Panasonic Lumix G Vario 1: 3.5-5.6 / 14-42mm ASPH review. Mega OIS

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Panasonic Lumix G Vario 1: 3.5-5.6 / 14-42mm ASPH. Mega OIS

Panasonic Lumix G Vario 1: 3.5-5.6 / 14-42mm ASPH. Mega OIS increase.

Navigation

  1. In short
  2. History
  3. Main Specifications
  4. Assembly
  5. Focusing
  6. Stabilizer
  7. Image quality
  8. Sample Photos
  9. My experience
  10. All Panasonic Lenses for Micro 4/3
  11. Results
  12. User Comments
  13. Add your review or question on the lens

In this review, I will refer to the Panasonic Lumix G Vario 1: 3.5-5.6 / 14-42mm ASPH lens. Mega OIS is abbreviated as Panasonic 14-42 / 3.5-5.6.

Panasonic Lumix G Vario 1: 3.5-5.6 / 14-42mm ASPH. Mega OIS

Panasonic Lumix G Vario 1: 3.5-5.6 / 14-42mm ASPH. Mega OIS

In short

Panasonic 14-42 / 3.5-5.6 is a universal lens for Micro 4/3 cameras. Usually, this lens came in a set / set with some kind of camera from Panasonic, from which it is most often called 'kit' (from the English 'kit' - a set, kit). It is suitable for all Micro 4/3 cameras from Panasonic and Olympus, as well as other brands that create their photo and video cameras based on the Micro 4/3 (Kodak, Xiaoyi etc.)

The Panasonic 14-42 / 3.5-5.6 is a base lens that lacks outstanding performance. Usually these lenses are considered the simplest and weakest. But Panasonic 14-42 / 3.5-5.6 is interesting with a convenient set of focal lengths and built-in image stabilization, as well as small size and low weight. Besides Panasonic 14-42 / 3.5-5.6 shows good sharpness.

Panasonic Lumix G Vario 1: 3.5-5.6 / 14-42mm ASPH. Mega OIS

Panasonic Lumix G Vario 1: 3.5-5.6 / 14-42mm ASPH. Mega OIS

History

Below I will list with the dates of announcements of all such lenses for the Micro 4/3 system.

These lenses can be used cross-platform with any Micro 4/3 cameras.

Panasonic

  1. Panasonic Lumix G Vario 1: 3.5-5.6 / 14-45mm ASPH. Mega OIS [model H-FS014045], announced September 12, 2008. Scheme 12/10, 1 ASPH.
  2. Panasonic Lumix G Vario 1: 3.5-5.6 / 14-42mm ASPH. Mega OIS [Model H-FS014042], announced March 7, 2010, announced with Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 и Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10... Scheme 12/9, 1 ASPH. Shown in this overview
  3. Panasonic Lumix GX Vario 1: 3.5-5.6 / 14-42 ASPH. POWER OIS NANO SURFACE COATING HD POWER ZOOM [model H-PS14042], announced Aug 26, 2011. Scheme 9/8, 4 ED, 2 ASPH.
  4. Panasonic Lumix G Vario 1: 3.5-5.6 / 14-42mm ASPH. Mega OIS HD [model H-HS1442, known as 14-42 II], announced on Jan 29, 2013 9/8. Scheme 9/8, 2 ASPH.

Olympus

  1. OLYMPUS M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 14-42mm 1: 3.5-5.6 ED, announced June 16, 2009. Scheme 9/8, 2 ASPH.
  2. OLYMPUS M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 14-42mm 1: 3.5-5.6 L ED, announced 2010. Scheme 9/8, hard to find exact data
  3. OLYMPUS M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 14-42mm 1: 3.5-5.6 II MSC, announced Nov 16, 2010. Scheme 8/7, 3 ASPH.
  4. OLYMPUS M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 14-42mm 1: 3.5-5.6 II R MSC, announced June 30, 2011. Scheme 8/7, 3 ASPH.
  5. OLYMPUS M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 14-42mm 1: 3.5-5.6 EZ ED MSC, announced on January 29, 2014. Scheme 8/7, 3 ASPH., 1 ED, 1 S-HR

YI XIAOYI

  1. XIAOYI ZOOM LENS 12-40mm 1: 3.5-5.6 (black / silver), announced September 19, 2016 with camera Xiaoyi M1, Scheme 11/9

Kodak

  1. Kodak PIXPRO Aspherical ED Lens 12-45mm / 1: 3.5-6.3, announced January 7, 2014 with camera Kodak Pixpro S-1... Scheme 11/9, 2 ED, 4 ASHP.
Panasonic Lumix G Vario 1: 3.5-5.6 / 14-42mm ASPH. Mega OIS

Panasonic Lumix G Vario 1: 3.5-5.6 / 14-42mm ASPH. Mega OIS

Main technical characteristics of Panasonic Lumix G Vario 1: 3.5-5.6 / 14-42mm ASPH. Mega OIS

Review Instance Name Near the front lens: Lumix G Vario 1: 3.5-5.6 / 14-42 ASPH. Ø52mm Mega OIS
Basic properties
  • M4 / 3 - lens designed for Micro 4/3 cameras
  • ASPH (Ashperical) - aspherical elements are used in the optical scheme
  • Mega OIS (Optical Istomach Stabilizer) - built-in image stabilizer
  • FTM (Full Time Manual Focusing) - continuous manual focus control
  • Electronic focus ring
  • Internal focus
  • Focus stepping motor
  • Multi-Enlightened Optics
  • Included hood
Front Filter Diameter 52 mm, plastic thread for filters
Focal length 14-42 mm EGF is 28-84 mm
Zoom ratio 3 x
Designed by for cameras of the Micro 4/3 system
Number of aperture blades 7 rounded petals
Tags
  • bayonet mount mark
  • hood attachment mark
  • focal lengths for 14, 18, 25, 35, 42 mm
Diaphragm
  • 14 mm f / 3.5 - f / 22
  • 18 mm f / 4 - f / 22
  • 25 mm f / 4.6 - f / 22
  • 35 mm f / 5.3 - f / 22
  • 42 mm f / 5.6 - f / 22
MDF 0.30 meters over the entire focal length range, maximum magnification ratio of 0.16 X (ratio 1: 6.25) and available at 42 mm
The weight
  • according to my measurements 162 grams without caps and hoods
Optical design 12 elements in 9 groups. The circuit includes 1 aspherical element

Optical design Panasonic Lumix G Vario 1: 3.5-5.6 / 14-42mm ASPH. Mega OIS

Lens hood Bayonet, supplied, H-FS014042
Manufacturer country MADE IN CHINA / Fabrique en Chine (Made in China)
Period Since March 2010.

In 2011 supplemented by a model Panasonic Lumix GX Vario 1: 3.5-5.6 / 14-42 ASPH. POWER OIS NANO SURFACE COATING HD POWER ZOOM

In 2013 replaced by model Panasonic Lumix G Vario 1: 3.5-5.6 / 14-42mm ASPH. Mega OIS HD

Prices

Compared to its predecessor, the new Panasonic 14-42 / 3.5-5.6 uses a different optical system, a plastic mount, and does not have a stabilizer switch.

Panasonic Lumix G Vario 1: 3.5-5.6 / 14-42mm ASPH. Mega OIS

Panasonic Lumix G Vario 1: 3.5-5.6 / 14-42mm ASPH. Mega OIS

Assembly

Panasonic 14-42 / 3.5-5.6 is assembled well, but nevertheless feels like a children's plastic toy in the hands. A plastic mount is used, and the focusing and zoom ring are not rubberized, ordinary, plastic. But the abundance of plastic made it possible to make the weight of the lens just a little over 160 grams.

There is little friction in the zoom ring during focal length changes, and the zoom itself changes in jerky ways. The protruding lens barrel consists of one section. The retractable body frame does not dangle or rotate.

Diaphragm Panasonic 14-42 / 3.5-5.6 consists of 7 blades; on heavily covered apertures, the aperture has the shape of an irregular heptagon.

Panasonic 14-42 / 3.5-5.6 uses a bayonet type hood, the hood can be set to transport mode.

Panasonic Lumix G Vario 1: 3.5-5.6 / 14-42mm ASPH. Mega OIS

Panasonic Lumix G Vario 1: 3.5-5.6 / 14-42mm ASPH. Mega OIS

Focusing

For focusing Panasonic 14-42 / 3.5-5.6 uses stepper focus motor. Auto focus should work with all Micro 4/3 cameras.

The focusing speed is high, quite comfortable for work. On camera PANASONIC LUMIX DMC-GF2 I didn't have much focusing problems.

Auto focus is very quiet.

Panasonic 14-42 / 3.5-5.6 uses electronic focus ring... Plastic focusing ring. When the extreme positions are reached, the ring does not rest, but continues to rotate. Focus manually quite comfortable... The focus ring rotates with little effort. I did not observe a delay when changing the direction of rotation.

There is no 'AF-MF' (auto focus / manual focus) focus mode switch on the lens barrel. During auto focus focus ring remains stationaryMoreover, it can be freely rotated 360 degrees without any effect on focus (if the corresponding function is enabled in the camera menu). Lens supports continuous manual focus controlbut only if allowed by the camera settings.

The lens has internal focusing, the front and rear lenses remain stationary during focusing. It is possible to use various filters without any problems.

The minimum focusing distance is 30 cm, while the maximum magnification for macro photography of 1: 6.25 can be obtained.

The Panasonic 14-42 / 3.5-5.6 has a 'Focus Breathing' effect (changes in the angle of view during focusing). When focusing towards the MDF, the angle of view decreases.

There are no useful marks on the focusing distance, depth of field, or anything else on the lens.

Panasonic Lumix G Vario 1: 3.5-5.6 / 14-42mm ASPH. Mega OIS

Panasonic Lumix G Vario 1: 3.5-5.6 / 14-42mm ASPH. Mega OIS

Stabilizer

The lens has a built-in Panasonic Mega OIS (Optical Image Stabilizer). The stabilizer allows you to compensate for 2-3 steps in shutter speed.

There are no stabilizer mode switches on the lens barrel. The stabilizer is turned on and off via the camera menu. Three gimbal modes are available.

I found it easy enough to get sharp pictures of fixed lenses at 42mm focal length and shutter speed 1/10 second.

Image quality

Panasonic 14-42 / 3.5-5.6 feels good on 12 MP CMOS sensors PANASONIC LUMIX DMC-G2 и PANASONIC LUMIX DMC-GF2... Optically, this is a pretty good whale lens.

Sharpness

  • good sharpness at open aperture in the center of the frame in the range of 14-25 mm
  • in the corners of the frame, sharpness becomes acceptable after F / 5.6
  • good resolution in the center of the frame on covered apertures in the area of ​​F / 5.6
  • slight drop in sharpness with increasing focal length from 25 to 42 mm

Distortion

  • very strong barrel distortion at 14mm
  • small pincushion at the long end
  • the nature of the distortion is unified
  • automatic distortion correction works well and distortion is difficult to notice in images

Vignetting

  • there is strong vignetting
  • vignetting is strongest at f / 3.5 and 14 mm
  • automatic vignetting correction works well

Aberration

Rest

  • the effect of the rays of the star is not pronounced (14 rays)
  • Blur disks are uneven on tightly covered diaphragms
  • the lens works well in backlight, only in difficult conditions you can get flares and flares

There are profiles for this lens for popular RAW converters.

Panasonic Lumix G Vario 1: 3.5-5.6 / 14-42mm ASPH. Mega OIS

Panasonic Lumix G Vario 1: 3.5-5.6 / 14-42mm ASPH. Mega OIS

Sample Photos

Photos in the gallery below were taken with a camera. PANASONIC LUMIX DMC-GF2.Jpeg straight from the camera.

Raw '.RW2' RAW photos can be download from this link (16 photos, 200 MB).

Panasonic Lumix G Vario 1: 3.5-5.6 / 14-42mm ASPH. Mega OIS

Panasonic Lumix G Vario 1: 3.5-5.6 / 14-42mm ASPH. Mega OIS

My experience

The Panasonic 14-42 / 3.5-5.6 is a very nice kit lens. Surprisingly optically good enough. Sometimes it's hard to believe that such a whale, and even on Micro 4/3 cameras with a high pixel density, can show such a result.

Panasonic 14-42 / 3.5-5.6 is now out of production and sales, at one time it was replaced by similar more modern solutions. Finding it on the secondary market for little money is not difficult.

All Panasonic Lenses for Micro 4/3

  1. 8mm f / 3.5 Fisheye
  2. 9mm f / 1.7 LEICA
  3. 12mm f / 1.4 LEICA
  4. 12.5 f / 12 G 3D
  5. 14mm f / 2.5
  6. 14mm f / 2.5 II
  7. 15mm f / 1.7 LEICA
  8. 20mm f / 1.7
  9. 20mm f / 1.7 II
  10. 25mm f / 1.4 LEICA
  11. 25mm f / 1.4 LEICA II
  12. 25mm f / 1.7
  13. 30mm f / 2.8 MACRO OIS
  14. 42.5mm f / 1.2 LEICA OIS
  15. 42.5mm f / 1.7 OIS
  16. 45mm f / 2.8 LEICA MACRO OIS
  17. 200mm f / 2.8 LEICA OIS
  18. 7-14mm f / 4
  19. 8-18mm f / 2.8-4 LEICA
  20. 10-25mm f / 1.7 LEICA
  21. 12-32mm f / 3.5-5.6 OIS
  22. 12-35mm f / 2.8 OIS
  23. 12-35mm f / 2.8 OIS II
  24. 12-35mm f / 2.8 OIS LEICA [2022]
  25. 12-60mm f / 2.8-4 LEICA OIS
  26. 12-60mm f / 3.5-5.6 OIS
  27. 14-42mm f / 3.5-5.6 OIS
  28. 14-42mm f / 3.5-5.6 OIS II
  29. 14-42mm f / 3.5-5.6 OIS PZ
  30. 14-45mm f / 3.5-5.6 OIS
  31. 14-140mm f / 4-5.8 OIS
  32. 14-140mm f / 3.5-5.6 OIS
  33. 14-140mm f / 3.5-5.6 OIS II
  34. 25-50mm f / 1.7 LEICA
  35. 35-100mm f / 2.8 OIS
  36. 35-100mm f / 2.8 OIS II
  37. 35-100mm f / 2.8 OIS LEICA
  38. 35-100mm f / 4-5.6 OIS
  39. 45-150mm f / 4-5.6 OIS
  40. 45-175mm f / 4-5.6 OIS PZ
  41. 45-200mm f / 4-5.6 OIS
  42. 45-200mm f / 4-5.6 OIS II
  43. 50-200mm f / 2.8-4 LEICA OIS
  44. 100-300mm f / 4-5.6 OIS
  45. 100-300mm f / 4-5.6 OIS II
  46. 100-400mm f / 4-6.3 LEICA OIS
  47. 100-400mm f / 4-6.3 LEICA OIS II

Panasonic Lumix G Vario 1: 3.5-5.6 / 14-42mm ASPH. Mega OIS

Panasonic Lumix G Vario 1: 3.5-5.6 / 14-42mm ASPH. Mega OIS

Results

Panasonic 14-42 / 3.5-5.6 is a balanced kit lens.

This is a good solution for beginners and simply for those looking for an inexpensive, versatile lens. There are rumors about whale lenses that they are bad enough, but more often than not they are simply compared to more expensive and more functional lenses, against which the simplest lens, of course, looks modest.

10 main advantages:

  1. low cost in the secondary market
  2. light weight, hood included
  3. focusing stepping motor, fast and quiet
  4. internal focusing, fixed focus ring during auto focus
  5. electronic focus ring
  6. convenient manual focus, there is the possibility of constant manual control
  7. small MDF, good ratio of maximum magnification for shooting at close range
  8. built-in image stabilizer
  9. aspherical element in the optical circuit
  10. some good optical performance (for example, high sharpness at covered apertures in the wide-angle range)

10 main disadvantages:

  1. focus ring and zoom ring are not rubber coated
  2. plastic bayonet (old version Panasonic 3.5-5.6 / 14-45mm had metal)
  3. no stabilizer mode switch (previous version Panasonic 3.5-5.6 / 14-45mm had such a switch)
  4. on heavily covered apertures, the aperture has the shape of an irregular heptagon
  5. rubbing sound from the zoom ring, focal length changes in jerks
  6. focus ring is a little tight
  7. there are no additional tags (depth of field, focusing distance, etc.)
  8. the lens is not as compact as, for example, the subsequent version Panasonic 3.5-5.6 / 14-42 POWER ZOOM
  9. compared to the previous version Panasonic 3.5-5.6 / 14-45mm the lens has lost 3mm focal length at the long end
  10. optical imperfections inherent in such lenses (strong distortion, vignetting, etc.)

Materials on the topic

  1. Full frame mirrorless systems... Discussion, choice, recommendations.
  2. Cropped mirrorless systems... Discussion, choice, recommendations.
  3. Cropped mirrorless systems that have stopped or are no longer developing
  4. Digital SLR systems that have stopped or are no longer developing
  5. JVI or EVI (an important article that answers the question 'DSLR or mirrorless')
  6. About mirrorless batteries
  7. Simple and clear medium format
  8. High-speed solutions from Chinese brands
  9. All fastest autofocus zoom lenses
  10. All fastest AF prime lenses
  11. Mirrored full frame on mirrorless medium format
  12. Autofocus Speed ​​Boosters
  13. One lens to rule the world
  14. The impact of smartphones on the photography market
  15. What's next (smartphone supremacy)?
  16. All announcements and novelties of lenses and cameras

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Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram

Add a comment: Victor

 

 

Comments: 30, on the topic: Review of Panasonic Lumix G Vario 1: 3.5-5.6 / 14-42mm ASPH. Mega OIS

  • Konstantin

    These lenses come in two versions, such as in the review and completely black. I got a completely black version from a friend. I don’t know if this is the problem with these lenses or if he rubbed it with something incomprehensible, but the enlightenment from the front lens completely peeled off, the pictures were terrible.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Completely black is another version Panasonic Lumix G Vario 1: 3.5-5.6 / 14-42mm ASPH. Mega OIS HD, newer, on a different optical scheme. All versions are listed in the section “History".

      • Alexander

        Arkady, you are wrong, there is also a completely black version of this particular lens, and today I bought it. I can note the absolute absence of backlash of the "trunk", a stiff stroke of the zoom ring, and I would say a very tight stroke of the focusing ring. The lens is essentially new. But for many years I lay without use, it can be developed. I use it on Olympus EP L5, the picture is quite good, the stub is comparable in efficiency with the stub in the camera.

      • Ivan

        Arkady, you have a mistake. The link you gave points to a 14-45 lens, not a 14-42 lens. The same error is in the "History" section.

        • Arkady Shapoval

          fixed

  • Michael

    Arkady, how does the focusing ring behave? Is the rotation speed of the ring taken into account or is the reaction only to the angle of rotation?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      More angle of rotation

  • Ivan

    That's right, when you change the focal length, the rotation is tight with jerks. After that, what a pleasant 45-200 /4-5.6. Weighty, metal mount and very smooth rotation of the focal point.

  • Vio

    “Surprisingly optically good enough. Sometimes it’s hard to believe that such a whale, and even on Micro 4/3 cameras with a high pixel density, can show such a result. ”
    - bye, I tested Panasonic G80 (m4 / 3) vs Nikon D750 (FF) for myself https://photopraktika.com.ua/phototekh/11-functions/106-kak-ya-menyal-nikon-d750-na-panasonic-g80-sravnenie-fotografij-funktsionala-ergonomiki-i-drugoe.html
    After this test, I sold Nikon a full frame because of the much sharper and more detailed Panasonic :))

    Micra is an excellent system for its tasks!

    • Michael

      In macro, this system has no limits, so it's not surprising

    • Victor

      Mikra is alive only due to such “sharpness evaluators” :-) color depth, good DD and detail (not sharpness, but detail), traditionally for full frames
      Mikra will never jump above his head.

      • Vio

        Victor, it's funny to read that. Mikra's DD is not higher than FF, but it is enough for work on stocks, business (subject) and creativity. Detailing ... well, if you look under a microscope, maybe :) I looked at the 23 ″ monitor and did not notice anything, although I can look and find fault. I myself thought that FF would break the micra, but then went nuts. NO drop DETAILS

        • Victor

          To whom the mare is a bride :) For the majority now prints from smartphones are enough.

          I, in turn, find it ridiculous to read the assurances of supporters of small matrices that “here there is almost the same DD and the detail is super and there is no noise at 6400 ISO”, but in fact, for some reason, everything is slightly wrong))) Although “for some reason ”Is quite explicable by ordinary physical laws.

          • Maksim

            Full frame cultist? Another miracle attributing miraculous properties to the size of the matrix.

            • Victor

              Unfortunately, not a sectarian, I just believe my eyes and the laws of physics. Sectarianism is to say the opposite.

            • kotofei

              To quote Ken Rockwell: "in general, the choice and recommendation is simple - take the largest matrix available to you." If goals, money and muscle mass allow, then medium format will certainly show itself best from a portable figure, a full frame is also a compromise.
              And as for the advantages of the micro, namely the most often mentioned - dimensions - surprisingly, but not so small mft. Take some panasonic gx80 thread and compare with sony A6x00. Cool, right? Or try to find a direct analogue of the full-frame 24-70 / 2,8 on mft (hint - it will be 12-35 / 1,4) - such glasses are not produced, and if there were, the dimensions would be EXACTLY the same as that of the FF prototype for PHYSICS.
              Well, the main claim to mft is incomprehensible pricing and positioning of toy pieces of iron as a “pro segment”. The cost of owning a mft system (a couple of carcasses, a dozen glasses, light, system-forming accessories and repair / maintenance of all this) is HIGHER than that of common FF.

          • Michael

            There will be no problems with macro detailing, so sectarianism)

  • alexey_laa

    Used this lens on Lumix G3. I also noticed that the movement of the zoom and focus rings with noticeable friction, zooming can be jerky, which interferes with video shooting. The hood is large and can obscure the built-in flash (on my new Lumix G80, the flash pops forward and is shaded less).

    The lens was used as a universal lens, and when a wide angle was needed. I made a comparison with Lumix 25mm 1: 1.7. The 25mm fix is ​​sharper, but at f / 8 the difference is not noticeable.

    An example of a photo at 33mm, aperture 5.2 (open at this focal length): P1030132

  • igorkozyr

    Good glass.

  • MIZIA1620

    Thank you !! 1

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