Leica 12-60mm -premium kit lens for LUMIX cameras 

I think that standard zooms are great for everyday shooting.

3:40 incredible shot

I changed to this lens from oly 12-40 /2,8 pro and I`m very satisfied to the image quality .

I shoot live theatre, concerts, and dance shows. I have two GH5Mk2s and a GH6. I have a 8-18 F2.8-4, Olympus 12-40 f2.8, 35-100 f2.8, and a 5-200 f2.8-4. I just purchased the 12-60 f2.8-4 to better accommodate smaller venues.

haha that's a pretty unique intro with the lens cap. I think it's hard coming up with something unique in an already saturated space.

My standard zoom lenses spend most time on my cameras from my Four Thirds to APS to Full-frame cameras. I have delivered shots taken with my standard zooms to clients who have been delighted with the results. I love the compositional opportunities and speed of use especially during assignments and projects that demand a fast pace. When I shoot with two camera bodies, I also may have a standard zoom mounted on one and a wide-angle or tele-zoon on the other depending on the project type. I call having two cameras ready to switch out any time a "New York Reload."

Hi Matti. Sorry to say this but I'm a dedicated Olympus user, but I watch every video that you post on RU-vid as there are often many interesting and valuable issues discussed. That being said, I do have, and use, several Lumix and Lumix/Leica lenses. The 12-60mm, the most recent, is one of them. I'm a believer in medium zoom lenses especially for travel, and the quality of this lens almost eliminates the need for primes. This can significantly reduce your load when traveling as the 12-60mm covers most ranges to be able to capture snap shots as well as more creative images when time permits. Not much else to say save that this is a fantastic almost all purpose lens.

I bought this lens last Christmas. Usually, it sells for $900 on Amazon but I got it for $700 (now back up to $900). Seems like Christmas is it time for many things to be discounted. I love this lens but then again I am not someone who has a lot of lenses to compare. Love that it is mostly metal, weather sealed, image stabilized and with great zoom range. I am a happy camper.

I have this lens it came with my GH5 and I like it a lot. The range is great and I often shoot on this lens. I'm not at the point where I can say anything negiitive. I do know from my study with you and others prime is the way to go. I did by the faster 25mm 1.7 you recommended and I'm happy with that too. Time with tell. Thank you again. Tom

When I got my first digital ilc, the Olympus e-510, it came with the 14-42mm and kept Ieaving it at home, using the 40-150 more. Whenever I used the standard zoom, I felt the aperture not bright enough whenever I was indoors, the dof too meh (neither shallow nor deep) to make a image interesting. When I went to mft, my first lens was tbe 20mm f/1.7 prime - it gives me the bright aperture when I shoot in dim light and the shallow dof for that nostalgic look of my film prime days. After a long time, I am using a standard zoom but a special one, the little 12-32 Lumix because it is 12mm, cheap and small as an addition to my 20mm. I have three 14-42 lenses I seldom use

I think its a cracking lens that gives nice OOC colour & contrast and that maybe there is a little too much snobbishness about "standard lenses". Sometimes I take this lens alone or with the PL 8-18 f2.8-4. Some days Ill take 3 lenses E.G. PL 8-18, PL 25 f1.4 & Pana 35-100 f2.8, and other days just 1 or 2 primes like the PL 15mm f1.7. It depends partly on the subject I intend to capture but also its just good to change it up sometimes to keep your mind fresh.

This lens will remain on my wish list. I consider it a good option for a walk around lens. I basically only have primes and find myself in situations where I have the wrong lens on the camera for the shot, and in the time I have changed lens the opportunity is gone. My primes are a 12mm a 25 and a 42.5. And this would cover all that range and a bit more. If I knew in advance what focal length I wanted to shoot with I would prefer one of my primes, but as a walk around I think this would be great. Also, good to know this is a kit lens. It probably will result quite a few of this will enter the second hand market when people makes upgrades. (Unless it is as useful as I expect it to be)

People are forgetting it's parfocality. In video, if you zoom in, it keeps focus at the same place. The kit 3.5-5.6 doesn't do that. Actually I'm pretty sure most lenses don't do that. This is important and an incredible feature for this focal range.

I have the Gx8 and with the it's grip the PL12-60mm is easy to handle as well as the Dual Image stabilization is a bonus to the image quality for a walk around lens. It is a good for the G9 body and even best with the updated IBIS. The Pana Leica glass is just that much better wide open. I tried the 25mm f1.4 and own the 50-200mm which compares to the IQ of my Canon 70-300mm L lens.

I usually do photography on parties, street, concerts... I always carry 25mm Summilux, but unless there is enough space to move I have to use zooms. I have M.Zuiko 12-40mm for 6 years and its great lens, also i have Lumix GX 35-100 2,8. Both are great, relatively small and light. There are two situations i was thinking of. Either my other zoom lens will require a repair, or i will be restricted to single lens use. I was thinking usually of superzooms like Lumix 14-140 or M.Zuiko 12-100. Those are either light and inexpensive, but slow with poor image quality, or expensive, with great image quality, yet quite heavy and large. This Leica DG 12-60 is light, small, with great image quality and extended zoom range. Not as much as superzooms, but also with less disadvantages.

For travel photography, I like a zoom lens, because I am likely to have must one camera, but a wide range of images I'd like to capture. I like this 12-60 and I have the kit 14-140 lens, when I want more reach. Because I am uneasy swapping lenses in the field (trying to keep dust out of the sensor area), I have several Lumix cameras with lenses semi-permanently affixed. So, if I want the possibility of using several different lenses, different zoom range, or different primes, I'll pack more than one camera (probably just two), unless my car is nearby where I am shooting.

I think that the most important potential problem with zoom lenses is that it can encourage people to compose by zooming, rather than moving around the subject

Hello, Matti, Thank you for another great video! I know you are a photographer not videographer, if it's possible, could you include some video footage when you talk about certain camera lenses? Like use this lens for vlogging for an example. Thank you! Have a great weekend.

Dont really like zooms either; I prefer to choose a low glass high quality prime before i go out and just use that. I have put the x2 digital zoom function under the F2 button on the back of my Panasonic GX9 in case I need more oooomph. I find the best MFT primes are easily sharp enough to take a x2 crop in the few cases where I need it. The problem with this 12-60mm zoom is its not one thing or another. I only intended to buy one zoom for my kit and bought the 14-140mm for nature shots on trips. So the 12-60mm just doesnt have enough range for this purpose. What has shocked me was the 12-32mm kit zoom that was included with my camera. I assumed it was rubbish; it looks like rubbish, feels like rubbish; common sense and experience tells me it is rubbish. Hah silly me!!! I gave it a try; hah it was rubbish the image was all blurry. Looked at it and found the front element kept getting greasy bouncing against my arm on the strap. Soon fixed that with a cheap Amazon Leica like lens hood and front cover which made a quite ugly lens actually quite attractive. Next trip out; OMG WHAT!!!! This zoom was optically superb. It folds flat. It reminds me of the 50mm collapsable Summicron on my old Leica IIIg. Its now a favourite lens and wouldnt want to be without it. Its as sharp as a prime, it has OIS and it was only an extra £99 in the kit. Strange isnt it? We spend a lifetime knowing stuff and in the end we know nothing. I will take the 12-32mm over this 12-60mm every day of the week because the whole shebang fits in my handbag, is amazing on the street, has my favourite focal lengths of 17mm and 25mm plus it gives me a very cheap and stunning 12mm - winks ;-)

Hello from France. First of all, thanks so much for this channel. All videos are relevant and interesting. Well, has anybody got a little time to give a hand to a little Frenchie ? ;-) I've got a G9, à 25mm lens, a 12-60 and a 45-200. I'd like to take street photos and I'm looking for a flexible lens with a better aperture than my Lumix 12-60. I'm thinking of selling it in order to buy a premium lens. I'm hesitating between the Panasonic leica 12-60 (aperture from 2.8 to 4) and the Lumix 12-35 with a constant 2.8 aperture. Which one would you chose, guys ? Thanks a lot for your help 🥂

Hi Matti, I've been thinking for about a year if that lens is worth the upgrade from the standard 12 to 60mm f3.5 5.6 that came with my g85... regarding the sharpness and image quality in general It would be great to know your opinion

Matti, I own this combo and bought it as a kit. I concur with your findings and want to replace it with the 12 to 35 f2.8 constant. Your thoughts? and then later possibly the 35 to 100 2.8.

i have this one^^

Is there a way to adjust the focus ring (inside the Panasonic G9), so you don't need to turn it full way around to focus from far away to close? I need to make smaller adjustments, because of an external focus motor from my gimbal

Can you use focus stacking ability of the G95 with this lens?

Hi Matti, very useful review thank you. I have a question that I think you may be able to help me with. I have a FZ1000 that I use for everything now, it's great for travel. I used to be a Nikon DSLR user but I changed due to my age and the heavy out fit. I am missing a bit of quality when using the FZ1000 for indoor family ,groups and children running around. So do you think that I would notice much of an improvement if I used a G90 + 12-60 Leica f2'8 -F4. I wasn't able to contact you privately, I apologize if I am putting you on the spot. Thankyou for any input.

I have the 12-60 kit but don’t like the way it goes dark as you zoom in - but still a great lens - weather sealed but still tend to use my primes

I don't have any zoom lenses yet for my new G9 that I recently purchased. I am still looking for the right one and I couldn't decide if 12-60mm or 12-35mm F/2.8. What is your thoughts on these two lenses? Thank you.

im buying the g9 used with a 12-60mm lens. I can get the leica over the kit for an extra £150. Do you think itd be worth it? thanks

Hello Matti. First, thank you for all the time and effort you are putting into these M43 videos. They are great and very helpful to me. Please correct me about the usage of 'kit' lens. I thought a 'kit' lens that might be considered a lens that comes with a new camera? For example in the US the G95 comes with the Lumix G vs. your video's citation of the Leica DG. Panasonic lens tend to come in 2 'grades' G and DG where DG tends to have have higher specs. For example for the US Lumix G95 from B&H's site: www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1226383-REG/panasonic_h_fs12060_lumix_g_12_60mm_f_3_5_5_6.html via: www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1469486-REG/panasonic_dc_g95mk_lumix_dc_g95_mirrorless_digital.html How does your use of 'kit' differ? OR does the global Lumix G90 come with the DG lens for its kit lens? Thank you Matti or anyone for their clarification. Again, many thanks for the great videos.

Is it worth it over the f3.5 to 5.6 Lumix version?

i am considering 1240f2.8 1245f4 and this 1260. can someone comment on? i have a em10 n gx9, thx