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On picture: The current [shoplink 14822]7-14mm[/shoplink] lens (without OIS!)
The Panasonic 7-14mm f/4 lens is higly regarded lens (See the very impressive tests at Photozone and SLRgear). But it has two “flaws”. The high price and the missing optical stabilization. In USA problem number one has been partially solved thanks to the latest price drops. The lens is now in Stock for $817.96 only at Amazon (Click here). As usual Europeans can’t enjoy such nice price drops 🙁
But let’s talk about the new rumor! According to one of our (very!) good sources Panasonic could release a new version of the current Panasonic 7-14mm lens with optical stabilization! My other sources couldn’t confirm the rumor, so please drop me a line (via mail or via contact form) if you heard anything about that lens. Let’s make that FT3 rumor a FT5 news 😉
I for myself would be very happy if Panasonic would add OIS (that would become an awesome lens on my [shoplink 16254]GH2[/shoplink]!) but I do also hope Panasonic can make a more affordable price!
P.S.: I am busy working on new rumors. Expect me to post more Panasonic and Olympus rumors soon!
Reminder: Rumors classification explained (FT= FourThirds):
FT1=1-20% chance the rumor is correct
FT2=21-40% chance the rumor is correct
FT3=41-60% chance the rumor is correct
FT4=61-80% chance the rumor is correct
FT5=81-99% chance the rumor is correct
36 Responses
I have a feeling that this new version will probably not have constant aperture. In order to keep it cheap
I own current 7-14 lens… it is really very good but… where is the portrait lens for MFT??? There is none!!! And what we can see?… a clone of existing lens planned??… F..k! 🙁
I hope it has filter threads!
I am not sure if the OIS should be fitted into this lens as the usefulness is limited. All lens stabilizers are good with long telephotos but on shorter zooms, it is less effective. Even the 45mm DG Macro is not very effective even with the built in OIS.
If fitting the OIS is going to drive up the cost, then it surely will defeat the purpose of of having it. Having it with a fixed aperture is cheaper no doubt. The stabilizers will take up more space on the lens.
stabilisation is useless on this type of lens…
For handheld video it is very welcome.
If Panasonic wants to put IS on every lens, why not? I’m for it, but it would be easier to put it in body …
supposing we’re shooting video handeld, it makes a very little sens (because of the 7mm and its relative fov)
for every other aspect, it’s an evitable cost
Nah!
If you’re half serious about video what you need is something like this: http://www.b-hague.co.uk/hague_mini_motion_cam_steadicam_type_camcorder_stabilizer.htm
I know, but something you just cannot afford the extra bulk – beaches, parties, …
i don’t see much use either for ois in such wide lens. panasonic should have been smart like olympus and put is in the body, and for specific use, they could offer ois in certain lenses. i do applaud their their activities in releasing new lenses though.
I absolutely agree that Panasonic should offer in-body stabilization in addition to OIS on certain lenses. Maybe even just on their high-end bodies. The camera checks to see if OIS is on, if not, it turns on IBIS. The GH2 should have had it, as well as the premium GF3 everybody keeps dreaming of.
Image stabilization is never “useless”. Wide angle lenses are fantastic for interiors – that’s definitely a low-light situation. I took the 7-14mm to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater. All of my interior photos are at ISO 640 (800 is where i notice not just lots of noise, but a drop in dynamic range). My photos were all 1/4th, 1/6th, 1/13th of a second. 1/4th of a second isn’t cool for handholding – i don’t care how wide the angle is.
Let me clarify my ISO comment. With my GF1, when there’s plenty of light and i’m trying to freeze the action, even ISO 1600 looks fine to me. When there’s LOW light, ISO 800 starts to look muddy and there’s little detail in the shadows.
if you need alot of dof and stop down alot, i have to agree with such scenario issues 🙂
Sorry, i left that detail out – I wasn’t even able to stop down any, though I would have liked to. Those slow shutter speeds were all at f/4.
thats a tough location indeed then!
I should save this comment of yours and repeat it every time someone here says there is no need for fast wide prime lens.
copy that….with possible assistence of IS 🙂
i shoot with 50mm only atm, so i prob thought too easily about wideangles 🙂
I totally agree. A 40mm 1.2 would be nice… And I want more primes for some reason. Fast, Zoom, Compact. Pick any two.
The middle lens elements in the existing 7-14mm lens are pretty small in diameter. See the diagram about half way down in this article for an illustration:
http://m43photo.blogspot.com/2010/11/lumix-g-8mm-f35-fisheye.html
So it could be that OIS is feasible with this type of lens.
Personally, I don’t see the use for OIS on such a wide angle lens. On the other hand, Nikon has OIS in their f/4 wide angle zoom … but it is a massive beast.
Would be just easiest if Panasonic licensed image stabilization for the body/sensor but I suspect Panasonic has bad case of “not invented here”-syndrome…
Olympus should really get out more serious bodies, that competition might make Panny reconsider.
As this lens isn’t any super fast prime inside shooting would easily stretch exposure time like said above by hd72.
Rather make it FT1 this lense will never come.
I certainly would love to have OIS for video work. That was the only reason I hesitated on buying this lens….which is probably my favorite lenses.
And what about a 10 or 11mm?
Admin: I removed an offensive message from Gekopaca.
Amin> how are you enjoying your GH2?
That would be a strange move from Panasonic, everybody is shouting for more primes and portrait lenses and what do they do? Re-work an existing lens?
Why not make another 14-42? It’s been already two months since they made the last one…
Do you really believe that the commentors here are representative of the Panasonic m4/3 customers? The statement that *everybody* wants more (fast) primes has no backing and contradicts what the *real* market tells.
tgutgu: I’m with you on that one. The real outside-world market for m43 seems to be (a) integrated video and (b) better-than-point-and-shoot IQ in a package smaller than an SLR.
Many posters on this forum (who generally seem quite informed) appear to be more interested in a lower-cost-Leica-lite experience with fast primes being high on their wish lists. I don’t think that we are representative of the larger market, who generally feel that primes are overly restrictive and would NEVER consider a manual focus lens (which many people here do). I think its kind of money that so many photo sophisticates have adapted m43 – I think that came as a real surprise to both Oly and Panny.
…err…I meant to say “kind of funny” and not “kind of money”. Freudian slip, I suppose..
If a) price will be lower and b) OIS will be included, something will have to give, either speed (something like variable max. aperture f/4.5-5.6) or image quality or, most probably, both.
I’ve got the 7-14mm and I didn’t miss OIS so far, not even on the G1. I can use shutter speeds as low as 1/10 s without noticeable blur. I will certainly not exchange it with a lens with lower IQ, OIS or not.
It would be a very STUPID decision.
That release will sure be a surprise… a bad surprise if you ask me (and many people as I can see from the comments).
Similar move was done by Panny a few months back when they released the 14-42 a proven poorer optically lens than the fantastic kit lens 14-45 (surely one of the best kit lenses in all brands). A poorer quality on the 14-42 and of course a lower cost… Is Panasonic doing it again with the 7-14, which is an excellent performer)? We will see in the coming days.
I wouldn’t fault Panny if they offer a more affordable wide zoom. But, the only sure thing is that m4/3rds users are in need of other lenses at this moment. So probably save such a move for a later stage Panny?
I have used the 14-42mm lens, and I find that it is a good lens. Better than kit lenses I have tried for other systems.
Hve you tried the 14-42mm lens?
http://m43photo.blogspot.com/2010/12/comparison-14mm.html
Quite a lot softer at wider apertures at any focal length than predecessor:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/PanasonicDMCG2/page13.asp
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicGF1/page19.asp
What else there’s to say that it’s rather serious downgrade?
(bigger DOF can be utilized as option to use wider aperture for countering smaller sensor than APS-C/full frame)
The lenses have been both the strength and the weakness of m43. They had a huge lead and have been able to create so many lenses, but so many of them overlap that people are still left buying m43 bodies and retrofitting other brand lenses. I’m pretty sure Canikon will eventually show them how it’s done.
I’ve this lens and don’t think OIS is needed. Maybe it’s just my own habit, for landscape shooting, I’ll use tripod whenever possible ’cause aperture is set to F8 or 11, max F4 is only for emergency.