Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I have been shooting with this lens to review it for the last 2 weeks (my full review is online and can be googled) and I will state right off the bat, that YES it is expensive. I am not going to say "expensive for a Micro 4/3 lens" as I am one who feels Micro 4/3 can compete with ANY format, even full frame. I use and own a Leica M 240 with a couple of Leica's best lenses yet my #1 goto camera is the Olympus E-M1. I have also owned for a long term the Leica $11,000 Noctilux f/0.95 and no, there is nothing like that lens on the planet for 35mm but you can get a taste of the real deal for a fraction of that cost in this Panasonic Nocticron. Yes, seriously. But remember, I said a "taste" :) This Panasonic/Leica Nocticron is large, heavy and expensive but not nearly as large, heavy or expensive as the real deal, the Leica Noctilux. In fact, this lens is over $9000 less than the Leica Noctilux! Think about that. So how does this lens perform? My full review has loads of sample images and comparisons but I will state right now that this is the best performing, best built and most exotic lens (in AF) for the Micro 4/3 system. Hands down. Sure there is the Olympus 45 1.8 that comes in at around $350, and yes, that is a fantastic lens. IN reality, it is the lens most should buy in this focal length. It is small, light, fast, sharp and cheap. Then there is the amazingly good Voigtlander 42.5 f/0.95 that is built even better but is manual focus only and around $1000. This Nocticron is for those who want "the best" with AF. By that I mean, the best sharpness (even wide open at 1.2 this is a SHARP lens), the best contrast (this lens has superb contrast for major POP), 3 Dimensional feel (this lens beats the Olympus 45 in this area) and BOKEH quality (the Bokeh is just as smooth as the Noctilux from Leica). This lens performs in ALL areas from AF speed to IQ to 3D pop. In fact, I was showing an image to a friend and he thought I shot it with the Leica and Noct! The lens has a way of giving that subject separation that the 45 does not quite achieve in the same way though IMO it does not reach Leica Noct levels. It has a little bit of Leica Magic and not because Leica made this lens (because they do not make it) but because Panasonic used quality glass and build and direction from Leica in the design. The question for most will be "is it worth $1000 more than the 45 1.8"? For most the answer is NO! Buy the 45 and be happy. But as I said..if you crave that special look, that extra bit of bite, 3D pop and performance then the Nocticron may be just what you crave. For portraits it is sublime. For night shooting it is a light sucking lens which gives your images light when there is none to be seen. It is a masterpiece of design though I wish it did NOT have built in IS (as it would have been smaller). The lens works great on the Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic GX7 (tested on both) but the aperture dial only works on Panasonic bodies. On Olympus you will use the thumb dial. Every now and again in the camera world a special product comes along..items like the real Leica Noctilux..the Sony RX1...the Olympus E-M1...and now the Panasonic Nocticron. If you adore fast glass, this is as good as it gets for M 4/3. Is it good enough to warrant the price tag? Only you can be the judge of that but as for me, my review sample went back and I immediately came to Amazon to buy my own, and yes, I have the 45 1.8 as well. I would not have spent the extra if it did not give me that extra bit over the 45 yet it did from sharpness, bokeh quality, color, contrast, CA, etc. Fantastic lens, a statement piece from Panasonic. Can't wait to test the 15 1.7 that arrives this summer. I shoot ALL cameras and have for the past 5 years. ALL. I review them, test them, use them and occasionally I buy the ones I truly love. I can easily state that Micro 4/3 has THE BEST lenses for any mirrorless system next to Leica M (yes, I prefer them by far to the Fuji offerings). So many amazing choices with quality build, speed and performance. Anyone who dismisses Micro 4/3 is missing out ;) I recently tested the Nikon 58 1.4 that comes in at $1700 and is MUCH larger and heavier than this lens and guess what? I prefer this lens over the Nikon in every way, even IQ. Yet no one moans and groans about the cost of the Nikon. Odd. So if you go for this lens know that it is a gem, one of the very best for M 4/3. But do not discount the much much cheaper 45 1.8 as that is also a gem even though it will not get you the color, contrast, bite and 3D separation of the Nocticron, it gets close.