Best Travel Lenses For Capturing Adventures With Panasonic G9

The Panasonic Lumix G9 is a versatile mirrorless camera, ideal for both photography and videography. When choosing a lens for your G9, it's important to consider the type of photography you plan to do, your budget, and the features you need, such as weather sealing and image stabilisation. Here are some recommended lenses for the Panasonic G9 to get you started:

- Panasonic Leica 12-60mm f/2.8-4: This lens is a versatile option, offering a useful 24-120mm equivalent zoom range. It delivers sharp image quality and features a fast, quiet autofocus system. The lens is also splash, dust, and freezeproof, making it suitable for outdoor use.

- Panasonic Leica Nocticron 42.5mm f/1.2: A high-end portrait prime lens with a 35mm equivalent focal length of 85mm and a fast f/1.2 aperture, making it ideal for low-light conditions and creating shallow depth of field.

- Olympus 45mm f/1.2 Pro: Another excellent portrait-length lens with an ultra-fast f/1.2 maximum aperture, resulting in sharp subjects and smooth bokeh. It is also weatherproof, able to withstand dust and freezing conditions.

- Panasonic 42.5mm f/1.7: A perfect lens for portraits, offering a 35mm equivalent focal length of 85mm and a bright f/1.7 aperture for beautiful bokeh. It features fast autofocus and internal focus design for smooth and responsive performance.

- Olympus 60mm f/2.8 Macro: A dust and splash-proof macro lens with a minimum focusing distance of 7.4 inches at 1:1 life-size magnification, making it ideal for close-up shooting. It also has a fast f/2.8 maximum aperture for improved low-light performance.

- Panasonic Leica 10-25mm f/1.7: A unique wide-angle zoom lens with a bright f/1.7 constant maximum aperture, offering impressive low-light performance and depth of field control. It features a durable, weather-sealed design and a fast autofocus system.

- Olympus 7-14mm f/2.8 PRO: A highly recommended ultra-wide-angle zoom lens that is compact, lightweight, and weatherproof. It offers a bright f/2.8 maximum aperture and impressive optical performance, making it ideal for landscapes and architecture photography.

- Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 II: A great value lens that is compact, lightweight, and offers impressive sharpness, bokeh, and low-light performance. It has a 35mm equivalent focal length of 40mm, making it a versatile option for everyday photography.

Best kit lens

The kit lens that comes with the Panasonic G9 is the Lumix G Vario 12-60mm F3.5-5.6. While some people have called this lens "garbage", others have defended it as a fine starting point for beginners. It is lightweight and versatile, which is important for travel. It is also good in decent lighting conditions and is sharp at f/5.6-7.1.

However, it is not ideal for low light conditions as it is a variable aperture lens. If you are looking for a lens for low light photography, you may want to consider the Lumix 25mm f/1.7 or the Lumix 42.5mm f/1.7.

If you are looking for a zoom lens, the Lumix 14-140mm f/3.5-5.6 II OIS is a good option. It has Dual IS2, which is great for travel photography as it ensures clear images even when using a long shutter speed.

Another option for a kit lens is the Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60mm f/2.8-4 ASPH. This lens is more expensive but offers better image quality and construction than the Lumix G Vario 12-60mm F3.5-5.6. It is also tropicalized, meaning it can be used in difficult conditions. However, the aperture is not constant, and you only get f/2.8 at 12mm.

Overall, the Lumix G Vario 12-60mm F3.5-5.6 is a good starting point for beginners, but if you are looking for better image quality or low-light performance, you may want to consider other options such as the Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60mm f/2.8-4 ASPH or the Lumix 25mm f/1.7 and 42.5mm f/1.7 primes.

Best portrait lenses

The Panasonic G9 is a Micro Four Thirds camera, meaning it's compatible with lenses from a range of manufacturers. Here are some of the best portrait lenses for the Panasonic G9:

Panasonic Leica Nocticron 42.5mm f/1.2

This high-end portrait prime lens offers a 35mm focal length equivalent of 85mm and a fast aperture of f/1.2, making it well-suited for portraits. The fast maximum aperture benefits working in low-light conditions and offers more control over focus position for producing shallow depth-of-field imagery. The only downside is its price. If you're looking for a more affordable option, the Panasonic 42.5mm f/1.7 is a good choice, offering a beautiful bokeh background defocus effect.

Olympus 45mm f/1.2 Pro

This lens is an ideal portrait-length lens for Micro Four Thirds shooters, pairing the desirable 90mm-equivalent focal length with an ultra-fast f/1.2 maximum aperture. It enables you to capture tack-sharp subjects and smooth bokeh with a three-dimensional result. The bright aperture also suits working in low-light conditions and offers greater control over depth of field. The Olympus 45mm f/1.8 is a more affordable alternative, offering similar features in a compact and lightweight package.

Panasonic 42.5mm f/1.7

This lens is an 85mm-equivalent lens designed for the Micro Four Thirds system. It features an aspherical element to control spherical aberrations and distortions, resulting in enhanced sharpness and accurate rendering. The bright f/1.7 aperture produces a beautiful bokeh background defocus effect, making it a versatile tool for portraiture. The POWER O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) compensates for camera shake, making it ideal for hand-held use.

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 45mm f/1.8

This lens is a sleek 90mm equivalent lens for Micro Four Thirds cameras, offering smooth and silent autofocus. The short-telephoto focal length and bright f/1.8 maximum aperture benefit working in low-light conditions and provide greater control over depth of field. The optical construction incorporates two extra-high refractive index elements to reduce distortion and spherical aberrations, resulting in notable sharpness and accurate rendering.

Best macro lenses

The Panasonic G9 is a Micro Four Thirds system camera, meaning it is compatible with a range of lenses from different manufacturers. Here are some of the best macro lenses for the Panasonic G9:

Olympus 60mm f/2.8 Macro

The Olympus 60mm f/2.8 is a weatherproof lens that can withstand harsh conditions. It is constructed of 13 separate elements in 10 groups, ensuring the production of fine details. The lens has a minimum focusing distance of 7.4 inches and 1x maximum magnification. It also has a focus limit switch that speeds up the autofocus, and a built-in working distance window to confirm the subject distance. The Olympus 60mm f/2.8 is lightweight and easy to shoot one-handed, even in low lighting.

Panasonic Leica DG Macro-Elmarit 45mm F2.8 ASPH OIS

The Panasonic Leica 45mm f/2.8 is an extremely compact and lightweight lens, perfect for macro photography. It offers a maximum magnification of 1:1 for life-size rendering and a minimum focusing distance of 5.9 inches for working with close-up subjects. Panasonic's Mega Optical Image Stabilizer (O.I.S.) also makes it easy to capture sharply-focused macro shots, even in low-light conditions, without the need for a tripod.

Panasonic 30mm f/2.8 Macro

The Panasonic 30mm f/2.8 Macro lens has a minimum focusing distance of 4.1 inches and a 1:1 magnification ratio for life-size imaging of nearby subjects. It features an aspherical element to control spherical aberrations and distortions, and a multi-layer coating to reduce ghosting and lens flare, resulting in increased contrast and colour fidelity. This lens is excellent for casual macro shots, such as flowers or food, as well as impressive portraits.

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 60mm F2.8 Macro

The Olympus M.Zuiko 60mm f/2.8 Macro is a high-quality dust and splash-proof lens, designed for sharp close-up shooting. It has a minimum focusing distance of 7.4 inches at 1:1 life-size magnification. The wide, fast f/2.8 maximum aperture creates a shallow depth of field and improves image quality in low-light conditions. The lens barrel also has an indicator window with scales for working at different magnifications, and a Focus Limit Switch to constrain the focusing range for faster, more controlled performance.

These macro lenses will allow you to capture stunning close-up shots with high detail and sharpness, enhancing your photography experience with the Panasonic G9.

Best all-in-one lenses

The Panasonic Lumix G9 is a Micro Four Thirds camera, meaning it's compatible with a wide range of lenses from different manufacturers. Here are some of the best all-in-one lenses for the Panasonic G9:

Olympus 12-200mm f/3.5-6.3

The Olympus 12-200mm f/3.5-6.3 lens is a versatile option for travellers and photographers who want to pack light. It offers a 16.6x zoom range, dustproof and splashproof construction, and a close focusing distance of 8.7 inches. While it lacks internal image stabilisation, the lens delivers solid, sharp images with fine detail reproduction. Its zoom ring is smooth, but it can be challenging to zoom in when pointing upward due to the weight of the glass. Overall, it's a great choice for those who want a single lens to cover most shooting situations.

Olympus 12-100mm f/4 IS PRO

The Olympus 12-100mm f/4 IS PRO is a professional-grade lens that packs the performance of two lenses into one compact and lightweight package. With a focal range of 24-200mm (35mm equivalent), it can handle everything from wide-angle landscapes to telephoto portraits. The lens features a fast autofocus system, weatherproof construction, and excellent image quality. It's an ideal choice for those seeking a high-quality, versatile lens for travel and everyday photography.

Panasonic Leica 12-60mm f/2.8-4

The Panasonic Leica 12-60mm f/2.8-4 is a versatile zoom lens that provides a useful 24-120mm equivalent zoom range. It delivers sharp image quality and features a fast, quiet autofocus system. The lens is also splash, dust, and freezeproof, making it suitable for outdoor use. It's a great option for those looking for an all-in-one lens that can handle a wide range of shooting situations, from landscapes to portraits.

Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro

The Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro is a standard zoom lens that offers a wide-angle to portrait-length perspective (24-80mm equivalent). It features a sophisticated optical design that delivers sharp, clear images with minimal aberrations. The lens is weatherproof and has a fast autofocus system, making it suitable for a variety of shooting situations. It's a great choice for those seeking a high-quality, versatile lens for travel, landscapes, and portraits.

Best wide-angle prime lenses

The Panasonic G9 is a Micro Four Thirds camera, meaning it's compatible with a wide range of lenses from different manufacturers. Here are some of the best wide-angle prime lenses for the Panasonic G9:

Olympus 17mm f/1.2 PRO

This is a compact and lightweight lens ideal for landscape, street, astro, and portrait photography. It has a bright maximum aperture of f/1.2, allowing for excellent low-light performance and shallow depth of field. The lens features a sophisticated optical design with extra-low dispersion, aspherical, and high refractive index elements, resulting in sharp and clear images. Its durable, splashproof and dustproof construction makes it suitable for outdoor use.

Panasonic Leica 12mm f/1.4 ASPH

A fast and optically refined wide-angle prime lens with a bright f/1.4 maximum aperture, making it perfect for low-light conditions. It features a pair of aspherical elements and two ultra extra-low dispersion elements to reduce aberrations and enhance sharpness. The smooth and quiet autofocus motor is well-suited for both stills and video.

Olympus 12mm f/2 Lens

This lens has a bright f/2 maximum aperture and a 24mm equivalent focal length, making it ideal for low-light and astrophotography applications. The Movie & Still Compatible autofocus system ensures quick and quiet performance, while the manual focus clutch and Snapshot Focus mode provide intuitive control over focus and depth of field.

Rokinon 12mm f/2.0 NCS CS

A budget-friendly wide-angle prime lens with a 24mm equivalent focal length and an f/2 maximum aperture. It features three extra-low dispersion elements and two aspherical elements to minimize aberrations and distortions. The Nano Coating System reduces lens flare and ghosting, resulting in improved light transmission and contrast-rich images.

Panasonic 15mm f/1.7

An excellent wide-angle lens with a super-wide f/1.7 aperture, perfect for low-light photography and candids. The 30mm equivalent focal length suits everyday shooting. The optical design includes three aspherical elements to reduce distortion, and the Nano Surface Coating minimizes flare and ghosting for enhanced image quality.

Olympus 17mm f/1.8 Lens

A bright and fast lens ideal for everyday, street, landscape, and portrait photography. The wide f/1.8 maximum aperture and 24mm equivalent focal length make it suitable for low-light conditions and provide control over depth of field. The Movie & Still Compatible autofocus system delivers quick, quiet, and precise focusing performance.

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