Panasonic LEICA DG NOCTICRON 42.5mm f/1.2
Panasonic

LEICA DG NOCTICRON 42.5mm f/1.2

$599~
MSRP (prices vary)
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Released: November 15, 2013
42mm
Focal Length
f/1.2
Max Aperture
Micro Four Thirds
Coverage
Stabilized
425g
Weight
67mm
Filter

Who the Panasonic LEICA DG NOCTICRON 42.5mm f/1.2 is for

The Panasonic LEICA DG NOCTICRON 42.5mm f/1.2 is a Micro Four Thirds 42mm f/1.2 standard prime.

Best for

  • Portraits and low light — a fast f/1.2 aperture for blurred backgrounds.
  • Handheld stills and video — optical stabilisation smooths shake.
  • Outdoor and travel use — a weather-sealed build.

How the Panasonic LEICA DG NOCTICRON 42.5mm f/1.2 compares to other Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds standard lenses

Every figure below is measured against the 22 Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds standard lenses in the catalogue, so you can see where this lens actually sits rather than reading its spec sheet in isolation.

SpecThis lensWhere it lands
Weight425g (15.0 oz)2nd heaviest of 22
Price (MSRP)$599joint 11th most expensive of 22
Maximum aperturef/1.2joint widest of 22

Being both among the fastest and among the heaviest here is physics rather than coincidence: an f/1.2 maximum aperture needs a larger front element and more glass behind it, which is where the 425g (15.0 oz) comes from.

What 42mm at f/1.2 actually gives you

42mm sits close to the way the eye takes in a scene, which is why this range tends to get used as a general-purpose focal length. On the Micro Four Thirds bodies it covers, it frames like 84mm would on full-frame.

The f/1.2 maximum aperture is about as fast as production lenses get: it gathers a lot of light and throws backgrounds well out of focus, at the cost of a depth of field thin enough that focus accuracy starts to matter on close subjects.

Size and filters

At 425g (15.0 oz) it sits in the middle for handling: substantial enough to feel planted, light enough not to dominate the kit.

Filters are 67mm — worth checking against what you already own, since polarisers and ND filters at this size are reusable across any other lens sharing the thread.

Autofocus, stabilisation and weather sealing

Autofocus is driven by a Stepping motor.

Optical stabilisation is built in, which stacks with in-body stabilisation on bodies that have it and does the work alone on bodies that do not.

The barrel is weather-sealed, so rain and dust are a manageable risk rather than a reason to pack up.

Full Specifications

Optical Design

Focal Length42mm
Lens TypePrime
Optical Elements14
Optical Groups11

Aperture & Iris

Maximum Aperturef/1.2
Minimum Aperturef/16
Aperture Blades9
Rounded ApertureYes

Coverage & Angle

Format CoverageMicro Four Thirds
Lens MountMicro Four Thirds
Angle of View29°
35mm Equivalent85-85mm

Focus

AutofocusYes
Focus MotorStepping
Focus LimiterNo
AF/MF SwitchNo
Min Focus Distance50 cm
Max Magnification0.1x

Stabilization & Video

Optical StabilizationYes
Aperture RingNo
Declickable ApertureNo
ParfocalNo
Internal ZoomNo

General

Price (MSRP)$599
Filter Size67mm
Diameter74mm
Length73mm
Weight425g (15.0 oz)
Weather SealedYes
Tripod CollarNo

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