Best Panasonic Lumix G Vario Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals & Sales 2020:

The Lumix G Vario 12-60 mm F3.5-5.6 ASPH Power OIS is an optical sold in kit. Its compactness and tropicalized finish make it a logical choice, but is the image quality part of it?

Presentation

Presented in 2016 by Panasonic, the Lumix G Vario 12-60 mm F3.5-5.6 ASPH Power OIS made its appearance in our comparison. This zoom incorporates the main characteristics of the lenses sold as a kit, such as a not very generous sliding aperture and a construction devoid of high-end finishes.

Despite everything, the technical sheet has enough to challenge and question little about the purchase or conservation of such an optic. Indeed, the measurements of the lens are reduced and honor the Micro 4/3 ecosystem. But that’s not all, stabilization and tropicalization are also part of it. The price is also contained, the Lumix G Vario 12-60 mm F3.5-5.6 was announced at the recommended retail price of € 449.

Equivalent to a 24-120 mm in reference to 35 mm, the optics is composed of eleven elements divided into nine groups. Three aspherical lenses are present as well as an ED (Extra Low Dispersion) to reduce unwanted effects such as distortion or chromatic aberration. 

Best Panasonic Lumix G Vario Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals & Sales 2020

1. Panasonic LUMIX G Vario 12-60mm/F3.5-5.6 ASPH./Power O.I.S. H-FS12060 (Japan Import-No Warranty) White Box

2. PANASONIC LUMIX G VARIO LENS, 12-60MM, F3.5-5.6 ASPH., MIRRORLESS MICRO FOUR THIRDS. POWER OPTICAL I.S., H-FS12060 (USA BLACK)

3. PANASONIC LUMIX G Leica DG Vario-ELMARIT Professional Lens, 12-60MM, F2.8-4.0 ASPH. MIRRORLESS Micro Four Thirds, Power O.I.S, H-ES12060 (International Model)

4. PANASONIC LUMIX Professional 12-60mm Camera Lens, Leica DG Vario-ELMARIT, F2.8-4.0 ASPH. Dual I.S. 2.0 with Power O.I.S, Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds, H-ES12060 (Black)

5. Panasonic Lumix G85 4K Digital Camera, 12-60mm Power O.I.S. Lens, 16 Megapixel Mirrorless Camera. 5 Axis In-Body Dual Image Stabilization, 3-Inch Tilt and Touch LCD, DMC-G85MK (Black)

Tropicalized, small, light

In terms of design and handling, there is nothing to report in particular. The set is not excellent, but without notable error. For the price, it’s hard to imagine better. Rather sober and with a black dress, it even seems a little too small once fixed on a Lumix G90 . The focusing ring is surely a little too flexible, but the rotation is gentle. The ring dedicated to the zoom is very wide. However, its handling does not offer a high-end feeling. The resistance of the race is not linear either, without being annoying on a daily basis.

In addition, the Panasonic Lumix G Vario 12-60 mm F3.5-5.6 is also stabilized. Compatibility with Dual IS dual stabilization is also provided by Panasonic. This is a very good point which makes it possible to gain in versatility and partly compensates for the dim light opening of the lens. We focused on stabilization in more detail in the Lumix G90 test and we were able – with the cost of a certain effort – to take clear photos with a second of exposure time.

Sharpness

The measurements in our laboratory are made in partnership with Imatest. Software, tools or charts, Imatest offers complete and tailor-made solutions to analyze and test the quality of cameras and photographic lenses.

We tested the lens with a Panasonic Lumix GX8 with a 4/3 “type sensor of 20.3 Mpx with a definition of 5 184 × 3 888 px. Each pixel therefore measures 3.33 µm side.

Without necessarily being exceptional, optics offer a good performance at larger openings. However, it is not very bright. The range available before a decrease in quality due to diffraction is still quite small. This is still fairly standard in this range. For the more attentive, the loss of quality can be detected at f / 8, but will actually appear at f / 11. The rendering between the edge and the center is relatively homogeneous and without great disparity.

Distortion / vignetting / aberrations / flare

There is very little distortion. Only the 12 mm focal length is really impacted by barrel deformations. It should be borne in mind that the defects are directly corrected in the JPEGs and in the raw files when using Micro 4/3 boxes. This prevents seeing the real rendering of the optics. However, in real use, this feature is not a defect, quite the contrary.

The vignetting is also well contained. Again, it is only at 12 mm that it will be really annoying, even if it is also found across the entire focal range. Perceptible at wide angle between f / 3.5 and f / 4, it is also negligible.

In the case of flare , it’s a different story. This is probably the biggest defect of the Panasonic Lumix G Vario 12-60 mm F3.5-5.6 ASPH Power OIS since it is relatively sensitive to it. On the ground, it will manifest itself quite easily. If it can be used creatively, it especially betrays the entry-level position of the small zoom

Autofocus

The motorized focusing of the Panasonic Lumix G Vario 12-60 mm F3.5-5.6 is quick when good shooting conditions are met. With few lights, pumping effects can easily occur. This is all the more true as the focal length used is deep. That said, the performance of the case also comes into play. If the autofocus is not perfectly silent, it is very difficult to perceive the slightest sound; the double stabilization itself generates more noise.

STRONG POINTS

  • Template and weight.
  • Tropicalization.
  • Stabilization.
  • Good dive at the largest openings.

WEAK POINTS

  • Sensitive to flare.
  • Autofocus at full zoom and in low light.
  • Absence of manual shortcuts on the barrel.

CONCLUSION

At a relatively affordable price, the Panasonic Lumix G Vario 12-60mm F3.5-5.6 ASPH Power OIS lens makes concessions. Among them, we can count a slippery opening with little light and a propensity to be prone to flare. The optical quality is not bad, but diffraction will quickly appear. However, the Lumix G Vario 12-60 mm makes you want. Very light and of reduced size, it is both tropicalized and stabilized, which places it as a good little objective to do everything unpretentious.

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