Which Panasonic kit lens is this?

brentbrent wrote:

Panasonic has made two different 14-42 non-collapsing lenses (i.e., not talking about the 14-42 PZ lens). I have owned both of them, as well as the 14-45. My opinions:

1. Original 14-42 was mediocre;

2. The 14-42 v.II, which is a completely new lens, is actually quite good for a kit lens. It is fairly well built, operates smoothly, is sharp, and the lens barrel hardly extends at all when zooming. I got this lens as part of a kit with a camera, and after comparing it to the 14-45 (which has a huge following here), I sold the 14-45. I though the IQ was on a par with the 14-45, and it was smaller, lighter, and smoother to operate. With the update to firmware v. 1.1, the 14-42 v.II lens is Dual IS capable (though the GX7 is not).

Be aware that the kit versions of the 14-42 v.II lens come with a plastic lens mount. I think the separately retail packaged versions of this lens come with a metal lens mount. I wouldn't worry about it.

It sounds like you and the seller are not completely sure which lens this is. The Panasonic model number of the v. II lens is H-FS1442A, which should be printed on the lens. Also, the lens barrel should only extend less than 1/2" when zooming. Here's what the v.II lens looks like: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1182742-REG/panasonic_h_fs1442aka_14_42mm_f_3_5_5_6_f_dmc_gx8_dual.html

It would be a quite usable lens on the GX7.

Thanks, that was very helpful! Not a lens I would use much, but good to know a little, if I sell it with GX1. The old kit lens I got was faulty, and not impressed by the replacement even with no fault. Looking for GX7 with 12-32 but no found any here.