Panasonic Lumix lens 20mm f1.7 - Please help!

mhangasor

I have a Panasonic Lumix G2 and enjoy taking fashion photos. Basically what I mean is, I usually take full length shots of people. My standard kit lens isn't giving me the desired effect though.

In an ideal world I'd like a lens that takes full length shots of people with great focus on the clothing and model. But I want the background to be as soft and blurry as possible.

I have the option of getting a cheap f1.7 20mm lens. Would this suit my needs, or would I need a lens with a higher mm?

Thanks for all your help, I need to make the decision to buy soon!

Borderfox

Should be a good choice for full length shots, shoot around the f2 mark

TommyGun

mhangasor wrote: »

I have a Panasonic Lumix G2 and enjoy taking fashion photos. Basically what I mean is, I usually take full length shots of people. My standard kit lens isn't giving me the desired effect though.

In an ideal world I'd like a lens that takes full length shots of people with great focus on the clothing and model. But I want the background to be as soft and blurry as possible.

I have the option of getting a cheap f1.7 20mm lens. Would this suit my needs, or would I need a lens with a higher mm?

Thanks for all your help, I need to make the decision to buy soon!

I have the GH2 and the 14-140mm and the 20mm pancake lens. I use this camera as a second camera. Given the choice of only one, i would go for 20mm every time.

Very good lens

cnocbui

I had a quick look on Flickr and found some fashion shots done with this lens. I would be worried you might not get the sort of results you are after:
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=panasonic%2020mm%20f1.7%20fashion

This one was at F1.8 - ouch! -



I think I wouldn't get that lens for the effect you have in mind. You would be better off with an Olympus 45mm f1.8, but for full body shots you are going to have to be further away. Found this taken with the 45mm:

TommyGun

cnocbui wrote: »

I had a quick look on Flickr and found some fashion shots done with this lens. I would be worried you might not get the sort of results you are after:
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=panasonic%2020mm%20f1.7%20fashion

This one was at F1.8 - ouch! -



I think I wouldn't get that lens for the effect you have in mind. You would be better off with an Olympus 45mm f1.8, but for full body shots you are going to have to be further away. Found this taken with the 45mm:

That first photo is just poor, its not a lens problem. The second photo is a posed shot. Its not a good comparison of the lens.

http://m.dpreview.com/galleries/reviewsamples/albums/panasonic-20mm-f1-7-review-samples-gf1
http://m.dpreview.com/lensreviews/panasonic_20_1p7_o20

cnocbui

The OP stated he was interested in isolating a subject in a full body shot situation by blurring the background.

The quality of the first shot has nothing to do with the fact it demonstrates that at f 1.7 - in close to the situation the OP referred to - the background is still pretty sharp and there is almost no subject isolation.

The fact the second shot is posed does not negate the fact it demonstrates better subject isolation in the manner the OP appears to be looking for.

You seem to think I am being critical of the lens, I am not. As you have the lens, perhaps you could pose and take a full body shot at f1.7 and post the result so the OP could judge if it can do what he wants.

TommyGun

This is one i took with the lens.

Many things affect the depth of field, the lower the f when a photo is taken the less depth of focus. There are other things too, like how close too the subject and mm.

TommyGun

This is one i took with the lens.

Many things affect the depth of field, the lower the f when a photo is taken the less depth of focus. There are other things too, like how close too the subject and mm.

TommyGun

One more I took.

DaireQuinlan

Neither of those shots actually demonstrate the situation that the OP is considering buying the lens for, namely full body shots. As cnocbui has demonstrated with the shot he linked, the lens does not seem to offer the subject isolation preferred by the OP.
Posting closeup shots of 2 inch miniatures or childrens heads doesn't really add anything to the discussion.

TommyGun

http://www.mu-43.com/f80/panasonic-20mm-f-1-7-image-thread-298/index3.html

There are many samples of this lens on the link above.

I hope you see the photo to show you if this lens is suitable for what you need it for.

All the best.

Over and out