Quick one for the MFT crowd today. SG-Image — the same guys who did the 25mm f/1.8 for Sony E and Fuji X last year — just dropped a MFT mount version of that same lens. For the price tier, this is the kind of small announcement that matters a lot if you're running a Panasonic GH7 or an OM SYSTEM OM-1.
What's actually new
It's the same optical design they put in the APS-C lens back in 2025. Seven elements in five groups, three high-refractive-index elements, f/1.8 to f/16, 9-blade aperture for round bokeh, 0.3m minimum focus, 52mm filter thread, weighs 145 grams. The lens is 67mm wide and only 31mm long — basically a pancake. You'll forget it's in your bag.
On MFT, the 25mm becomes a 50mm equivalent. So if you're using a GH7 like me, this behaves like a 50mm f/1.8. The classic nifty fifty. Great for street, decent for environmental portraits, too tight for landscapes but you can back up.
Stepping motor AF, silent and quick. STM is the same tech they use in Lumix kit lenses, so on a Panasonic body it'll play nicely. On OM SYSTEM should work too but I haven't tested that combo. Comes in black and silver.
Why this matters for MFT
MFT has been losing lens releases over the last few years. Panasonic is pushing full-frame L-mount, OM SYSTEM is focused on high-end telephoto wildlife glass. The affordable prime segment has been pretty thin. The Panasonic 25mm f/1.7 is solid but plasticky and slow to focus. The Sigma 30mm f/1.4 is great but heavy and expensive. The Olympus 25mm f/1.8 is gorgeous but discontinued.
This is where SG-Image fits. They're a Chinese third-party maker who has been quietly making really capable budget lenses for a few years. The APS-C 25mm f/1.8 that came out last year got solid reviews — sharp wide open, decent autofocus, selling for like $120 USD on AliExpress. If the MFT version lands in the same range, it's a no-brainer for budget MFT builds.
I shoot a GH7 with my OM SYSTEM 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO II as my main walkaround. But I always carry a small prime in the other slot of my bag for low light or for that classic reportage look. The 12-40mm is amazing for versatility but not the most exciting lens optically. A fast 50mm equivalent prime gives you subject separation, that creamy out-of-focus background, that real camera feel.
The competition
Your MFT 50mm equivalent fast prime options in 2026:
- Panasonic 25mm f/1.7 ASPH — budget default, $200-$250, compact, decent optics, slow AF on older bodies - Olympus 25mm f/1.8 — the classic, around $300 used, beautiful rendering, discontinued - Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary — most modern option, around $400, sharp, fast AF, largest
SG-Image should slot in below the Sigma in price but above the Panasonic in build quality. Based on the APS-C version, expect around $100-$140 USD. Sweet spot for anyone starting out in MFT.
What we still don't know
Pricing hasn't been announced for the MFT version. The APS-C version launched at about 25,000 yen in Japan (~$160 USD). If SG-Image follows the same pattern, expect the MFT version in the $120-$160 range. Just my guess.
Availability — usual channels: AliExpress, eBay, Amazon Japan, SG-Image official site.
Image quality on MFT — I haven't tested this one yet. The APS-C version was sharp wide open, with typical third party budget tradeoffs: some chromatic aberration in high-contrast scenes, a bit of vignetting at f/1.8. Stop down to f/2.8 and it's a different lens. I'd expect the same on MFT.
Why I'm interested
Two reasons. First, my GH7 + 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO II combo is my main workhorse but the 12-40mm is f/2.8 at its widest. For indoor events or evening street photography, f/1.8 is two stops faster. That's huge for ISO. Drop from 3200 to 800 and file quality is dramatically cleaner.
Second, 145 grams. Lighter than my 12-40mm (382g). The whole point of MFT is to keep the rig compact. A 25mm f/1.8 pancake gives me a pocketable street setup. GH7 body plus the 12-40mm plus this 25mm plus a spare battery and a card wallet, and I'm under 1.5kg total. That's the kind of kit I can carry all day on a Hong Kong street walk without my shoulder complaining.
So yeah, SG-Image 25mm f/1.8 for MFT, announced today, June 15. Worth keeping an eye on. I'll do a full review once I have one in hand. Photech on YouTube did a great review of the original APS-C version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRtYbi_SnGo. The optical design is the same, so the rendering should carry over.