Electronic technologies giant Panasonic has unveiled an ultra wide-angle and high-speed single focal length lens which, the company says, will meet any professional needs and produce high image quality.

The Leica DG Summilux 12mm/F1.4 ASPH. lens for Lumix G Digital Single Lens Mirrorless camera enables photographers to capture dynamic landscapes with rich perspective across a wide angle. It also allows indoor shooting in low lighting and produces a natural defocusing effect with its F1.4 large aperture, said the company.

The lens also boasts a rugged, splash/dust-proof design to meet the needs of a wide-range of photographic situations, the company added.

Integrating two aspherical lenses, two UED (Ultra Extra-Low Dispersion) lenses and an ED (Extra-Low Dispersion) lens, the lens system comprises 15 elements in 12 groups. The adoption of five special lenses makes it possible to clear the stringent Leica standard for exceptional image quality with high resolution and minimum distortion.

In general, sagittal flare is commonly seen around the periphery of the point source with high-speed lenses when larger aperture is used. However, the new Leica DG Summilux 12mm/F1.4 ASPH. achieves high resolution from the centre of the image to the corners by suppressing this flare. Uses can take advantage of this lens to shoot starry skies or night scenes containing illumination to capture true-to-life images with minimal blurring and distortion all the way to the edges. The multi-coated lens elements also minimize ghosts and flaring.

Hitesh Ojha, deputy general manager, AV department of PMMAF (Panasonic Marketing Middle East and Africa), commented: “Incorporating an inner focus drive system and a stepping motor, our new Leica DG Summilux 12mm/F1.4 ASPH. is capable of smooth, silent operation together with the camera’s high-speed, high-precision contrast AF system for both photo and video recording. It is also compatible with the sensor drive at a maximum of 240 fps to take full advantage of cameras with high-speed AF. This stunning AF performance is excellent for recording 4K videos, where precise focusing is essential.”

The Leica DG Summilux 12mm/F1.4 ASPH. equips an aperture ring for direct, intuitive aperture control. Nine blades give the aperture a rounded shape that produces an attractively smooth effect in out-of-focus areas when shooting at larger aperture settings. A highly reliable metal mount assures durability for repeated use. The lens mount, the barrel and the hood are all made of metal to provide a sleek, sophisticated design that matches the entire line-up of Lumix G Digital Single Lens Mirrorless (DSLM) cameras. –TradeArabia News Service