Panasonic LUMIX G H-HS043K 43mm

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.