Olympus 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 M. Zuiko Digital ED Zoom Lens (Black)

by Olympus

Product Details

• Item Weight: 5.3 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 7 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B002CGSYLW
• Item model number: 14-42mm Black
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 15, 2009

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

The standard 3x zoom comes in an extremely compact size with an overall length of just 43.5mm. Covering wide-angle to a moderate telephoto, this lens is suitable for a variety of applications, including day-to-day shooting and traveling. With a digital-dedicated design as well as multi-coated lens components, this Micro Four Thirds lens boasts very high imaging performance.

Product Description

The Olympus M.Zuiko 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 ED is a standard 3x zoom lens that is perfect for everything from portraits to travel photography. This lens features one ED glass element, plus two asperhical elements and multi-coating on all lens surfaces for exceptional image quality. In addition, this lens features a circular aperture for beautiful background defocusing. At only 1.7 inches (43.5mm) long and 5.3 ounces (150g), this lens is incredibly compact and is great for everyday photography.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Kit Lens, May 10, 2010

By 

K. Hsiang "KSH" (SF Bay Area) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Olympus 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 M. Zuiko Digital ED Zoom Lens (Black) (Electronics)

Where I am coming from:
I was an early adopter of the Panasonic GF1 with the 20mm f/1.7 lens and I own another major brand DSLR. I have been a careful follower of the Micro Four Thirds standard since it was announced because I was tired of carrying around my large D-SLR and assortment of big heavy lenses. As such, I use my Micro Four Thirds camera when I won't be doing heavy shooting so I tend to put more emphasis on form factor. I recently evaluated the Panasonic 14-140mm (you can look up my review of the lens).

Summary:
This lens is an amazing form factor for its capability. This belongs on every portable Micro Thirds Camera.

What I LIKE about this lens:
1. FORM FACTOR- It's remarkable to think that you can get so much capability into such a small package. The collapsible design is brilliant. When not in use, the majority of the lens can be retracted. A clever switch prevents "unintentional retractions" while shooting. It reminds me of how some point and shoot lenses retract when switching off. I hope to see more lenses for the Micro Four Thirds standard capable of doing such. When collapsed, this lens measures only 43mm long and only weighs 150g.
2. RANGE - From a 35mm camera perspective, the 2x crop factor makes this lens a 28-84mm equivalent. The 14-42mm range is incredibly useful. Most casual photography can be performed with this lens. I used it for a brunch with family and some walkaround photography.
3. PRICE - I think this lens can sell for significantly more given that its competition is really not much better but much bigger & heavier. It is an incredible value.
4. COMPATIBILITY - Micro Four Thirds standard seems to be working. I experienced no focus problems using this lens on the Panasonic GF1.

What I did NOT LIKE about this lens:
1. SOFTWARE DISTORTION CORRECTION - The Panasonic & Olympus Micro Four Thirds camera use software to correct for lens distortion. The camera software is not currently correcting for lens distortion. This may be a temporary issue, as of this morning, Panasonic released a firmware update for its Micro Four Thirds cameras. As such, I will not make any deductions in rating.
2. FRINGING - There is some minor color fringing issues so there can be a perceived lack of sharpness on certain shots. But, to make this comment on a kit lens is being pretty picky.
3. PLASTIC - Helps with keeping the lens light but it could be less durable and could wear down more rapidly after sustained use.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Compact Walk-about, September 22, 2010

By 

E. J Tastad "ejt" (Marion, IA United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Olympus 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 M. Zuiko Digital ED Zoom Lens (Black) (Electronics)

This is a kit lens and it performs like one. Don't take this as a bad thing, most kit lenses perform well. It is sharp at the wide angles with corners that are acceptable but not great, it is sharp across most of the frame in the mid range, and it is weak at the telephoto end.

Strengths:

* Compact Dimensions
* Wide angle and mid-range performance

Weaknesses

* Telephoto performance
* Feels Fragile
* Barrel distortion at 14mm
* Calculated focal length when set at 14mm is 15mm.

This lens is best used as a standard walk around lens, and verses the competition the M.Zuiko has a little less magnification (1:4 vs 1:3), but the M.Zuiko is smaller, when stowed, than any of its competitors. The lens is definitely a nice lens to own if you like the wide to short telephoto zoom range provided by a kit lens, and don't mind the smaller apertures.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Just the right size, February 18, 2011

By 

Shaer (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Olympus 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 M. Zuiko Digital ED Zoom Lens (Black) (Electronics)

I use it with my DMC-GF2...It's perfect companion...Though I have the Panasonic 14-42mm lens and that one has on board optical stabilization,it feels big for the GF2...This one has great size factor...Also it's sharper at full tele...
Great lens...