Panasonic has unveiled the ‘X’ Series of LUMIX G Micro System lenses – with two ground breaking world first interchangeable Micro Four Thirds System lenses offering electric powered zoom operation.

The two new lenses are the LUMIX G X VARIO PZ 14-42mm/F3.5-5.6 ASPH./POWER O.I.S (H-PS14042) and the LUMIX G X VARIO PZ 45-175mm/F4.0-5.6 ASPH./POWER O.I.S. (H-PS45175). Both lenses – in black and silver - will be available in Australia in late October, and the 14-42mm lens will also be available as a lens kit – the ‘DMC-GF3X’ - with the DMC-GF3 LUMIX G Micro System camera. Pricing will be announced closer to the release date.

Alistair Robins, Group Marketing Manager, LUMIX – Panasonic Australia, said: “This revolutionary development allows users to have a zoom lens in an incredibly small package. For those new to interchangeable lens cameras, using the zoom at the push of a button will be familiar to them from their compact camera; while more advanced users will appreciate the smooth zooming when shooting video. When using the 45-175mm zoom, activities such as shooting when using an underwater housing are easier as there is no external movement of the zoom.”

The LUMIX G X VARIO PZ 45-175mm/F4.0-5.6 ASPH./POWER O.I.S. lens adopts the industry-first Multi-Actuator Floating Inner Focus System1 which controls three  lens groups separately to achieve downsizing in both size and weight. It also achieves high performance for resolution and contrast at the entire zoom range of 45-175mm (35mm camera equivalent: 90-350mm) in a compact size.  Although the lens covers a long zoom range from standard to telephoto, it is designed with two aspherical lenses for outstanding compactness at approximately 90.0 mm in length and approximately 210g in weight.

The LUMIX G X VARIO PZ 14-42mm/F3.5-5.6 ASPH./POWER O.I.S retractable zoom lens is amazingly compact and mobile at 26.8 mm2 in length and weighing around 95g. The astonishingly short overall length is achieved by the inclusion of four aspherical lenses. The zoom lever on the lens barrel provides stable zooming while manual focusing is also available via the manual focus lever for more precise control.

Crystallising Panasonic's optical technologies, the “X” lenses feature superb image rendering for lifelike textures with crisp edge-to-edge contrast. A unique Nano Surface Coating is designed to minimise ghosts and flaring, minimising reflection at the entire visual light range (380nm-780nm).

A POWER Optical Image Stabiliser integrated in the lenses 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. is twice as effective in suppressing large, slow movements3. Small, fast movements are compensated by the conventional MEGA O.I.S.

Key features

LUMIX G X VARIO PZ 14-42mm/F3.5-5.6 ASPH./POWER O.I.S.
This new lens offers a versatile zoom range of 14-42 mm (35 mm camera equivalent: 28-84 mm) suitable for a wide range of scenes from dynamic landscapes to portraits. Comprised of nine lenses in eight groups, the lens system features excellent contrast across the entire zoom range. The inclusion of four aspherical lenses also improves optical performance by minimising distortion, even at the 28 mm wide end. The two ED lenses effectively compensate for chromatic aberration.

When the lens is mounted on LUMIX G Micro System cameras, users can take advantage of the Contrast AF system. Adopting an inner focus system driven by a stepping motor, the superior optical design of the lens offers smooth operation. It achieves approximately 0.1 second Light Speed AF4, and by speeding up the aperture control, shutter time lag is also shortened by approximately 40% compared with the LUMIX G VARIO 14-42mm / F3.5-5.6 ASPH. / MEGA O.I.S.5.

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 (35 mm equivalent). Seven aperture blades make up the circular aperture diaphragm and produce an attractive smoothness in out-of-focus areas even when shooting at a large aperture.

LUMIX G X VARIO PZ 45-175mm/F4.0-5.6 ASPH./POWER O.I.S
The new LUMIX G X VARIO PZ 45-175mm/F4.0-5.6 ASPH./POWER O.I.S. lens offers a versatile zoom range of 45-175 mm (35 mm camera equivalent: 90-350 mm). High contrast and resolution is assured for images shot at the wide-end, making it ideal for taking portraits. In addition, distant subjects such as sports and wildlife can be captured clearly even at the tele-end. The zoom lever allows stable zooming with ease even when shooting moving subjects.

The lens system features the inclusion of two ED lenses, which suppress chromatic aberration, contributing to high descriptive performance at the entire zoom range. Seven aperture blades make up the circular aperture diaphragm and produce an attractive smoothness in out-of-focus areas even when shooting at a large aperture.

When the lens is mounted on LUMIX G Micro System cameras, users can take advantage of the Contrast AF system. Adopting an inner focus system driven by a stepping motor, the superior optical design of the lens offers smooth operation to support Light Speed AF of approximately 0.15 second6. By speeding up the aperture control, shutter time lag is also shortened by approximately 20% compared with the LUMIX G VARIO 45-200mm /F4.0-5.6/MEGA O.I.S.7.

Firmware Update
Panasonic has also announced a firmware update program for the LUMIX G Micro System digital interchangeable lens system cameras DMC-GH2, DMC-G3, DMC-GF3 and DMC-GF2.

The firmware version 1.1 will enhance functions when the cameras are used with the new power zoom lenses - LUMIX G X VARIO PZ 14-42mm/F3.5-5.6 ASPH./POWER O.I.S. (H-PS14042) and LUMIX G X VARIO PZ 45-175mm/F4.0-5.6 ASPH./POWER O.I.S. (H-PS45175).

The following functions will be available with the new firmware:

Display of the focal length
When you zoom, the focal distance is displayed and you can confirm the zoom position.

Step zoom
When you operate the zoom, the zoom will stop at positions corresponding to predetermined distances.

Zoom resume
When you switch the power switch [ON], the zoom positions when you last switched [OFF] are automatically restored.

Selectable zoom speed
Users can select the speed of electric-powered zooming.

The new firmware program ver.1.1 will be available worldwide from the beginning of October at http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/.

The power zoom lenses can be used with DMC-GH2, DMC-G3, DMC-GF3 or DMC-GF2 if the firmware is not updated. However, Panasonic recommends all users to update it.