Panasonic LUMIX G H-HS043K 43mm
Combining a bright f/1.7 aperture with built-in POWER O.I.S. stabilization, this 42.5mm prime delivers sharp results even in low light on Micro Four Thirds bodies. Its featherweight 130g build and 0.20x magnification make it a discreet, versatile tool that doubles as a capable close-up lens. This lens is best for street photographers and portrait shooters who prioritize a compact, stabilized setup with flattering subject separation.
Snapshot
The 30-Second Version
The Panasonic 42.5mm f/1.7 is a tiny portrait powerhouse with best-in-class bokeh and built-in stabilization. It's not the sharpest lens wide open, but the autofocus is fast and silent, making it a killer value for both stills and video. For around $400, it's one of the easiest recommendations in the Micro Four Thirds system.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Incredibly light and compact, you'll forget it's on the camera. 94th
- Built-in stabilization is a lifesaver for handheld video and low-light stills. 91st
- Bokeh is smooth and creamy, way above average for a lens at this price. 91st
- Autofocus is fast, accurate, and dead silent for video. 88th
Cons
- Not weather sealed, so be careful in rain or dust.
- Optical quality is just average, with some purple fringing wide open.
- The 37mm filter thread is an odd size if you already own a filter collection.
- Minimum focus distance is a bit long, so don't expect close-up detail shots.
What owners think
The Word on the Street
How owner sentiment changed over time
ExclusiveBased on when customers actually wrote their reviews - so you can see whether early praise held up.
Based on 108 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.
The proof
Performance
Sharpness is solid in the center wide open, and stopping down to f/2.8 cleans up the corners nicely. Autofocus is quick and nearly silent thanks to the stepping motor, which makes this a sneaky good lens for video work. The built-in Power O.I.S. stabilization is a real bonus, especially on older or unstabilized Panasonic bodies. Bokeh is smooth and pleasing, ranking among the best in our database. The main optical weakness is some longitudinal chromatic aberration in high-contrast scenes, but it's easy to fix in post.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | Prime |
| Focal Length Min | 42 |
| Focal Length Max | 42 |
| Elements | 10 |
| Groups | 8 |
| Aspherical Elements | 1 |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/1.7 |
| Min Aperture | f/1.7 |
| Constant | Yes |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 |
Build
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds |
| Format | micro-four-thirds |
| Weight | 0.1 kg / 0.3 lbs |
| Filter Thread | 37 |
AF & Stabilization
| AF Type | stepping motor |
| Stabilization | Yes |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 310 |
| Max Magnification | 0.20x |
vs Competition
Stacked against the Sigma 16-300mm or Tamron 18-300mm superzooms, this Panasonic is in a completely different league for portraiture. Those zooms are versatile but slow, while this prime is all about subject isolation and low-light confidence. The Meike 50mm f/1.8 is a cheaper manual-focus alternative, but you lose autofocus and stabilization. And compared to the much pricier Panasonic 42.5mm f/1.2, this f/1.7 version gets you 90% of the look for a fraction of the cost and weight.
| Spec | Panasonic LUMIX G H-HS043K 43mm | Sigma Contemporary 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS | Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD | Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM | Nikon NIKKOR AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR | Meike 50mm F1.8 Full Frame STM Auto Focus Prime |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 42mm | 16-300mm | 18-300mm | 28-70mm | 16-85mm | 50mm |
| Max Aperture | f/1.7 | f/3.5 | f/3.5 | f/2.8 | f/3.5 | f/1.8 |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E | Fujifilm X | Canon RF | Nikon F | Panasonic Sigma L |
| Stabilization | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | false | true | false | true | false | false |
| Weight (g) | 130 | 615 | 92 | 495 | 59 | 297 |
| AF Type | stepping motor | HLA | VXD linear motor | STM | AF-S | STM |
| Lens Type | prime | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom | prime |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | AF | Bokeh | Build | Macro | Optical | Aperture | Versatility | Social Proof | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panasonic LUMIX G H-HS043K 43mm | 85.5 | 91.2 | 91.4 | 29.9 | 42 | 94.3 | 34 | 88 | 80.5 |
| Sigma Contemporary 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS Compare | 54.7 | 84.3 | 57.9 | 86.5 | 98.8 | 77 | 99.6 | 83 | 99.1 |
| Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD Compare | 98.1 | 75 | 96.3 | 88.4 | 73.5 | 77 | 99.2 | 83 | 80.5 |
| Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM Compare | 85.5 | 86.2 | 67.2 | 77.4 | 84.4 | 83.8 | 77.4 | 88 | 98.2 |
| Nikon NIKKOR AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR Compare | 54.7 | 75 | 98.4 | 59.8 | 64.1 | 77 | 94.3 | 88 | 92.2 |
| Meike 50mm F1.8 Full Frame STM Auto Focus Prime Compare | 85.5 | 95.9 | 71.3 | 96.1 | 57.2 | 93 | 34 | 49.9 | 80.5 |
Price
Value & Pricing
Pricing on this lens is all over the map depending on where you look, with a spread of over $83,000 across vendors, which is clearly some bad data in the mix. In the real world, you can snag it for around $400, and at that price it's a steal. You're getting stabilized, fast-aperture portrait glass that punches well above its weight. If you find it for under $350 used, just buy it.
Amazon.ca 1 offer From CA$498
We started tracking prices for this product on May 4, 2026. The chart appears once we have more data.
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Overview
Panasonic's 42.5mm f/1.7 is one of those lenses that just makes sense on Micro Four Thirds. It's tiny, weighs next to nothing, and gives you an 85mm equivalent field of view that's basically perfect for portraits. The f/1.7 aperture isn't the fastest in the lineup, but it's wide enough to blur backgrounds nicely and keep your ISO down indoors.
Common Questions
Q: Does this lens work on Olympus cameras?
Yes, it uses the standard Micro Four Thirds mount and works perfectly on Olympus bodies, though you may want to disable either the lens or body stabilization to avoid conflicts.
Q: Is the f/1.7 aperture enough for good background blur?
Absolutely. The 85mm equivalent focal length combined with f/1.7 creates very pleasing subject separation, and our bokeh score puts it in the top 9% of all lenses we've tested.
Q: Can I use this for video work?
It's actually one of the better MFT lenses for video thanks to the nearly silent stepping motor autofocus and built-in Power O.I.S. stabilization, which helps smooth out handheld footage.
Who Should Skip This
Landscape shooters should look elsewhere, this focal length is too tight and the optical performance at infinity isn't anything special. If you need weather sealing for outdoor adventure work, this lens will leave you nervous in bad conditions. And macro enthusiasts will find the minimum focus distance frustratingly long.
Verdict
If you shoot Micro Four Thirds and want a dedicated portrait lens that won't break your back or your bank account, this is it. It's a no-brainer for anyone stepping up from a kit zoom and wanting that blurred-background look. Video shooters on a budget will also love the silent AF and stabilization.
