Verdict: This Lumix G 25mm is an exceptional lens for portrait or travel photography, given its 35mm equivalent length of 50mm, and the wide f/1.7 aperture makes it easy to shoot handheld in low light conditions. It doesn’t feel as premium as other lenses and lacks sharpness at max aperture but a great lens nevertheless.
The construction is sturdy but not as premium-feeling as other lenses in test, though this does keep the weight down to 125g.
Build quality aside, this is a very capable lens, especially given the low price-tag. It may feel a bit no-frills but the sharpness makes it a great out and about lens, with the centre relatively sharp at f/1.7. The corners aren’t as sharp as the more premium lenses here – which is to be expected – but it comes into its own from f/5.6, displaying impressive sharpness across the frame. There wasn’t any noticeable chromatic aberration on our test images, and vignetting was pleasingly light at the wider apertures, completely disappearing by f/4.
Although the cheapest lens here, its sharp images make this Panasonic a superb purchase for day-to-day use.
Pros
Lightweight
Portable
Price
Cons
Feels cheap
A bit soft in the corners
Not as sharp at maximum aperture
Spec
Max aperture: f/1.7
Min aperture: f/22
Elements/groups: 8/7
Min focus distance: 25cm
DxL: 61x52mm
Weight: 125g
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Kirk Schwarz is a tech-addicted photographer with over a decade's experience; Kirk’s used to putting new gear through extreme field testing. He's previously written for Practical Photography.