A curious case of mistaken marketing? Panasonic Leica 12-60 F2.8-4 

I got this as the “kit” lens with my G9. Could not believe how good value it was that they were bundling such a cracking lens at such a discount. I was originally going to get it as body only, but when I saw the saving to get this lens with it versus getting the lens later, well it would have been rude not to! 👍🏻 If I’m going out with the G9 and only one lens as a walkabout setup, this is the lens that’s fitted.

I got this as part of my G9 kit in Feb 2018 and so far it is the best zoom lens i've ever used. Back when the GH3 was new I tested out the 12-35mm and the 14-140mm zooms at a Panasonic dealers' event (I work* at a Panasonic Lumix dealership). For my personal needs I found the 12-35 was not long enough and the 14-140 wasn't wide enough. The 12-60 fits in almost perfectly for my needs- it's wide enough for groups/landscapes, it's long enough for portraits, at F4 it's still bright enough for low light work and the close focus is practically macro... ish :) Of course, if you can't afford the Leica 12-60, the cheaper plastic Lumix version (F3.5-5.6) is smaller, lighter, also weather sealed and is almost as good optically (in my experience) as the Leica. In fact, the only thing I didn't like about the Lumix version was the zoom- it was a bit coarse, it was difficult to zoom smoothly while video recording. *worked- i'm currently on furlough...

I just got into photography at 55 years of age and wanted a good camera so I got the G9 with the Leica 12-60mm lens, the 1.7 25mm prime and the 100-300mm zoom lens. I really like the Leica 12-60mm.

I had the G85 with the Pani 12-60. I wanted an extra stop and better video zoom so I got the Leica/Pani which is parfocal. Then I got the G9 body. They have been almost inseparable. Amazing flexibility. As a side note, testing the G85 kit lens against the Leica, that old kit is shockingly good. Panasonic did not drop some piece of crap on those users.

The thing about the G9 + PL 12-60 combo that impresses me most (maybe something to do with the lens as well) is how slow I can go , I'm not a young man but I've had very good results down to 3 seconds hand held, 4 seconds was ok at normal viewing. My Nikon DSLR bottomed out at 1/15th and my FZ1000 at 1/10th.That is amazing in my book.

i was lucky to know some of my friends are photographers, they always said that, if you own a leica either lens or camera, as if you own a ferrari. That how good they described to me about the quality of Leica. They also said, If you own a Sony or Canon, they are just same level as BMW and Mercedes. Those products could never be as par with Leica. So earlier this year i bought GH5ii bundled with PL12-60mm. Love it so much although there were times, a temptation to replace the lens with Olympus 12-40mm lurking into my mind. But i could not do it as i like the versatility of the lens's focal length. i shot in low light in 60mm at f4 several times and it was not bad at all in comparison with f 2.8. Plus it has stabilization built in the lens and that also helps in low light. Thus, i decided to stay with this lens.

I feel it's a game of trade-offs with it. You, A) take this one lens out and can do almost everything, provided you have good light; or B) you spend a bit more on the two 2.8 constants and carry both lenses around with a slight bit more versatility. As for pricing, I think they know what they're doing. I believe they're trying to bait people over to a system that so many full frame users think is a dying line, with a crazy deal on a really good lens. For the standalone price, it makes you chose between buying the almost all-in-one lens vs. the more expensive, more dynamic, pair of zooms. I struggle with this one, because I don't have the 12-35 or the 12-60. I want both and they're similar in price. I have the 35-100 already, with some primes. I go back and forth on which I should go with... 🤯

I got it new for 600$, the store here separates the combos and sells the lens only. What I absolutely love it for is that my camera no longer collects dust. The lens skyrocketed my interest in photo. I hoped it would and it did. You just want to hold it and shoot with it.

I am 70 and just got back into photography by buying this kit with the G9 in December. I am new to m43 and have never used full frame or other than film canons. I love this lense. The feel on the camera is perfect for me. Part of my choice was lense sizes and weight, as I have some issues. I will be relearning photography and editing now and can't see myself even learning all this camera and lense can do. I did pick up the Leica 25 1.4 used and love it too... but I'd say 80% of my shots are with the 12-60. Color saturation and sharpness is wonderful to me, as is the feel and movement of the lens.. I have no regrets at all.

Dear Connor, First let me thank you for your work. Your insights and wit are both enlightening and delightful. I was only able to purchase the 12-60 f2.8 independently of the g9. I paid full price for both. I'm glad I did. I love the lens. It stands on its own. It had the versatility I needed. When I purchase the Panasonic Leica 10-25 f1.7, it will be the main lens on my other camera. Regards, Hal York

It's a superb and useful lens. I think the term 'kit lens' doesn't apply with this 12-60mm, as it's more like an alternative to the 12-35mm, or in full-frame terms, a 24-70mm f2.8, neither of which would be called kit lenses, if bought with a camera body. So the Leica lens is used more as a sales incitement to buy a G9 or GH5 body, included at a bargain price, given the price when bought on it's own (which like most PanaLeica lenses, is a bit on the ambitious/high side). But whatever the marketing, be in no doubt, this is one of the best standard zooms out there, balancing perfectly with the G9 and GH5, and even not too large for the GX9. I look forward to your review...

I bought a Panasonic G85 bundled with a kit lens at the end of 2017 but it wasn't the one you're talking about. It was the Panasonic 12-60 f.3.5-5.6. A good kit lens but of course far less professional. Didn't realize you could get f2.8-4 version bundled with a camera.

I bought this lens seperately on discounted price.. This lens is very good.. Close up, wide, tele, low light at wide end, OIS, and somewhat sharp (2 steps below prime).. Nothing to complain

I got it as a kit lens with a G9 last week as it appeared to be excellent value. I sold all my Nikon gear and a Mju II to make the swap, but I did not estimate how much of a step up the G9 and the 12-60 would be from anything else I had owned before. For me, owning this lens is definitely a happy accident that does everything brilliantly that I would actually have been disappointed with if I had the Lumix 12-60.

Something not touched on that I'm loving about this lens is the 2x and 4 x intelligent zoom, it appears to be better than a crop and turns the lens into a 480mm equivalent .I originally compared it to the 14-140 F 3.5-F5.6 version in store but although I had the 14-140 out to 140mm and the Leica at 60mm, when I checked the images on my laptop close up I could see more details in the same subjects with the Leica which considering the advantage the 14-140 had zoom wise I was surprised at, I did not know about the Digi zoom at the time. I originally wanted the G90/95 but the good deal I got with the G9 + lens changed my mind. Hopefully the G9 will be the better camera for me.

The 12-60mm leica lens is the ONE lens for me, i still don't have it but as soon as this is over and i start my jobs again (hopefully) i'm saving for it ! i think the focal length is very versatile and more than enough to cover my needs and the fact that is part focal is awesome to me, i would have love to get it as a bundle with my G9 but sadly i couldn't i think this is a underestimated lens, but anyways bro ! whats up ? how are you in all this pandemic mess ? are you doing good ?

Love this lens (purchased 2nd hand from Wex) gorgeous 3d "leica feel" to images. More versatile range and yet similar size to 12-40 oly or 12-35 lumix and with 24cm close focus at the 60mm end its a decent macro lens also which Ive really enjoyed during lockdown. Of course some may prefer to have the constant f2.8. For me though its the best all in one lens around esp given the Oly 12-100 is way too big & f4 constant.

I never quite understood this lens either. Not fast enough compared to the standard 3.5-5.6 which I already had and why would I buy it new when the 10-25 exists which would be much more useful to me.

This lens has just never been on my radar. I’ve had the 12-35 and 35-100 since 2016 (using a GH4 at the time). Since then I have only bought primes (With the exception of the 100-300) and all my lenses have a constant aperture. And I bought my GH5 and, more recently, G9 as Body only.

I already had the 12-35 and 35 - 100 and noticed this lens when the GH5 came out. It looked particularly good especially as it was a newer generation of lenses and gave a good focal range. Considered it since but with my 12-35 I find I/m almost always in the 12-20 mm range and jump to primes and the 36-100. If I were buying again would definitely get it instead of the 12-35 because I'd use the 50-60mm end. On the G9 I think its one of the most underrated cameras around and a bargain at the price, especially now with the recent updates. I agonized between that and the GH5 and only went for the GH5 for longer recording times and being a dirty great heat sink. These days, of course, Panasonic has a great range of quality lenses which while being "expensive" are actually very reasonable when compared to apsc and full-frame equivalents.

I just bought the GH5 and this Leica lens as a kit. Waiting on delivery now. good move over the standard lumix kit lens?

Gave it a miss. The Zuiko 12-60 f2.8-4 has and still serving me well since my E-500 days up til now with my G9 and EM5ii.

Here it looks like as a kit it adds in $800 CAD, or by itself it would be $1,200 CAD, so there is that savings... If you want the lens. The big problem for me is that if I had the extra $800 just sitting around, it would be a tough sell due to two big reasons: 1) I already like my Lumix 12-60, and it does what I need it to, as it's a lovely day-to-day daylight lens, and 2) for the same amount of money I could pick up either the 15mm f1.7 or the 25mm f1.4 II, both of which are on my short list of lenses I'd love to buy. Now, if I didn't almost always go directly to primes for lower light and night photography, I'd probably put the money more towards the Olympus 12-40 and/or 40-150's, not quite because of the constant f2.8 aperture (although that's rather handy), but also because they work fairly well for other pursuits I enjoy (astrophotography, and I also want to get into infrared photography). Now, if I wanted a nicer, all-around lens, and could afford the $1,200 CAD for it, or could find it even cheaper, I strongly suspect I'd wind up eventually having the Leica 12-60 replace the Lumix 12-60 as my daily go-to lens, simply because it not only lets more light in, but is rated for the cold, which is handy for those living in cold climates...

hi connor, missing your videos. are you still in the M43 system, or looking to switch soon? looking forward to the release of the gh6 to hopefully add a gh5 (s?) at a bargain to accompany my g9.

I brought this lens, not part of a bundle, when I got my GH5 and I have used it more for videos than stills, great lens! Downfall for me is 2.8 constant would’ve been better for darker situations but all round it is very good.

I think it was smart to bundle an amazing PL lens as a “kit” lens. First impressions are everything. I don’t own the lens myself as I bought up to begin with. 12-35 f/2.8 then sold that for a 10-25 f/1.7 and a 50-200 f/2.8-4 (probably the two most versatile lenses for the system). Another excellent lens is the Olympus 12-100 f/4. I really wish Panasonic would release a PL 12-120 f2.8-4 with OIS as a “one-lens-only” setup. Because the Oly 12-100 f/4 is a wonderful do it all lens when you have decent light. Conner, you should try and get your hands on the 50-200 and share your thoughts. It think that lens is the best of what the PL lenses have to offer.

This one never impressed me when I compared it to the Olympus 12-40 pro that has a constant 2.8 aperture range. And is as sharp as my 25mm at any aperture setting. It’s just a extremely impressive lens.

Thank you for this video! I hear nothing but good things about Olympus, but I only have experience with Leica lenses on my G9 and I am hesitant to buy any other type of lens. Do you find Olympus premium lenses will perform as well as Leica on the G9? I am still kind of new at this, but are both lenses built to the mount's specifications and that's all what matters? Thank you.

I'm really happy I got mine in the G9 kit, would not buy it for the full price, even if it is most likely worth it.. I really love it, but 1000usd for one lens is a tough sell to the spouse.. especially if you have a 12-60 and it's just "one stop faster"

Hi I got the kit with the non leica version. I think later they put it with the leica to push sales. Similarly there were lots of "most underrated camera" vids by influencers so panasonic were pushing. The regular, slower 12-60 is not a bad kit on it's own but yep if u got the Leica it was good value. Love the G9

Another great video my friend... keep it up!

Could u tell me what is the best protective filter would be for leica 12-60?

I did not buy it. But I think the Panasonic 12-35mm and the PANASONIC Leica DG Nocticron 42.5mm f/1.2 ASPH. Power O.I.S. Lens are two of Panasonic best lenses for the GH5/GH5s.

lol, this is the lens I just sold, unused. xD I got it in the kit, because obviously I saw the upside in doing so. If you then sold the lens, you'd get a bargain on the camera itself. I never really got excited about the lens either. It's a f/2.8 and drops off to f/4 quickly, the usual review channels didn't really have compelling shots with it like at all. It just didn't seem up to the Leica standard I've come to known for value: e.g. Leica 15mm f/1.7 or quality and look Nocticron 42.5mm f/1.2. If you want to be talking about steals, it's the weathersealed Lumix 12-60mm that launched with the G80/85, don't see too much advantage of the Leica. Though for me: my 10-25mm f/1.7 unicorn is the one and only true Leica zoom.

12-35 was considered as a kit lens as well