If you follow the photography rumor mill, then you likely knew that this announcement was coming: As recent leaks suggested, Panasonic on Wednesday officially unveiled its new 12mm F/1.4 lens. Due to the x2 35mm crop of the micro four thirds format, this new lens would offer an equivalent focal length of 24mm on a full frame camera.
Headlining the features of this new lens are its F/1.4 aperture, as well as its splash- and dust-proof design, which makes it one of the most robust and durable micro four thirds options currently available. As far as construction, the new lens is made up of 15 elements in 12 groups including ED, UED, and aspherical glass elements. It also features a 9-bladed circular aperture.
As with many of its high-end lenses, the new 12mm F/1.4 is co-branded with Leica, which means that you can expect a significant hit to your wallet if you are wanting to pick this lens up. Panasonic did not officially announce a release date or a price for the new lens, but pre-orders are currently available at B&H Photo for around $1,300, which is usually a fairly good indication of the ballpark that a lens is expected to fetch at retail.
Finally, the new lens weighs in at 11.8oz and features a 67mm front filter thread, making it rather large for a micro four thirds offering. But it makes up for it with an all-metal construction, in addition to the stellar optical formula.
