Meitu 14-42mm PZ

Essentially a rebranded Panasonic Lumix G X Vario PZ 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 ASPH Power OIS (reviewed here), the Meitu 14-42mm power zoom is available on eBay for $100-$125.

I bought one from a California seller, because of a weakness for more nearly "instant" gratification. Most of them are being sold from China.

The one I bought was listed as "used," but it was in pristine condition. I haven't tested the optical performance of this particular copy, but early results reveal nothing alarming.

It's white, which may limit its appeal somewhat. I have a white E-PM1 and E-PM2, and my wife has a white E-P5. It pairs best, aesthetically, with the E-PM1 with its shiny enamel finish, for those of you (me) who may have some interest in a snappy appearance.

The build quality is excellent, the lens is silent in operation, and the re-badging isn't intrusive or distracting.

I'd say it's a solid value for anyone who is looking for a compact power zoom at a very modest price.

available for 60€

https://de.aliexpress.com/af/Meitu-14-42mm-.html?d=y&origin=n&SearchText=Meitu+14+42mm+&catId=0&initiative_id=SB_20200820074307

FWIW, I just checked out of curiosity and exif data merely reports the lens model as 14.0-42.0 mm f/3.5-5.6, which is unsurprising.

Does the EXIF show it as Panasonic branded? I wonder if it will work with DfD and Dual OIS on my GX9

kuroyume wrote:

Does the EXIF show it as Panasonic branded? I wonder if it will work with DfD and Dual OIS on my GX9

Exif does not show any brand, neither Meitu nor Panasonic.

Well, let me take that back. I relied on Photos' exif reporting, which is a limited amount of data. Reviewing the data in an exif viewer shows Lens Model as MEITU 1:3.5-5.6/14-42mm ASPH OIS. It doesn't report the serial number though.

It's an auto-focus lens, so I'm sure it'll work with whatever algorithm/means the camera employes.

If the Panasonic lens supports Dual OIS, I would think this one would as well, but I don't know.

I'm convinced it's the same lens that Meitu had Panasonic, or their OEM, manufacture under license for a camera product that failed or never made it to market. So there are a certain number of these lenses being essentially "dumped." There's no manufacturer's warranty, but most sellers offer third party coverage. I figured it was not worth the trouble if the lens failed for some reason.

It works. It's well-built, looks nice. I'm a happy customer.

Interesting. I'm really tempted to pick one up just out of curiosity

Helen wrote:

Does yours have a metal mount? I was looking at various entries on eBay and the "used" ones here appear to have metal mounts, and be marked Made in Japan on the barrel. However, another listing for a single example of the lens is stated to be in new condition, and this one appears to have a black plastic lens mount, which has a white oval screen printed on it (perhaps a quality control marking?), containing five oriental characters (excuse my ignorance - I'm not sure if they are Japanese or Chinese characters). This one hasn't been photographed from an angle which shows its country of origin on the barrel, but interestingly the serial number is visible and appears to follow the usual Panasonic pattern, which would indicate it was made in December 2015 (third character 5, fourth character L). Just intrigued by all of this.

Yes, mine has a metal mount. I will say that all of the examples I looked at when I was shopping around on ebay looked like the one I have. It looks exactly like the Panasonic lens, and it is made in Japan. I don't recall seeing one with a plastic mount.

To be honest I have never heard about this lens before, but curiosity got me to look it up.

For those who don't know, Meitu is a company that focus on developing photography app for cellphone. Their app is quite popular in China, especially for girls since it is basically instant Photoshop. The company was so popular that they even try to make their own photographic centric cellphone for a period of time, but their cellphone business ended last year as it is not successful.

So, according to what I can find on the internet, it seems that this lens is made by Panasonic for Meitu as a kit lens for Meitu's own M43 cameras released in China a few years ago. So technically it is the same Panasonic lens made by Panasonic themselves, but branded as Meitu as requested by them. In theory, Dual IS should work as it is the same lens, however, I am not sure about the firmware since dual IS can be affected by it. But still this is quite interesting.

Helen wrote:

Below is the link to the one which appears to have a plastic mount

no, it is metal mount

The original Panny 14~42 PZ is not DUAL IS supported.

A firmware was promised to update this lens to DUAL IS, similar to 45~175 PZ, but never come true. Hence out of the 2 PZ video centric zoom lenses of Panny, only 45~175PZ is DUAL IS compatible.

BTW, this lens was the first 2 lenses found shutter shock on Panny body (back to the GX1 time). E-shutter is more safe for this lens. Otherwise, this is a nice lens specially for video.

I paid a lot more for a used genuine lens a couple of years ago. What I like about it is its pancake compactness. I set mine up with a stepup ring and used a rubber lens hood which kind of diminished the small size advantage. The other thing is this lens is fully compatible with the panasonic application for android. You can zoom, focus and set exposure. Which I found remarkable. RE; the shutter shock thing. Panny did a firmware update to correct that. My lens had not been updated so I did that. I have never had an issue on my GX8 or GH3 with shutter shock.  I agree that it was supposed to be dual IS but I am not sure how that was supposed to happen and if the lens was involved in that or just stabilized camera bodies. I just took Panasonic for their word that it would happen. My lens is optically better than most reviews but not stellar. My 12-35 sets such a high bar I did not expect it to be at that level. The full remote functionality of this lens is its hook for this user.

The white lens and shiny camera body make a traditional neck strap out of place, rhinestones or pearls would fit. High tech jewelry? Wear it with your Mr. Roark white suite.

dezinerd wrote:

I paid a lot more for a used genuine lens a couple of years ago.

It was virtually free, together with the LVF2, when I bought GX1 in 2013.

What I like about it is its pancake compactness.

Same to me. I eyed on on its pancake design before 12-32 was available. Due to the shutter shock problem on certain bodies, and video is not my major thing, neither the power zoom, this lens has not been used a lot.

I set mine up with a stepup ring and used a rubber lens hood which kind of diminished the small size advantage.

I share an ultra thin JJC metal lens hood with 12-32...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/JJC-LH-37EPII-Panasonic-F3-5-F5-6-f3-5-5-6/dp/B00M7WRB3S

The other thing is this lens is fully compatible with the panasonic application for android. You can zoom,

It is the advantage of PZ lenses over others.

focus and set exposure. Which I found remarkable.

RE; the shutter shock thing. Panny did a firmware update to correct that.

No. So far nothing specially for the shutter shock of this lens I am afraid.

My lens had not been updated so I did that. I have never had an issue on my GX8 or GH3 with shutter shock.

E-shutter can eliminate shutter shock, with its downside (limited shutter speed to 1", no flash, rolling shutter effect etc).

Indeed, it is down to the requirement of the owner. If sort of soft feeling doesn't bother you, basically SS won't concern you at all. A lot of time if not examine an image down to the pixel level (1:1), SS could be overlooked. Since many usual factors could produce similar result: the sharpness of a sensor (e.g. has AA filter or not), the jpg engine (for SOOC jpg), the RAW converter setting, how we edited in PP, to very minor focusing issue, not shooting at sweetest spot of the lens, IQ of the lens (kit class lens), even very minor stability matter, even to the atmospheric factor etc.

To determine the existence of SS would need to compare shots from e-shutter and m-shutter. Nothing else. If there is SS it would not be eliminated on a tripod. If the shot from e-shutter is sharper than from m-shutter (all shooting conditions are the same), it should prove the existence of SS to your particular camera and lens.

The following was my home testing on G85 & 45-200 mk-I (it was another lens first found to suffer from SS in the old days):

If you look at the original @100% you should see the relatively extra sharpness of the e-shutter and EFCS shots over the m-shutter shot. Therefore despite of the new electromagnetic m-shutter on G85, trace of SS (very minor) could still be found.

Not sure how it would perform on GX8.

I agree that it was supposed to be dual IS but I am not sure how that was supposed to happen and if the lens was involved in that or just stabilized camera bodies.

Comparing between Lens OIS (currently the 14-42PZ) and DUAL IS, it could mean 0.5~1.5 stops depending on the combo.

Under my home testing:

• 14-45 f/3.5-5.6 (Lens OIS lens only) has effective stabilization of around 3.5 stops on GX85;
• 12-35 f/2.8 mk-I (DUAL IS on GX85) is around 5 stops.

Again, the effectiveness of stabilisation will also depend on the ergonomic of the combo. e.g. 12-32 on GX85 shows only 4 stops only.

I just took Panasonic for their word that it would happen. My lens is optically better than most reviews but not stellar.

Would those reviews, specially those older reviews tested on models without e-shutter, be affected by the SS? 🤔

My 12-35 sets such a high bar I did not expect it to be at that level. The full remote functionality of this lens is its hook for this user.

The white lens and shiny camera body make a traditional neck strap out of place, rhinestones or pearls would fit. High tech jewelry? Wear it with your Mr. Roark white suite.