Panasonic 14-140ii or Olympus 14-150ii on GX8? (or other options?)

tomhongkong wrote:

I am trying to decide on this.

I will be using the rig on a rubber boat (taking pics of yacht races) with the possibility of spray, so the water-resistant Olympus sound very attractive.

However, the rubber duck will be bouncing all over the place, so the better IS of Panasonic sounds good if I could keep things dry. (Usually I can, but every now and again I get caught)

I get mixed reports of IQ, based on all the available reviews, so real life experience would be most helpful, but it sounds as though it is a wash.

The Panasonic 35-100 2.8 could be the answer but it is shorter so needing more cropping (how does a cropped 35-100 compare with 14-140, assuming not so much as to cause pixellation?) the Oly 14-150 2.8 is longer and waterproof but has the same IS issues as its cheaper cousin.

Maybe I go for the Olympus for this specific application and the 35-100 for a general walk around tele. It would need a hard selll to my FD, though!

I wold be shooting in good light, with shutter normally 1/1000 or faster, would IS be a factor?

Any comments which could help me decide?

tom

First a caveat: I have no first-hand experience with either the 14-140ii or 14-150, I don't know which one is better optically but have heard praise for both. That said, given the hybrid IS (on board IS in the GX8 in tandem with the lens' Power OIS (better than the older Mega OIS of the previous version), I would guess that in the long run you will be better served in most occasions with the Panny than with the Oly, just not in this specific case. As you say, if all shots are taken at 1/1000th or higher, IS begins to be a moot point and the ruggedness and inherent physical stability of this huge lens gives the Oly the advantage for this wet application. You might also want to read OzRay's account of his helicopter shots to convince yourself about the need - or not - of IS when shooting fast with a fat lens. http://australianimage.com.au/wordpress/index.php/a-matter-of-balance/

Considering the cost, size and weight of the Oly 14-150 Pro compared to the Panny : 1299$ vs less than 600$, 160mm vs 75mm and 880g vs 265g, if constant F2.8 and tank status are not primordial, the Panny seems the better choice for 95% of the time were dual IS gives it an additional edge. For the 5% when you are bouncing about in salt spray, you should look into renting the 14-150... or wait for the PL 100-400 which will also be weather-sealed but at a premium cost.