Camera Labs

Hi everyone, Panasonic just announced two new motorised zooms for the Micro Four Thirds format - great for anyone who wants to smoothly zoom when filming video!

There's a pancake 14-42mm and a 45-175mm telephoto

Press releases at:

http://panasonic.net/avc/lumix/popup/pr ... ml#ps14042

http://panasonic.net/avc/lumix/popup/pr ... ml#ps45175

I'd say these are key advnatgaes the M4/3 system has over NEX and indeed any currend DSLR...

Purely on the X14-42, my initial thoughts are the price isn't that bad, compared to premium "slow" zooms on SLRs, although most lenses on the system are still priced above average for what you get.

I really like the small size, and it is a big bonus they still managed to fit OIS in it. My biggest concern is the power zoom. I'm not sure I'd want to give up manual zoom which to me feels like a compact camera level feature. They do say it is multi-speed, so maybe it isn't that bad in practice. I find myself less bothered about optical quality, providing it is good enough. If I stay in m4/3 format, this would go in the "maybe" pile of acquisitions.

Can't get enthused about the longer lens at all though... too big and not enough range for my tastes.

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

I think Panny is jumping the shark. Trying to make everything smaller and smaller for some reason, loosing site of details.. No manual zoom, no Filter - I wonder about the lens cap, is it automatic.

I just heard about the next 2 lenses (fast), 12-35 & 35-100 in the $2000 range.. Come on.. It seems they are marketing to the extreme ends of the spectrum, nothing in between. Large aperture lenses are great but correct me if im wrong, 2x crop factor kind of kills the depth of field / bokeh..

Just my 2 cents, I may be interested in the 14-42 compact for my GF2, but the thought of no manual zoom no filters turns me off..

Motorized zoom = more things to break.

The X14-42 makes almost perfect sense for the compact upgrader, the only weakness being the price could be lower. I do feel there is a disconnect there if it is aimed at more serious photographers. But they are doing the right thing by offering smaller lenses. A small body is pointless without a small lens to match.

2x crop factor will put it at a disadvantage compared to bigger sensors, but it isn't that much different from APS-C which is still "good enough" for many. Since you're never going to get bigger sensors on m4/3, you just have to make do with what you have and provide the best possible. So I do think ultra fast premium lenses have a place sooner or later. Although a higher end body would help too!

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

I think the motorised zoom aspect is a game-changer when it comes to movies. Get yourself a point and shoot and you can smoothly zoom while filming with most of them. Get a DSLR or ILC for better quality and you lose that smooth zoom option - indeed it's impossible to zoom smoothly while filming. These new lenses give you the best of both worlds: smooth zooming while filming on a camera with a big sensor. I know a lot of people who'll love it.

I'm also really pleased someone finally made an ILC zoom that's small, as the existing kit zooms have always spoilt the overall look and size for me, and the lack of a compact zoom puts a lot of people off. Sure the pancake primes look great, but most for better or worse people want a zoom.

So while the new lenses aren't perfect, I think they'll turn a lot more people onto ILCs...

I guess I see things with a photographer's hat on. A manual zoom will be faster to use and offers better control. Movies are totally unimportant to me.

I agree the small size is a big plus, and would be a huge selling point. But I think the positioning as a premium lens isn't quite right. It needs to be cheaper, basically it should be the kit lens. Or alternatively they should make a cheaper version (same size, lower cost, lower quality) as the standard kit lens. I guess the price as a premium lens isn't bad, but it would put it out of reach of the masses who just buy the kit.

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Forgot to mention, there's two more lenses in the X series that have been announced. There will be 12-35 and 35-100 lenses. Aperture hasn't been disclosed, but based on early photographs I estimate the 35-100mm could be no faster than f/2.8. Look back at the focal lengths: 12-35 and 35-100 would be equivalent field of view to 24-70 and 70-200. Sound familiar?

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Certainly exciting times for M4/3!

M4/3 is certainly getting interesting. I never liked it, but am starting to seriously consider getting a GF3 kit with this new 14-42 pancake. (I understand Panasonic will release such a kit in the near future.) That is like having an LX5 on steroids. The only thing I am very curious about is what Panasonic will come up with as the GF above the GF3. Maybe its features will make an even better combination with this pancake.

In any case I think with this as a standard zoom, M4/3 is finally making sense (to me). That, and the 25mm summilux... That lens will top my wishlist if (when) I buy a GF.

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Canon 7D | EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS