Conclusion

The Panasonic LUMIX G 42.5mm f/1.7 ASPH. POWER O.I.S. is a very good portrait prime lens, offering a fast maximum aperture with effective image stabilisation in a tiny yet solidly-built package. Performance wide-open at f/1.7 isn't brilliant in terms of sharpness, though, and the lack of weather-sealing is a little disappointing, but in all other regards this lens is a great performer.

Build quality is very good considering the affordable price tag and the light weight, with the mostly metal construction inspiring confidence. The lens is fast to focus on the DMC-GX7 camera that we tested it with and almost virtually silent too, making it well-suited to both stills and video. This lens is tiny given the 85mm effective focal length, making it an excellent partner for a smaller camera like the DMC-GM5.

Optically the Panasonic LUMIX G 42.5mm f/1.7 ASPH. POWER O.I.S. is a good performer. You can safely use it from f/4 onwards for optimum results, but there's a lack of sharpness at f/1.7 both in the center and at the edges of the frame. Chromatic aberrations are almost completely absent, while distortions are automatically corrected on both Olympus and Panasonic bodies, and vignetting is only really an issue at f/1.7. The inclusion of built-in image stabilisation is the icing on the cake, though it's a shame that there's no dedicated switch to turn it on and off.

The Panasonic LUMIX G 42.5mm f/1.7 ASPH. POWER O.I.S. delivers good results and performance at a pleasing price-point, making it a solid investment for Micro Four Thirds shooters looking for a classic 85mm portrait lens with built-in image stabilisation.

Ratings (out of 5)
Design	4.5
Features	4.5
Ease-of-use	4.5
Image quality	4
Value for money	4