This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of these links it means we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Learn More

Best Lenses For Panasonic GH4

PANASONIC LUMIX G VARIO LENS

I use the Panasonic GH4 as my daily driver, and my absolute favorite lens is the SUMMILUX 25mm F1.4 ASPH H-X025 lens, because it can handle anything you throw at it. I’ve tested a ton of different lenses and i will talk about each of them in detail.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 is a well-known, mirrorless micro four thirds digital camera that is specifically designed to ensure that the user will be able to shoot professional photos and videos and be more than satisfied with the end results!

In fact, throughout its existence, this camera was announced as the world’s first compact system camera to feature 4K video shooting, and throughout its existence, has gained a reputation for being an exceptionally reliable camera.

Although the camera itself outputs a very strong performance, you can still boost its performance and achieve even greater results which is always essential in photography, right? That’s why, after an in-depth analysis of numerous lenses that are compatible with Panasonic GH4, I’ve decided to show you the best lenses for Panasonic GH4, so, feel free to choose whichever you want because all of them are good enough to drastically enhance your shooting experience!

The 5 Best Lenses For Panasonic GH4

Photo

Name

Best For

Check Price

Lumix G 25mm, F1.7 ASPH-H025K

Best For Portraits & Vlogging

Lumix G Leica DG SUMMILUX Lens 25mm, F1.4 ASPH H-X025 

Best Multi-Purpose Lens

LUMIX G 714MM, F4.0 ASPH H-F007014

Best For Indoor Photography

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 75mm F1.8

Best Photo Quality

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm F4.0 PRO 

Best For Sharpness & Detail

5. Panasonic Lumix G  25mm, F1.7 ASPH-H025K

The H025K is one of the best and most purchased micro four-thirds lenses on the market, due to the fact that this lens combines an attractive and solid construction, very strong performance and an exceptionally affordable price that will not only affect your budget a lot but at the same time, its performance can easily compete with most of the lenses that are set on the midrange.

Design-wise, this model has a very lightweight and compact construction that consists of 9 elements divided into 7 groups, along with a single ultra-high-refractive-index lens element and 2 aspherical elements.

Additionally, the manufacturer has included their well-known Nano Surface Coating with the intention to put an end on the occurrences of ghosting and flare, and also, there’s a diaphragm with up to seven rounded aperture blades that will guarantee you convenient and high-quality shooting!

Thanks to its design, this lens will not offer you a strong performance, but at the same time, this will allow you have an easy fitting in the palm of your hand so that you can shoot conveniently without feeling fatigued at all! Great job, Panasonic!

When it comes to the features and performance, the H025K offers a diagonal angle of view of up to 47-degrees, outputs a very quick and nearly silent focusing, and the best part – it produces sharp images at f/1.7, which by default means that most of the time you will be satisfied by the performance. But, what also got my attention is that those who’ve been shooting with this lens claim that the image was looking sharp even at f/11 and f/22, whereas, surprisingly, at f/22 images were still decently sharp!

Another great thing about this unit is that aside from shooting sharp imagery, you’d also be able to shoot quality videos thanks to its fast-action stepping motor focusing, and honestly, for the price you pay, I think that you simply can’t ask for more! This lens combined with your GH4 is the real way to go!

The only thing that lacks, in my opinion, is that there is no optical image stabilization on-board, but, I’m not surprised at all since I don’t know many lenses as capable as this one, that has this feature. Either way, I think that you won’t be disappointed

Finally, users have reported to me that they didn’t notice any significant distortion, nor a chromatic aberration, because this lens does a highly effective job in controlling the chromatic aberration.

To summarize, I’d definitely recommend you consider the H025K as your next purchase, because it is extremely affordable and performs good enough to satisfy even the most demanding photographers out there!


4. Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG SUMMILUX Lens 25mm, F1.4 ASPH H-X025 

The H-X025 was announced in 2011, as a standard lens for Micro Four Thirds cameras, and what’s interesting about this lens is that Leica has designed the optics, whereas, Panasonic did the manufacturing. Hence, considering the fact that this lens is made by such popular manufacturers, it didn’t take long before the H-X025 conquered the market, and that’s why, even today, it is still among the best lens that you can encounter on the market! 

To begin with, this particular model sports an attractive, and compact body that is mostly made of metal, even though there are some plastic parts. In fact, it looks like those old-school minolta lenses.

Also, the optical design is composed of two aspherical lenses, one Ultra-high Refractive Index lens, and nine elements arranged in seven groups, plus a nano-coating that does a highly effective job in reducing the flare.

Speaking of the autofocusing, this lens is relatively fast to lock onto a specific subject, some user have reported me that this is about half a second, and what’s even more interesting is that most of the people are using this lens for portrait photos, especially for capturing little kids or babies who are known for being hyperactive.

However, please keep in mind that if you get very close on a target, your photos will suffer a bit from distortion, but in general, this lens is excellent for shooting portrait photography.

Moving on, you mustn’t shoot just portrait photography, since this lens will get you the best possible results when shooting indoors, outdoors, or at low-light situations since Leica optics are known for transforming the “ordinary” scenes into images of professional quality!

Before we end, I’d like to mention yet one more thing, and that’s regarding the bokeh at wide aperture settings. Those who’ve been shooting with this lens say that the bokeh is indeed smooth and attractive, and honestly, this part is very interesting. Why? The reason is very simple though if we put into consideration that this lens is kind of limited in terms of providing quality performance at close focusing range, still, the bokeh remains solid, which is awesome!

Overall, if you’re looking for a fast lens that will offer you high-performance throughout a wide aperture range, while making your images as distortion-free as possible, then the H-X025  would be the lens of your dreams!


3. PANASONIC LUMIX G 714MM, F4.0 ASPH H-F007014

The Panasonic LumixG 714MM, F4.0 ASPH H-F007014, or simply, the H-F007014 is a  quality and highly-versatile wide zoom lens that can dramatically improve your shooting experience, especially if you love shooting landscape photography, nature or architectural objects!

From a design perspective, this lens packs 16 elements in 12 groups with 2 aspherical lenses and 4 ED lenses on one hand, while on the other, houses a reliable metal mount and uses multi-coated lens elements with the intention to offer a greater control over the flare and ghosting, so that you can always get the most optimal, and desired results!

Moreover, all of these components make this unit be indeed unique, because the manufacturer was focused on bringing you the best possible results in terms of color accuracy and clarity, but, let’s not also forget the fact that its autofocus motor is specifically designed to support your camera’s contrast detection and allow you have a precise focusing performance.

In terms of the performance, one of the best things about this lens is the inclusion of the built-in petal-shaped lens hood shields that can effectively reduce flare in case, you’re outdoors shooting under bright daylight.

I’d also like to mention that the lens` focal length ranges from 7-14mm, whereas its maximum aperture is f/4 and I have to admit that although the 7-14mm can be considered as small, still, this lens is more than nicely spec’d

In practice, its constant f/4 maximum aperture will ensure that you can expect nothing less than a consistent performance and illumination throughout the zoom range, whereas, the ultra-wide zoom for your camera will have an equivalent focal length range of 14-28mm!

Moving on, I would also like to mention that distortion is virtually non-existent with this lens, in fact, if you notice a pinch of distortion, you can correct it by using a software, so that the overall color accuracy and sharpness of your images will remain excellent!

But, let’s be clear. Nothing is perfect in this world, nor this lens itself. There are a few things that can be considered as a “remark”, including the fact that this model does not accept filters, the presence of lateral chromatic aberration if you opt to use the widest settings, and of course, its price tag, which should have been a bit more affordable.

Since this lens is great for traveling, i suggest you also take a look at our best cameras for architecture photography and grab a camera that goes well with this lens.

To conclude, if we compare the  pros and the cons, I can easily say that the pros simply overcome the cons, and even though this may not be the widest angle zoom lens, still, its build quality and image quality is exceptionally good, which by default makes this lens be an strong candidate to be paired with your Panasonic GH4!


2. Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 75mm F1.8

The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 75mm F1.8 can be defined as a high-grade, fast telephoto lens that are ideal for shooting indoors, sports, portrait photography and it is even suitable for studio and stage purposes! You may likely noticed this name popping up numerous times on the Internet, well, if you did, then there’s something special about this lens,right? So, let’s find out what!

Aesthetically speaking, this model is available in two color editions, including the silver which I’m currently reviewing and the black, however, do not hesitate to switch if you prefer a different color finish since both lenses share the same performance, and color is the only thing that makes them different.

This particular model has an all-metal construction that holds an enormous, front element and if you take a closer look at this lens, you will notice that it is wider than most of the micro four-thirds lenses that are available on the market.

Even though the lens is wide, still, its weight may not cause you discomfort even if you’ve been shooting for a prolonged period, and honestly, I really like its build quality!

In addition, this unit is comprised of 10 elements divided into 9 groups, has a nine0blade circular aperture unit, and for now, I’m really satisfied with the build quality and the components included in this lens!

So, I’d suggest taking a bit regarding the performance.

The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 75mm F1.8 has been greatly praised because of its ability to ensure a higher level of sharpness to each photo you make and set an end to any kind fo distortion that may be present throughout your shooting sessions.

Also, given its f.18 maximum aperture, this by default means that you will have more than a great control over the depth of field on one side, whereas, on the other, you’d be able to blur-away any kind of distraction that may appear on the background as you’re shooting portrait photography. Sounds nice? Of course, it does!

As I’ve mentioned previously, aside from shooting portrait photography, you will never face issues in case you shoot sports photography, since this is a 150mm-equivalent lens that can help you achieve excellent results in numerous circumstances!

In the end, I’d like to inform you that the colors are unrealistically rich, and you will instantly recognize this throughout your shooting sessions because your photos will look lifelike and will grab your attention from the moment you see them!

Overall, the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 75mm F1.8 lens is worthy of considering, because it justifies its price with its performance, and offers and even greater value for its cost, so give it a try and assure yourself of its potential!


1. Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm F4.0 PRO 

The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm F4.0 PRO  would be a top-notch option for you, especially if you’re keen on investing in a premium, telephoto lens that will help you achieve exceptionally good results when shooting telemacro photography!

Speaking of the design, this lens features a small, and lightweight body that is very solidly built.  As a matter of fact, it employs a weather-proof design which makes it not only an ideal portable option but also an ideal companion that will help you shoot quality photos under a variety of different weather conditions. If you’ve asked yourself, why? Well, because splash, dust and freezing temperatures will never interfere with the absolute gold of a performance it delivers!

But, since nobody wants to deal with ghosting and flare, the manufacturer has incorporated a so-called Z Coating Nano which will help contribute a lot in terms of helping you shoot artifact-free images that will have an excellent amount of contrast and extremely accurate colors.

Another great thing about this lens is the presence of a manual focus clutch that comes handy, especially if you want to switch from auto and manual focus, as well as its customizable Lens function of which you can take advantage and control your camera functions from the lens barrel itself!

If all of these things related to the design were catchy, then let’s take a look at its performance, because you will be more than happy to own such a quality lens.

Namely, this model has an amazing image stabilization, which at the time of its release, was named as one of the most powerful 6-steps of compensation synchronized in-lens and in-body stabilization which will always be there for you to allow you get the maximum of every scene!

Now, what about the sharpness? The sharpness isn’t different at all, because throughout its entire frame, and even at f/16-4 – f/22 you won’t be disappointed by the results,

When it comes to the chromatic aberration and distortion, users have reported me that they’ve noticed just a minimal presence of chromatic aberration, whereas, for the distortion part, it is technically nonexistent on this lens!

Last but not least,  its minimum focusing distance of 4.5ft and its maximum magnification of 0.48, makes this lens superb for shooting in close quarters, because you will never have difficulties shooting macros, and honestly when we combine all these things into one, I think that the manufacturer did an extraordinarily good job!

In conclusion, the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm F4.0 PRO is a must-have lens, because of its versatility, build quality and its performance, and if you ever decide to purchase it, you will never regret that decision!


You Might Also Be Interested In:


Panasonic GH4 Lens Buying Guide

Prior to making a purchase, users of Panasonic GH4 are often confused regarding the types of lenses they should get, and would they be suitable for this camera. Well, this is nothing new, and honestly, it happens a lot not only for GH4 but with nearly every camera.

That’s why, in this section, I will bring you some important tips on which you can completely rely, and by doing so, you will avoid getting disappointed.

Compatibility

To begin with, there are numerous lenses for Panasonic GH4, some of them are produced by the manufacturer, and others by third parties such as Tamron and Sigma. Every time you want to purchase lenses, regardless if it is for Panasonic GH4 or any other camera, I’d suggest you to read a lot, since there are numerous articles on the Internet on one side, while on the other, you can also contact the company for a specific lens and be sure that you will make the right choice.

Price

Keep in mind that no one is obliged to spend thousands of dollars on lenses because they are widely available on the market. Some of them are budget-oriented, some are set in the midrange, and others, of course, are expensive.

In general, lenses that cost more are more quality, and this is fairly normal. However, this doesn’t mean that you should get it right away if you feel that your budget will be heavily affected. Sometimes, it is more important to save money for some time and then, when you’re ready, you can opt to get even the most expensive ones without feeling that your wallet is figuratively said, ripped of.

Brand

The endless battle in the field of photography, especially at the lens, is whether it is more advisable to purchase lenses from the company, or third-party sellers. Well, even though it is more attractive and trustworthy to see the brand behind the lens, nowadays, the well-known third-party sellers can also stand for quality.  Either way, I always stick to the brands, but this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t trust the most popular third-party sellers, either.

Use Case

In the end, it all depends on what you are planning to do with your lens. Are you going to shoot wildlife photography? Use it for professional use such as real estate? Or are you going to get a lens for astrophotography to capture the stars? Make sure you understand what the lens has to offer and then make the purchase.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What are the best lenses for Panasonic GH4?

A:  Honestly, there are numerous lenses available for Panasonic GH4, and they differ a lot from each other in terms of price, performance, and type. Personally, I think that the “best” lenses for this camera are included in this article.

Q:  What does a Four Thirds system mean?

A: This system is a standard that was invented by Olympus and Kodak to depict  DSLR and mirrorless camera design and development since, with digital camera and lenses, users will be able to get lenses from multiple manufacturers and have an option for the interchange of lenses and bodies from different manufacturers as well.

Q: What does “native lens” means?

A: A native lens typically refers to the lens that doesn’t have to be adapted, or in other words, a lens that mounts directly and electronically communicates with the body.

Q: Which companies manufacture Micro Four Thirds lenses?

A: Well, the most widely known companies that craft these types of lenses are Olympus, Kodak, Panasonic, Xiaomi, Tamron, Sigma, etc.

Q: Is it possible to use Nikon/Canon lenses on my Panasonic GH4?

A:  As far as I know, you’d be able to use Nikon/Canon lenses on the GH4 by taking advantage of an adapter that will position the lens around 27.25mm away from the GH4’s lens mount.

Conclusion

So far, I hope that you’ve found this article entertaining and informative and that I’ve helped you choose the best lenses for your Panasonic GH4, so, the end decision should be solely be brought by you because you will be the one who is going to shoot with this camera, right?

In a case of actual purchase, I’ll be available for you, so that you can share your thoughts with me because I always strive to offer the best possible lenses and cameras for my audience!

If you have any additional questions or if you would like me to type on a specific topic, do not hesitate to contact me.