Panasonic adds GH5 II autofocus compatibility to a bunch of MFT lenses with new firmware

The Panasonic GH5 Mark II is expected to see similar autofocus performance to Panasonic’s full-frame S series mirrorless cameras. This is welcome news to Panasonic Micro Four Thirds users frustrated with the GH5’s lack of autofocus performance. But to be able to take advantage of the new autofocus system, your lenses are going to need an update.

Panasonic has released a flurry of firmware updates for a dozen of their Lumix G and Leica DG lens lineup to make them compatible with the upcoming camera’s autofocus system and they’re available to download and update now for you to prepare.

The list of updates doesn’t cover Panasonic’s entire Micro Four Thirds lineup, but it does include many of their most popular ones – with the majority of them being their higher-end Leica DG lenses. But we also see some lower-end lenses in there, too, including kit lenses. The complete list looks like this.

• H-XA025 – Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 25mm f/1.4
• H-ES200 – Panasonic Leica DG Elmarit 200mm f/2.8
• H-E08018 – Panasonic Leica DG Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4.0
• H-X1025 – Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Summilux 10-25mm f/1.7
• H-ES12060 – Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60mm f/2.8-4.0
• H-ES50200 – Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 50-200mm f/2.8-4.0
• H-RS100400 – Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 100-400mm f/4.0-6.3
• H-HSA12035 – Panasonic Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm f/2.8 II
• H-FS12060 – Panasonic Lumix G Vario 12-60mm f/3.5-5.6
• H-HSA35100 – Panasonic Lumix G X Vario 35-100mm f/2.8 II
• H-FSA45200 – Panasonic Lumix G Vario 45-200mm f/4.0-5.6 II
• H-FSA100300 – Panasonic Lumix G Vario 100-300mm f/4.0-5.6 II

As you can see, it’s quite a selection and you can understand why they’re focusing mostly on their higher-end lenses – after all, it’s the GH5 Mark II. Even the lower end slower variable aperture lenses are understandable. I expect the rest of the lenses (most of them, anyway) will see an update in the coming weeks.

Although the GH5 Mark II hasn’t started arriving to customers yet, the new firmware updates are available to download now from the Panasonic website.

Have you pre-ordered a GH5 Mark II?