Nice 'little' lens

[Simon Bee]

Well it's not really 'little' like my 12mm Oly is but is a lot smaller than I initially envisaged and balances well on the Pen-F if anyone is wondering.

I've wanted a Pana/Leica 12mm F1.4 for a while but couldn't stomach the £1200 price tag. Just purchased this one from Park Cameras ( great service BTW ) and it's like new. Though not cheap it was a decent saving on new, so I'm happy.

Build quality is awesome too, all metal including the hood. MF ring is sublime and the AF is incredibly quick, focuses faster than I can blink.

Now to 'hit the streets' and have some fun

[Ian]

While that lens is designed and manufactured by Panasonic, it does have to meet various performance criteria dictated by Leica and this often results in larger and heavier glass.

Ian

[Simon Bee]

While that lens is designed and manufactured by Panasonic, it does have to meet various performance criteria dictated by Leica and this often results in larger and heavier glass.

Ian

Balances nicely on the Pen-F though. I'm pleasantly surprised by how 'sensible' it looks on the camera, no larger than the Olympus 75mm F1.8 . Nocticron on it's way .... I think that will be pushing the limits of 'sensibility' on the Pen-F but 'hey ..why not'

[Ian]

Balances nicely on the Pen-F though. I'm pleasantly surprised by how 'sensible' it looks on the camera, no larger than the Olympus 75mm F1.8 . Nocticron on it's way .... I think that will be pushing the limits of 'sensibility' on the Pen-F but 'hey ..why not'

The 42.5mm f/1.2 Nocticron is fabulous

Ian

[Simon Bee]

The 42.5mm f/1.2 Nocticron is fabulous

Ian

I agree Ian, I had one many moons ago and should not have let it go. Never mind, another to replace it on its way

[sapper]

I will be interested to see your street stuff Simon. I got the Olympus 25mm 1.2, swapped a 17mm 1.2 for it. But then covid got worse so not used it much. Hope to go out soon.

[Simon Bee]

I will be interested to see your street stuff Simon. I got the Olympus 25mm 1.2, swapped a 17mm 1.2 for it. But then covid got worse so not used it much. Hope to go out soon.

Hi Dave,
I'll try to put a post together soon, have been meaning to for some time but not had time to take much since covid struck. I will go through the Tokyo street stuff from my two recent ( ish ) visits to Japan - 2018 & 2019.
I found Tokyo truly liberating for street photography as barely anyone pays attention or growls at you. It's a fantastic city BTW, totally intoxicating even for a normally 'urban avoider' like me, I guess no better place in the world to get over that than the largest city. Most of such shots were taken with either the 12mm F2 or 17mm F1.8 Oly's
I did get a lot of compliments off Japanese for shooting with a Pen-F