The Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Summilux 15mm f/1.7 ASPH. ($599.99) is a wide-angle lens with an all-metal build, a wide f/1.7 maximum aperture, and an aperture control ring. It's compatible with Micro Four Thirds cameras from Panasonic and Olympus, and is capable of capturing really terrific images...

Quite sharp; Wide aperture; Manual aperture ring; All-metal build; Includes lens hood

Some edge softness unless stopped down; Some distortion; Pricey

The Leica Summilux 15mm f1.7 is a semi-wide lens designed for the Micro Four Thirds system. Mounted on a Panasonic or Olympus body, it delivers equivalent coverage of 30mm, making it a mild wide-angle roughly between the traditional 28 and 35mm focal lengths.

Sharp, high contrast, well-corrected images; Better than 17mm f1.8, Attractive out-of-focus rendering / bokeh, Good build quality with matching metal lens hood supplied, Manual aperture ring for bodies that support it, Barrel doesn't protrude below base of Lumix GM1

More expensive than primes of a similar focal length in range; Manual focusing ring was not always as smooth as I expected; No weather-sealing; Aperture ring redundant for Olympus body owners

I need a fast semi-wide for dark event work. Ive tried three versions of the Oly 17 1.8, and all have been pretty bad wide open and not that great stopped down. 20mm is not wide enough, I dont want the cost or weight of the 17 1.2, and the 12mm is too wide.

Announced in March, Panasonic's new Leica-branded DG Summilux 15mm f/1.7 ASPH. lens is the latest companion lens for its Lumix G cameras. Covering the same angle of view as a 30mm lens on 35mm cameras, it replicates a 'classic' wide-angle lens for that format.

This new wide angle prime lens for Micro Four thirds system cameras sports a fast f/1.7 maximum aperture, Nano Surface anti-reflective coatings, a manual aperture ring and a switch for directly changing between manual and autofocus modes without halving to delve into the camera's menu.

Panasonic's premium wideangle prime is designed to match the GM1. Andy Westlake sees whether it lives up to its Leica label

When I first heard about this lens, I hoped for better optical performance than the current Micro Four Thirds autofocus prime lenses like the Panasonic 14mm f/2.5 and the Olympus 17mm f/1.8. The Panasonic 15mm f/1.7 lens doesn't disappoint.

Speed; sharpness; contrast; build quality; size; weight; ergonomics; look and feel

Vignetting; distortion

Let's get a few things out of the way - First, the lens definitely feels great but you won't mistake it for an actual Leica M lens. Second, I believe it's the only lens that carries the Summilux name but is an f/1.7 rather than a f/1.4 so that's a bit... odd.

30mm focal it is a good ponderat wide focal so this is my everyday lens

Very well build quality; stylish design; compact; sharp at 1.7; fast and accurate autofocus on omd 5

not sealed

Gary Wolstenholme reviews this new Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 15mm f/1.7 ASPH. Lens with a manual aperture ring and a compact design.

Excellent sharpness; especially in the centre; Low falloff and CA; Robust build quality; Manual aperture ring; Fast focusing; Realistically priced; AF/MF switch is a useful addition

Aperture ring may not function on all Micro Four Thirds bodies; The auto setting on the aperture ring may be easy to select by accident; High distortion for a prime lens