In preparation for retirement travels, two years ago I decided on purchasing a Panasonic G9 for various reasons. Aside from affordability, the M43 format allows for much lighter and more compact lenses (I already owned a few) vice a full format camera. I fretted in the decision making process, coming from the smallish (but fixed lens) Panasonic LX100. In all my research the more compact cameras always had a deal breaker, be it the lens, lack of 4K video, lack of weather sealing, sensor performance and/or size or fiddly interfaces. I finally decided to go with the larger form factor of the G9 as, for my uses, the pros outweighed the cons. A large part of this process involved lens selection.

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH Power OIS

The first lens I purchased (at the same time as the camera) was the Leica 8-18. Most of my photography is landscape oriented, but this lens also has much flexibility for architecture. In depth reviews can be found on line for each of these lenses, so this post will only deal with my uses and observations as a non professional photographer. The wide end of the 8-18 makes for interesting shots and with the right subject can be quite arty and pleasing. This lens accepts 67mm screw on filters, another bonus, along with internal zoom (the lens does not extend).

However, in landscape photography the wide end of this lens will minimize the center subject and create aberrations on the periphery, which is sometimes not appropriate.

*Leica 8-18 at 8mm; notice the distortion of my daughter at the edge*

As long as one understands these limitations, this lens has been an excellent performer for me and is weather sealed. The middle range allows for precise control for framing a nearer subject.

*Leica 8-18 at 12mm, hand held; the combination of lens and body offers up to 6 stops of stabilization*

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH Power OIS

The next lens I purchased was the Leica 12-60. This lens is light (315 grams) and compact. I find the extra reach makes it an excellent walk around lens as well as giving me the ability to bring in those more distant vistas. Once I put it on my camera I didn’t change it out for most of last year. It too is weather sealed but it does extend for zoom and, being a smaller lens than the 8-18, takes 62mm filters; I had to purchase a separate set. I imagine this is the lens I will use the most in my travels due to its versatility.

*Grandpup (Leica 12-60 at 60mm cropped)*

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 50-200mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH Power OIS

I have the older Panasonic 45-150 lens I paired with a Panasonic GH2. That lens packed a lot of bang for the buck. I gave this combo to my daughter for her trip to Africa a few years ago, which she used on a safari at the end of her stay. I was blown away by the images she captured with this dated but very capable combination. I also used this lens on my new G9, giving me just enough reach to capture some nice eagle shots on Whidbey Island.

*The newer G9 with the older Panasonic 45-150: 150mm*

I’m not a wildlife photographer so that 45-150 would be perfectly acceptable for the few times I need some reach. However, Kilimanjaro is on the docket for this year, with my daughter and myself doing a 4 day safari at the end. My wife and I are also talking about a possible Antarctic cruise. These two once in a lifetime trips alone convinced me that I should pick up the Leica 50-200. Of course it’s weather sealed and accepts my 67mm filters, two more bonuses. My wife and kids surprised me with this lens for my recent birthday, and I haven’t had much time to use it. However, today I took it out for a hazy but nice weather hike to our local Tiger Mountain just to get a feel for it. At first, when Mt. Rainier showed itself, I zoomed to 200mm and the mountain was jumping all over the place. Then I realized I had not turned on the lens OIS; doing so locked the image in the viewfinder down, the difference was amazing. I think the reach will suffice for my recreational photography nicely, although no wildlife appeared on this busy trail. I guess Lars will have to do instead.

*Issaquah HS at 200mm from Poo Poo Point*

*Crop of the above photo (Leica 50-200 at 200mm)*

*Mt Rainier from Poo Poo Point (Leica 50-200 at 200mm)*

This lens is the third in a series of three Power OIS lenses from Panasonic, and from my recreational photographer’s standpoint I believe I have all my bases covered. I’ve found with the 8-18 and 12-60 that judicious use of the zoom and minimum focusing distances produce perfectly acceptable macro images, and a recent review of the 50-200 lauded the ability to get insect shots without getting too close to the subject.

*Bygone Cholla cactus: Leica 12-60 at 60MM*

Just as a reminder, the M43 lenses have an equivalent doubling of a full frame 35mm camera; 12 = 24, 200 = 400 etc. I should also mention that these OIS lenses, in combination with a camera like the G9, provide enough stabilization that I find I can hand hold up to 2 second exposures. They are also fast enough to track motion decently, and the stabilization on all 3 provides excellent results shooting 4K video (although untested at 200mm on my latest lens). Remember, if you want detailed reviews they are readily available on various sites, usually provided by professional photographers putting glass through its paces. This overview is therefore from the perspective of a hobbyist. I don’t dig deeply into the capabilities of my cameras unless there is a specific need to do so, like night photography and star shots. With this understanding, I can offer that the combination of a good camera body that takes advantage of the Optical Image Stabilization of these lenses makes for a smooth user experience….most of the time I can just point and shoot, occasionally adjusting the exposure. I always have a UV filter on, but also employ an ND filter if I have a tripod (which is not that often). I can’t attest to use of these lenses with Olympus cameras with regards to taking advantage of the OIS, or other brands. But my last 2 years with the Pany G9 and these tailor made lenses has been a real delight.

*Leica 12-60 (60mm, 4 sec exposure with tripod; cropped)*