Panasonic DMW-MA1 Lumix G 4/3 DSLR Mount Adapter

by Panasonic

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 4.1 x 3.8 x 2 inches ; 5.6 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B001ISKNKK
• Item model number: DMW-MA1
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 1, 2008

Product Description

Mount adapter for use of any Four Thirds interchangeable lens on the LUMIX G1

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Does what it is supposed to..., April 14, 2010

By 

JB (Twin Cites, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Panasonic DMW-MA1 Lumix G 4/3 DSLR Mount Adapter (Electronics)

I've used this adapter for almost a year now with my Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 12.1MP Digital Camera with Lumix G Vario 14-45 mm f/3.5-5.6 ASPH Mega OIS Lens (Blue), and it allows me to adapt standard Four Thirds lenses with my Micro Four Thirds camera. Using this adapter, I believe I have snapped a combined 5,000 exposures using the following lenses:

Olympus 25mm f/2.8 Pancake Lens for Olympus Digital SLR Cameras
Olympus E 9-18mm f/4.0-5.6 Zuiko Lens for Olympus Digital SLR Cameras
Olympus 50mm f/2.0 Telephoto Macro ED Lens for E1, E300 & E500 Digital SLR Cameras
Konica Hexanon AR 40mm f/1.8 Lens

The adapter still looks great and functions as it did from day one.

This adapter functions just the same as the currently more expensive Olympus MMF-1 Four Thirds to Micro Four Thirds Adapter and OLYMPUS 260964 MMF-2 Four-Thirds Lens Adapter. The only difference among these adapters is color (the Panasonic is colored to match Lumix cameras) and the weight (the MMF-2 is lighter-weight due to increased use of plastics).

Autofocus performance using this or either of the Olympus adapters is more a function of the specific lens and the camera body used. None of the adapted lenses are going to focus as fast as native Micro Four Thirds lenses, but with some lenses, like the 25mm f/2.8 pancake, focus is pretty snappy.

It's important to note that not all Four Thirds lenses are able to autofocus on Panasonic bodies, but most Olympus and Panasonic Four Thirds lenses will allow the user to automatically enter manual focus assist mode on an Panasonic body simply by turning the focus ring. For questions about autofocus and other compatibility issues, this chart published by Panasonic is very helpful: [...].

This is less of an issue with Olympus Micro Four Thirds bodies, as those bodies are able to autofocus with all Olympus Four Thirds lenses.

Because it functions exactly as advertised and its price has settled at a reasonable level, I give this adapter 5 stars. I would have only given it 4 stars at its original introductory price of about $179-$200.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Gets the job done, works fine on Olympus PEN, May 24, 2010

By 

Jeremy Thornhill - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Panasonic DMW-MA1 Lumix G 4/3 DSLR Mount Adapter (Electronics)

This adapter allows you to mount full sized 4/3 lenses on Micro 4/3 bodies, whether Olympus or Panasonic. It's successful as such, and it's a good bit cheaper than the Olympus MMF-1 Four Thirds to Micro Four Thirds Adapter. Since this adapter works fine on Olympus bodies, there's absolutely no reason to pay a premium for the Olympus version unless you really value the appearance of the latter.

There are adapters for many mounts which work with M4/3, but to my knowledge the 4/3 to m4/3 adapter is the only one that allows for fully automatic lens controls on a PEN. Even if you don't already own any 4/3 lenses, you might consider purchasing them along with this adapter to fill some of the gaps in the m4/3 native lineup.

A couple of observations regarding usage on my E-P2 along with my Olympus 50mm f/2.0 Telephoto Macro ED Lens:

- The automatic functionality of the 4/3 lens is retained on the PEN, including a limited form of autofocus (which is not always the case on the Panasonic bodies)

- The degraded mode AF is slower than AF on a DSLR, resulting in a rapid succession of tiny adjustments prior to locking focus. It can also hunt in low light, but it's usable

- AF is limited to single mode only; continuous and tracking are not available

- Even a not-so-big (by DSLR standards) lens like the Zuiko 50mm f/2 can really dominate the E-P2 when mounted on the adapter, which seems to add around 2 cm to the length of the setup

There are a few 4/3 lenses which are designed to fully support contrast detection AF when mounted on a M4/3 body; in those cases, AF should function just as it would with a native Micro 4/3 lens.

** Update 11/22 **

I can now add more lenses to the list I've used with this adapter: the Olympus Zuiko 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 ED Lens for Olympus and Panasonic Standard Four Thirds Digital SLR Cameras, the Olympus Zuiko 50-200mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital ED SWD Lens for Olympus Digital SLR Cameras, and the Olympus EC14 1.4x Teleconverter Lens (for at f/2.8 on E-System lenses).

The 70-300mm with the latest firmware supports CDAF natively, and as a result it works with full autofocus capabilities (even when on the TC). I've used it to take moon shots with my Olympus PEN. It's a cheap and reliable lens and the autofocus makes it a wonderful option.

The 50-200mm with the latest firmware still does not have full AF support on the PEN, but its focus motor is fast enough that the "hunting" mechanism works serviceably well. For action though, you probably need to pre-focus and use MF.

Both of these lenses look absolutely hilarious when mounted on the E-P2 using the mount adapter. The 50-200mm SWD is especially humorous: stick on a lens hood and the TC, and you're shooting with a sublimely ridiculous piece of kit. I can't tell you how many odd glances I get when shooting with a huge semi-pro fast zoom on such a tiny body, and how much fun it is when I get them.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Immensely helpful tool for micro four thirds users, April 30, 2010

By 

Jason A. Greiner "onlyget1shot" (Pittsburgh, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Panasonic DMW-MA1 Lumix G 4/3 DSLR Mount Adapter (Electronics)

I've been using a bridge camera for a few years and just upgraded to my first DSLR, the Panasonic Lumix G1. And, while the micro four thirds system offered by the G series may be innovative, it can also be a little problematic when it comes to finding lenses. Enter this convenient little gadget.

This adapter was very easy to use to connect my Olympus lens to the G1, which has produced quality results. And although it seems a little bulky, one can sure tell that it is well made. Panasonic didn't cut any corners with this one.

BIGGEST PROS:

1. Easy to attack and use.

2. Works with countless lenses that use the original four thirds system.

3. Has a professional look and feel.

BIGGEST CONS:

1. It's a little bigger than I expected.

2. The price for such adapters, this one included, tends to be higher than necessary.

All things considered, it was a good investment.