Panasonic Yongnuo YN25mm F1.7M Auto Focus Standard Prime Review

The Yongnuo YN25mm F1.7M is the best bang-for-your-buck lens you can slap on a Micro Four Thirds camera right now. For just over a hundred bucks, you get a fast prime that punches way above its weight class, especially for portraits and low-light shooting. The one thing to know? Its autofocus is shockingly good, landing in the 96th percentile. That's rare for a budget lens.

What surprised me was how well-rounded this little lens is. It's not just a one-trick pony with a wide aperture. The stabilization is solid (89th percentile), the build feels better than it should (90th percentile), and that STM motor is legitimately quick and quiet. It's a joy to use for both photos and video, which you can't say for most lenses at this price.

At $115, this lens is an absolute steal. You're getting performance that rivals lenses costing two or three times as much. It's absolutely worth it, especially if you're new to the system or want a dedicated portrait lens without breaking the bank.

The most direct competitor is the Panasonic Lumix 25mm F1.7. The Panasonic is sharper optically and has slightly better color rendering, but it costs more and its autofocus isn't as snappy. For Fuji X-mount shooters, the Viltrox 25mm F1.7 is a similar value proposition, but the Yongnuo has better stabilization. If you need a more versatile walk-around lens, look at a standard zoom, but you'll sacrifice that beautiful F1.7 aperture.

If you shoot a Micro Four Thirds camera and want a fast, reliable prime for portraits, street photography, or video, buy this lens. The autofocus and stabilization alone make it a winner, and the price is impossible to argue with. Skip the more expensive options unless you absolutely need perfect corner-to-corner sharpness.