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Product Description
Manufacturer's Description
It's a new cutting-edge interchangeable lens LUMIX G X VARIO PZ 14-42mm/F3.5-5.6 ASPH./POWER O.I.S. with electric-powered zoom operation from the new premium lens brand “X” for LUMIX G Micro System that complies with Micro Four Thirds System standard. Crystallizing Panasonic's optical technologies, new premium lens brand “X” features superb image rendering for lifelike textures, crisp edge-to-edge contrast, a unique Nano Surface Coating for minimal ghosts and flaring and natural atmospheres with remarkable transparency.
Comprising of 9 lenses in 8 groups, the lens system features excellent contrast at entire zoom range. The inclusion of 4 aspherical lenses that helps achieving the downsizing of lens unit also improves optical performance by minimizing distortion, even at the 28 mm wide end. The 2 ED lenses effectively compensates for the chromatic aberration. And, the retractable-type zoom lens boasts outstanding compactness with approx. 26.8 mm** in length and approx. 95g in weight to realize ultra-high mobility.
Panasonic's Nano Surface Coating technology is adopted to minimize the reflection at entire visual light range (380nm-780nm) by applying the extra-low refractive index coating with nano-sized structure on the surface of the lens. It results in the super clear image with dramatic reduction of ghost and flare.
Adopting an inner focus system driven by a stepping motor, the superior optical design realizes outstanding smoothness to support the high speed AF system of LUMIX G cameras. It achieves approx. 0.1 second Light Speed AF*** thanks to the downsizing of focus lens and its amount of movement. By speeding up the aperture control, shutter time lag is also shortened by approx. 40% compared with the LUMIX G VARIO 14-42mm/F3.5-5.6 ASPH. /MEGA O.I.S..****
*For a digital interchangeable lens as of August 26, 2011./ ** When the lens is retracted./ ***The time for focusing on the subject is measured with the DMC-GF3 to move the lens position to ""2m"" from ""infinity"" position at wide-end. Panasonic measurement method.*5/ ****Measured with DMC-GF3. The time required to start exposure after the shutter button is fully pressed after the lens position is moved from “infinity” to “2m”. The zoom position is at wide-end.*5/ *5 The firmware of the GF3 must be updated to Ver.1.1 or later. Panasonic measurement method.
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Customer Reviews
The quality of construction is really good and the picture quality is spot on. Its important to update both the firmware of both the G3 and that of the lens to get the best results as I was initially a bit disappointed. After using this lens for a bit I am really pleased with it.
Still might buy the 20mm for indoor use, but if you want an alround compact zoom, then I would recommend this over the standard kit lens.
Only downside is the price that is a bit steep, although I did manage to get the £60 cash back and I will put the kit lens on ebay.
I have mainly used this lens with a Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3. This is the camera that Panasonic have used in most of the advertising for this new lens. The GF3 is a small camera and seems unbalanced with a normal zoom lens. With this lens mounted, the feel is much better, not just because of its small size, but also because the H-PS14042 lens is very light weight. The lens turns on and extends to its full size quickly when the camera it is mounted to is switched on. With the camera switched on, the lens emits a continual, very quiet rumbling, though not loud enough to be picked up in video recordings.
Because of its small size there are no focus or zoom rings on the lens. Instead there is a rocker button that adjusts the motorized zoom and another that, if in manual focus mode, adjusts the focus. In comparison with the motorized zoom on most compact cameras, control of the zoom on this lens is very good, with small adjustments being possible. The zoom button is quite sensitive to any movement away from its neutral position. Fitted to the Lumix GF3 camera body, the camera displays the focal length whilst the lens is being zoomed. There is is no such display on older Lumix models (I tried a GF1 and G10), though Panasonic have promised a software update for some of their other models that will allow this. The manual focus also has a good level of control.
First impression of image quality is that the focus is rather soft: images lack the sharpness obtainable using the same camera body fitted with the Lumix H-FS014045 lens. As Panasonic are marketing this lens as a 'premium brand', the soft focus is a disappointment. In all other respects, image quality seems excellent.
If you own one of the small micro four thirds cameras, such as the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 or Olympus Pen E-PM1, and don't yet own a standard zoom lens, then maybe this is for you. For others, there are alternatives available at a lower price that give better results.
This lens has made my G2 much more compact, even more portable than it already was and much more likely to be used day-to-day. The pictures it takes seem to be as good as the original kit lens (to my eyes).
I should say though that the lens cap could be lost more easily as it is much smaller than the one on the kit lens. Also usage of the little lever for the zoom action may obscure the AF assist lamp on the G2 (the placement of the AF assist lamp may vary on other models) if you don't remember to move your fingers before taking a shot.
Overall I'm impressed and look forward to seeing what other lenses appear in this family.
When stowed it's only the size of the Panasonic pancake lenses and when you... Read more
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