Best Lenses for Panasonic GH5 [2024 Review]

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You have recently bought a new Panasonic GH5 camera and are now looking for a good quality lens that you can pair effectively with your purchase.

Well, you have come to the right place as we review some of the best lenses for this amazing camera. It is vital that you pay considerable attention to the various features of these lenses, weigh their pros and cons, and budget carefully.

Read on so that you may decide on the model best suited for your needs.

Review of the Best Lenses For Panasonic GH5

Whether you are a portrait photographer or a landscape photographer, a professional video-maker, or a budding videographer, there is a wide range of lenses for Panasonic GH5 that you can choose from. Here are some of the top options to make it easy to choose one:

Brand
Panasonic
Panasonic
Panasonic
Product
Panasonic LUMIX G VARIO 45-150mm F4.0-5.6 ASPH...
-
PANASONIC LUMIX G II Lens, 20MM, F1.7 ASPH,...
Focal Length
45-150mm
8-18mm
20MM
Aperture
F4.0-5.6
F2.8-4.0
F1.7
Brand
Panasonic
Product
Panasonic LUMIX G VARIO 45-150mm F4.0-5.6 ASPH...
Focal Length
45-150mm
Aperture
F4.0-5.6
Brand
Panasonic
Product
-
Focal Length
8-18mm
Aperture
F2.8-4.0
Brand
Panasonic
Product
PANASONIC LUMIX G II Lens, 20MM, F1.7 ASPH,...
Focal Length
20MM
Aperture
F1.7

Best Overall: Panasonic LUMIX G VARIO 45-150mm F4.0-5.6 ASPH

Panasonic LUMIX G VARIO 45-150mm F4.0-5.6 ASPH...

PROS

  • Almost silent auto-focus for both photos and videos
  • Multi-coated lens element ensures high optical performance
  • Exceptional Optical Image Stabilization delivers high-quality shots
  • Seven aperture blades provide smoothness to the shots taken at large aperture
  • Versatile lens that is perfect for various applications, including travel, portraits, etc.

CONS

  • Auto-focus is a bit slow

What Recent Buyers Report

Recent buyers highly recommend Best Overall: Panasonic LUMIX G VARIO 45-150mm F4.0-5.6 ASPH to people who are new to filming and photography and are ready to move past their kit lens. It delivers stunning portraits and also gives a very professional look to vlogging. They highly recommend this lens to photographers who want to up their photography game and want to get more professional looking shots while practicing their skill set.

Why it Stands Out to Us

The Lumix G Vario 45-150mm from Panasonic features a lightweight body and ultra-compact size. With a versatile zoom range of 45-150mm, this lens is ideal for daily situations. This lens incorporates an Optical Image Stabilizer that enables photographers to take clear shots even in low light situations while the inclusion of a stepping motor ensures a silent focusing action for both photo and video shooting.

Who Will Use This Most

The lightweight and compact features of this lens make it ideal for travel photography. It is an economical lens with many features that help deliver high optical performance. It is a perfect lens for a number of applications, including wildlife photography or basic portrait. With this lens, you can capture clear and sharp pictures with reduced distortion and aberrations.

Bottom Line

The Lumix G Vario 45-150mm from Panasonic is a compact and lightweight telephoto zoom lens designed for Micro Four Thirds cameras. It features Panasonic’s Nano-surface coating and Optical Image Stabilization to minimize flare. With this lens, you will be able to take sharp and clear shots even in low light. Its reasonable price makes it quite a bargain for new photographers.

Panasonic LUMIX G VARIO 45-150mm F4.0-5.6 ASPH...
  • Multi coated lens: A multi coated lens element reduces ghost and flare to deliver high optical...
  • Near silent focusing for video and still: inner focus system enables excellent resolution and...
  • Lumia optical image stabilization: Panasonic Mega O. I. S. Makes it easy to shoot super clear shots...

Runner-up: Panasonic LUMIX Professional 8-18mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH

Panasonic LUMIX Professional 8-18mm Camera Lens, G...

PROS

  • Nano Surface coating eliminates ghosting and flare
  • Faster focus tracking for improved video performance
  • Wide-angle zoom captures even the most intricate details
  • Takes sharp pictures even in adverse and low light conditions
  • Durable metal body that is able to withstand any kind of weather

CONS

  • Lens flare is not particularly pleasing

What Recent Buyers Report

Recent buyers have found this lens from Panasonic to be their most impressive. It is lightweight, which makes it easier to carry it around and is able to utilize 67mm filters. They also like its build quality and extremely smooth focus and zoom, thus providing photographers with amazing picture quality.   

Why it Stands Out to Us

We find Panasonic LUMIX Professional superior to other wide-angle zoom lenses because of its two very distinctive features. It does not have a totally convex front lens, thus allowing the use of 67mm filters without the fear of vignetting. Secondly, it weighs three ounces and has a length of 9 cm, thus making it a great walk-around lens. Together with exceptional image quality, high quality build, and fantastic image quality, this lens is a clear winner.  

Who Will Use This Most

You do not need a heavy lens on a camera to get beautiful pictures. With this lightweight lens, you can take sharp pictures wherever you are, thus making it one of the best holiday cameras. Its high brightness together with in-body image stabilization of the camera ensures crystal clear pictures even in low light. This lens is ideal for photographers who want to play with ND filters or polarization.  

Bottom Line

The Panasonic Lumix professional 8 – 18mm is perfect for photographers who want to capture good image quality shots with an extremely wide view. Its quiet and quick auto-focus, together with smooth zoom rings, makes it very popular among photographers. Moreover, this lens is solidly built, brighter, and weather-resistant, thus ensuring that this lens will stay with you for a long time.  

Panasonic LUMIX Professional 8-18mm Camera Lens, G...
  • NANO SURFACE COATING: Professional, high quality LEICA DG VARIO ELMARIT camera lens optics with...
  • HIGH SPEED AUTO FOCUSING: Upgraded faster focus tracking via a 240 fps linear motor performs smooth...
  • 4K VIDEO SUPPORT: Smooth aperture changes and a silent design for enhanced capture of the scene’s...

Best for the Money: Panasonic LUMIX G II Lens 20MM F1.7 ASPH

PANASONIC LUMIX G II Lens, 20MM, F1.7 ASPH,...

PROS

  • Ultra-thin and durable metal body
  • Pancake lens hardly adds any weight to your luggage
  • Multi-coated lens element for reduced flaring and ghosting
  • Seven aperture blades produce an attractively smooth effect
  • F1.7 aperture is perfect for low light and creamy bokeh creation

CONS

  • Not a suitable lens for shooting moving objects

What Recent Buyers Report

Recent buyers all agree that it takes better quality pictures as compared to any wide to normal Micro Four Thirds lens. It is sharp while being flattering to people. This lens transforms dull pictures to look a bit more interesting and makes good pictures look great. Buyers are very happy with their purchase as it is a compact, inexpensive prime lens that produces superb image quality.

Why it Stands Out to Us

The Lumix G II lens from Panasonic is a lightweight and compact pancake lens that features outstanding brightness. Its metallic construction boasts dramatic low weight and compactness despite its F1.7 aperture that allows you to capture splendid soft focus in the background, thus making the subject stand out impressively. This lens uses two aspherical lenses to minimize chromatic aberration and distortion, thus allowing photographers to achieve amazingly high-resolution corner to corner.   

Who Will Use This Most

Panasonic LUMIX G II Lens is an incredible, one-size-fits-all focal length, which is perfect for group shots, street shooting, environmental portraits, and even selfies. It also has a versatile focal length that is ideal for someone who is primarily a night time shooter. The beautiful soft focus of this lens also makes it easier to take stunning photographs of sunsets or of dimly lit places.   

Bottom Line

The Panasonic Lumix G II lens is a durable lens with a metal exterior that feels super solid. Its small size makes it easy to carry around, thus making it a great product for the walk around street photographer. Constructed with a Micro Four Thirds auto-focusing lens, this product is very easy to use. All you need to do is just mount the lens, point, shoot, and enjoy amazing images.  

PANASONIC LUMIX G II Lens, 20MM, F1.7 ASPH,...
  • 20mm focal length, equivalent to 40mm on a 35mm film camera
  • Closest Focusing Distance : 0.2m / 0.66ft, Maximum magnification Approx. 0.13x / 0.25x (35mm camera...
  • F1.7 brightness for beautiful, soft focus, Comprised of seven lenses in five groups

Panasonic LUMIX Professional 12-35mm F2.8 ASPH

Panasonic LUMIX Professional 12-35mm Camera Lens G...

PROS

  • Professional metal grade body ideal for outdoor shooting
  • Unprecedented hand-held stability for both stills and video
  • Stunning auto-focus performance produces excellent 4K video
  • Nano Surface Coating ensures a high standard of sharpness and detail
  • Lighter, smaller, efficient and more compact as compared to bulky DSLRs

CONS

  • Videos may not be of good quality due to jittering image stabilization

What Recent Buyers Report

Buyers are so impressed with the performance of this lens that they claim if they were to have just one lens for their micro 4/3’s camera, they would definitely pick this one. It is accurate, quiet, and fast with a very sharp image. It is lightweight and easy to handle, and the result given by this lens has surpassed their expectations.

Why it Stands Out to Us

Panasonic LUMIX Professional is a solidly built lens despite being compact and lightweight. Constructed from high quality plastics, this lens has a mount made from metal. It is resistant to dust and moisture, which makes it suitable for use in inclement conditions. It offers excellent control over fringing and chromatic aberrations.    

Who Will Use This Most

This lens is perfect for capturing landscapes and scenery. Its wide diameter also provides top-quality indoor shots. The excellent sharpness and cinematic look of this lens make it ideal for shooting events or filming interviews. It is the perfect lens for wedding videographers as it has excellent reach. With perceptive and de-focusing effects, this lens allows you to take the kind of videos and photos that you want.

Bottom Line

The Panasonic Lumix Professional 12-35mm is a highly versatile lens for videographers and photographers alike. With excellent build quality, top-notch performance, and stunning image quality, this lens is perfect for any Micro Four Thirds owner. If you want a single, solid lens that is perfect for street photography, travel, landscapes, portraiture, and more, then this lens is an excellent choice.

Panasonic LUMIX Professional 12-35mm Camera Lens G...
  • NANO SURFACE COATING: Professional, high-quality LUMIX G X VARIO II camera lens optics with...
  • HIGH-SPEED AUTO FOCUSING: Upgraded faster focus tracking via a 240 fps linear motor performs smooth...
  • ADVANCED OPTICAL IMAGE STABILIZATION: Panasonic POWER O.I.S. compatible with enhanced LUMIX Dual...

Panasonic Lumix G Lens 25mm F1.7 ASPH

Panasonic LUMIX G Lens, 25mm, F1.7 ASPH,...

PROS

  • Compact standard lens that weighs only 5 oz.
  • Quiet auto-focus benefits both videos and stills
  • Creates a beautiful bokeh effect for stunning creative imaging
  • Increased color fidelity and contrast due to Nano Surface Coating
  • Bright f/1.7 aperture for enhanced depth of field control and low-light shooting

CONS

  • Lens hood may not fit

What Recent Buyers Report

Recent buyers find Panasonic Lumix G Lens to be a great choice. According to buyers, this lens has given a more professional look to their shots and has helped them earn appreciation for their work. It is an all-in-one lens that is ideal for travel. It is also very economical, which makes it a good fit for every budget.   

Why it Stands Out to Us

Exceptional sharpness reduced chromatic aberrations, and excellent performance makes this a capable lens to use. Its fast and quiet stepping motor delivers remarkable photo and HD video recording. The bright f/1.7 aperture makes it perfect for high-quality, low-light photography. Moreover, its very compact and lightweight and takes hardly any place in the kit bag.

Who Will Use This Most

If you are planning a trip or want to improve your photography skills, then this is the lens for you. It delivers an exceptional amount of detail, thus making it one of the best portrait lenses. It adds a professional touch to your videos and stills.   

Bottom Line

The Panasonic Lumix G lens 25mm is a versatile and durable product that is perfect for both experienced and beginner photographers. It delivers sharp and clear pictures with the help of its fast and quiet auto-focus. It is one of the best walkabout lenses that will ensure that you do not miss your perfect shot.

Panasonic LUMIX G Lens, 25mm, F1.7 ASPH,...
  • Micro Four Thirds a versatile MFT 25 millimeter lens with a natural viewing angle Suitable for a...
  • F1.7 brightness beautiful background bokeh effect from its large diameter F1.7 aperture
  • Super lightweight compact at only 125G/ 2.05 inches Length, Lens construction 8 elements in 7 groups...

Comparison of the Best Lenses For Panasonic GH5

What Size of Lens Do I Need?

A good quality camera lens is vital for capturing detailed and sharp photos. However, you also need to choose the right lens size in order to take shots that look sharp with plenty of contrast and detail. The most important consideration in this aspect is the subject that you intend to shoot. Therefore, you need to pay attention to the focal length of a lens. Focal length measures the distance between the center of the lens and its sensor while the subject is in focus. A lower number denotes a wider shot while the higher number means a longer zoom.

Lumix Panasonic Camera

Source

For people looking to fit more into their frame, a wide-angle focal length such as 14mm, 20mm, 24mm, 28mm, and 35mm will be more suitable. However, if you want to get closer to your subject, then a telephoto lens with a focal length ranging between 50mm to 100mm will be ideal.

What to Look For When Buying a Panasonic GH5 Lens

When you are looking for a lens for a Panasonic GH5, you should keep the following things in mind:

Lightweight

Panasonic GH5 is a great camera for street or event photography. Therefore, it is best to choose a lens that is lightweight, so that you do not feel tired lugging it around with you all the time.   

Weather Sealed

As you are going to be mostly outdoors shooting with your Panasonic GH5, you need a lens that is designed with dust-proof and splash-proof features to give you complete peace of mind when you are outside shooting in the elements.   

Image Stabilization

Panasonic GH5 features a built-in 5-axis sensor stabilization that delivers highly effective shake correction. By pairing this amazing camera with a lens designed with built-in image stabilization, you not only get fabulous pictures but will also be able to shoot high-quality videos, thus making your camera perfect for gunning, running, and shooting handheld.

Benefits of Investing in a Quality Lens

The beauty of photography lies in its ability to capture a moment and turn it into an eternal legacy for future generations. Although a proper camera is vital for exceptional shots and videos, you also need a good quality lens to provide you with solid shots. Following are some reasons why you should invest in a good quality lens:  

Impact the Lens

Your lens will be the most influential factor that will determine the quality of your work and make a difference between professional and amateur photographs. With a good quality lens, you can control the depth of field, background blur, and sharpness even when you find yourself in places with bad lighting or focusing. If you want to create something interesting and beautiful, then investing in a proper lens should be your best option.  

Long-Lasting

Lenses do not go out of fashion as cameras do. Investing in a good quality lens ensures that it is money well spent because although cameras are constantly susceptible to upgrades, lenses remain the same for years without any significant changes. As long as you take good care of your lens, you can use it for many years without needing to buy a new one.   

Compatibility

The best thing about lenses is that they are compatible with various models. Even if you have different cameras, you can use the same lens on these different models, thus allowing you actually to save money.

People Also Ask

Buying a lens for your Panasonic GH5 is not an easy task. You need to read the online reviews of buyers and pay particular attention to its specifications to ensure that it is the best product for the subject you have in mind. In addition, answers to the following questions will also help people make up their mind:

Can I Use Canon Lenses on Panasonic GH5?

Any lens that has a greater focal distance can be used effectively on a Panasonic GH5, including Canon EF, Canon FD, Arri PL, Nikon F, Pentax K, Leica M and R, and even older Four Thirds Lenses.   

What Lens Mount is the Panasonic GH5?

Panasonic Gh5 has the Micro Four Thirds system mount. It is the most versatile mount and can be paired with virtually any lens.

Conclusion

Panasonic GH5 is an exceptionally capable still camera with outstanding video capabilities. With the right lens, you would be able to shoot stills and videos that are clear, sharp, and dynamic. Make sure that you read the reviews in the above article carefully so that you can buy a lens that will give your photography skills a completely professional look.