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This post will be an interesting one: Four Thirds vs APS-C Sensor format!

There have been a lot of debates online about which format is better. I will throw in my personal opinion here.

I do own both Four Thirds (Olympus) and APS-C Format (Nikon) and I love them both.

However, some people might prefer to stick with one camera format and this is why I created this comparison to help you decide which one is best for you.

Let’s start with some background about the Four Thirds format.

The system was initially started by Olympus and Kodak for DSLR cameras. They agreed so that the system will allow an interchange of lenses between multiple manufacturers.

This is a very different approach from manufacturers such as Canon, Nikon or Sony who has a proprietary lens mount.

Although it is an open standard, the companies can only use it under a strict NDA (non-disclosure agreement).

Four Thirds system started in the digital age and has no film camera roots. All their lenses are computerized and they even installed firmwares on the lenses!

Those of you who own the Four Thirds or Micro Four Thirds system should be familiar with this.

A Four Thirds sensor is smaller than an APS-C sensor and hence, it has a bigger focal length multiplier of 2. Standard APS-C has 1.5x or 1.6x.

This is great news for telephoto shooters, but might not be a good news for wide angle shooters.

Also, if you shoot in bright light, you will enjoy the image quality. However, for those of you who are into night photography, the Four Thirds format might not be for you since it is weak in the high ISO department (due to the smaller sensor size).

That being said, a Four Thirds sensor will perform very close to a DSLR sensor and it will beat any compact camera anytime.

Four Thirds Advantages

Here are some Four Thirds sensor advantages that you should be aware of.

• Smaller sensor size makes the camera body lighter and smaller.


Smaller: Olympus E-420 vs Canon 450D

• Smaller sensor also allows them to develop smaller and lighter lens with BIGGER aperture such as the amazing f/2 zoom lens, which would be impossible to make in the APS-C format.
• Vignetting is better controlled on a Four Thirds format compared to an APS-C format. This is due to the telecentric optical path design which makes the light travel perpendicular to the sensor. Border sharpness is also better here.
• Smaller sensor also means greater depth of field without using small aperture which is excellent for landscape photography.
• Another cool, but seldom mentioned feature is the ability to use an external (3rd party) adapter to mount Canon, Nikon or even Pentax lenses. If you have an excellent lens, you can get superb image quality result using a Four Thirds camera because it will take full advantage of the lens’ sweet spot.

Four Thirds Disadvantages

• Because the sensor is smaller, it will have lesser image quality compared to an APS-C sensor. The dynamic range will also be affected as well. However, those two differences are not so great when compared with an APS-C sensor but will clearly be huge when compared with a full frame camera.
• Because of the higher magnification ratio, it is hard to shoot wide given the same focal length when compared to an APS-C sensor. Also, you will have less control over the depth of field because a Four Thirds format will have more depth of field given the same aperture when compared to an APS-C sensor.
• The last one is the most important one. Olympus and other manufacturers might have decided to focus their future development on the Micro Four Thirds format. This makes perfect sense since the Micro Four Thirds format offers substantially smaller dimension and close enough image quality to an APS-C sensor camera.


Even Smaller: Olympus PEN 1 vs Olympus E-450

Should You Go With Four Thirds Format?

I personally have stopped buying Four Thirds format cameras and lenses. I primarily use an APS-C format Nikon DSLR camera (Nikon D300) and a Micro Four Thirds camera (Olympus PEN-2).

I do not think the slightly smaller dimension of a Four Thirds format give any advantage at all.

However, if you plan to stick with just one camera and one format, then getting a Four Thirds camera might be a good solution.

At the time of this writing, there are many Micro Four Thirds lenses out there already made by both Olympus and Panasonic.

Oftentimes, people have asked me the following questions:

• Can I use the Micro Four Thirds lenses made by Olympus in my Panasonic G camera?
• Can I use my Four Thirds Olympus lens in an Olympus or Panasonic Micro Four Thirds body?
• Can I use a Micro Four Thirds lens in an Olympus DSLR body?

I will make everything clear on this post and you will not be confused again about the Micro Four Thirds lenses compatibility issue after reading this.

Micro Four Thirds Lenses – Olympus and Panasonic Interchangeability

Can I use the Micro Four Thirds lenses made by Olympus in my Panasonic G camera? Or vice versa?

The short answer is yes. Currently, there are only two Micro Four Thirds camera manufacturers on the market. They are Olympus and Panasonic.

Olympus have their PEN camera lineup and Panasonic have their G, GH and GF camera lineup.

All the Micro Four Thirds lenses that Olympus make can be used with a Panasonic body and vice versa.

See the image below to see an Olympus 17mm lens mounted on the Panasonic G1 body (red).

Panasonic G1 with Olympus 17mm

And also see the image below to see a Panasonic 14-45 lens mounted on the Olympus E-P1 body.

Olympus E-P1 PEN 1 with Panasonic 14-45

Important tips for using Micro Four Thirds lenses!

The Panasonic Image Stabilization is installed on the lenses whereas Olympus’ Image Stabilization is installed inside the camera sensor.

You should pay attention to this when you are using a Panasonic lens with an Olympus PEN body.

Make sure you DO NOT TURN ON both Image Stabilization feature. That is, if you are using the Image Stabilization on the sensor, TURN OFF the image stabilization on the Panasonic lens.

On the other hand, when you are using the lens’ Image Stabilization, turn off the Image Stabilization on the camera body from the menu.

This is to avoid the Image Stabilization mechanism clashing with each other.

Micro Four Thirds Lenses and Four Thirds Camera Compatibility

Can I use my Four Thirds Olympus lens in an Olympus or Panasonic Micro Four Thirds body?

Yes, you can do so. However, you need to use a special adapter for this.

The adapter is called Olympus MMF-2 MFT Lens Adapter.

And you can see an Olympus Four Thirds lens mounted on an Olympus PEN camera below.

Olympus E-P1 PEN 1 with MMF Adapter

Additionally, you can also use a special adapter to mount regular DSLR lens (such as Nikon and Canon). However, you will lose the autofocus feature and everything needs to be done manually (such as changing aperture).

Make sure the lens has an aperture ring. Below is a picture of a Nikon 50mm 1.8 lens mounted on an Olympus E-P1 PEN 1 camera.

Olympus E-P1 with Nikon 50mm 1.8 Lens

Can I use a Micro Four Thirds lens in an Olympus DSLR body?

Although you can use a Four Thirds lens in a Micro Four Thirds camera body, the reverse is NOT true.

You cannot use Micro Four Thirds lenses with Four Thirds body.

This is because a Four Thirds body will have a larger lens mount and Micro Four Thirds lenses will not cover the whole sensor range.

Hope this post about Micro Four Thirds Lenses compatibility have been helpful to you.

And do let me know (contact me) if you are still confused about Micro Four Thirds lenses!

As the owner of this site, I got many questions from people (most of them DSLR owners) on whether they should get a Micro Four Thirds camera.

This is due to its rising popularity and promising features.

Just like a DSLR camera, a Micro Four Thirds camera offer lens interchangeability as well as great image quality.

In addition, it offers something that a DSLR camera does not: portability and compactness. These are the two primary reasons on why people are considering getting a Micro Four Thirds camera.

Before I answer the question on whether you should get one or not, let us take a look deeper into the Micro Four Thirds format.

We’ll see what it is, what are your options as well as the advantages and disadvantages that it has.

Those information will greatly help you in your purchasing decision.

What is a Micro Four Thirds Camera?

The Micro Four Thirds format was born based on Olympus’ popular Four Thirds sensor format.

As one of the major player in the DSLR market, Olympus have been using the Four Thirds format, which is smaller than an APS-C format (the sensor that Nikon, Canon and Sony uses) to keep their DSLR compact.

By using a smaller sensor, Olympus can always outperform their competitor in the battle of making the smallest DSLR camera.

Olympus E-P1 Micro Four Thirds Camera

Why would you want a small DSLR though?

Well, many people who are not serious or professional photographer, but want to get the best quality from their camera have been dreaming about having a small, compact camera that can achieve DSLR quality pictures.

The Four Thirds brings that dream one step closer towards reality.

And the Micro Four Thirds brings it TWO step closer towards reality.

Panasonic Lumix G1 Advertising

Driven by the goal to make an excellent compact camera with superb image quality, two companies, Panasonic and Olympus, decided to make the Four Thirds format even smaller.

They do this by removing the mirror box inside their current Four Thirds DSLR as well as making the lens mount smaller.

That is how the Micro Four Thirds format was born.

Advantages of a Micro Four Thirds Camera

The advantages of a Micro Four Thirds camera is pretty obvious. By removing the mirror box, the size of the camera will become smaller. The sensor size does not change in this case, which means that it is still capable of taking the same picture quality as a DSLR camera.

In addition, there is also less noise during the actual picture taking. The usual noise that is caused by the mirror movement inside a DSLR camera is now gone.

Panasonic G1: A Bigger M. 4/3 Version

There is also an unstated advantage of having a small camera.

If you are a street photographer and want to shoot candidly, a Micro Four Thirds camera will let you do that with ease.

Do you have an experience where you want to take a candid shot of something, but failed because they noticed you have a big DSLR?

Less likely with a Micro Four Thirds camera.

Disadvantages of a Micro Four Thirds Camera

Although there are many advantages of a Micro Four Thirds camera, there are also some disadvantages as well.

The first one is that it has no optical viewfinder. By removing the mirror box, you effectively remove the optical viewfinder as well.

You can resort to the electronic viewfinder, but this takes a while to get used to if you have been shooting with a DSLR for a while.

Since it has to display everything in an LCD or electronic viewfinder, the battery life will drain faster compared to a DSLR camera.

Those are the primary downsides of a Micro Four Thirds camera.

Final Thoughts

So, should you get one of these?

If you are a photographer who enjoys taking great quality images, but always burdened by your DSLR weight and size, you should try a Micro Four Thirds camera for a spin.

I personally have the Olympus E-P2. I initially thought about getting the Panasonic G series, but the Olympus’ smaller body and lenses appeal more to me.

In the next post, I will be discussing about Four Thirds and Micro Four Thirds lens compatibility.

Meanwhile, you can see the current Micro Four Thirds lenses that I have reviewed below:

• Micro Four Thirds Camera
• Olympus 17mm
• Panasonic 20mm
• Panasonic 45mm

Stay tuned and thank you for reading this Micro For Thirds camera post!

The Olympus 50-200 lens is the professional grade telephoto lens for Olympus DSLR. It is the perfect partner to the excellent Olympus 12-60 lens.

You can get this lens from either Amazon (Best Price + FREE Shipping), B&H Photo or Adorama. Note that you’re helping me writing more cool stuff on this site when you get anything via any links on this site – mucho gracias!

Although this lens is expensive, it is worth every penny. You need to really see the image quality for yourself. The optical performance of this lens is simply superb on the telephoto end.

Sharp, clear and contrasty with close to zero optical issues.

Build quality is excellent – by this I mean in the professional sense. If you haven’t touched a professional lens before, this lens will give you a great idea what a professional lens feels like

Let us get in to the real, in-depth review for this Olympus 50-200 lens to see the proof!

Olympus 50-200 Specs

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Official Name:
Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 50-200mm f/2.8-3.5 SWD

Focal Length Markings:
50, 70, 100, 200mm

Features:
ED – Extra Low Dispersion Glass – Technology to make the image sharper by correcting the light wavelength that travels through the lens.

SWD – Silent Wave Drive – Technology to allow quiet and fast autofocusing mechanism.

Full Technical Specs (from Olympus’s website):

Technical Specifications
Groups / Elements	15 / 16
Angle of View	24 – 6.2
Number of Blade Diaphragm	9
Minimum Aperture	f/22
Minimum Focusing Distance	1.2m
Filter Thread	67mm
Weight	995g
Dimension (Diameter x Length)	86.5 x 157mm
Macro Magnification Ratio	0.21X
Available at	Amazon, B&H Photo, Adorama

Optical Performance

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Olympus 50-200 Sharpness

Being a professional grade lens, the center sharpness on this lens is excellent at any focal length and any apertures.

The border sharpness on this lens is also great at any focal length at any apertures.

Wide open, this lens is very sharp. The sharpest aperture on this lens is f/4.

To see the full sharpness test for this Olympus 50-200 lens, look at the tables below.

Sharpness Scale (from Best to Worst):
(5) Excellent
(4) Great
(3) Good
(2) Fair
(1) Poor

Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 50-200mm f/2.8-3.5 SWD Center Sharpness

Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 50-200mm f/2.8-3.5 SWD Border Sharpness

Distortion

There is a slight barrel distortion at 50mm, which is quite normal for a zoom lens. At 100mm and 150mm, distortion is very minimal and can be ignored.

Same with 200mm. See the distortion test result below for each focal length on this Olympus 50-200 lens.

Vignetting

Vignetting is apparent at 150mm and 200mm at the widest aperture. At 50mm and 100mm it is very well controlled.

When you are 150mm and 200mm, stop down one stop to completely eliminate vignetting.

See the full vignetting test result below for this Olympus 50-200 lens.

Chromatic Aberration

Chromatic aberration control is extremely well controlled on this lens.

You can ignore it at any focal length and any aperture on this Olympus 50-200 lens.

Chromatic Aberration Scale (from Best to Worst):
(5) Negligible
(4) Very Low
(3) Low
(2) High
(1) Very High

Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 50-200mm f/2.8-3.5 SWD Chromatic Aberration

Build Quality

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Materials

The build quality of this lens is very good. It is made based on high quality plastic and metal materials. This is a professional lens that features dust and moisture sealing.

Zoom Ring

Zoom ring is quite smooth on this lens. The lens will extend when it is zoomed towards the telephoto end. There is no zoom creep on this lens.

Focusing

There is an internal focusing mechanism on this lens so the front element will not rotate during autofocusing.

Focusing ring is smooth and very easy to use. Autofocus speed is very fast, accurate and silent on this lens. However, I still find the autofocus of the Olympus 12-60 lens to be faster than this one.

Image Stabilization

In the Olympus DSLR camera world, the Image Stabilization is installed on the sensor, not on the lens. Check your camera body to see if it has the Image Stabilization feature installed.

Compatibility

This lens is compatible with regular Four Thirds DSLR camera as well as with Micro Four Thirds camera (using a special adapter).

Sample Image

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Below are some sample images taken with this lens. Click on any thumbnail to enlarge the images.

Get the best price online from these sites: Amazon, B&H Photo, Adorama.

Conclusion

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Alright, now it is time to conclude this Olympus 50-200 review!

Being a professional telephoto zoom lens, the Olympus 50-200 will complement the Olympus 12-60 lens nicely. In terms of optical performance it is very sharp on the center and borders at any focal length and apertures.

Distortion is only slightly visible at 50mm. At other apertures, it can be ignored.

Chromatic aberration is superbly controlled on this lens to the point that it is very low at every focal length and aperture.

Vignetting is visible only at the 100mm, 150mm and 200mm focal length at the widest aperture, but not to an extreme degree. You can stop down by one stop to completely eliminate it.

In terms of build quality, the Olympus 50-200 is also excellent. Being a professional grade lens, you can expect solid build quality as well as fast autofocusing mechanism.

In conclusion, I would highly recommend this lens for any professional photographer (or even professional wannabe, haha).

Although expensive, this lens is really worth it.

This Olympus 50-200 lens is the perfect partner for the excellent Olympus 12-60 lens.

Drawbacks

• Slightly visible barrel distortion at 50mm
• Slightly visible vignetting at the last 3 focal lengths at the widest apertures
• Expensive

Positives

• Super sharp on the center and borders at any aperture and focal lengths
• Good distortion control above 50mm
• Superb chromatic aberration control
• Great vignetting control one stop above the maximum aperture at every focal length
• Great build quality
• Silent, quick and accurate autofocus performance

Good For

• Sports photography
• Portraiture photography
• All around professional telephoto lens use

Not So Good For

• Travel, hiking and vacation photography due to the size and weight

What Others Are Saying…

by “Ubat”

I started off with the 70-300 mm on my E-520, and although I got a lot of good images with it, the 50-200 SWD was my object of desire. I finally acquired it, and am totally blown away. Here’s…
Click here to see the full review

by “Payam”

This lens’ features are unique to the Olympus DSLR system (actually the Four Thirds system). In fact, this one and a few others are the strongest case for buying into the Olympus DSLR system…
Click here to see the full review

Where to Buy

Support this site, buy the Olympus 50-200 lens from these sites (best price online):

Amazon (Best Price + FREE Shipping)

B&H Photo

Adorama

See the following related lens reviews to see more Micro four thirds lenses options options.

• Olympus 50-200
• Olympus 40-150mm
• Olympus 14-42mm
• Olympus 12-60

Alright, thanks checking out this Olympus 50-200 review and I will catch you around in the next review!

The Olympus 40-150mm lens is a budget telephoto lens made to accompany the Olympus 14-42mm lens. You can get this lens from either Amazon (Best Price + FREE Shipping), B&H Photo Video or Adorama. You are helping me running this site when you buy anything using those links – your help is appreciated!

This lens is usually sold as a kit lens but it is also available for a very cheap price separately. When used in a four thirds DSLR camera, the focal length will be equivalent to 80-300mm.

The thing that stands out from this lens is the compactness and lightweight characteristics. You can pair this lens with the 14-42mm and you will have an excellent range to shoot from.

If you’ve read my review on the Olympus 14-42mm, you know how much I like that kit zoom lens because of the optical performance.

Will this lens also fare well in terms of optical performance?

Let’s find out in the Olympus 40-150mm lens review below.

Olympus 40-150mm Specs

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Official Name:
Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f/4-5.6

Focal Length Markings:
40, 50, 70, 100, 150mm

Features:
ED – Extra Low Dispersion Glass – Technology to make the image sharper by correcting the light wavelength that travels through the lens.

Full Technical Specs (from Olympus’s website):

Technical Specifications
Groups / Elements	9 / 12
Angle of View	30 – 8.2
Number of Blade Diaphragm	7
Minimum Aperture	f/22
Minimum Focusing Distance	0.9m
Filter Thread	58mm
Weight	220g
Dimension (Diameter x Length)	65.5 x 72mm
Macro Magnification Ratio	0.14X
Available at	Amazon, B&H Photo Video, Adorama

Optical Performance

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Olympus 40-150mm Sharpness

This lens is very sharp on the center at any aperture and focal length, even at the widest one!

Border sharpness are also great at any aperture and focal length.

See the table below for the full sharpness test result.

Sharpness Scale (from Best to Worst):
(5) Excellent
(4) Great
(3) Good
(2) Fair
(1) Poor

Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f/4-5.6 Center Sharpness

Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f/4-5.6 Border Sharpness

Distortion

Barrel distortion is apparent at 40mm. However, it is not to a large degree and can be easily corrected.

Both 100mm and 150mm has a slight pincushion distortion that can be safely ignored at all shooting conditions.

See the distortion test result below.

Vignetting

Vignetting is visible at the maximum aperture at any focal length. When you stop down by one stop, it will be essentially gone from any focal length.

See the full vignetting test result below.

Chromatic Aberration

Chromatic aberration is very well controlled on this lens. It is very low at any aperture and focal length.

See the full chromatic aberration test result in the table below.

Chromatic Aberration Scale (from Best to Worst):
(5) Negligible
(4) Very Low
(3) Low
(2) High
(1) Very High

Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f/4-5.6 Chromatic Aberration

Build Quality

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Materials

Plastic, but quite decent.

Zoom Ring

Zoom ring is quite smooth with just enough friction to prevent zoom creep. The lens will extend when you zoom it towards the telephoto end.

Focusing

Focus ring operates similarly like the zoom ring. The autofocus is relatively slow in this lens compared to other lenses on the same league.

The autofocus is pretty accurate here though.

Image Stabilization

In the Olympus DSLR world, Image Stabilization is installed in the sensor, not on the lens. Check your DSLR body if it support Image Stabilization.

Compatibility

This lens is compatible with both Four Thirds and Micro Four Thirds camera (via a special adapter).

Sample Image

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Below are some sample images that I took with this Olympus 40-150mm lens. Click on any thumbnail to enlarge the images.

Get the best price online from these sites: Amazon, B&H Photo Video, Adorama.

Conclusion

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Here is the conclusion for this Olympus 40-150mm lens.

For a budget lens, this lens performs very well optically. It is very sharp at any focal length and aperture, both on the center and on the borders.

Distortion is only visible at 40mm (barrel), but it can be ignored at other focal lengths.

Vignetting is only visible at the widest aperture. Stop down one stop to completely eliminate it.

Chromatic aberration control is excellent on this lens. You can ignore it at any aperture and any focal length.

The only downside on this lens is the relatively slow autofocus. You can always switch to manual focus if you think the autofocus is too slow for your taste though.

Best of all is the price of this lens. I would consider this lens to have close to professional quality grade in terms of optical quality and having an appealing price at the same time.

Drawbacks

• Slow autofocus
• Barrel distortion at 40mm (slightly visible)
• Vignetting is apparent at the widest aperture at any focal length

Positives

• Very sharp on the center and borders at any focal length and apertures
• Good distortion control above 40mm
• Excellent chromatic aberration control
• Excellent value for money

Good For

• Telephoto shooting under bright light conditions

Not So Good For

• Fast moving sports photography under dim condition due to the slow max. aperture

What Others Are Saying…

by “Anne”

When my”therapist” at the local camera store told me he could sell me this lens for $100 I thought, “It’s Olympus, how bad could it be?” So I bought it and took some time to…
Click here to see the full review

by “bdgilfry”

Okay, it’s inexpensive. The ring where it attaches to the camera is plastic. But, are you going to use this as a hammer? It is that very construction that makes this camera a heavyweight in the…
Click here to see the full review

Where to Buy

Support this site, buy the Olympus 40-150mm lens from these sites (best price online):

Amazon (Best Price + FREE Shipping)

B&H Photo Video

Adorama

See the following related lens reviews to see more Zuiko lenses options options.

• Olympus 40-150mm
• Olympus 50-200
• Olympus 14-42mm
• Olympus 12-60

Alright, thanks checking out my Olympus 40-150mm review and I will catch you in the next one!

The Olympus 14-42mm is the best zoom kit lens that is available on the market. It puts the kit lenses made by Nikon and Canon to shame. You can get this lens from either Amazon (Best Price + FREE Shipping), B&H Photo Video or Adorama. You are helping me writing more reviews when you get anything from those store – Your help is greatly appreciated.

So, why did I say this is the best kit zoom lens? Because for the price, it offers excellent optical quality with close to none issue.

Everything is under excellent control on this lens and it is very sharp at any focal length.

The build quality is quite decent, but it is still better than the kit lenses made by Nikon or Canon.

Best of all, this lens is priced very low.

This lens will definitely give any photographers a joy, even a newbie!

If you are using an Olympus DSLR system, you will be keeping this lens for a long time.

Read the Olympus 14-42mm review below to see the full and in-depth review.

Olympus 14-42mm Specs

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Official Name:
Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6

Focal Length Markings:
14, 18, 25, 35, 42mm

Features:
ED – Extra Low Dispersion – Technology to maximize the image sharpness by minimizing the wavelength dispersion.

Full Technical Specs (from Olympus’s website):

Technical Specifications
Groups / Elements	8 / 10
Angle of View	75 – 29
Number of Blade Diaphragm	7
Minimum Aperture	f/22
Minimum Focusing Distance	0.25m
Filter Thread	58mm
Weight	190g
Dimension (Diameter x Length)	65.5 x 61mm
Macro Magnification Ratio	0.19X
Available at	Amazon, B&H Photo Video, Adorama

Optical Performance

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Olympus 14-42mm Sharpness

Center sharpness is excellent at any focal length and aperture.

Border sharpness also follow the center sharpness. It is excellent at any focal length and aperture as well.

To see the full sharpness test, look at the tables below.

Sharpness Scale (from Best to Worst):
(5) Excellent
(4) Great
(3) Good
(2) Fair
(1) Poor

Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Center Sharpness

Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Border Sharpness

Distortion

Being a kit lens and a wide angle lens, distortion is apparent at 14mm. At 25mm it is greatly reduced and at 42mm it is negligible.

See the distortion test result below.

Vignetting

Vignetting control is very good on this lens. It is only visible at 14mm at f/3.5, which is typical for a kit, wide angle zoom lens.

At other focal length and aperture, vignetting can be ignored.

See the full vignetting test result below.

Chromatic Aberration

Chromatic aberration is extremely well controlled on this lens. You can ignore it at any focal length and aperture.

See the full chromatic aberration test below.

Chromatic Aberration Scale (from Best to Worst):
(5) Negligible
(4) Very Low
(3) Low
(2) High
(1) Very High

Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Chromatic Aberration

Build Quality

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Materials

Lightweight quality plastic. Very decent build for a kit lens.

Zoom Ring

Zoom ring is very smooth and responsive. The lens will extend when zoomed towards the telephoto end. There is no wobbling and zoom creep on this lens.

Focusing

Autofocusing is fairly fast and accurate. Full time manual focusing is possible in single AF mode.

The front element does not rotate so using a polarizing filter will not be a problem.

Image Stabilization

In the Olympus DSLR world, the Image Stabilization is installed on the sensor inside the camera body, not on the lens. Check your DSLR camera to see if it has the Image Stabilization feature.

Compatibility

This lens is compatible with Four Thirds camera and Micro Four Thirds camera via a special adapter.

Sample Image

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Below are some sample images taken with this lens. Click on any thumbnail to enlarge the images.

Get the best price online from these sites: Amazon, B&H Photo Video, Adorama.

Conclusion

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Alright, time to conclude this Olympus 14-42mm lens review.

I have to say that Olympus has made the best kit lens among all DSLR camera manufacturers. That includes Nikon and Canon.

The Olympus kit lens is simply better compared to the kit lenses that are offered by Canon or Nikon.

In terms of optical quality, it is very sharp on the center and borders at any focal length and apertures. This includes the widest aperture of f/3.5.

Vignetting and chromatic aberration are both very well controlled.

The primary weakness is the distortion at 14mm, which is very common for any lens in this range. It is not to an extreme degree and can be easily corrected in post processing.

The price is what makes this lens excellent.

For the bargain price, it will be hard to find such a good kit lens anywhere else.

Highly recommended for anyone looking for a compact, sharp walkaround kit lens.

Drawbacks

• Visible distortion at 14mm
• Visible vignetting at 14mm f/3.5

Positives

• Great sharpness both on the center and borders
• Excellent chromatic aberration control
• Great vignetting control (except at 14mm f/3.5)
• Fast and accurate autofocus performance
• Excellent value for money

Good For

• Walk around, light kit lens
• Landscape photography
• Street photography

Not So Good For

• Shooting in low light due to the small maximum aperture

What Others Are Saying…

by “Eugene D.”

This lens is a newer version of the standard kit lens that comes with E-series Olympus digital SLRs. It is about 1/3 smaller in length and girth and weight than the 14-45 lens. It has the same…
Click here to see the full review

by “Eldred”

This is one of the best kit lenses made by any manufacturer. It is very sharp and optically superior to the Canon and Nikon equivalent kit lenses. It is also very small and works great with one of…
Click here to see the full review

Where to Buy

Support this site, buy the Olympus 14-42mm lens from these sites (best price online):

Amazon (Best Price + FREE Shipping)

B&H Photo Video

Adorama

See the following related lens reviews to see more Micro four thirds lenses options options.

• Olympus 14-42mm
• Olympus 12-60
• Olympus 40-150mm
• Olympus 50-200

OK! Thanks checking out this Olympus 14-42mm review and I will catch you around!

The Olympus 12-60 lens is one of the hottest lens in the Four Thirds format and you will know why by the end of this review. You can get this lens from either Amazon (Best Price + FREE Shipping), B&H Photo Video or Adorama. Don’t forget that you are helping me writing more reviews whenever you buy something from those sites

This lens is exciting because it is considered to be the walk around professional zoom lens in the Four Thirds DSLR camera world.

The focal length sends out a clear message on this. The 12-60mm will be equal to 24-120mm in the full frame format equivalent, the standard walk around zoom range.

And here’s the cool thing about the Four Thirds format that gives them advantages over the standard APS-C format: they can have bigger aperture at wider focal length!

This is definitely a great feature to have for any lens. Notice the aperture on this lens: f/2.8-4 – Have you ever seen a 24-120mm f/2.8-4 lens on an APS-C format? Probably not and I don’t think it will ever happen!

All those things are great, but how about the optical performance? Does the expensive price tag justify it?

Let’s begin the Olympus 12-60 review and see the result.

Olympus 12-60 Specs

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Official Name:
Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 12-60mm f/2.8-4 SWD

Focal Length Markings:
12, 18, 25, 35, 50, 60mm

Features:
ED – Extra Low Dispersion – Technology to maximize the image sharpness by minimizing the wavelength dispersion.

SWD – Silent Wave Drive – Technology to allow quiet and fast autofocusing mechanism.

Full Technical Specs (from Olympus’s website):

Technical Specifications
Groups / Elements	10 / 14
Angle of View	84 – 20
Number of Blade Diaphragm	7
Minimum Aperture	f/22
Minimum Focusing Distance	0.25m
Filter Thread	72mm
Weight	575g
Dimension (Diameter x Length)	79.5 x 98.5mm
Macro Magnification Ratio	0.28X
Available at	Amazon, B&H Photo Video, Adorama

Optical Performance

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Olympus 12-60 Sharpness

Center sharpness is excellent on this lens at any focal length and aperture.

Border sharpness also follow the same characteristics at any focal length and aperture.

The point of maximum sharpness on this lens is at f/4, one stop above the maximum aperture.

Sharpness Scale (from Best to Worst):
(5) Excellent
(4) Great
(3) Good
(2) Fair
(1) Poor

Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 12-60mm f/2.8-4 SWD Center Sharpness

Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 12-60mm f/2.8-4 SWD Border Sharpness

Distortion

Being a wide angle lens, there is visible distortion at 12mm. At 18mm, distortion is negligible.

At 35mm and 60mm, there is a slight pincushion distortion, but it will not be visible unless you are a pixel peeper.

See the distortion test result below.

Vignetting

Vignetting is visible, especially at 12mm on f/2.8. You will need to stop down to f/5.6 to eliminate the vignetting at 12mm.

At 18mm, 35mm and 60mm, vignetting is very well controlled and it can be safely ignored.

See the full vignetting test result below.

Chromatic Aberration

Chromatic aberration is extremely well controlled on this lens at any focal length and aperture.

It is very low at most aperture and should be of no concern to most shooters.

Chromatic Aberration Scale (from Best to Worst):
(5) Negligible
(4) Very Low
(3) Low
(2) High
(1) Very High

Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 12-60mm f/2.8-4 SWD Chromatic Aberration

Build Quality

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Materials

High quality plastics combined with metal. Solid and excellent.

Zoom Ring

Zoom ring is quite smooth to operate. The lens dimension changes when you zoom towards the telephoto range.

There is no zoom creep on the lens.

Focusing

Autofocusing features the SWD (Supersonic Wave Drive) motor which makes the autofocus very fast and silent.

It is also accurate as well.

Image Stabilization

In the Four Thirds camera format, the Image Stabilization is installed on the sensor, not on the lens.

Check your Olympus DSLR to see if it has an Image Stabilization feature.

Compatibility

This lens is compatible with both Four Thirds and Micro Four Thirds camera (via a special adaptor).

Sample Image

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Below are some sample images taken with this lens. Click on any thumbnail to enlarge the images.

Get the best price online from these sites: Amazon, B&H Photo Video, Adorama.

Conclusion

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Alright, in this section, I will conclude this great Olympus 12-60 lens review.

This is an expensive, professional lens that is worth every penny.

If you are planning to shoot professionally with the Four Thirds Format camera, then this will be your walk around lens.

I have met many professional use this lens and almost all of them swear by this lens.

Optically, this lens is as sharp as it can get for the Four Thirds Format. Build quality is very good and it feels very professional.

The only inevitable downside on this lens is the vignetting at the widest focal length. You will need to stop down by two stops on this lens to eliminate the vignetting completely at 12mm.

Also the distortion is visible at the 12mm focal length.

Then there is the price. However, when you are looking at this lens, I assume you know what you want to do already with your photography.

This lens is a must have if you are going serious in shooting with a Four Thirds format.

Drawbacks

• Expensive
• Vignetting at the widest aperture at 12mm
• Visible barrel distortion at 12mm

Positives

• Very sharp on the center and on the borders at any aperture and focal lengths
• Good vignetting control at any aperture (except at 12mm)
• Good distortion control above 12mm
• Excellent chromatic aberration control
• Superb build quality
• Blazing fast and accurate autofocus performance

Good For

• Walk around professional zoom lens

Not So Good For

• Beginner’s lens

What Others Are Saying…

by “Ellamay B.”

This is an impressive lens, fast, wide, fairly long, and close focus abilities. I also own the 14-54mm F2.8-3.5, which had been my walk around lens until this one arrived. The 12-60mm is even…
Click here to see the full review

by “Earl E.”

I bought this lens based on reviews seen here and my overall satisfaction with the Olympus brand. Out of the box revealed a high quality made in Japan (not China)lens. The zoom ring is a little…
Click here to see the full review

Where to Buy

Support this site, buy the Olympus 12-60 lens from these sites (best price online):

Amazon (Best Price + FREE Shipping)

B&H Photo Video

Adorama

See the following related lens reviews to see more Micro four thirds lenses options options.

• Olympus 12-60
• Olympus 14-42mm
• Olympus 40-150mm
• Olympus 50-200

Alright, thanks checking out my Olympus 12-60 review and I will catch you around!

The Panasonic 45-200mm lens is the first telephoto zoom lens for the Micro Four Thirds camera. You can get this lens from either Amazon (Best Price + FREE Shipping), B&H Photo Video or Adorama.

Remember that you are helping me adding more cool stuff on this site whenever you get something from those store

This lens is used to be sold as one package with the Panasonic G1 camera, but it is also available separately. When used with the micro 4/3 sensor, the effective focal length will be 90-400mm.

That focal length is fantastic for sports (outdoor), wildlife and portraiture photography. Due to the small, non-constant aperture of this lens, I would not recommend this lens for dim light shooting though.

Personally, I use this lens more often than the 14-140mm because it delivers better quality for still photography (the 14-140mm is better for video shooting).

I always bring this lens along with the 14-45mm lens whenever I am shooting out.

To see my Panasonic 45-200mm review, read on.

Panasonic 45-200mm Specs

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Official Name:
Panasonic 45-200mm f/4-5.6 Mega O.I.S

Focal Length Markings:
45, 60, 75, 100, 150, 200mm

Features:
Micro Four Thirds Mount – Only compatible with Micro Four Thirds camera

Mega O.I.S – Panasonic’s term for Image Stabilization. This is the technology to counter camera bluriness caused by unsteady hand during shooting. Will help in making image sharper as a result.

Full Technical Specs (from Olympus’s website):

Technical Specifications
Groups / Elements	13 / 16
Angle of View	27 – 6.2
Number of Blade Diaphragm	7
Minimum Aperture	f/22
Minimum Focusing Distance	1m
Filter Thread	52mm
Weight	380g
Dimension (Diameter x Length)	70 x 100mm
Macro Magnification Ratio	0.19X
Available at	Amazon, B&H Photo Video, Adorama

Optical Performance

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Panasonic 45-200mm Sharpness

Sharpness is great on the center at any focal length and aperture.

Border sharpness is good as well at any aperture and focal length.

The sharpest aperture on this lens is f/5.6.

Sharpness Scale (from Best to Worst):
(5) Excellent
(4) Great
(3) Good
(2) Fair
(1) Poor

Panasonic 45-200mm f/4-5.6 Mega O.I.S Center Sharpness

Panasonic 45-200mm f/4-5.6 Mega O.I.S Border Sharpness

Distortion

Being a telephoto lens, distortion (especiall barrel) can be ignored on this lens. It is not visible at any and focal length.

See the distortion test result below.

Vignetting

Being a zoom lens for the Micro Four Thirds format, vignetting is apparent, especially on the widest aperture at any focal length.

To reduce vignetting greatly, stop down to f/8 at any focal length. At f/5.6 the vignetting is reduced greatly from the widest aperture, but to get the best, cleanest result, go with f/8.

See the full vignetting test result below.

Chromatic Aberration

Chromatic aberration is very well controlled on this lens. It can only ranges from very low to negligible which is excellent.

It is just ever so slightly apparent at 200mm but you can easily correct this with any post processing software.

See my chromatic aberration test result below.

Chromatic Aberration Scale (from Best to Worst):
(5) Negligible
(4) Very Low
(3) Low
(2) High
(1) Very High

Panasonic 45-200mm f/4-5.6 Mega O.I.S Chromatic Aberration

Build Quality

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Materials

Good quality plastic with metal mount.

Zoom Ring

The zoom ring operates very smooth on this lens. There is no zoom creep. The lens dimension will change during zooming towards the telephoto end.

Focusing

Focus ring also operates very smoothly. Autofocus speed is fairly fast, silent and accurate on this lens.

The front filter thread does not rotate so you can use a polarizing filter easily on this lens.

Image Stabilization

Panasonic added the Mega O.I.S image stabilization on this lens. With this lens, I was able to get up to 2 to 3 extra stops.

If you are using an Olympus Micro Four Thirds camera, be sure to turn off either the In Body Image Stabilization on the Olympus body or this lens’ Mega O.I.S.

Do not turn on both Image Stabilization function.

Compatibility

This lens is only compatible with Micro Four Thirds camera: both Olympus and Panasonic Micro Four Thirds can be used with this lens.

Note that this lens is not compatible with regular Four Thirds DSLR camera.

Sample Image

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Below are some sample images taken with this lens. Click on any thumbnail to enlarge the images.

Get the best price online from these sites: Amazon, B&H Photo Video, Adorama.

Conclusion

Back to: Menu • Introduction

OK, we’ve arrived at the conclusion section of this Panasonic 45-200mm lens.

As the first telephoto zoom lens for the Micro Four Thirds format, this lens really does not disappoint.

In terms of optical performance, it is very good. Sharpness is great both on the center and on the borders. This is true at any focal length and aperture.

Distortion and chromatic aberration are both controlled very well at any focal length and aperture.

The only issue would be the visible vignetting at the first 2 widest aperture (f/4.5 and f/5.6 namely). It will not be noticeable if you are not a “pixel peeper” though.

Build quality is very good on this lens, especially for a budget telephoto zoom lens. With the Mega O.I.S I can get extra 2 to 3 f-stops depending on how chilly the weather outside is

Overall, I would prefer this lens over the 14-140mm if you are not shooting HD movie.

I always carry the 14-45mm and this lens when I am using my Micro Four Thirds cameras.

If you are looking for a sharp telephoto zoom lens for still photography, this is the lens to get.

Drawbacks

• Visible vignetting at f/4.5 and f/5.6 at any focal length and aperture

Positives

• Good overall sharpness at any focal length and aperture
• Good distortion control at any focal length
• Excellent chromatic aberration control at any focal length and aperture
• Fast, silent and accurate autofocus performance
• Good build quality
• Excellent value for money

Good For

• All around telephoto lens
• Portraiture
• Sports photography on bright light
• Wildlife photography

Not So Good For

• Shooting anything under dim lighting condition

What Others Are Saying…

by “Draper Kauffman”

I have five lenses for my G1, but this is my favorite. Overall, it’s quite sharp and produces images with an excellent feel to them, particularly for such a comparatively low price. Initial test reports indicated…
Click here to see the full review

by “L. Rothman”

I have no idea why anyone would have this lens and not sing it’s praises. Perhaps, for some reason they did not get a good copy. I’ve now worked with 2 and both were stunningly fast to focus, sharp throughout…
Click here to see the full review

Where to Buy

Support this site, buy the Panasonic 45-200mm lens from these sites (best price online):

Amazon (Best Price + FREE Shipping)

B&H Photo Video

Adorama

See the following related lens reviews to see more Micro four thirds zoom lenses options options.

• Panasonic 45-200mm
• Panasonic 14-45
• Panasonic 20mm
• Panasonic 7-14mm

Alright, thanks checking out this Panasonic 45-200mm review and I will catch you in the next review!

The Panasonic 14-45 is the first kit lens for the Micro Four Thirds format. It was originally released with the Panasonic G1 camera.

You can get this lens from either Amazon (Best Price + FREE Shipping), B&H Photo Video or Adorama. Whenever you buy something from those site, you help me keep adding cool stuff here

I would consider myself a semi pro photographer who buy way too many expensive lenses and equipments. However, I do still find joy in using kit lenses. They are small, light and can be sharp.

One thing that surprises me on this lens is the build quality. Having been a user of the Nikon 18-55 VR lens, I did not expect the build quality to be great.

However, this lens proves me wrong. The build quality is very good for a kit lens. Everything is made from high quality plastics made with tight tolerance.

The filter thread also stays constant during focusing, which is great for a kit lens.

Panasonic also put their Mega O.I.S image stabilization technology on this lens. I can get up to 3 stops on this lens. Amazingly, they still manage to keep the lens body small and compact.

On top of the excellent build quality, this lens is sharp and cheap!

Optical performance is very good for a kit lens and it is priced very well.

If I can summarize this lens in one sentence, this will be it: So much value for so little money.

I would recommend this lens over the Olympus 14-42mm kit lens.

Read the Panasonic 14-45 review below if you want to see my full tests and findings.

Panasonic 14-45 Specs

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Official Name:
Panasonic 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6 Mega O.I.S

Focal Length Markings:
14, 18, 25, 35, 45mm

Features:
Micro Zuiko – Only compatible with Micro Four Thirds camera

Mega O.I.S – Panasonic’s term for Image Stabilization. This is the technology to counter camera bluriness caused by unsteady hand during shooting. Will help in making image sharper as a result.

Full Technical Specs (from Olympus’s website):

Technical Specifications
Groups / Elements	9 / 12
Angle of View	75 – 27
Number of Blade Diaphragm	7
Minimum Aperture	f/22
Minimum Focusing Distance	0.3m
Filter Thread	52mm
Weight	195g
Dimension (Diameter x Length)	60 x 60mm
Macro Magnification Ratio	0.17X
Available at	Amazon, B&H Photo Video, Adorama

Optical Performance

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Panasonic 14-45 Sharpness

This lens is very sharp on the center at any focal length and apertures.

Borders are quite good as well at any focal length and apertures, complementing the center sharpness nicely.

The optimal aperture on this lens is at f/5.6. To see the full sharpness test of this Panasonic 14-45 lens, look at the tables below.

Sharpness Scale (from Best to Worst):
(5) Excellent
(4) Great
(3) Good
(2) Fair
(1) Poor

Panasonic 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6 Mega O.I.S Center Sharpness

Panasonic 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6 Mega O.I.S Border Sharpness

Distortion

Distortion is apparent at the widest focal length (14mm). At 18mm it is only slightly visible.

At 25mm and 45mm distortion are completely gone and can be safely ignored.

See the distortion test for this Panasonic 14-45 lens below.

Vignetting

Typical of a kit zoom lens, vignetting is visible at 14mm on f/3.5. Stop down to f/5.6 to reduce it significantly.

At other apertures, vignetting is very well controlled.

See the full vignetting test result below for this Panasonic 14-45 lens.

Chromatic Aberration

The chromatic aberration result came as a surprise to me. I was not expecting this lens to perform this good.

Chromatic aberration is mostly negligible at any aperture and focal length. You can see the full Panasonic 14-45 vignetting test result below.

Chromatic Aberration Scale (from Best to Worst):
(5) Negligible
(4) Very Low
(3) Low
(2) High
(1) Very High

Panasonic 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6 Mega O.I.S Chromatic Aberration

Build Quality

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Materials

Good quality plastics with metal mounts. Everything is tight with no wobbly parts.

Zoom Ring

The zoom ring is very smooth to use. There is no zoom creep on this lens which is awesome!

The lens will extend when zoomed towards the telephoto range.

Focusing

Focus ring also operates very smooth. The front element of this lens does not rotate during focusing so using a polarizing filter is a snap.

Autofocus is very fast and silent, trademark of the contrast AF system.

Image Stabilization

Panasonic added the Mega O.I.S image stabilization on this lens. With this lens, I was able to get up to 3 extra stops.

If you are using an Olympus Micro Four Thirds camera, be sure to turn off either the In Body Image Stabilization on the Olympus body or this lens’ Mega O.I.S.

Do not turn on both Image Stabilization function.

Compatibility

The Panasonic 14-45 lens is only compatible with Micro Four Thirds camera: both Olympus and Panasonic Micro Four Thirds can be used with this lens.

Note that this Panasonic 14-45 lens is not compatible with regular Four Thirds DSLR camera.

Sample Image

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Below are some sample images taken with this Panasonic 14-45 lens. Click on any thumbnail to enlarge the images.

Get the best price online from these sites: Amazon, B&H Photo Video, Adorama.

Conclusion

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Alright, now I will conclude this Panasonic 14-45 lens review.

Being the first kit lens for the Micro Four Thirds format, this lens has performed very well.

I was surprised at first to see the build quality. It is inherently better than most kit lens for DSLR format. Yes, I think this is even better than my cheap Nikon 18-55mm VR lens.

Both focus and zoom ring is smooth. Autofocusing is fast and accurate as well.

In terms of optical performance, this lens has fared very well for a kit lens. It has sharp optics and the pictures that I took with this lens are contrasty.

It has some minor downsides such as visible distortion and vignetting at 14mm. However, for the price you pay, this is not something major and I would gladly deal with those (easily) in post processing instead.

I tend to lean towards this lens than to the Olympus 14-42mm kit lens.

I love the better build and the color rendetion that this Panasonic 14-45 gives out.

If you are looking for an excellent kit lens for your Micro Four Thirds camera, then I would highly recommend this lens.

Drawbacks

• Slightly visible vignetting at 14mm f/3.5
• Slightly visible distortion at 14mm

Positives

• Sharp on the center and borders at any aperture and focal length
• Superb chromatic aberration control
• Good build for a kit lens
• Fast and accurate autofocus
• Excellent Image Stabilization Up to 3 f-stops
• Great value for money

Good For

• Stay-on-the camera, walk around lens
• Landscape photography
• Street photography
• Moderate portraiture photography

Not So Good For

• Low light shooting due to the limited f/3.5 aperture. The Panasonic 20mm lens will compliment this lens nicely.

What Others Are Saying…

by “Amin Sabet”

I’ve owned the latest Canon and Nikon 18-55mm stabilized kit zooms, and this Panasonic has them beat in terms of sharpness across the frame, lack of color fringing, and build quality. The sharpness…
Click here to see the full review

by “Sean”

Compact, lightweight, quick autofocus, effective stabilization, and excellent sharpness. No light falloff issues. My main camera and lens combo is the Nikon D200 with a $1,300 17-55mm f/2.8 as the standard zoom…
Click here to see the full review

Where to Buy

Support this site, buy the Panasonic 14-45 lens from these sites (best price online):

Amazon (Best Price + FREE Shipping)

B&H Photo Video

Adorama

See the following related lens reviews to see more Micro four thirds lenses options options apart from this Panasonic 14-45 lens.

• Panasonic 14-45
• Panasonic 45-200mm
• Panasonic 45mm
• Panasonic 7-14mm

Alright, thanks checking out my Panasonic 14-45 review, hope you’ve enjoyed it and I will catch you around!

The Panasonic 7-14mm lens is the first and the best ultra wide angle lens for the Micro Four Thirds format to date. You can get this lens from either Amazon (Best Price + FREE Shipping), B&H Photo Video or Adorama. Anytime you use those links, you are helping me writing more cool stuff on this site. Thanks for your help!

During the launch date, there are many excitement and buzz around this lens. The 7mm focal length is the widest focal length out there in the Micro Four Thirds format and people have been wanting to get a wide angle lens for their Micro Four Thirds camera for a long time.

In terms of optical performance, this lens certainly delivers. It gives sharp and contrasty pictures at any aperture and focal length. All the optical defects are kept to a minimum which is very rare for an ultra wide angle lens.

In addition, the build quality is simply superb. This is simply the best built Micro Four Thirds lens that I have ever tested.

It does not stop there though. This lens has an amazingly fast and accurate autofocus speed as well.

However, all those features comes at a price. And that price is high.

At around $1000 USD, the Panasonic 7-14mm is not a lens that you can buy immediately without thinking. Also, the lens size is pretty large (currently this lens is the largest) compared to other lenses in the Micro Four Thirds format.

If you want to shoot extreme wide angle shots and demand the best quality out of your Micro Four Thirds camera, then get this Panasonic 7-14mm lens. Just remember that you will pay for the price.

If you are looking for a more compact (and cheaper) alternative to this Panasonic 7-14mm lens, check out my Olympus 9-18mm Micro Four Thirds lens review.

To read this Panasonic 7-14mm review further, scroll down below.

Panasonic 7-14mm Specs

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Official Name:
Panasonic 7-14mm f/4

Focal Length Markings:
7, 8, 9, 10, 12 and 14mm

Features:
Micro Four Thirds – Only compatible with Micro Four Thirds camera. Not compatible with Four Thirds DSLR camera.

Full Technical Specs (from Olympus’s website):

Technical Specifications
Groups / Elements	12 / 16
Angle of View	114 – 75
Number of Blade Diaphragm	7
Minimum Aperture	f/22
Minimum Focusing Distance	0.25m
Filter Thread	n/a
Weight	300g
Dimension (Diameter x Length)	70 x 83.1mm
Macro Magnification Ratio	0.08X
Available at	Amazon, B&H Photo Video, Adorama

Optical Performance

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Panasonic 7-14mm Sharpness

This lens is very sharp on the center at any aperture. On the borders, the same characteristics follow.

The point of maximum sharpness is at f/5.6 on this Panasonic 7-14mm lens.

Sharpness Scale (from Best to Worst):
(5) Excellent
(4) Great
(3) Good
(2) Fair
(1) Poor

Panasonic 7-14mm f/4 Center Sharpness

Panasonic 7-14mm f/4 Border Sharpness

Distortion

Being an ultra wide angle lens, distortion is apparent at 7mm but I would consider it to be very well controlled for a lens in this league.

At 10mm and 14mm, distortion is close to zero and can be ignored.

See the distortion test result for this Panasonic 7-14mm lens below.

Vignetting

Vignetting is apparent at the widest aperture at any focal length which is typical for an ultra wide angle lens.

Stop down to f/5.6, which is the optimal aperture of this lens to reduce vignetting significantly.

See the full vignetting test result below.

Chromatic Aberration

Surprisingly, chromatic aberration is extremely well controlled on this lens. Because this is so unusual, I had to conduct several testing and the results speak for themselves.

The chromatic aberration can be ignored at any focal length and at any aperture.

See the chromatic aberration test result below.

Chromatic Aberration Scale (from Best to Worst):
(5) Negligible
(4) Very Low
(3) Low
(2) High
(1) Very High

Panasonic 7-14mm f/4 Chromatic Aberration

Build Quality

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Materials

Combination of high quality plastics and metals. Probably the best built lens for the Micro Four Thirds format.

Zoom Ring

The zoom ring is very smooth and responsive. It has just the right amount of stiffness and it feels very professional.

The length of this lens remain constant (although the inner tube moves slightly) during zooming or focusing which is a characteristics shared by many professional lens in the DSLR world.

The front element of this somewhat similar to many fisheye lenses with the optics slightly bulging outwards. This design improves the optical quality but it will come at a cost: you cannot mount a filter on this lens.

You don’t have to worry too much because the built in lens hood will protect the lens properly.

Focusing

The autofocusing mechanism is extremely fast and silent. This is very unusual for a wide angle lens but nonetheless a very nice feature to have.

The accuracy tested was spot on.

Image Stabilization

This lens does not feature the Mega O.I.S function. Being an ultra wide angle lens, I do not think this feature is necessary.

If you are using an Olympus Micro Four Thirds camera, the Image Stabilization is installed on the sensor, not on the lens.

On the other hand, Panasonic install the Image Stabilization on the lenses. If you are using this lens with Panasonic Micro Four Thirds, then you will not get Image Stabilization feature.

Compatibility

This Panasonic 7-14mm lens is only compatible with Micro Four Thirds camera: both Olympus and Panasonic Micro Four Thirds can be used with this lens.

Note that this Panasonic 7-14mm lens is not compatible with regular Four Thirds DSLR camera.

Sample Image

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Below are some sample images taken with this Panasonic 7-14mm lens. Click on any thumbnail to enlarge the images.

Get the best price online from these sites: Amazon, B&H Photo Video, Adorama.

Conclusion

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Alright, now I will summarize and conclude this Panasonic 7-14mm lens review.

Being the first and widest ultra wide angle lens for the Micro Four Thirds format, this lens really did not disappoint.

Optical quality is very good. This lens is very sharp on the center and borders. Vignetting, chromatic aberration and distortion are all kept to a minimum degree.

They will not bother any photographers trying to get good super wide angle shots.

Build quality is built to the highest standard. I would even say that this lens is the best-built lens for the Micro Four Thirds format.

However, you will need to PAY a lot for those features. At close to $1000 range, this is certainly not a cheap lens by all means.

This price is comparable to many professional DSLR lenses out there.

If you can afford the price and want to get stunning ultra wide shots using the compact Micro Four Thirds format, then I would recommend this lens.

Note: If you cannot afford this price and want smaller lens, take a look at the Olympus 9-18mm Micro Four Thirds lens.

Below are my conclusions for this lens.

Drawbacks

• Expensive
• Visible vignetting at f/4
• No filter thread

Positives

• Very sharp on the center and on the borders at any focal length and aperture
• Great distortion control for an ultra wide angle lens
• Good vignetting control above f/4
• Excellent chromatic aberration control
• Superb build quality – the best so far in the Micro Four Thirds format lineup
• Smooth zoom ring – lens dimension does not change during zooming
• Amazingly fast autofocus performance

Good For

• Landscape photography
• Shooting indoor
• Street photography
• Shooting any extreme to moderate wide angle scene using a Micro Four Thirds Camera

Not So Good For

• Anyone looking for a compact wide angle lens for their Micro Four Thirds camera

What Others Are Saying…

by “Noirist”

First, an ultra-wide lens is very useful. The difference between 7mm and 14mm is enormous. The broad field of view at 7mm lets you take amazing landscape pictures. At 7mm, mountains are reduced to boulders, and boulders are…
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by “Ken Walsh”

This lens has been very hard to get for awhile now and it is certainly not cheap. It does, however, deliver the goods. It is a stunningly good performer and its diminutive size demonstrates the advantage the micro-four-thirds has in wide angle optics solutions with the…
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Where to Buy

Support this site, buy the Panasonic 7-14mm lens from these sites (best price online):

Amazon (Best Price + FREE Shipping)

B&H Photo Video

Adorama

See the following related lens reviews to see more Micro four thirds lenses options options.

• Panasonic 7-14mm
• Olympus 9-18mm Micro Four Thirds
• Panasonic 14-45
• Olympus 14-42mm Micro Four Thirds

Cool, thanks checking out this Panasonic 7-14mm review and I will catch you around!