One zoom or two? (14-140mm mk 2)

Big D in SP wrote:

maggiemole wrote:

I have the 14-140 mk 2 which I bought deliberately as a travel lens for my GX7. I also still have the two lenses it was meant to replace: the Panasonic 14-145mm and the Olympus 40-150mm. The two older lenses are so reliable I find I'm in a bit of a quandary.

I'm going to Burma in a few weeks and there will be heat and quite a bit of walking, so I'm trying to minimise my kit. I expect it will be mostly landscapes, architecture and some people shots. I really ought to take just the 14-140mm, but will I be missing anything which the older lenses would give me? (I'll also have 3 small primes for low light or subject separation, so I'm not relying on the zooms for that. And I'll have the 9-18mm for wide angles. It's just the standard walk-around shots I'm thinking about.)

Please give me the benefit of your experience!

Maggie

I've had 2 G6's and now a G7 which I purchased with the 14-140. I've also owned and used the 14-42 II and 45-150 kit zooms which were very good. I've also had 4 Nikon and 1 Tamron "super" zooms for dSLRs.

In short, the 14-140 II is better in sharpness across the board as well as focusing accuracy than any of the mentioned lenses. In size it is about the same length as the 45-150 only slightly larger in diameter and slightly heavier, neither of which is enough to bother about. In careful testing I discovered that the 45-150 had a tendency to "backfocus", i.e., focus slightly behind the intended target which was noticeable wide-open at the longest distances. (Something I didn't think occurred with sensor-based CD focusing.) The 14-140 never misses.

I'm selling the G6's with the 45-150 and keeping the 14-42II for those rare times I might want the smaller lens, though I really don't know yet if that time will come.

Get the 14-140II. You will be delighted with it. It's the perfect lens for your trip. Enjoy!

Regards,

Warren

Thanks, Warren! It's good to have the strong endorsement!

Maggie