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Many people have been asking how long the new Panasonic 50-200mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH stays at F2.8. Well the answer is it stops being f2.8 as soon as you turn the zoom ring. It goes to F2.9 as soon as you hit 51mm.
Here is a photo of the imedit change to f2.9 when it leave 50mm to zoom in. Bummer. I an very disappointed.
Photo credit to Carol Hartfree in the Panasonic G9 Facebook group.
Thanks. I was really hoping the 50-200mm would keep the F2.8 at least to 75mm. This is a very big disappointment. This seems like a way overpriced lens at $1700. Any shooter than need a long low light lens will only have the Olympus 40-150mm 2.8 as an option. I think Panasonic missed an opportunity here, This lens sits in no man’s land.
While the new lens is not yet available, I did try a “PanaLeica” 100-400 ($2400CAD) yesterday, and was rather disappointed with it, i It did feel reasonably “tight” and smooth, but not nearly as solid and well-put-together as the Olympus 40-150 f2.8 Pro I frequently use, and generally much more like the old 50-200SWD that used to be my most-used lens.
As I’ve detailed elsewhere I’ve become reluctant to pay the apparent premium for the “Leica” name on such products. Certainly Ernst Leitz, Wilde Heerberg (the original and former owners) and “Leica” have traditionally had high standards, they also have a long history of minor modifications and rebranding end even simply re-branding “partnership” products and doubling the price.
I’ll be very interested to see how this new lens compares with the Olympus 40-150 f2.8 in actual shooting. And perhaps also be taking another look at my old 50-200SWD, which I was going to sell. It’s got me some superb pictures.