Panasonic updates 12-35mm f/2.8 premium G series lens for improved video performance

Panasonic is to introduce a new version of its premium wide-aperture standard zoom that offers a new mechanism for focus breathing suppression and a new iris motor that ensures aperture changes made during filming will be less noticeable. The new Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-35mm f/2.8 ASPH. Power O.I.S will replace the existing Lumix G X-Vario 12-35mm f/2.8 ASPH Power O.I.S. as the principle 24-70mm equivalent zoom in the G series range. With a very similar optical construction to the existing model, the new lens will be able to focus slightly closer at the wider focal length end of the zoom – a minimum of 0.15m, instead of 0.25mm.

The main alteration though will be the suppression of magnification changes as the lens shifts focus from one extreme to the other. This tighter control of focus ‘breathing’ means objects in the scene will remain the same size as focus shifts, and the background won’t grow and contract as we focus from something in the distance to something close to the camera – which can be distracting in a film.
Also with the comfort of movie viewers in mind, a new micro-motor allows much smaller steps in the iris control, so the aperture can be opened and closed by tiny amounts. This will help to avoid jerky exposure changes when the iris is closed or opened during filming – either to adjust the depth of field, or to alter the exposure settings when moving from one area or brightness value to another.

Other than this, the new lens will offer the same features as the existing model, and will be the same size, weight and have the same exterior design.
The Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-35mm f/2.8 ASPH Power O.I.S will retail at £879.99 when it goes on sale in February 2023.

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