Given that depth of field is governed more by ‘actual’ than ‘effective’ focal length, getting a tight DOF is a challenge for the Micro Four Thirds system, due to the cameras’ 2x crop factor. The Panasonic Leica DG Nocticron 42.5mm f1.2 ASPH Power OIS comes to the rescue. Its effective focal length of 85mm gives an ideal working distance for portraiture, while its extra-wide f/1.2 aperture delivers a tight depth of field for isolating the main subject by throwing the background out of focus.
Panasonic Leica DG Nocticron 42.5mm f/1.2 ASPH Power OIS review
The Panasonic Leica DG Nocticron 42.5mm f1.2 ASPH Power OIS is a formidable portrait prime for MFT cameras
Digital Camera World Verdict
It might seem an odd focal length for a prime lens but the 42.5mm equates to 85mm in full-frame terms. Add the super-fast f/1.2 aperture and it makes the Panasonic Leica DG Nocticron a perfect candidate for portraiture on Micro Four Thirds system cameras. Build quality and handling are superb, while image quality is simply stunning. This lens certainly isn’t cheap to buy but it’s worth every cent and more.
Pros
- +
Portrait-friendly effective focal length
- +
Super-fast f/1.2 aperture
- +
Great build, spectacular image quality
Cons
- -
Aperture ring can’t be di-clicked
- -
Aperture ring doesn’t work on Olympus cameras
Why you can trust Digital Camera World
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1