The new lenses have been announced. Keep checking this post as I will continually update it with all news and reviews I can found on the web!
Preorders
Black 14-42mm X lens is available for preorder at Amazon (Click here).
Silver 14-42mm X lens is available for preorder at Amazon (Click here).
Black 45-175mm X lens is available for preorder at Amazon (Click here).
Silver 45-175mm X lens is available for preorder at Amazon (Click here).
Black GF3 with 14-42mm X lens at Amazon (Click here).
Red GF3 with 14-42mm X lens at Amazon (Click here).
White GF3 with 14-42mm X lens at Amazon (Click here).
Highlights
Panasonic Lumix X 14-42mm Lens, expected price $399 or £350.
Panasonic Lumix X 45-175mm Lens, expected price $449.99 or £400.
Panasonic Lumix GF3X Lens and Camera Kit, expected price <£600.
Availability: end of October.
According to Panasonic the X lenses it will be fully compatible with Olympus cameras!
Not fully compatible with G1, G2 and GF1.
PowerZoom is multi-speed
It doesn’t rotate on focusing (you can use filters!)
Previews and Image samples
Hot!Nice X lens preview with video at Techradar.
Hot! MTF charts and Image samples of the 14-42mm X lens at Panasonic.net.
Hot! MTF charts and Image samples of the 45-175mm X lens at Panasonic.net.
New X versus old 14-42mm lens spec comparison at SLRclub.
Panasonic 14-42mm X Lens Hands-On Photos at Photographyblog.
Panasonic 45-175mm X Lens Hands-On Photos at Photographyblog.
Hot! Lens size comparison at SLRclub.
Hot! 14-42mm X lens preview at Dpreview.
Panasonic X Lens 14-42mm Hands On at ePhotozine.
Panasonic Lumix X Lens 45-175mm Hands On at ePhotozine
Video
More videos: Dpreview 14-42mm X af test on vimeo.
Panasonic GF3 14-42mm Power Zoom lens demonstration on vimeo.
Panasonic X retractable pancake zoom on youtube.
Press release
45-175mm at Openpn (french)
14-42mm at Openpn (french)
Panasonic.net.
Cnet Asia.
Photographyblog.
Engadget.
Panasonic Japan (translated in english).
Amateur Photographer.
Pocket-Lint.
Systemkameraforum (german).
Imaging Resource.
Quesabesde (spanish).
Photoscala (german).
Hot! Interview at ePhotozine.
14-42mm X at Dpreview.
45-175mm X at Dpreview.
First press release at DSLRmagazine.
Focus Numerique.
Hot Interview by ePhotozine
“There may be a more lenses such as macro, more zoom, large aperture, and prime lenses in the pipeline. While we were unable to have specifics, more lenses are already in the works, and on the X lens roadmap. High quality lenses have been developed after learning Leica qualities and applying them to their own designs, and by using software correction they are able to correct any distortion caused by the more compact lenses. This will mean that the distortion will / may show on RAW images, and that Panasonic will need to update RAW support for these new lenses.”
“He also said that the GH3 is not due imminently, as the GH2 is still extremely popular, but that there is a high end GF series camera in the works.”
Poll
Read the tests and previews first and than vote!
[poll id=”82″]
More Panasonic news
Panasonic firmware updated coming (CNET Asia).
Panasonic is launching a new photo sharing service called Lumix Club (Photographyblog).
Panasonic launches Lumix DMC-FZ150 12MP 24x 1080p60 MOS superzoom (Dpreview).
Lumix FX90 Wi-Fi-enabled touchscreen compact camera (Dpreview).
Panasonic DMC-LX5 firmware 2.0 brings image and handling improvements (Dpreview).
121 Responses
First! Sweet lenses
-disappointed and confused the 45-175mm X will not be supported for use with the GH1 via firmware update.
-zoom is only 2 speed
The Lumix DMC-FZ150 pixel count has been reduced (maybe a good sign for the GH3) and has the new AVCHD standard.
The Lumix DMC-FX90 compact comes with wi-fi, another good sign.
apparently it’s the new POWER OIS that won’t be working with the older Panasonic G series camera models but the rest of the functions will 😀
Zoom speed has two steps so it’s not two speed.
Probably if you turn slow it has a lowerconstand speed and if you turn fast or keep the ring turned it will use the second faster zooming speed. It was like that with an EOS lens I had in the late eighties/early nineties when the EOS700 came out.
I sold it to aquire higher quality zoom.
They look very well made. When can I have one?
Not too bad price if correct. Particulary the 14-42 looks interesting provided IQ is good. These might be what’s needed to get more enthusiast to select m4/3.
Yes, if the ePhotozine price is correct than it’s not as bad as I thought it would be!
Yeah, thank goodness! And that’s MSRP, street will be MUCH lower since it’s a kit lens and they lose a ton of value quickly.
Very cool! I was just thinking about buying a GF3, maybe I’ll get one with the new “X” lens kit 🙂
I am interested in whether this can be used on Olympus pen such as E-P1.
Yes, that’s the whole idea of a lens mount standard. Some features might not be available, like a faster focusing, but it’ll take pictures, apertures will work, etc.
well, that makes more sense, the 45-175 mm is like a normal lens with powerzoom. only the 14-42 mm that doesn’t seem to have focus ring or manual zoom. now it fits. you can use the 45-175 for video and photography.
and if it’s all correct, the X Lens is very interesting, I was dubious about the “bad news” because it didn’t make sense, I think now it makes more sense.
They’ve sacrificed zoom- and focusring on the 14-42 for size. Good move IMO, there certainly aren’t any problem to find m4/3 14-42s with a manual focus and zoom.
I agree, I think that in a basic lens like this, the compactness is more important, even more when you are trying to sell a compact camera. now it can really be appealing for someone that are trying to upgrade from a P&S, right? the GF3+X 14-42mm is the only kit that will be really compact. there are prime lens kits, but for the average P&S upgrader, not having zoom is a bad thing, even if the prime is a faster lens, since they don’t even know what that is.
There is a manual focus switch control on the lens!!!
They just have changed the shape of the focus by drive controller 🙂
Also PowerZoom is multi-speed. Panasonic has answered all my concern about this lens. 😀
the price doesn’t look so outrageous, but let’s wait for official numbers. but so far it makes more sense, a GF-like camera with such a small zoom makes the CSC make sense. Because every time that I look at the NEX lenses – where are the pancakes? -, it makes me question about the whole compactness thing.
F3.5? no thank
if you can really make a good quality lens with powerzoom you can make it much more appealing for a videographer – which is a niche that Panasonic did well with the GH cameras.
I also think that the 14-42mm will be the only “basic” lens, because it’s meant to be a good kit with a compact camera like the GF3. the others lenses will be aimed at video enthusiasts AND photographers that want good quality lenses.
as the normal user won’t want or need a lens like that, the “premium lens” thing makes sense. it’s not intended to say it’s like a Canon L lens, but rather a lens for those that want something more – quality glass and/or a lens that is good for video.
it’s a nice way to counter Sony’s new cameras. Sony said that they were aiming at video enthusiasts, SLT cameras, in theory, can have a good/fast AF during video, the new cameras have AVCHD 2.0, which allows 1080p60, due to bigger sensor, Sony’s cameras can have a better low-light performance, etc. but at the same time, it can also steal some people that were also thinking about buying a Canon, since Canon’s cameras have good quality videos – still a little soon to talk about new Sony’s cameras video quality.
right now, Panasonic is the only one that makes this kind of lenses, which is video friendly, at least in zoom department, but since they claim the quality is good, the powerzoom can be a plus.
I know that you don’t use zoom all the time when to shoot videos, but when you want to do it and you don’t want the video to look unnatural, the powerzoom is very welcomed, even more if you consider that it’s a plus to the good glass.
right now I’m waiting Panasonic to make a move with the GH3 so I can decide which camera I want – I’d love a global shutter sensor with electronic shutter – but that electronic first curtain shutter can do it, I think – even though a better rolling shutter correction can be better if they don’t manage to keep the noise low in the global shutter, all I want is a acceptable at ISO 1600, preferable at 3200.
actually the GH3 thing is for the future, because I need a camera right now. I’m between a G3 and a NEX-5n. If the G3 had full manual control like the NEX-5n I would go for it, but the G3 doesn’t have, for unknown reason – take the ext mic input off wasn’t enough?
Can they add full manual control via firmware? I think they can, but I don’t think they will. But they should, it makes the G3 less interesting.
Besides that the NEX-5n has AVCHD 2.0. and would give me more versatility, if I wanted more bokeh, I could go for the NEX-5n and if I wanted better video controls or more zoom power, I could go for the GH3 – I don’t really understand why the A77 don’t have audio control, it should have. I really wanted a better control over variable frame rate so I could make time lapse as well, not only slo-mo.
I wouldn’t care if Panasonic made the GF7 cost the same as the GH2 and the GH3 a bit higher but with more feats or better quality stuff – say EVF and live view monitor.
you can make time lapse with a cheap versatile intervalmeter available on ebay maye admin can provide a link
but it would be nice to have that on camera, right?
of course 😀 but it is more versatile than other camera’s built in intervalmeteres, maybe the GH3 will have…
how come they didn’t list GF1 on their press release?
is the new 14-42mm lens compatible with the GF1?
I hope they add support to gf1 in a later firmware.
That is the big question. It looks like the answer is “No” for now!
GF1 was discontinued almost a year ago.
Everything is outdated after a year. Buy “all new and improved” gear! I find it utterly amazing how accepting consumers are of such marketing shenenigans.
The pancake zoom looks good for what it is, but obviously isn’t of much use to serious videography. The fact that they put the power zoom on the bigger lens is cool, though — presumably they’ll do the same with all the future X lenses. People who think zoom is always terrible for video aren’t being realistic, although I don’t use it very often.
Time to pre-order two more lenses for my GH1….these will be PERFECT for my needs, and the price isn’t as bad as I feared. Good job Panasonic!
– Olympius
Time to get a 14-42 for my E-P3! Looks quite nice.
Japanese Panasonic said that they will update firmware for only DMC-GF2/GF3/G3/GH2 to be more ease to use.
New firmware is step zooming, keep the last zoom value after turn off, change the speed of zooming. Sorry for my poor English.
Thanks Uiti! Can you send us a link to the news source?
At http://www.43rumors.com/ft5-new-panasonic-x-lens-series-coming-pro-lenses/ you’ve said: “that is only the first part of the surprise, the second part will be published as soon as I get more out of my sources!”
So, can we now hear the second part of the surprise 🙂 ?
The cameras 🙂 Coming soon!
My bet on what’s coming (very soon):
A slightly reworked GF3 (rocker + software ad UI) to fully take advantage of the 14-42 X pancake. The lens+camera bundle sold as “GF3X” for 600-700 USD and ..bang! Rocking the bridge-camera market big time!
“Devil is in the detail”
thx Miroslav 😉
Panasonic cameras?
Japanese website
http://panasonic.co.jp/corp/news/official.data/data.dir/jn110826-1/jn110826-1.html
Thanks! 🙂
uiti=yuiti?
It seems I was right with the Power MF switch for the 14-42mm! Now Panasonic, bring us a remote control for those beasts! 😉
Why would they have to upgrade RAW support? Correction is already part of the metadata… Surely it would just be part of the lens firmware?
“The Panasonic Lumix X 45-175mm lens features internal focus and zoom, so it never extends beyond it’s 90mm length.”
Awesome 🙂
Don’t know about RAW-upgrade, but they might have added new metadata that wasn’t in the original raw spec.
It’s supposed to be compatible with the Pen but I wonder how you turn OIS on and off on the Pen.
Good question, maybe firmware update?
Though, I suppose you can turn the PEN’s IS off and just rely on the lens.
was hoping for f/2.8 on the tele. sad day.
*looks at sigma 50-150 f/2.8* more days ahead of you my friend.
haha
“haha” at you addressing your Sigma. Not “haha” that it’s a sad day.
Time to ditch 14-140MM, internal zoom ftw!
yes this is what I want!!!!
1/2 Revolution… ;-I (yes: 14-42mm, no: 45-175)
I hope for a 45-300 HD POIS X pancake 🙂
Yeah, F2 constant aperture 🙂 :).
Pancake tele = size 50% smaller than 100-300, not the 14/2.5 size…
Then we should call it “pie” not “pancake” :).
Joking aside, I’m with you, this technology should be transferred to other lenses, ultrazooms and teles especially.
The 14-42mm X could be a game changer not only for m4/3 but for the photo world.
If Panasonic could sell a GF3 kit with that lens for around 500 USD, I don’t see why would anyone want to buy their LX5, Canon G12, Nikon P7100, Olympus XZ-1, Fuji X10/X50 or any other premium compact. Nikon mirrorless would be in a bad situation as well.
Reasonably priced G3 with 14-42mm X ( say 550 USD ) could strike upwards at APS-C competition. It could justify its slightly lower IQ compared to entry level DSLRs and mirrorless cameras by much smaller size. Just look at http://www.photographyblog.com/images/uploads_news/panasonic_14_42mm_x_33.jpg !
So, the potential is there. It’s just a question of whether Panasonic want to take a risk of slightly lower price and do they really want to destroy the competition. This is a big coup for Panasonic, let’s see whether they take full advantage from it.
Is it true that these lenses will only be compatible with the GF-3, GF-2 and G3? If so, that’s ridiculous. Panasonic is basically telling me that my 7 month old GH2 is already out of date. What is Panasonic thinking?
Seeing as how the GH2 is one of the best video HDSLR’s out there, I don’t know how Panasonic can completely miss making these “video optimized” lenses (hence the HD logo) work for the GH2. Hopefully they’ll release an update in the future for the other M4/3’s cameras.
it will work on the GH2!!!
Ok that’s great to hear. I read Engadget’s post and they only had the GF2, GF3 and G3 listed.
They have updated it later: “They’ll be compatible with all G-series cameras at launch, without the need for a firmware update.”
They too removed the “Panasonic is leaving it up to Olympus to release supporting firmware for its own cameras.” – but it is clear that Oly bodies can’t control POIS of the lenses at the moment and would need a FW update.
Don’t worry, GH2 compatibility is mentioned on Panasonic’s Japanese website, and Dpreview have a photo showing the 14-42mm mounted to the GH2, so presumably it already works. Relax 🙂
that doesn’t make sense, so I don’t think so.
From the video, the control over precise zooming seems awkward.
Or is it step zooming. Can’t tell.
Going for breakfast now (8.15 Berlin time). Will be back in 30 minutes with new updates!
seems like it won’t work with the GF1 …..
That compact 14-42mm is a really cool lens! Gotta give Panasonic props on it.
Game changer.
They aren’t compatible with my GF1. This is ridiculous move by Panasonic
THE camera is also the x-series? GFX?
Just wonderingXD
Close 😉
GX1 then 😛
+1
And that doesn’t mean GX2 :).
GX1 name makes sens!
i’ll go to pray for the sensor god, especially after seeing the E-P3 vs NEX-5N comparison on EOSHD, admin, why dont you publish that?
EP-3 demolishes the NEX-5N in the creativity stakes (report also says the EP-3 does better in accuracy) and to be honest I don’t see many real world photos at ISO 12800 around, do you?
+100.
I want my real GF1 Mark II 🙂
Basically GH3 guts inside GF1 shape plus Nex-7 EVF AND OPTION for external ones in the future!
EVF is a must
multi aspect is a must
button layout from GF1 plus AF-On
As for lenses:
45-300 optimized for 300
70-90/2.8 HD POIS macro Leica
50/1.4 Leica
and they can price it whatever they want
So fat it seems it doesn’t work on all first-gen G cameras.
What a shame.
Can you add that to the “features” list admin?
And also you should add that it has a manual focus button-thingy.
I guess it will work on GH1, GF1. Just nothing new firmware.
It means that no step zoom, can’t change the speed of zooming.
Whhhhhaaaaaat?
I have a GF1 & a GH1.
No way I buy these lenses if not fully compatible.
Why? Are there “physical” limitations of it’s just Panasonic not bothering making an update of the “older” cameras. I mean, you can still buy the GF1 & GH1 new in a lot of shops.
What I found on the uiti link:
Firmware update for the camera body used to enjoy more comfortable motorized zoom lens *
Compatible models: DMC-GF2/GF3/G3/GH2
Firmware update content:
– Locate the LCD screen can be zoomed in “view focal length,”
– To zoom to a fixed focal length of each “step zoom” feature to add.
– Remembering the zoom position when the power is OFF
– Can select the speed of the electric zoom
They all look uncredibly useful to me 🙁
that all sounds incredibly useful to me 😀
I am not impressed. No GF1 support, but also there is nothing premium in f/3.5 – 5.6. Slow lens is a slow lens, no matter what coating it has. I just hope future “Premium” lenses are actually going to be premium instead of this.
Premium, a softer version of Luxury 😀
DPreview states the 14-42mm x is $400 dollars????? ( £350 in uk)
I can pick up the original 14-42mm for under £80!
I see this price point being there as they dont want to drop prices on old 14-42mm stock.
No buy from me!
As even the $700 G3 kit was about to seriously “probe” my pocket, the $400 price is definitely high for me for a normal kit lens. What a pity. But – you know – money and East-European people…
look like 45-175 has 2 zoom’s systems right?? you can see it from the picture!!!!
it means we can use manual zoom for still photo and power zoom for video!!!
Looking at http://panasonic.net/avc/lumix/systemcamera/gms/lens/g_x_vario_14_42.html the MFT charts look equal or better than 14-45. Good Job!
> http://www.ephotozine.com/article/panasonic-announce-two-new-power-zooms-17214
> High quality lenses have been developed after learning Leica qualities and applying them to their own designs, and by using software correction they are able to correct any distortion caused by the more compact lenses.
Looks like Panasonic totally missed the quality point because Leica doesn’t approve using software to hide mediocre optics.
And that’s marketing talk for this wide zoom having probably uncorrected barrel distortion, heavy vignetting and already normally hard to fully correct CA.
Well, I can accept those software corrections when it’s for making this kind basic zoom pocketable pancake for casual carrying but when it comes to in any case non pocketable lenses I’m with the Leica.
> If there are features you want adding, contact Panasonic and let them know.
Hard to do when you don’t have any way to contact them directly and it’s very doubtfull that feature requests made to standard run of the mill local consumer tech support will make it anywhere except maybe to null device.
I’ve looked at the Panasonic sample pics on their website, and it looks like they learned very few from leica. I see just a slight improvement in quality with respect to the 14-42 zoom and even lower with respect to the 45-200. The 25mm is still another planet.
Probably I will buy these lenses in the long run but just for the dimension. Also I cannot zoom in videos with the crappy manual zoom of the 14-42 kit. So they are better lens, but if you have to correct with software distorion you cannot ever call them pro or premium or whatever…
according to Andy Westlake on dpreview
“OK, it’s not entirely clear what functionality won’t work on those cameras not listed for FW updates, but it’s possibly only the ‘Power’ OIS (with the more standard ‘Mega’ OIS continuing to work). The power zoom control itself works fine on older cameras. “
Admin, do you know if is the new 14-42mm lens compatible with the Oly E-P3?
Power zoom works on the E-P3!
awesome 😀
Not fully compatible with my LESS THAN 1 YEAR OLD GF-1 ? That’s the deal breaker for me – bye bye Panny, Hello Oly 12mm & 45mm……..
Well, I’ll be damned – the 14-42 does have a filter thread. At first I thought it would be hard to use, but since the lens automatically extends to maximum length when it’s powered-on, there should be no problems.
Would be neat if they managed to make it pancake-like at 14mm, but that was probably too much to ask for.
Edit: Looks like you can’t use a filter and the lens cap at the same time.
As it appears, Panasonic does not want to make G1, GH1 & GF1 compatible to the new lenses via a new firmware.
If, like me you feel that as owner G1 and/or GF1 and/or a GH1 and thus deserve to have the new lenses compatible with your body, you can sign the following petition.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/gf1gh1_lumixgx/
Firmware update content*:
– Locate the LCD screen can be zoomed in “view focal length,”
– To zoom to a fixed focal length of each “step zoom” feature to add.
– Remembering the zoom position when the power is OFF
– Can select the speed of the electric zoom
*http://panasonic.co.jp/corp/news/official.data/data.dir/jn110826-1/jn110826-1.html
I think those features are a lot to miss!
How many users of G1, GF1, GH1 are we out there? Aren’t we enough potential buyers of the new lenses?
I have invested in 2 PANA bodies (GF1, GH1, namely) and 3 PANA lenses (not counting the legacy lenses). Panasonic “abandoning” owners of 1st generation bodies, is “shaking” my trust for Panasonic. I do not have a big budget to invest in new bodies very year or 2, which makes me wonder if I should keep on investing into the system.
Whine, whine, whine. Before you have any idea, why older bodies can’t be updated (maybe they will, it is just an early announcement), stop whining.
We have no idea, why the updates might be impossible. It could be some electronics, a not powerful enough processor, too much battery consumption – whatever.
Just get rid of your old bodies and buy new ones. That helps m4/3 developing further, because the company need fresh sales in order to spend money on R&D.
In other words: if you want to enjoy the new technologies, you need to pay. If you prefer to stay with your old bodies, just continue to use them and shoot as you were used to. But stop whining and blaming the manufactures for inventing new stuff.
I do not agree with you. Panasonic did stop selling and producing Gf1 and Gh1 not so long ago. Some people bought those bodies less than 1 year ago.
When you buy a body, you buy into a system and expect to profit from the system new developments without having to change bodies every 1 or 2 years. You might have this kind of money, I don’t.
Also, I do not think that there is much diffence sensor and processor wise between Gf1 and Gf2…
Anyhow, I was eager to buy the pancake some and slap it on my GF1… And I do not have enough money to buy the EP-3, the only replacement I can see for my GF1
My GF-1 is LESS THAN 1 YEAR OLD. I’m not here to fund Panasonics R&D section – I’m here due to my interest in taking pictures. Are you seriously advocating that a camera bought 8 months ago manufactured to the M4/3 STANDARD should not be compatible with an M4/3 lens FROM THE SAME manufacturer ?
The GF1 has been out for nearly 2 years & Panasonic announced it’s replacement the GF2 in Nov 2010
If you bought it 8 months ago then it was already superceded by a new model, which in turn has been superceded by the GF3
Most manufacturers & software suppliers support the current & previous models/versions – and that’s it.
Nothing new here folks – move along…
PS: Nikon lenses follow similar behaviour
Fred, you’re missing the point. Panasonic were still selling it 8 months ago to a STANDARD called M4/3. The GF-2/3 are different cameras with the same sensor aimed at a different demographic to the GF-1 – remember how all the enthusiasts howled with the anguish at the dumbing down ? If it’s so different then why call it ‘superseding’? Why say ‘most manufacturers.. support previous models/versions’ and then defend Panny for not doing it ?
Saying ‘nothing new here – move on’ and being dismissive is just insulting. I couldn’t care less about Nikon doing the same thing – it doesn’t justify it because there happens to be 2 of them doing it. It just means that there’s two sets of suits shafting people.
Anyway, enough said. As a character says in the film ‘The Outlaw Josey Wales’ says …………. don’t tell me it’s raining etc
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075029/quotes
The long zoom is interesting to me, today have Olympus 40-150. The X lens has fixed length and OIS which is valuable to me: Those protruding/collapsable lenses seem weak in construction to me. I also have a collapsable Oly kit zoom with focusing not longer working.
OIS: I have problems with shaky images.
Will be interesting to see tests and sample images. – And especially performance at the long end.
Panasonic introduce their new 12-35mm, 35-100mm. Don’t know yet how they are fast.
http://image.itmedia.co.jp/l/im/dc/articles/1108/26/l_hi_pa12.jpg
Is it already know?
??? Link doens’t work!
He’s right, look at presentation pictures at http://camera.itmedia.co.jp/dc/articles/1108/26/news075.html !
Available in 2012.
http://image.itmedia.co.jp/dc/articles/1108/26/l_hi_pa12.jpg
OK?
Can you send me a screenshot?
Lumix G X 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical lens with Power is a dream!!!
Impressively small they may be and will certainly win new users to the system; but surely an unjustifiable expense for most existing users who already own the standard 14-42 or -45 and the 45-200.
But firmware support for the old models must come if Panasonic wants any sort of credibility as a manufacturer of a serious camera system.
They obviouly have worked out how to make optics small – now I hope we see some f2.8 zooms of comprable dimensions to the original 14-42 & 45-200.
Yeah, thanks uiti !!
Here are the 12-35 and 35-100 :
http://image.itmedia.co.jp/dc/articles/1108/26/l_hi_pa12.jpg
Looks like they don’t have power zoom but manual only. But the most important is : what about the speed ? 12-35 2.8-3.3 ? I would be a little bit disappointed because the tele is not so far (35 instead of the rumored 50) and slower than the wide.
A perfect match would be 12-35 2.5 (I have a dream…).
Don’t know about the size but it looks like the old 14-45 I got.
MTF of both zoom is decent, shorter one seems quite good actually. Long zoom at long end.. ehm, that corner performace and coma will be terrible. Rather buy 100-300mm.
curiously I discovered where all the m4/3 cameras were the other day.
a coach load of young Japanese disembarked in a small village called bibury. about 8 had m4/3 never seen so many at the same time. 7/8 had kit zooms.
the message Pan/Oly are getting from Japan is small zooms. so it would seem its why they are prioritising the 14-42x.
assuming it works on my GF1 I may buy one (I only have the 14/20 and 45 primes at present). Or I may wait to see if its bundled with the rumoured GF7/X/Y/Z camera
The announcments today plus the fast zooms for next year are quite promising for m4/3.
curiously watching a dSlr user in the same group she was using live view not a view finder. and it was, for a change, very sunny!!
Hmmmmm….I pre-ordered the ever-so-ugly sliver & black (LOL!) 45-175mm at Amazon…but I only own a GF1… I sold my 45-200 a while back because I was disappointed in the performance. This lens looks somewhat better especially in the sample pic of the dog on the Panasonic website. http://panasonic.net/avc/lumix/systemcamera/gms/gallery/img/sample/gf3/P1010156.JPG
From what I am reading …this lens will not perform a intended on a GF1??? Admin…can you find out anything from your sources regarding this?
That can’t be…the camera is only a year old??????
Read, previous comments. It seems it will work, but not with all the functionalities. If I was you, I would cancel my preorder… and sign the petition:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/gf1gh1_lumixgx/
a-lesss…at least you are not petition-lesss! LOL!… Thanks for the heads up. I just signed the petition. NOW there is the power of the internet spot-on! I am going to keep my pre-order as I think I will be buying a GF7…but it is RIDICULOUS for Pany not to support the GF1 with a firmware update. They are only hurting their own lens sales and alienating customers. Does not make sense??????????? The camera is not old…and the company should honor the MFT platform…again…it is in their own best interest, no?
from DP Review
I’ve asked Panasonic for clarification about the compatibilty issues implied in the press releases, and have been told:
“The lenses are compatible and will work will all Micro Four Thirds cameras.”
I can confirm the 14-42mm works on both the GF1 and E-PL2 as well.
Pete, thanks for attempting clarification. ‘Compatible with’ doesn’t necessarily mean ‘full functionality’ though …….. or does it ?
Good call Simon…ahhhh the marketing word play….LOL!
EVERYBODY….surf & sign a_less’s petition to Panasonic above!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Bob
as longs as it takes photos perfectly…. then I’m cool with it. I really couldn’t be bothered if it shows me the focal length on the screen or remembers the last focal length I used on start up. My dSLR doesn’t do that either!
for me it complements the 20f1.7 rather well.
The GF7/GX/GY/GZ may well tempt me if it comes with the 14-42….. 😉
cheers
Pete
Can anyone confirm these lenses have metal mounts? There are no pictures showing the lens mounts.
Judging from the response Pany seems to have hit a home run especially with the new pancake zoom much like they did with the 20/1.7 lens. This lens is intended to bring new buyers of compact systems into the m4/3 fold and become the defacto kit lens for most m4/3 models as offered with the GF3X and likely will be with the GF2X or GF5 to come with G3 sensor. The GF7 is known to be coming with either 14-42 (and that could be the X version) or 25/1.4 options based on leak shown on 4/3 rumors. I expect many new buyers of PENs will buy theirs body only just to get this zoom instead as will be much more compact, more reliable, and higher quality. No reason for existing owners of either Pany or Oly m4/3 cameras to complain of the price just because they want it and have less incentive to change.
From most indications the longer tele 45-175 lens will be less popular until people begin to appreciate that its size does not telescope into a bazooka as most others do as is internal focusing. From the Pany IQ charts this lens appears to be very sharp at the tele end where most tele fall off?
Admin – Please give us anything you have on the new GF7? In an earlier post you indicated that more modelS were coming soon! I take that to mean more than one and I predict it will be GF5(rehashed GF2) and new GF7 rangefinder with EVF? I think based on Panys comments the GH3 will come a little later? Certainly the GF5 is due by Nov at latest. Pany needs an updated GF2 with G3 sensor to mate with the new zoom lens. Contrary to what this and other reviews have reported, the GF3 was never intended to be a replacement of the GF2 rather both would be produced together for different markets. The GF2 is still very popular especially with its lower pricing for a better featured model. With a GF2X (or GF5) upgrade I would expect the GF3 to drop to where the GF2 is now selling and GF2X to move up.
admin engadget changed what they said earlier about “They’ll only be compatible with the GF-2, GF-3, and G3 at launch after downloading a firmware update — Panasonic is leaving it up to Olympus to release supporting firmware for its own cameras”
to
“They’ll be compatible with all G-series cameras at launch, without the need for a firmware update. Jump past the break for more details from Panasonic, and check out the gallery below — complete with side-by-side shots for both lens classes.”
http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/26/panasonic-shrinks-its-micro-four-thirds-lenses-launches-x-serie/