How bad is the 14-42 mk I that bundles with the E-PL1?

NZ Scott wrote:

Whether or not it's a great lens should be irrelevant to your next purchasing decision. Sure the alternatives are better, but they are only a little bit better. The later-model Panasonic and Olympus kit zooms are a bit sharper and quicker to focus, but they not any brighter (typically in the f3.5-5.6 range) so you're not really getting much of an upgrade.

Instead, I suggest you buy a zoom that covers different focal lengths (eg. the excellent-value Olympus M. Zuiko 40-150) or buy a good standard prime (such as the Panasonic 20/1.7) to give you an option for situations when you are dealing with low light or want to maximise your image quality.