The Panasonic Lumix G 20mm f/1.7 ASPH II is a compact pancake prime lens for Micro Four Thirds cameras, offering a 40mm full-frame equivalent focal length and a fast f/1.7 maximum aperture with autofocus support.
Key Specifications
- Focal length: 20mm (40mm full-frame equivalent on Micro Four Thirds)
- Maximum aperture: f/1.7 β wide open across the full focal length
- Lens type: Wide angle prime
- Autofocus: Yes β compatible with contrast-detect AF systems on mirrorless Micro Four Thirds bodies
- Optical design: ASPH (aspherical) elements for reduced distortion and sharp edges
- Mount: Micro Four Thirds β fits Panasonic Lumix G and Olympus/OM System bodies
- Form factor: Pancake design β extremely slim and lightweight for everyday carry
- Minimum focusing distance: 0.2m with a maximum magnification of approximately 0.13x
Who is the Panasonic Lumix G 20mm f/1.7 ASPH II for?
If you shoot street, travel, or everyday life and want a lens that barely adds any bulk to your camera bag, this pancake prime is hard to beat. The 40mm equivalent framing sits right in the sweet spot between wide and normal β wide enough to capture environmental context, tight enough to isolate a subject without distortion. The f/1.7 aperture lets you shoot confidently in dim restaurants, at golden hour, or during astrophotography sessions where you need every bit of light you can get. Landscape photographers also love it for the natural perspective and the ability to stop down for crisp edge-to-edge detail across a scene. Paired with a compact mirrorless body like the Panasonic Lumix G9 or an OM System body, this lens disappears in your pocket. It works on any Micro Four Thirds body, so if you're shooting with an Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III, it's fully compatible. Compared to alternatives like the Panasonic Leica DG 15mm f/1.7, which is wider and larger, or the Olympus M.Zuiko 17mm f/1.8, which has faster AF response on Olympus bodies, the 20mm f/1.7 II stands out purely on compactness and light-gathering ability at this focal length.
Buying a used Panasonic Lumix G 20mm f/1.7 ASPH II
This lens has been popular with Panasonic Micro Four Thirds shooters for years, which means the second-hand market has plenty of well-maintained copies. Buying a used version is a smart move β pancake primes like this one typically lead a gentle life on compact mirrorless setups rather than taking abuse on long telephoto shoots. Every pre-owned copy on Camera-tweedehands.nl is individually photographed and professionally inspected before listing, and comes with a minimum 12 months warranty. Check the variant listing for the exact warranty period on your specific copy.