Lightweight and ultra-compact
power-driven zoom
Panasonic previously had both 14-42mm and
14-45mrr zooms in its lens range and has now added a second 14-42mm lens that
eschews traditional rotating collars in favor of electrically-driven focus and
zoom mechanisms. As a result, the new 14-42mm lens is considerably more compact
than the traditional version and is also around half the mass. On the other
hand, it is about 75% more expensive.
PANASONIC
G X Vario PZ 14-42mm f/3.5 - 5.6 ASPH - Power OIS
Protruding less than 3cm from the front of
the camera, this is such a compact zoom that the usual grip, where the camera
body rests in the user’s left palm with his/her fingers wrapped around the
lens, cannot be adopted. Instead the camera s best balanced between the base of
the thumb and curled third and little fingers that support the bottom of the
body at its right-hand end.
There is a theory that says CSC products
are aimed more at female photographers than males and certainly smaller hands,
which are more likely to be female hands, will probably be better proportioned
for an ultra-compact lens such as this.
When the lens is grasped as described, the
power-zoom lever falls naturally against the user’s left thumb and it takes
only a small shift to press the power-focus lever. Reaching the controls is
therefore very easy but learning to master them takes a bit more effort. The
levers allow proportional input, whereby a small displacement instigates slow movement
and a firmer press moves the lens quicker, but even so it can be tricky to
frame scenes accurately the first time of trying.
It is also worth noting that the 3cm length
mentioned above is only achieved when the lens has been energized: when the camera
is switched-off the zoom’s inner section is retracted and the lens shrinks to
half that length, making it even more compact for storage. But disconnecting
the zoom from the camera while the latter is powered-up leaves the lens fully
extended and potentially more exposed to possible damage.
For
apertures of f/11 and faster, the MTF curves remained above the critical 0.25
cycles-per-pixel threshold. And the lens test targets were almost totally
devoid of color fringing
Technical testing returned some very
impressive results not only in terms of sharpness but also in terms
Max aperture f3.5 - 5.6 Min aperture f/22
Lens mount Mien Four-Thirds Number of Blades 7 Image Stabilization Yes Optics
(elements/groups) 9 y 8 Min focus 0.2m Filter size 37mm Lens hood No Width 61mm
Length 27mm Weight 95g of chromatic aberration.
I have a gripe about the lens cap, which is
too small and fiddly for confident fitting and removal, but that is a minor
point that will be unlikely to bother many potential purchasers. And I never
really got used to the power-drive levers but that does not detract from the
lovely images that this lens produced.
Choice is something that seems to
characterize Panasonic's Lumix lens range, which elsewhere offers both a
45-200mm Mega OIS zoom and a 45-175mm GX Power-Zoom. That choice is echoed here
too: the power-driven 14-42mm zoom simply offers yet another alternative to
traditional rotating collars - and a very fine alternative it is too.
Standard
14-42mm Lens, and X Lens Side by Side
Image Quality
For apertures of f/11 and faster, the MTF
curves remained above the critical 0.25 cycles-per-pixel threshold. And the
lens test targets were almost totally devoid of color fringing.
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Specifications
§ Price :
$455
§ Max
aperture: f3.5 - 5.6
§ Min
aperture: f/22
§ Lens
mount: Micro Four-Thirds
§ Number
of Blades: 7
§ Image
Stabilization: Yes
§ Optics
(elements/groups): 9/8
§ Min
focus: 0.2m
§ Filter
size: 37mm
§ Lens
hood: No
§ Width:
61mm
§ Length:
27mm
§ Weight:
95g
PROS
§ No
visible color fringing
§ Very
compact size, even when fully extended
§ Good
level of sharpness
CONS
§ Power
zoom and focusing requires familiarization
§ Lens
cap is fiddly
§ Pricier
than standard
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