Reading mode: Light Dark

Best m4/3 walkaround zoom?

Go to last post
Sierra Dave said:
LTZ470 said:
14-150 best of all worlds...
Click to expand...
I see. So it's sharper and/or faster focusing than the 14-42?

Thanks,

~Dave
Click to expand...
In short, yes.

Until we have the m4/3 equivalent of 12-60, I think the 14-150 comes closest in the oly line. I have no experience with panasonic zooms.

The 14-150 is pretty amazing for its size and zoom range. It focuses faster and more quietly than my 14-42 (vers 1 - E-P1 kit). It is sharper throughout the shared range. It goes a bit soft at 150 but amazingly is still sharper at 150 than the kit at 42.

Check out the dpreview lens widget - this link illustrates the 14-150 at 45 vs the kit at 42. Huge difference: http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/widget/Fullscreen.ashx?reviews=89,58&fullscreen=true&av=4,4&fl=14,14&vis=VisualiserSharpnessMTF,VisualiserSharpnessMTF&stack=horizontal&lock=&config=/lensreviews/widget/LensReviewConfiguration.xml%3F4

edit: this link actually opens the comparison widget with both lenses set to shortest focal length and largest aperture. At this point, the 14-150 is similar in center and less sharp in corners than the kit. One needs to adjust the aperture and focal length of each to illustrate the point I was trying to make above.

The center sharpness is actually slightly higher than the 12-60 with both at 25mm, f/5.6. Hard to believe but try that combination with the widget to see what I mean.

Many of us find it the perfect single lens solution for travel and hiking.

Main limitations are slowness (4.0-5.6) and lack of the quasi-macro close focusing ability of the kit lens.
Lee
--
http://leesmalley.smugmug.com/
 
Sierra Dave said:
Kit lens?
Panasonic 14-45?
Olympus 14-54II
Click to expand...
I use a 14-140 for the wider range, but of your choices I had really good IQ from the 14-45.
 
Panasonic 14-140 OIS.
--
Phil
 
Sierra Dave said:
jeffharris said:
Sierra Dave said:
Hello,

I'm still trying to figure out the best walk around zoom option for my E-PM1.

Want something that's sharp.

Want something covering at least the standard 28-80mm range. Wide is more important than long.

Sharpness is the most important criteria. AF speed is the second most important!
Click to expand...
None of the 14-42 kit zooms are that great. So, it looks like the Panasonic 14-45mm seems to be IT for what you're asking.
Click to expand...
Okay, it sounds like the 14-45 is significantly better than my current kit? Do you know of any reviews, or links to comparisons of the two?
Click to expand...
You can easily find reviews by googling it. And despite what true believers say, there isn't much of a difference between 14-42 and 14-45. It was also discussed earlier on this forum: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1041&message=39814941
 
Sierra Dave said:
sproket1 said:
Still think the kit lens is best for what you're asking.....Panasonic is working on a fast zoom early next year which I hope will be excellent
Click to expand...
Sounds promising. Any idea on the zoom range? Are we talking 12-60, or more like 14-30? Thanks,

~Dave
Click to expand...
They've announced a 12-35mm "fast" zoom. Best guess seems to be that it will have a constant f/2.8 aperture, but that's just a guess.
 
Check out DPReview's Panasonic 14-45mm test. They found it to be the best of the wide angle kit zooms including the DSLRs. Ephotozine and SLRGear both have good reviews of the 14-45. According to their tests the 14-45 results approach those of the best primes closely enough that all but the pixel peepers probalbly wouldn't notice the differences.
 
I have a G3 and am experiencing the same issues as all the previous threads, in terms of image sharpness using the 14-42mm kit lens. Im considering the new X series lens but am now wondering if its worth it, as reviews are also saying its not pin sharp?
Is the 14-45mm Panasonic the best one to go for in terms of sharpness?
 
While I have lots of full 4/3 gear for bird work and such, I bought the E-P3 for carrying along when photography is not the primary objective. After much consideration and reading reviews, I bought the bundle with the 17-2.8, and added the Oly 14-150. If I just want a pocketable general-purpose point and shoot, I carry it with the 17 in a small case on my belt. If I am trail walking, and want to be prepared for almost anything, I carry the zoom on it, and hang it from one corner lug on a home-made Black Rapid-like strap.

BTW, I almost returned the whole works out of dissatisfaction after the first weekend with it. The factory settings on this body are awful, IMO. After I started experimenting, though, I am much pleased with it. I do not know how many individual settings there are, but I must have changed 40 or 50 of them, and I am still tweaking it. It gets better and better as I refine the settings, and as I gain more experience with it. I still have a shutter lag problem, but I am now convinced that it is the lag between my brain and my finger, as opposed to an inherent problem with the body!

Example: Oregon State vs Arizona State game Oct 8. I was able to sit about 12 rows above the end zone, with nobody in front of me. Not knowing where the action might be, I pre-focused on the end zone letters near, middle, or far, as the action advanced towards our end of the field. I kept the zoom in mid-range, thinking I could crop later. This is OOC jpg, with no cropping or manipulation. One of many touchdowns that day!

In case the EXIF does not come through: E-P3, 14-150 @ 52mm, ISO 640, f/7.1, 1/3200 sec, bias -.3 stop, IS-1, A-mode, hand-held, 5 fps.

In answer to OP question, I think this is a very good walk-around lens! Sharp and versatile.





--
Ken610
 
Yes, I know the OP was using E-PM1, but this was the closest I could come. After all, the question was about walkabout lenses. I just might take advantage of Oly's Black Friday offer an pick up the E-PM1 with 14-42 II....
--
Ken610
 
If you bought the E-PM1 then you probably value small size. The 14-45mm.is much bigger than the Olympus kit lens, and only marginally better. I had both and sold the Panasonic because I could only see a small difference at 100%, and let's face it, nobody really looks at pictures at 100% unless they're evaluating lens sharpness. It is not real world significant.

The ultimate small size walk around is the new pancake, but it is either a very bad lens design, or Panasonic is suffering from major quality control and manufacturing problems. My copy was just terrible, noticeably worse than the Olympus kit. The difference between the new pancake and the Oly kit is much, much greater than the difference between the Oly kit and the Panny 14-45..

Don't "upgrade" theOly kit to the Panny 14-45mm. Your money is better spent elsewhere, like on the Panny 20mm or the Oly 45mm depending on your shooting style.
--
jed
 
I just went through the same choices and spent time in store checking the lenses by hand. The only significant difference is the Oly 14-54 with a converter. It is a 4/3 lens but not micro 4/3. It is fast- 2.8-3.5, it looks focus fast, autofocuses and is unwieldy for the EPM..

I seriously considereded it for a GH 2 but I have the even larger 14-140 which is teriffic and I have an E-P3 and hate to buy for 1 camera only. And the high cost for a compromise. Is not worth it to me.

Having the Pan 14-140 I walked into B & H firmly believing I was going to give the Oly 14-150 a third try. I didn't like it when I first bought it as it was slow to lock focus indoors in incandescent light, even decent light especially as I went longer.- But it was a compromise. Sometimes would not focus in low light at all..

I wound up with a 25 1.4 and Panny's new 45-175 power zoom as it locked focus indoors..every time That is really best of both worlds for today.

The rumor sites are prognosticating about a 12-35 which would be something to wait for but it is vaporsware and at $2-3000 not realistic or believable. So I covered the range with zooms, kit and the best Pany has for today and I have the fastest 4/3 lens with Leica branding, incredible bokeh an a slow but reliable zoom- my feet.

--
Respectfully submitted
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top