fine and dandy. Looking at the snow they both look equal with MAYBE the E-P2 edging out the D3s.
As you can see from the crops the 20 1.7 is bitingly sharp at F2.5.
As I shot the lens more and more I was very surprised at how capable of a lens it really is. But let’s not get too crazy. One thing I did notice next to my Leica M9 setup is the lens does not give me that Leica quality I love so much. Of course I do not and would never expect it to either. I do see some guys online trying to claim the m4/3 cameras are equal to the M9. That is BS hogwash right there. I am now a big fan and love the M4/3 cameras, plus I have been shooting the hell out of the E-P2 and 20 1.7 and yes, it’s insanely fun. But my M9 gives me those files that make my jaw drop sometimes, and it should for the insane amounts of money I have spent on it!
Even with that pro M9 rant I would also like to say that these m4/3 cameras really got me to thinking. I touched on it in my GF1 review at my old site (see that here). While they are not the same quality as my M9, they are not really that far behind in their ability to provide you with a great image. Yes, they look more digital. Yes, they give me more shadow noise at anything over 400 ISO. Yes, my M9 gives me better color, better depth and more WOW factor. BUT!! Do I need that? Not really. I shoot paid jobs a few times a year and I bet my clients would be just as happy with files from this little E-P2/20 1.7 combo. Most non-photo nuts do not notice the “bokeh” or sharpness like we do, ha ha.
Olympus E-P2 – Grainy Film Art Filter – ISO 1600 – F1.7
But it is not as easy as that for us camera addicted crazies. See, I do appreciate the extra quality my M9 gives me not only in its feel, build, and lenses but in the way I shoot with it. It’s a rangefinder and I love the viewfinder, the manual focus, and the feel of those lenses in my hand. The image quality is stellar. To me, it is worth that extra money to have something I can really enjoy shooting. The M9 is a camera I could be buried with. That does not take away the capabilities of this E-P2/20 1.7 kit though. For the money it is simply superb!
Here is another image I shot along with a crop. Just a plain old roll of paper towels but with a little processing to give it some depth…
and since it was so sharp, a crop from the RAW file:
LETS GET REAL
Let me be 100% honest here. I have been shooting the Nikon D300s and Canon 7D DSLR’s along with this E-P2/20 1.7 combo (and the D3s) and during this time the most fun I have had taking pictures was with the E-P2 and 20 1.7. The D3s, forget it! It’s for sports/action/wildlife guys and pros. While it is the best there is for that type of shooting, it snot the best solution for an everyday camera.
The D300s is great but I actually prefer the color from the E-P2/20 1.7! The Canon 7D… Well, it’s a nice DSLR no question and gives superior ISO, DR and color. But for all out fun when you go out for a day of shooting? I go with the E-P2 combo. If you do not need the fast FPS, improved high ISO or BULK the m4/3 cams are ideal.
One of the reasons why this m4/3 system is taking off, and also why many big DSLR shooters are selling their entire kits for a Leica M9 is all about weight and size. In the past, small cameras were, well, CRAP! They had excessive noise, bad color, and the images were flat and awful. Today we are just about at that point where we can buy a smaller camera and get big DSLR quality out of it. In the case of the Leica M9, we surpass that big DSLR quality and approach medium format.
Yes, the days of everyone and their neighbor owning a big DSLR may soon be over. We are finally getting smaller cameras with the quality of the big guys. All we need is some minor improvements and some better glass (for m4/3). Today we have the m4/3 cameras, the fabulous Leica X1 and M9 and even the new Samsung NX10 that is about to hit the streets. It’s awesome to have these choices, and for those who are like me and tired of lugging around 20 lbs of gear, well you now have quality choices!
Wide Open at F1.7
BOTTOM LINE. With this little Panasonic 20 1.7 lens you have a high quality lens THAT WILL NOT BREAK THE BANK. You can do low light, shallow depth of field, and get great results. I say this as a hobbyist, not a pro. For 90% of what I shoot if I had to choose between the E-P2 and 20 1.7, D300s or Canon 7D then it would be the E-P2. Throw in the Leica X1 and I would have to take the X1 as I feel the IQ of the X1 beats all of the mentioned DSLR’s and the E-P2/20 combo, and its even smaller and sleeker. But I think I am done with all of those big DSLR’s for good. I really have no need for 8FPS shooting or 999 focus points.
There still is and always be a market for a DSLR for those who need those capabilities but I am speaking to those who want a carry around camera. In the recent past we did not have much choice for quality and today we do! There I go..ranting again!
I got off track so let me get back ON! The Panasonic 20 1.7 lens is one of those “must own” lenses if you have a m4/3 camera like the E-P1, E-P2, GF1, GH1, etc. Its light, fairly quick, small, has a fast 1.7 maximum aperture and is sharp as you could ask for. At $399 it is a bargain in my opinion.
shallow DOF example – closest focus -E-P2, 20 1.7 at 1.7- ISO 800 – 4/3 format
So far all I have talked about is how great this lens is. Frankly, there is not much more to say. The proof is in the pics. Wide open your focus point is sharp and while you will get some bokeh you do not get crazy shallow depth of field like you would with a 50 or longer lens. The 20 1.7 is great for everyday use as 40mm is in between the two great classic focal lengths, the 35 and 50.
PROS AND CONS OF THE PANASONIC 20 1.7:
PROS:
- Small and Light!
- Fast aperture. Finally a fast lens for m4/3.
- Sharp wide open and sharp stopped down. No issues.
- In my real world shooting I did not notice any distortion in any of my shots.
- Price is not CHEAP but its not expensive either for a small fast prime.
- Works great on the E-P2 or GF series by Panasonic.
- Comes with a nifty lens pouch!
CONS:
- Build is not up there with the high quality lenses from Leica, Nikon or Canon.
- Hard to find, always out of stock (at the time of this writing).
- Makes noise while focusing so not good for video using AF.
- On the E-P2 you hear the aperture clicking as it opens and closes while its on the camera (with camera on). Does not affect performance and the Leica X1 does this as well.
- Would have been better of it were a 1.4 lens!
20 1.7 at 1.7 with Grainy Art Filter of the E-P2
So as I wrap up this review let me say that Panasonic is leading the race in quality lenses for the m4/3 system. Their top class 7-14, 45 Macro, 14-150 and even the “budget” 55-200 are great lenses. The Olympus lenses like the kit zoom and 17 2.8 are very good lenses but not “great lenses”. I can see myself buying the Panny lenses for “my wife’s” E-P2 in the future unless Olympus raises the stakes and puts out some higher quality lenses. I would like to see small & solid high performing primes in the future. If this happens, and the M4/3 sensors get better with their noise and overall quality then there may be a new revolution in the camera world. Its tough to beat the size and fun factor with these m4/3 kits.
The Panasonic 20 1.7 is a lens I can easily recommend. I do not see anyone not liking it. This may be old news as this lens has been out for a while and there are probably a million reviews out there for it already. I just wanted to throw my take in to the mix in a “real world” kind of way. After all, the lens was made to take photos not be analyzed in a lab
I hope you have enjoyed this review. If you want to buy this lens you can buy it through my links to B&H or Amazon but GOOD LUCK! It can be hard to find in stock. If you see it, and want it I would suggest snagging it! Here is the direct link to the Panasonic 20 1.7 at B&H Photo and Amazon
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Here are a few more images from the E-P2 and 20 1.7 combo! I am all about real world experience and I take my time shooting the gear I review. Hope you enjoy the images. Click any image for a larger view and to see the shooting info
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Hi Steve, great review of the lens and what you say about size/weight compared to the D3s and 7D is true. I find myself wanting something smaller for street photography than my 5D Mk II.
One minor criticism though: many people do street photography and fun shots at night as well. You have no night shots here; meanwhile I’ve seen lots of great night shots that you’ve taken with other cameras. I really want to see what this lens can do in low light.
The reason why I ask this is because sure the camera can be great for the fun type shots that you talk about and show but what about training? By training, what I mean is a spare for photographers to use to keep their mind photographically inclined and keep their skills fresh if you understand what I’m saying.
That’s my only minor criticism. Thanks for this though.
Hey Chris!
Thanks for the comment and for reading this review. MANY of the shots in this review were very low indoor light at night and high ISO. They may not be outside but they were indeed low light. I added a couple of the B&W night shots but they do not really show anything special.
This camera and lens will NOT replace a 5DII and a 50L for night shooting if you want clean results and it wont replace an M9 and Summilux lens either.
But again, half of the shots here were low light. The shoe pic was VERY low light, ISO 2500 and 1.7. It doesn’t appear to be low light but it was shot at night in my living room with a table lamp 10 feet away.
The pic of my lazy, dirty face dog in bed was at ISO 1600, wide open and VERY low light. That was in my bedroom with no light on and very little light coming in.
The last shot was at night time, ISO 1600, F1.7 but it has the art filter applied. Anyway, thanks for reading!
Steve
great review Steve! i love this little lens too
other than the build quality, the only complaint i have is that it does not have a manual aperture ring for me to turn with… but the output of the lens is just amazing
That is the most impressive shot of a sneaker I’ve ever seen… Really.
I’m absolutely convinced of the quality of this lens. But… what about the focal length? 35 mm is my favorite focal length landscape/context shooting. And I prefer to jump to 70-85 mm for portraits/details. The 40 mm Pana is, as you say, “in between the two great classic focal lengths, the 35 and 50.” But isn’t that a bit problematic? It is neither fish nor flesh. Neither a landscape lens nor a portrait lens. It falls in a “no man’s land” where some photographers may find difficult to work.
I’m probably being over-conscious. Would you care to comment?
[...] here to see the original: The Pansonic Lumix G 20 1.7 Lens Review | STEVE HUFF PHOTOS Tags: camera-body, digital, image-capturing, images, lens, mainly-because, [...]
Frank, yea, you gotta love a high ISO sneaker shot
As for the focal length, I have ZERO issues if a lens is a 35 or 40. It’s really a matter of taking a step or two back for a 35 or a step or two forward for a 50. There is a 40mm lens for Leica mount that many people use and love from Voigtlander. To me, it’s a non issue. Thanks for the comments!
An interesting series of camera comparisons here recently.
IMO dslr’s are too much camera for many photographers who probably spend too much time pixel-peeping instead of learning to take better pictures. Proof of this is all of the mundane/boring images posted all over the internet, but that’s another story.
And then you have those who because they have the latest Canikon dslr believer that they should be able to shoot as well as a pro (although they haven’t spent the time to learn how to shoot)
M4/3 and future EVIL formats are probably all that most amateur/consumer shooters will ever need.
Oh yes, the D3s with the 50/1.8 is probably like driving a Porsche with retreads. Not exactly a real world situation but still I see your point about the strength of the 20/1.7.
Another great review Steve. I am very interested in the m4/3 market at the moment mainly for the amount of lenses that are compatible with them – I’m interested in the Leica M lenses and the old cine C-mount ones. I had pretty much settled on the Panasonic DMC-G1 as my body, mainly for it’s high quality viewfinder that’s built in, which I’ve read is much better than the GF1’s EVF, but I’ve never read a review on the quality of the EP-2’s EVF – could anyone tell me if it’s as good as the G1? I’d prefer the EP-2 if so, as I like the idea of the in-body IS and these pics you’ve posted with the 1.7 pancake are beautiful
Great lens and thanks for the review..
I’m in love with that combo !
Alan, I agree 100%
Overheat, thanks! I am also interested in those old C-Mount lenses. I have seen some interesting things with an E-P1/2/GF1 and those lenses. I shot with the G1 inside of B&H and liked it. The EVF was no better than the E-P2’s though and from what I remember, the E-P2’s EVF is slightly better. BUT I could be wrong a as I only shot with the G1 for a few minutes.
At $639, the G1 is a deal with the lens included. Great choice.
Cenk, Thanks!
Wonderful review and terrific images, Steve. The 20 mm lens would be on my short list of 1, if I purchased a m4/3 system, but I have way too much invested in the M system to shoot this much…unless I sold my D-Lux4 and took this system as a carry everywhere…
Hmmm….ideas…Love my D-Lux 4, though….
Hey Ashwin, just sent you an e-mail! Anyway, if I had your lens collection my M9 would NEVER EVER leave my side! Ha ha…
thanks for the sweet review, very informnative as always. Now I am on my ass (can we write this here?). Here are the choices: 4000$ m8.2 withe either 3000$ cron or 1500$ rit (The f2.5). So for less than 6k you get back in time with sweet stuff or for 7k$ you get a very nice starter kit (lol). So here I am in the camera shop with the M8.2, the GF1 and the EP2. Can you imagine my face and the foam at the mouth. We mixmatched everything and the EP-2 focus seems slower than GF1, it has no flash but seems to have better JPEG management. Confused? I sure am, the 7-14, the 20 f1.7, the EP2 woulkd blow close to 3000$… Geewhiz 2500$ short of a Leica starter kit and definitely more than the X1 (I would wait for the x2 i saw your video on focus and it scares me). Sorry I realise I was using Canadian prices, shave 10%…lol. So came back home and bought nothing. One question, on the d-lux4 the lcd confuses me, the image is always underexposed on the computer compared to the lcd (always in low light). Is it the same with the GF1? This would be a reason for me to buy the EP2 if the LCD tells you the story like it is. Sorry for the long comment just wanted to share my level of confusion…
Another great review, Steve.
I am very impressed.
Steve: was my choice (X1) the correct one?
Thanks !
[...] Lens reviewed by Steve (and X1 comparison) Hi ! What do you think about these pictures… The Pansonic Lumix G 20 1.7 Lens Review | STEVE HUFF PHOTOS …compared with these others? The Leica X1 Digital Camera Review | STEVE HUFF PHOTOS I'm trying [...]
Francis: I had the GF1 before my LX3(/d-lux4) and to me it seemed that the LCD image was much brighter than the computer image. Nothing a bit of lightroom action won’t fix, but annoying nonetheless.
EP-1 with the 20 is my default carry around camera these days, along with some M-mount primes. If I need a zoom, then the Panasonic 14-140 comes. The Olympus 17 and kit zoom get no action at all. I’m looking forward to Panasonic releasing new m4/3 lenses…
Thanks for the review. Looks like a very impressive lens. The comparison to the Nikon is pretty amazing.
Thanks for reading it Zlatko!
Jose, the X1 has better IQ and better high ISO than the E-P2 AND the lens is a better lens on the X1 imo. It has that “look”. It may not be as fast of a lens but it can really deliver the IQ. Thx…
[...] The Panasonic Lumix G 20 1.7 Lens Review by Steve Huff (tested on the E-P2) [...]
Thank you for the review Steve. I’ve been seeing consistently great results with this lens, and hope they become widely available someday – maybe even a bit discounted ;-D
Curious – have you compared the results you obtained with some of the Canon offerings attached to a 5D (mk 1 or 2)? I don’t have the 20mm (I couldn’t find one and wanted something immediately so picked up the 17mm/2.8), but I’d love to see a comparison between the Canon 50mm f/1.8 and the Panny. It’s a selfish reason – I picked up a 50/1.8 for next to nothing and was blown away with it’s capabilities. Plastic mount? At $100, I’lll pick up another one if it ever breaks!
Thanks again, and keep us posted on your m43 stuff. I got an ep1 and my canon has been gathering dust for the past month.
Hey Matt, I do not own any DSLR so I have no way of testing that lens on a 5D. I do have a 7D here I am testing along with a 50 1.8 and may be able to do something with that in the next day or two. Thanks for the comment!
in addition to 20mm I think this
Custom Leatherette kit
http://aki-asahi.com/store/html/E-P1/leatherette/Type1/EP1.php
makes your EP1/2 look very pro
there is also awesome leather case
http://aki-asahi.com/store/html/E-P2/case/EP1LeatherCase_e.php
btw : I don’t advertise, just found something interesting for Olympus.
I picked one up through your Amazon link. Thanks for a great review!
Thanks Ed! I REALLY appreciate that!
Steve,
A fun review. It looks like a winning combination your EP2 and the Panny lens.
I was a bit surprised that you bothered to take the time to shoot comparison shots with the D3x and the cheapo lens. Didn’t you have a better lens to use? Would have been more fun to see the comparison with a decent lens on the Nikon. The Nikon 50 1.4 D is cheaper than the Panasonic 20 1.7 but might have performed better than the Nikon 1.8.
regards
Guy
regards
Guy
Thanks Guy! Btw, it was the D3s, not X
That was the only lens I had on hand and I had both cameras out getting shots for each review. Since I had them I shot them both and was surprised at the result. I shot 4 or 5 others and all were the same result. Like I said, it had to be the lens, or the strong AA filter.
>”Btw, it was the D3s, not X
”
Oops.
Hey Steve, yet another great review. I’ve been thinking that the Pana 20mm would indeed be a priority purchase should I jump into the m4/3 world. I thought it was interesting that you threw in the D3s for fun; I’m no expert (but am a Nikon shooter), but I wonder if you might have gotten better results for the Nikon if you had processed the RAW files in View or Capture NX? I’ve always had mixed results when having Adobe crunch my NEF files. Your thoughts?
Hubes, I may have gotten slightly better results with NX but nothing would have fixed the super soft corners. I do not have NX on my mac so did not try it. Thanks for the comment.
[...] von DrVorzet Hi ! What do you think about these pictures… The Pansonic Lumix G 20 1.7 Lens Review | STEVE HUFF PHOTOS …compared with these others? The Leica X1 Digital Camera Review | STEVE HUFF PHOTOS I'm trying [...]
[...] optisch schon gefallen, besonders die E-P2 und die am liebsten mit dem Lumix 1,7/20mm wie es hier von Steve Huff vorgestellt wurde. Das wäre auch meine zweite Wahl nach der X1. Leider ist sie (ich hatte nur die [...]
I found you when someone responded to a question about the Leica X1. I really didn’t know much about this size camera until two days ago. I have now been at my computer looking at this and other sites. I have shot Nikon since the late 60’s and I was looking for something lighter. Do you know if magazine and book publishers would use work from one of these cameras? Is the quality there? As far as the X1, it looks better than what I own now, a D200. However, the fact that the features on both the Olympus and Panasonic look really good. It is interesting that the photos that get looked at most on my web site were ones that I took with a P&S Canon back in 1965. Proves that subject matter over rides quailty.
Great review as always!
Quick question here though, im kinda split on getting ep2 or gf1, which one would you recommend?
Thanks
The EP-2 has in body IS, a higher resolution EVF and reportedly better low light performance, whereas the GF-1 has faster AF, a higher resolution LCD and a cheaper price tag, as well as the ability to come with the 20mm f1.7 as a kit. So really, it’s up to you and what features you require most.
Another con is lack of continuous AF support with this lens, something that would be great with video (this is the case with the gf1)
nice review. it’s very interesting that panasonic lenses can be monted on olympus camera. the pictures with the 20mm 1.7 panasonic look great. I would like to se olympus lowering a bit the noise in the image and to keep up with this trend they have
Great reviews Steve. Just a note on the noise levels in video mode, when the 1.7 is mounted on the actual GF-1, it makes no sound at all. I was a little surprised by that because I hear so much about lens noise during video recording. Not that I’m complaining about not having it. LOL GF-1 has been one of the best cameras I’ve ever owned. Your review on it earlier was great as well. Keep it up.
B&H out of stock
Amazon – in stock as for the present moment