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| Lumix 12-60mm at 60mm on GX85. There is very good detail and local contrast across the frame. |
Micro Four Thirds (M43) was the first mirrorless interchangeable lens camera (MILC) system, introduced to the market in 2008.
The number and variety of lenses available for M43 has grown steadily since then, making this the most comprehensive MILC system with the greatest choice of lenses, both primes and zooms.
Panasonic has released 31 lenses, Olympus 26 in the period 2008-2016.
In 2011 Olympus released the 12-50mm f3.5-6.3 utility zoom. I bought one of these and used it for a time on an EM5. It was decently compact with a handy focal length range but unfortunately optical quality was not impressive.
The response from Panasonic has been a bit delayed but now, better late than never, we have the Lumix 12-60mm f3.5-5.6.
This lens finds a niche in the price/performance rankings between the kit zooms below and the pro style constant f2.8 zooms above.
Panasonic promotes the lens as being for “anywhere, anytime shooting”, with a 5x zoom range, dust and splash proof design and decent close up ability.
It provides a lower price point/smaller zoom range alternative to the popular Lumix 14-140mm zoom for general purpose/holiday/travel, using the policy of ‘mount-one-lens-on-your-camera-and-leave-it-there’.
It can also find use as an alternative to the 12-35mm constant f2.8 pro style lens, having a greater zoom range but a smaller aperture (larger f-number) at all focal lengths.
In fact the 12-35mm, 12-60mm and 14-140mm are quite close in overall size and mass, use the same 58mm filter and are similarly styled.
I tested my copy of the 12-60mm on a Panasonic GX85 body which enables dual IS, using the optical stabiliser in the lens (OIS) and the sensor displacement IS (IBIS) in the body simultaneously.
Panasonic’s engineers have somehow managed to ensure the camera makes reliably sharp photos with both the OIS module in the lens and the sensor in the body each wobbling about in response to camera movement.
Us camera users can be a bit blasé about technology sometimes but I must say I find dual IS so remarkable as to be almost miraculous.
The other issue regarding the relationship between the GX85 and the 12-60mm lens is that of shutter shock.
In summary I found no evidence of image degradation due to shutter shock when using the mechanical shutter in the GX85 with the 12-60mm lens mounted.
This is extremely good news for Panasonic M43 users who no longer need to mess about switching between the M-shutter and the E-shutter depending on the shutter speed.
Readers please note: at this stage (7 July 2016) this happy state of affairs only applies if the GX80/85 body is used.
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| Lumix 12-60mm on GX85 body. With Dual IS and DFD AF available this body-lens combination works well. However as you can see the lens appears quite large on the GX85 body and might feel better matched to one of the G or GH series hump top bodies, although these lack Dual IS. |
Description The Lumix 12-60mm f3.5-5.6 looks and operates like several other Panasonic Lumix M43 zooms. There are focus and zoom rings but no other controls on the lens itself. A reversing petal type lens hood is provided.
The lens appears to be constructed of good quality polycarbonate with a metal mount surrounded by a thin rubber gasket to prevent water ingress.
Actual mass with 58mm protect filter, front and rear caps and hood is 279 grams.
Measured length with filter and front cap is 81mm from the face of the mount.
Mechanical Operation Zoom and focus actions are smooth.
Electronic Functions The lens supports all the latest Panasonic hi-tech functions including DFD autofocus and Dual IS on a suitable body.
AF is very fast and reliably accurate.
Dual IS works very well.
Optical performance My copy of the lens is very well centered and delivers excellent results at all focal lengths and apertures.
Sharpness/resolution is very high in a broad central area of the frame right from the widest aperture at all focal lengths.
At 12mm the corners are not quite sharp at f3.5 but become sharp by f5.0.
At all other focal lengths sharpness and resolution are excellent across the frame right from the widest available aperture.
I had the opportunity to test the kit 12-32mm f3.5-5.6 lens alongside the 12-60mm. There is simply no comparison. The 12-60mm delivers better sharpness and resolution at all focal lengths and apertures. The superiority of the 12-60mm is particularly evident at the edges and corners of the frame.
I also tested the Lumix 25mm f1.7 lens at the same time as the 12-60mm. I found the 12-60mm to be as sharp as the better of the 2 copies of the 25mm available for testing although the 25mm peaked at f2.5 and the 12-60mm was 2.5 stops slower at f5.6.
Panasonic rectifies aberrations and distortion in camera software. The result with the 12-60mm on a GX85 body is mild barrel distortion at 12mm and a virtual absence of chromatic aberration and purple fringing at any focal length.
Summary The lumix 12-60mm f3.5-5.6 is an excellent mid range general purpose zoom lens for Micro Four Thirds cameras. It is particularly suitable for Panasonic cameras which support DFD AF and Dual IS.
It delivers a very high standard of resolution and sharpness at all focal lengths and apertures. I was unable to find any faults, failings or deficiencies at all with my copy of the lens.
The only thing about which I might have thought to complain is the modest aperture range. But a wider aperture would require a commensurate increase in size, mass and price.
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