What's the truth about the Panasonic 14-140II?

Len_Gee wrote:

Aberaeron wrote:

SkiHound wrote:

Don't have the lens but have looked at it and have been left with many of the same questions as the OP. I wonder if there's a lot of sample to sample variation with this lens? I've always sensed that to be the case with the Oly 12-50.

I have two, built six months apart. Yes, there can be a slight shutter shock issue under certain conditions if you pixel-peep. It is not an issue for me, or I instinctively avoid it by various means, including the use of electronic shutter on the G6 where appropriate.

I have no issue at all with video. Took another short one today, with the old days art filter, handheld and in difficult light. Left the full horizontal and vertical stabilization on, MP4 highest quality and no problem whatsoever. Not when zooming and not when panning. Not at all.

Both copies behave identically. No noise issues either. They have a quiet humm if you really listen in a very quiet place but it is never heard on a video. Focusing is totally quiet.

These are by far my most used lenses. I do have several others to choose from.

Hello,

Just curious why do you have two of the same lens?

Are you using both at the same time to shoot stereo pics?

Wouldn't it make more sense to have spent the money on one professional quality lens?

BTW: Do you have any pics to post here showing side by side comparisons of identical IQ of both lenses?

Regards,

Lena

It is a professional quality lens, whatever that means to you. I have three primes for the G6 as well as several other cameras. I posted an example picture from the lens less than 48 hours ago which is simple to find if you search my posts. It is uploaded in a rather small file size though, which is my default for personal reasons and which prevents too much detail, but which is counterproductive to this post and to the topic I posted it in, unfortunately.

You will have to take my word for it that both are identical performers and that I have no idea which I'm using unless I check the serial number, which I don't. I don't even know which camera is which because I spend a couple of minutes now and again, as I did last night,setting up both with exactly the same very customised controls and settings; synchronizing them if you will.

Why two of the same lens? Why not? I had a very good deal on the second unit, which replaced a Nikon system. I sometimes have my daughter helping with one of the units, but mostly have one with a different lens on that I can quickly grab. These G6 units with the 14/140 are my go-to cameras which are used for maybe 10 times more pictures than any others. I do like a change now and again though and the Sony, usually with the 35mm prime is used quite a lot. All get regular use, even the toy waterproof, bright yellow, Nikon, which was handy a couple of days ago when I caught a truck jammed under a fuel station canopy and it was raining heavily. It is a pretty crap camera but it was bought recently while traveling to an event with heavy rain forecast and I had nothing waterproof for a day's shooting. Point being, I buy whatever suits me and don't really bother what other people think. I'm quite happy using anything at hand if I have to. It is the picture that counts. My love of the tools that capture the image is an indulgence I can afford in a modest way.

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/54712632

Herbert

Len_Gee wrote:

Hi Aberaeron,

Thank you for clarifying why you have two identical lenses. Nice to have two G6's!

Actually, I suppose I'm the same way with my shoes. If I find a pair that is really comfortable on my feet, I buy a second exact pair.

BTW I found the thread re: underrated lens. It is a very nice picture. . I'll have to seriously consider the lens now. I have been told the lens is not a good kit with my GX1. But would hate to buy a new camera just to use the 14-140.

Decisions, decisions.

Regards,

Lena

Don't hurry. Wait and see if there is a deal over Christmas. Believe it or not, the prices for cameras/lenses tend to be at their lowest and the incentive deals at their best around that time. Last Christmas there were genuinely huge savings to be made if you kept your eyes open. I managed to sell my Nikon D5000 privately and ended up with the second G6 with 14/140 lens for a net cost to me of only £175

While not being a big lens as such, it certainly is quite big for a very small camera. For balance it is best suited to the GX7 at a minimum and ideally the G5/6 and GH models with handgrips. Not that it won't work with smaller/lighter cameras, but it will look big and feel front-heavy.

As for the video picture vibration a few people mention, I honestly do not notice it. I took a video handheld, some while walking and in difficult light yesterday and just did not get the vibration. Maybe its because I use MP4? Not sure, but it isn't an issue.

Should mention the deal. They were and are selling the lens for something just under £500 iirc. They had the lens plus the G6 as a boxed kit available then, since discontinued as a kit I believe, and Amazon had it on at a massive discount of £475, so the G6 was already free [in effect]. Then there was also a £100 cashback from Panasonic, which brought the kit down to a net of £375. That made it very hard indeed to resist, even though I already had one. In fact because I already had one, I knew just how good a deal this was. If I wished to I could sell the second lens for a good profit, but I do sometimes [two or three times this year] have both in use.