Panasonic Unveils Updated 12-35mm F/2.8 ASPH Lens to Replace Their Best MFT Lens

Panasonic has announced the next generation Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12–35mm F/2.8 ASPH Power OIS. The new lens is designed to replace the Lumix G X II model released just five years ago, which is widely considered to be one of Panasonic’s best LUMIX G Micro Four Thirds lenses.

The VE 12-35mm ASPH lens is 2.7 inches (67.6mm) long and has a diameter of 2.9” wide (73.8mm). It has a front filter thread of 58mm and weighs just under 11 punches (306g).

Image Credit – Panasonic

It has a rounded seven-bladed lens aperture with a constant F/2.8 speed rating for low-light image capture and smooth depth of field in background separation.

Designed with micro four-thirds mirrorless cameras in mind, the lens has a full-frame 35mm equivalent focal length of 24-70mm full-frame equivalent focal length range, Panasonic calls the VE 12-35mm ASPH lens their most well-rounded lens to date.

It’s designed to get the most performance out of both still image and video applications.

Image Credit – Panasonic

Built with fourteen lens elements organized in nine groups, the VE 12-35mm F/2.8 contains four aspherical lens elements, one ultra extra-low dispersion (UED) lens element, and one ultra-high refractive (UHR) index lens element to minimize chromatic and spherical aberrations.

Each element is glazed with Panasonic’s updated Nano Surface coating to reduce lens flaring and ghosting when dealing with bright ambient light.

The result of its optical arrangement and surface coatings is an image that enjoys a higher degree of detail, sharpness, and color accuracy.

Image Credit – Panasonic

The lens uses optical image stabilization and a fly-by-wire autofocus system that has been designed for optimized video production.

The aperture ring enables users to adjust the iris in micro-steps for minute control of exposure settings during recording.

The result is that the lens captures an image with minimal focus breathing to prevent unwanted movements which could yank the audience out of the story due to being distracting.

The lens is also compatible with camera systems deploying Panasonic’s 5-Axis Dual I.S. 2 image stabilization scheme.

The VE 12-35mm also enjoys an improved minimum focusing distance, which is measured at 5.9″ (149.86mm) at the wide end of 12mm, and 9.8” 248.92 at the farther 35mm end of the focal length.

The lens is also splash, dust, and frostproof to be useful in poor and slightly more extreme weather conditions.

With an expected shipping date of January 2023, the Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12–35mm F2.8 ASPH Power OIS is available to pre-order starting today for $899.

[source: Panasonic]

Order Links:

  • Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12–35mm F2.8 ASPH Power OIS (B&H)

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