Versatile zoom lens

Hi! I've been checking which zoom lenses existed that could encompass the focal range of a kit lens and extend it.

Until now, I've been using a Panasonic 45-200 F4.0-5.6 which is cool, but its focal range feels a bit clunky to me. It makes me switch lenses more often than I would like, and it still doesn't enable me to really get close to far objects when I need to. But I don't need it _that_ often so my priority is to improve the low-focal part.

So I found the Tamron 14-150 F3.5-5.8,
the Panasonic 14-140mm F3.5-5.6 and
the Panasonic 14-140mm F4.0-5.8

The first two enable me to keep what a kit lens provides in terms of focal and aperture range, and extend the versatility.

It seems the Tamron is the cheapest of the three and the most recent. But I'm puzzled as to why the two Panasonic lenses exist: they seem very similar and have very close prices. What are their differences?

Does anybody have something to recommend here? (Possibly some other lens I would've missed)

(NB: Given I'm using an OM-D E-M10, so in-lens stabilization doesn't make a difference to me)

. But I'm puzzled as to why the two Panasonic lenses exist: they seem very similar and have very close prices. What are their differences?

The 14-140 MK1 is first and foremost a video lens and still is , it was designed with Video first and bundled with the GH1 - due to design issues in the OIS of the Mk2 (Video Jitters which they haven`t addressed) the Mk1 is still needed in the range........

The Panasonic ii is an update of the early model, you also have a brand new update from Olympus of their older 14-150.  I haven't seen a comparison of these, but the Panny update seems to be well regarded.

True, I missed the Olympus. Although it seems to be the most expensive of the four.

Ywen wrote:

It seems the Tamron is the cheapest of the three and the most recent.

The street price of the Panasonic 14-140 II has come down recently. In black, it's now $549 at B&H (vs. $589 for the Tamron). It's also slightly smaller and lighter plus it has OIS in case you ever want to use it with a Panasonic camera. I don't know how the two compare in terms of IQ. However, strictly on its own, my wife and I are happy with it.

Mk1 is the F4.0-5.8 and Mk2 the F3.5-5.6, right?

Ywen wrote:

Mk1 is the F4.0-5.8 and Mk2 the F3.5-5.6, right?

Yep ..