Elegantly designed with a sharp, metallic black finish, the new 30mm macro lens perfectly matches the style of the latest LUMIX G interchangeable lens cameras. With a 30mm (35mm camera equivalent: 60 mm) wide angle and a high speed f/2.8 aperture, the lens provides sharp, high contrast image rendering. Utilising 1x life-size magnification, deep depth of field, and a focusing distance starting at just 0.105 m, the lens offers excellent performance even when shooting true-to-life macro shots.
A durable and reliable metal mount means the lens is perfectly suited for day-to-day use, while the multi-coated lens elements minimise ghosting and flaring to further enhance shooting performance. With a 240 fps Drive Auto Focus (AF) and MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer), you can achieve fast, accurate focusing and stable framing with every shot.
The 30mm macro will be available in black from May 2015 for around 399.
Why 30mm for macro? I always thought that 60mm(120mm in 35mm terms) would be more appropriate. Is it because of depth of field concerns?
It is because companies started to make macro lenses similar to old FF macro FOV :-)
Our Imatest tests showed the review lens was capable of exceeding expectations for the sensors of both the cameras we used for our tests: the Panasonic DMC-GH4 and the Olympus OM-D E-M1. Slightly higher resolutions were achieved with the E-M1 so we have based our test reports on images from that camera. Resolution peaked at f/4.5 but remained above expectations from f/2.8 to between f/6.3 and f/7.1
Dont you have to be ridiculously close to the subject with a 30mm macro? Ive read that to be at any comfortable distance to the subject, you need at least 100mm lens during macro.
It depends on subject. Actually you see here analog for 60mm FF macro (most macro lenses was 90mm).
Optically the Panasonic LUMIX G MACRO 30mm f/2.8 ASPH. MEGA O.I.S. is an outstanding performer. You can safely use it wide open at f/2.8 for optimum results, with even the edges of the frame looking sharp.
http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/panasonic_lumix_g_macro_30mm_f2_8_asph_mega_ois_review/
Macro lens or close up lens? I don have seen any still really macro with this lens.
It delivers great-looking close-ups with attractive rendering, and when focused on more distant subjects will keep details sharp right into the corners. Compared with the Leica 45mm f2.8, the new Lumix looks like a bargain. Sure the Leica has a focus limiter, a more comfortable minimum focusing distance and more refined rendering, but personally speaking they're not enough to justify the considerable price difference.
http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Panasonic_Lumix_G_Macro_30mm_f2-8_H_HS030E/
New v1.2 firmware
Dual I.S.2 is available by this firmware update. (in case of the usage of Camera with this function)
http://av.jpn.support.panasonic.com/support/global/cs/dsc/download/fts/index2.html
New firmware v1.3
Improved focusing stability when using the Lens Position Resume function.
http://av.jpn.support.panasonic.com/support/global/cs/dsc/download/fts/dl/hs030.html
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