Top Lenses for Panasonic GH5
- Sony a7R III vs Panasonic GH5
- Compact Camera Comparison: Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark III vs Panasonic DMC-LX100
- These Bargain Mirrorless Cameras Will Have You Ditching Your Old DSLR
- Best Still Cameras for Dynamic Range
Photo by ShareGrid on Unsplash
If you follow my exploits here on PhotographyTalk, you know that I recently picked up a Panasonic GH5 - and that I’ve been blown away by the quality of this thing.
I go into detail about the specs, features, price, and more of this camera in my Panasonic GH5 review. And in the video below, I give a quick overview of the good, the bad, and the ugly of this camera:
But what I want to discuss here is a few of the best lenses you can buy for this camera.
Whether you’re a landscape photographer or portrait photographer, a budding videographer or a professional video-maker, there are plenty of top lenses for Panasonic GH5 from which you can choose.
Here are just a few lens options to consider for your GH5.
Best Prime Lens for Panasonic GH5: Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Summilux 15mm f/1.7 ASPH Lens
With an effective focal length of 30mm, the Panasonic 15mm f/1.7 paired with a GH5 is an ideal combination for everyday shooting situations.
The 30mm effective focal length is wide enough to capture sweeping landscapes while the f/1.7 aperture is ideal for creating deliciously blurry backgrounds for portraits without too much distortion.
This is also a great lens for shooting 4K video, I might add. See what I mean in the video below by Craig Beckta:
Speaking of distortion, the three aspherical elements in this lens help minimize spherical aberration and distortion. Paired with Panasonic’s excellent Nano Surface Coating, which minimizes reflections, ghosting, and flare, you have a recipe for a lens that offers superb clarity and sharpness.
Best feature: Beautifully crisp and clean image quality
Worst feature: Occasionally hunts for focus
Price: $547.99 at Adorama
Best alternative prime lens: If the 30mm effective focal length of the 17mm f/1.7 lens is a bit too wide, you might consider the Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Summilux 25mm f/1.4 Aspherical Lens. With an effective focal length of about 50mm, this lens offers a standard rather than a wide-angle view. The huge f/1.4 aperture gives you plenty of leeway for low-light shooting and gorgeously soft backgrounds, while the 50mm effective focal length makes it an ideal candidate for a “daily driver” or general purpose lens.
Learn More:
Best Zoom Lens for Panasonic GH5: Panasonic Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm F/2.8 II Aspherical Power O.I.S. Lens
If it’s a zoom lens you’re after for your GH5, an excellent wide-angle zoom option is the Panasonic Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm f/2.8 II.
With an effective focal length of 24-70mm, this lens is ideal for photographers that shoot both landscapes and portraits, though it certainly isn’t limited to just those two pursuits.
Instead, this makes a great travel photography lens with a wide-angle to short telephoto range that gives you tremendous versatility. Learn more about the virtues of this lens in the video below by 9to5Toys.
The large f/2.8 aperture enables you to shoot indoors and in low-light situations with confidence while the splashproof and dustproof design gives you peace of mind when shooting outdoors in the elements.
The optical performance of this lens is superb as well, and with 5-axis image stabilization built-in, you get enhanced stabilization when paired with the GH5’s in-body image stabilization. In other words, this is a perfect camera for running and gunning and shooting handheld!
Best feature: Dual image stabilization makes this pairing a handheld beast
Worst feature: Pricey
Price: $797.99 at Adorama
Best alternative zoom lens: If you’re after a wide-angle zoom lens for landscape photography, the Panasonic Lumix G Vario 7-14mm f/4 Zoom Lens should be at the top of your list. The 14-28mm effective focal length allows you to capture lots of details while the construction of the lens ensures sharpness from corner to corner. Though it isn’t as fast as the 12-35mm f/2.8, the constant f/4 aperture is plenty bright for most outdoor shooting situations. If, on the other hand, you need more reach, the Panasonic Lumix G Vario 100-300mm f/4.0-5.6 II Power O.I.S. Zoom Lens is a solid choice and is about $250 cheaper, too.
Best All-in-One Lens for Panasonic GH5: Olympus M. Zuiko Digital ED 12-100mm f/4 IS PRO
If you look up “versatility” in the dictionary, there should be a photo of this lens.
With an effective focal range of 24-200mm, you can photograph virtually any type of subject with your GH5 without ever having to do a single lens change. From close-up portraits to wide-angle shots of landscapes to macro images of insects, this is the lens you want in your bag if you shoot with a GH5.
Since it’s a PRO lens, it is built like a tank with weatherproof construction and features superior optics for top-notch performance. See this lens in action in the video below by Heng It Up Photography:
With 5-Axis Sync Image Stabilization, you can shoot handheld and do so with confidence that camera shake won’t be an issue. With ultra-fast autofocusing, a lightweight design, and a customizable lens function button on the barrel, this lens has everything you need (and nothing you don’t) to get high-quality shots.
Best feature: Best-in-class image stabilization
Worst feature: On the heavy side at 1.23 pounds
Price: $1,199 at Adorama
Best alternative lens: If the price tag for the 12-100mm lens is too steep, you might consider the Olympus 14-150mm f/4-5.6 II lens. Though you don’t get the constant f/4 aperture and PRO build, this lens is splashproof and dustproof, light and compact, and offers even more reach (28-300mm effective focal length). That’s not bad for a lens that’s half the price at $599!
Learn More:
Best Video Lens for Panasonic GH5: Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Summilux 12mm f/1.4 ASPH Lens
This lens is built to the highest standards, so it offers you incredible versatility and durability for shooting video in all kinds of conditions.
Videos shot with this lens are clear, crisp, contrasty, and dynamic - just what you want when creating video footage. It helps that it’s a small, lightweight lens with a small form factor, so you don’t feel like you’re lugging around a big, heavy lens as you shoot.
Better still, this lens is optimized for shooting 4K video. It gives you buttery smooth aperture changes to eliminate exposure jumps and its silent motor means you get clear crisp audio of your subject, and not the lens. Get more details on why this is an ideal lens for video in the video above by Brett Currie.
Focusing with this lens is picture-perfect, with an incredibly accurate autofocus system that gives you precise control over focusing to capture the footage you need.
Best feature: Outstanding optical quality
Worst feature: Images can be slightly soft around the edges
Price: $997.99 at Adorama
Best alternative video lens: Truth be told, I’d put the aforementioned 12-35mm f/2.8 II on the list of must-have GH5 lenses for video. That lens is a superb piece of kit that can go anywhere and do anything!
