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Pixel-peeping the Panasonic Lumix 20mm f1.7 lens

Here's the full frame shot taken with the GF1; three hard drives side-by-side for framing reference.

Wide open, you will give up some resolution, but that's no surprise, as most lenses need to be stopped down in order to achieve maximum sharpness.

By f4, I don't see anymore improvement in center resolution, but the edges and corners continue to get better as you stop down more. However, diffraction starts to rob center resolution at f5.6, so you compromise a bit if you want full edge-to-edge quality. I think up to f8 is okay and avoid using f11 and f16; however, with fast lenses, the whole point is to be able to use the lens at the widest apertures.

Do keep in mind that in real world use, i.e., for actual photography instead of geeky test shots, most prime and pro zoom lenses do quite well. Where you have to careful with a lens choice is if you have to buy a consumer, kit lens.

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f/1.7

Center	Left edge	Left bottom corner

f2

Center	Left edge	Left bottom corner

f/2.8

Center	Left edge	Left bottom corner

f/4

Center	Left edge	Left bottom corner

f/5.6

Center	Left edge	Left bottom corner

f/8

Center	Left edge	Left bottom corner

f/11

Center	Left edge	Left bottom corner

f/16

Center	Left edge	Left bottom corner

Panasonic Lumix 20mm vs Sigma 30mm f1.4 vs Canon 50mm f1.8

Center

	Panasonic	Sigma	Canon
f1.7
f2
f2.8
f4
f5.6
f8
f11
f16

Right Edge

Left Corner

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