Panasonic Leica DG Vario-elmarit 8-18 mm F/2.8-4.0 ASPH

Description

The new lens for Lumix G system cameras, the LEICA DG VARIO-ELMARIT 8-18mm / F2.8-4.0 ASPH. with a wide angle of 16 to 36 mm, features a compact design for great mobility.

Barcelona, April 19, 2017 - Panasonic today introduced a new interchangeable digital wide-angle lens, the LEICA DG VARIO-ELMARIT 8-18mm / F2.8-4.0 ASPH. (35mm camera equivalent: 16-36mm). The H-E08018 is the second lens in the LEICA DG VARIO-ELMARIT F2.8-4.0 series.

Covering a focusing range from ultra-wide-angle to super-telephoto and with a compact size, this new lens achieves extraordinary image quality and high performance for both photo and video recording. Thanks to Panasonic's Nano Surface Coating technology, used to coat its lenses, ghosting and flare are minimized.

The new optics feature a robust design that's dustproof, splashproof, and even temperature-resistant down to -10°C to withstand professional use in harsh conditions. These features, along with its ability to record excellent video quality, are other key strengths of the new lens.

LEICA DG VARIO-ELMARIT 8-18mm / F2.8-4.0 ASPH.

The new LEICA DG VARIO-ELMARIT 8-18mm / F2.8-4.0 ASPH. offers a zoom range from 8mm to 36mm (equivalent to a 35mm camera). It covers a wide variety of everyday shooting situations, from dynamic landscapes to snapshots. In particular, leveraging the high-speed performance of the F2.8-4.0, the new lens is ideal for capturing starry skies or nightscapes.

In addition, for greater flexibility, the user has optional filter accessories (67mm) ND or PL that, at the same time, become creative and useful tools for both photographers and videographers.

The lens system, consisting of 15 elements in 10 groups, features one ED (Extra-low Dispersion) aspherical lens, three aspherical lenses, two ED lenses, and one UHR (Ultra High Refractive Index) lens. These lenses suppress spherical distortion or aberration, achieving high resolution and contrast from the center to the corners, ensuring stunning image quality throughout.

The new optics excel in video recording performance. Driving the sensor core at up to 240 fps makes the most of cameras with high-speed, high-precision Contrast AF (Contrast Autofocus) and helps reduce camera shake, resulting in smooth, sharp videos.

Along with the quiet operation achieved by the internal focusing system, the micro-stepping drive system in the aperture control helps the camera smooth out changes in brightness during zooming. The optical design achieves exceptional barycentric stability to minimize image shifts during zooming. Furthermore, thanks to high-speed frame analysis for focus control, AF tracking performance during zooming is also improved.

The new LEICA DG VARIO-ELMARIT 8-18mm / F2.8-4.0 is available in black and metallic, matching the LUMIX G series of mirrorless digital cameras (DSLM). A color scheme that will be extended with the additional 50-200mm telephoto zoom lens (100-400mm, equivalent to a 35mm camera).