Panasonic Lumix H-X09

The Panasonic H-X09 is a tiny, bright 9mm f/1.7 prime that owners absolutely love. It focuses insanely close, weighs almost nothing, and takes filters. At this price, it's an easy recommendation for MFT shooters who want ultra-wide drama without the bulk.

Sharpness is excellent edge to edge, and the f/1.7 aperture pulls in a lot of light for astro work. Autofocus is fast and accurate thanks to the inner focus design, and the close focusing distance is the party trick. You can get 0.5x magnification, which means you can shove this thing right up against a flower or a bug and get a wild ultra-wide macro look. Video shooters get suppressed focus breathing and micro-step aperture control, so exposure changes don't jump around. The one knock from owners is that color rendering is slightly more subdued than the 15mm Leica. Not bad, just a touch less punchy.

The H-X09 doesn't really compete with the Fujifilm X-H2, Sony a6700, Nikon Z5 II, Canon EOS R7, or OM System OM-1 directly. Those are camera bodies. This is a lens. But if you're shooting Micro Four Thirds, the OM-1 is the natural body partner, and this lens gives it an ultra-wide option that's brighter and lighter than most zooms. Compared to the Panasonic 15mm f/1.7, the 9mm is wider, focuses closer, and is just as sharp, but the 15mm has slightly more saturated color. If you want a walkaround prime, the 15mm might edge it out. If you want drama and close-up capability, the 9mm wins.

At CAD 645 or JPY 55,400, this lens is a steal for what it does. You're getting Leica-branded glass, a bright aperture, and half-macro capability in a package that fits in a jacket pocket. The MXN 17,943 listing is also reasonable. For astrophotography alone, it's worth the price. There aren't many ultra-wide primes this fast and this light for any system, let alone at this price.

The Panasonic H-X09 is a 9mm f/1.7 prime for Micro Four Thirds, and it's one of those lenses that makes you remember why MFT is still fun. You get an 18mm full-frame equivalent field of view, a bright aperture, and the ability to focus stupidly close. It weighs 209g. That's nothing. You'll forget it's on the camera.

This is the first Leica DG Summilux ultra-wide with half-macro capability, hitting 0.5x magnification. Owners love it. Our sentiment data puts it in the 92nd percentile for user satisfaction, which is basically 'people really, really like this thing.' The catch? It's a lens, not a camera, so a bunch of those percentile rankings for sensor, EVF, and battery are meaningless here. Ignore them.

Skip this if you need optical stabilization in the lens itself, because it's not there. If you shoot on a body without IBIS and do a lot of handheld video, you'll feel the shake. Also skip it if you're not on Micro Four Thirds, because it won't mount on anything else. And if you want the most saturated colors straight out of camera, the 15mm f/1.7 might suit you better.

Buy this if you shoot Micro Four Thirds and want an ultra-wide prime that can do astro, landscapes, vlogging, and weird close-up shots without breaking your back or your bank account. It's one of the most fun lenses in the MFT lineup. The lack of stabilization means you'll want a body with IBIS for handheld video, but for stills on a tripod or in decent light, it's a non-issue.