I thought I saw a second switch/lever control below the one for focal length adjustment. The lower one could be for manual focus...unless it's an on/off switch for OIS. Although considering this lens has no hood or filter threads, I doubt they'd bother putting an OIS switch on it when OIS can be already be turned on/off in-camera.
Just this one, by the looks of it.
Really? I have a feeling the people they are planning on selling this too (ie the people who have so far refused to move from P&S because of camera size) don't care either way. This is a new kit lens, and clearly the kit lens "to rule them all." There is nothing preventing Oly/Panny from producing premium - power zoom or not - 12-35 lenses in the future. Right now Panasonic is wisely concerned with expanding market-share, grabbing as many sales possible while they still can (NEX now looks ridiculously over-built in comparison, and Canon and Nikon have the bar set incredibly high). The bigger the user base, the larger the initial splash when a new (high end) lens is eventually released.
True, but Oly uses might want to use OIS vs th IBIS instead.
I've owned both the 14-45mm and the 14-42mm. The 14-42mm is perfectly "decent", albeit unspectacular. It gets the job done, and I certainly don't spend my time wishing I had the 14-45mm instead.
The printed legend on the lens in posted images says it takes 37mm filters. I'd be less interested in it without that capability.
I think wider is also mass marketable, look at all the point and shoots new a days with 25mm or 24mm starting point, not just premium models but lower end models. Mass public i think is open to having a wider zoom lens. The way I look at it, if it works for mass market, and also makes enthusiasts buy in as well (the 12-60 was much more popular than the 14-54 becuase it was just that bit wider, even if it was dimmer at the telephoto end).
+1. Wow. Just wow. I want this lens.
Many years ago Minolta had a range of power zoom lenses (I still have one somewhere around the house) called xi lenses. There was a single spring loaded ring encircling the lens which, in its normal position, acted as the the power zoom ring, but when pulled back toward the camera body slightly and rotated would act as a manual focus ring of sorts. I absolutely hated it. Panasonic could implement a similar design... though hopefully make it less unpleasant to use
--
Yes, I still have the 14-42mm that came with my first GF2.
Yeah, it's really not giving you anything the current kit lenses give you besides compactness. Kind of a bummer, but I think if Panasonic can make it the standard kit zoom eventually, it's an extremely good move on their part.
Well, you know me. Size matters. I've been doing a lot of bike riding these days and when I'm on my fixed gear (ie, going fast ) I don't like having the 14-42mm with me because it's too bulky. But carrying just the 14mm or the 20mm is kind of a bummer as well. This new lens would be perfect for me. The range is fine for what I need.
I'm definitely excited about the Olympus 45mm f/1.8, and will likely sell my Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G soon to fund getting one.
