Panasonic has announced two new lenses for the LUMIX G EVIL micro system. One is a 45-75mm zoom, but the other, the LUMIX G X VARIO PZ 14-42mm / F3.5-5.6 ASPH. / POWER O.I.S has some potential for underwater use. It has built-in optical image stabilization (O.I.S.) and is exceptionally small and compact. It also features inner focusing driven by a stepping motor, making it suitable for inclusion into underwater housings and ports.

However, the lens has a minimum focus distance of 20cm (14-20mm) and 30cm (21-42mm).

Panasonic is pleased to announce a new cutting-edge interchangeable lens LUMIX G X VARIO PZ 14-42mm / F3.5-5.6 ASPH. / POWER O.I.S. with electric-powered zoom operation from the new premium lens brand “X” for LUMIX G Micro System that complies with Micro Four Thirds System standard.

Crystallizing Panasonic’s optical technologies, the “X” lens features superb image rendering for lifelike textures, crisp edge-to-edge contrast, a unique Nano Surface Coating for minimal ghosts and flaring and natural atmospheres with remarkable transparency.

Although the lens is not a single focus length lens but is a zoom lens, the retractable-type zoom lens boasts outstanding compactness with approx. 26.8mm* in length and approx. 95g in weight to realize ultra-high mobility. Notably, the astonishingly short overall length is realized by the inclusion of 4 aspherical lenses. The zoom lever on the lens barrel gives user a stable zooming while manual focusing is also available with manual focus lever for more precise control.

The new LUMIX G X VARIO PZ 14-42mm / F3.5-5.6 ASPH. / POWER O.I.S. lens offers a versatile zoom range of 14-42mm (35mm camera equivalent: 28-84mm) suitable for a wide range of scenes from dynamic landscape to portrait. Comprising of 9 lenses in 8 groups, the lens system features excellent contrast at entire zoom range. The inclusion of 4 aspherical lenses that helps achieving the downsizing of lens unit also improves optical performance by minimizing distortion, even at the 28mm wide end. The 2 ED lenses effectively compensates for the chromatic aberration.

Plus, Panasonic’s Nano Surface Coating technology is adopted to minimize the reflection at entire visual light range (380nm-780nm) by applying the extra-low refractive index coating with nano-sized structure on the surface of the lens. It results in the super clear picture with dramatic reduction of ghost and flare.

The POWER O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) which is newly integrated in the LUMIX G X VARIO PZ 14-42mm / F3.5-5.6 ASPH. / POWER O.I.S. makes it easy to shoot super clear shots even in low-lit situations such as in night time or indoors. With the improved sensitivity of the gyro sensor, the new POWER O.I.S. suppresses large, slow movement 2x more effectively**. On the other hand, small, fast movements are compensated by the conventional MEGA O.I.S..

When mounted on the cameras of LUMIX G Micro System, users can take advantage of the contrast AF system and the convenient functions applied from it. Adopting an inner focus system driven by a stepping motor, the superior optical design realizes outstanding smoothness to support the high speed AF system of LUMIX G cameras. It achieves approx. 0.1 second Light Speed AF*** thanks to the downsizing of focus lens and its amount of movement. By speeding up the aperture control, shutter time lag is also shortened by approx. 40% compared with the LUMIX G VARIO 14-42mm / F3.5-5.6 ASPH. / MEGA O.I.S..****

With its minimum focus distance of 0.2m (14-20mm) / 0.3m (21-42mm), the new lens provides a maximum photographic magnification of 0.34x (35mm equivalent). 7 aperture blades consists a circular aperture diaphragm and produces an attractive smoothness in out-of-focus areas even shooting at large aperture.

Offering more fashionable, sophisticated look with two color option of black and silver, the new LUMIX G X VARIO PZ 14-42mm / F3.5-5.6 ASPH. / POWER O.I.S. perfectly matches any color of cameras from LUMIX G Micro System to be a part of the photographic life.

*When the lens is retracted. **Compared with the conventional MEGA O.I.S.. ***The time for focusing on the subject is measured with the DMC-GF3 to move the lens position to “2m” from “infinity” position at wide-end. The firmware of the GF3 must be updated to Ver.1.1 or later. Panasonic measurement method. ****Measured with DMC-GF3. The time required to start exposure after the shutter button is fully pressed after the lens position is moved from “infinity” to “2m”. The zoom position is at wide-end. The firmware of the GF3 must be updated to Ver.1.1 or later. Panasonic measurement method.

• Four Thirds™ and Micro Four Thirds™, and Four Thirds and Micro Four Thirds Logo marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Olympus Imaging Corporation, in Japan, the United States, the European Union and other countries.