Panasonic HFS014042 14-42mm Zoom lens for Micro third cameras

This is a cheap, small and light lens for m4/3 cameras. It has built-in image stabilization that is active on Panasonic cameras and is inactive when using Olympus cameras (which is perfect, because Olympus bodies have in-body stabilization). The lens is a larger but lighter than the collapsible Olympus 14-42. It also costs about 1/3rd of the price and comes with a hood. In my opinion, it also looks better. I could discern no difference in image quality between the lenses, with both being very good. The Panasonic lens is also easier to remove from the camera because it has that wide gray area to grip it by. For the price, this lens is unbeatable.

It's a wonderful lens, producing great colors and sharp pictures at every focal length. I also own the Panasonic 14-140 lens, which produces pictures with an unnatural, extreme contrast and sharpness when used in bright sunlight, almost painful to the eye and in need for reducing the contrast in post processing. Therefore, in such bright and high contrast lighting situations I prefer the 14-42 for its ability to produce more natural and balanced results with much more detail in shadows. But don't get me wrong, the 14-140 is also a great lens, perfect for using on cloudy days, also indoors and in low light situations. Using them on DMC G7.

I must admit, I shopped cheap for this lens. I found an Olympus Pen E-PL1 with the Zuiko 14-42mm kit lens included on Amazon Warehouse deals. I have a Canon dSLR Rebel T3i, but was wanting to go down with size and weight for certain occasions. My photos are usually my dogs and wildlife/birds taken while kayaking or camping with the dogs. I had read about the 4/3 systems and decided I would like to try one. Since the price was definitely right for this package I went for it, and I got the Panasonic G Vario 4-5.6, 45 - 200 lens also as used at the same time. When they arrived, the 14 -42 mm lens was inoperatable, a first for me after purchasing 100's of items from the Warehouse site. Since the camera worked GREAT with the larger lens, I wanted to keep it so Warehouse Deals issued a partial refund on the camera package. I then ordered this lens, based on reviews, again "used" from Warehouse deals, and it arrived today. It does have a small piece of something between the elements BUT, it is at the base and after doing test shots with different solid backgrounds, there is NO evidence of it in the photos so I am happy with it. I must say, while I KNEW I wasn't buying a "L" lens from Canon, I am extremely pleased with this lens so far. Yes, it does feel plasticy and, yes, cheap, but, lets face it people...it IS an inexpensive lens!!! The zoom is smooth as can be, focus is achieved instantly either by auto OR manual, and the colors are superb!!! In fact, I actually like the colors better than those with the canon. I do miss the ability to take photos in darker conditions, but again, I DID NOT expect to be getting a Canon with an L lens and this lens is pretty small to gather a bunch of available light. It is a GREAT size for a walk around lens, pretty much what I was looking for! I expect to mainly use this for general photos of people and pets while kayaking, etc., and also have the Canon along with long lens for those further away shots and for shots at dusk.

This lens is adequate, in build the focus ring grabs when turned. From a youtube video I learned that it was possible to get somewhat average bokeh. Add the hundred dollar used price and you have a lens that teaches patience. The upgrade to this lens is a much better build, I recommend it for less than twice the price used.

Bought this lens for my Panasonic Lumix GX1. I have 4 lenses for the camera: Sigma 19mm F2.8, Sigma 30mm F2.8, Olympus 40-150 'R' version. Optically the three other lenses are superior to this one. But as a kit lens and for the price (I bought it for $89 used), I won't complain anything. It is not as sharp or contrasty as the 2 primes or the telephoto lens, but it is probably the most useful lens when you walk around the city snapping away. Okay I read some of the reviews by Olympus camera owners. Please do some research before buying. Optically this lens is very poor with huge distortion. A Panasonic camera corrects such distortion with in-camera software, so the final images come out nicer. If you own an Olympus micro 4/3 camera, go for the Olympus lenses. This lens does not make any sense for Olympus cameras.

Bought this lens for a mere $99.00 Great lens I would say, although it is plastic mount and not metal mount, nevertheless, this is what makes this a very light lens. Has a very quiet focus, would be nice if it had an image stabilization switch on the lens itself though. I am using this lens on a Lumix G1 and a PEN E-PL1 and it works very well on both of these cameras.

Fits perfect with my Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera (BMPCC). It's very light weight and feels a bit cheap and flemsy, but for less than $200 I can't complain. The image quality is great. Of course, zoom and focus controls are both manual only. This is a great starter lens for the BMPCC.

I have been playing with this lens on a Lumix DMC-G3K camera I recently purchased. I have been extremely pleased with the photos I have been getting. Especially indoors. I have an Olympus E-volt 410 and various high end point and shoot. I have never gotten better, more accurate indoor photos. And there is great color separation. We have a 2 year old daughter and she is often in many shades of red, pink, lavender, and mauve. The colors retain their distinctness even when right next to each other. Obviously this is also due to the camera body as well, but the lens also is performing well. Outdoors colors have also been accurate and vibrant. Photos are detailed and crisp. I got the G3 to also take video. This is where it gets interesting. I am a lefty. I have always held the camera body in my right hand and zoomed, focused with my left. I noticed choppy zoom taking video this way. But if I twisted the lens with my right hand while video shooting I was able to consistently have much smoother movements. The body is small enough that I cradle it with my left hand between thumb and forefinger. It is actually pretty comfortable this way. Twisting the lens zoom with my right hand and thumb to the left and underneath it produces pretty even zoom. It can be choppy but generally I am getting a smooth zoom this way. Very good outdoor quality. Indoor the colors are still amazingly accurate but there is some noise. Note that the PZ line is supposed to be 'HD'. Lens designed with both pictures and video in mind. I have ordered the 45-175 PZ lens. It has had some issues with 'double images' at certain shutter speeds. But I looked at many videos shot with it on Youtube and they look amazing. Bottom line at this price point: excellent photos indoors and out. Good video and fairly smooth zoom with good technique. But it does not, I am sure, get the most out of the video abilities of a good micro 4/3.

Happy to use it on bmpcc, since it has mft mount, and a clear vision....

Das Objektiv ist als Allrounder gut zu verwenden die Abbildungsleistung ist für ein "Kit-Objektiv" sehr gut. Der Autofokus ist schnell und in den meisten Fällen auch präzise . Der Zoom läuft leicht und ohne haken.Die Anfangsblende ist mit 3.5 Standard und besonders im Weitwinkel in den meisten Fällen völlig ausreichend. Insgesamt bin ich mit dem Objektiv sehr zufrieden.

プラスチック感はありますが小型・軽量、ズームもパワー無しでも使い勝手は良いです 同時に購入したボディと共、10,000円ちょっとで入手出来て満足しています

描写性能は5000円にしては優秀でした ただ、梱包は良かったのですがレンズのリアキャップがついてなくて そこは残念な点でした お散歩や旅行には軽いので良いのではないでしょうか？僕はLUMIXG99につけて使用していますが十分です

A terrible lens. The 20mm prime that Lumix sells is great though.