After much speculation Panasonic has officially announced a new 25mm Leica-branded lens for the Four Thirds digital SLR system. The company has also confirmed that the Leica D Vario-Elmarit 14-50mm – a Four Thirds lens previously only available as a kit with the Panasonic DMC-L1 digital SLR and soon-to-be-launched Leica Digilux 3 ? will be available to buy separately.

The 25mm Leica D Summilux f/1.4 is designed to deliver the 35mm viewing angle equivalent of a 50mm lens. The 10-element-in-9-group lens includes an aspherical element and four extra-low dispersion elements.

The Leica D Vario-Elmarit 14-50mm f/2.8-3.5, which delivers 28-100mm in 35mm terms, features Panasonic?s optical image stabilisation system, designed to help reduce camera shake.

Both lenses are due to go on sale in the UK in December.

Prices were yet to be confirmed at the time of writing.

For details call Panasonic on 01344 862444.