![]() While heavier than the 20mm pancake, it is, to me, still feather weight by comparison to an APS-C or Full Frame equivalent lens. The 25mm lens pushes any of the compatible bodies outside of this “pocketable” designation, although I can still fit the OM-D E-M5 into a larger coat pocket with the 25mm lens attached, so it still remains relatively small. Two wonderful attributes, especially when you factor in the IQ it produces. The pancake makes a small micro 4/3 body nearly pocketable, and certainly discrete (see the size comparisons above and below). (I’d guess more often than not, someone saying “this lens is soft” isn’t down to the lens itself…) I feel it is capable of being as sharp as any practical purpose would require, the only real challenge is again in the photographer’s technique or ability to work within a shallow DOF. While, even in controlled situations, wide open the Panaleica 25 isn’t quite as tack sharp as the 20mm pancake is wide open, it is a half stop faster and certainly has more of a signature look to it’s rendering of images. It’s a great lens period, and for the price, I still feel it is a must have lens for anyone looking to the system, unless of course they feel the 25mm will provide enough of an argument to dethrone it. The 20mm pancake is wonderfully sharp wide open assuming you can get your technique to compliment the desired outcome when working with such shallow depth of field at close focusing distances. I’ve never really had a problem with the focus speed of the 20mm f/1.7, but after shooting with the Panaleica lens, the pancake is noticeably slower. Secondly, the 25mm is a faster focuser, much faster. This provides a faster shutter speed in the same light as well as the ability to decrease the depth of field at the same focus distance (albeit at a tighter framing angle). Is the Leica branded 25mm f/1.4 lens that much better that it can justify the cost over the killer Lumix 20mm f/1.7 pancake? Well, I needed to figure that out for myself. If you know anything about my photographic style, you may know that I prize lens speed over most other factors. If you know anything about my feelings on the Micro 4/3 system, you know I’ve tended to prize size first. Now that I have, I must make a decision, which do I keep… ![]() ![]() Being that I’ve been in love with the Lumix 20mm f/1.7 pancake lens for so long, I never really thought about acquiring a lens for the Micro 4/3 format that provided such a similar angle of view. It’s a hard thing to admit to myself really. ![]()
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