Lens of the Week - the Zuiko Digital 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5

[Ian]

As promised, today starts the first of our new series called Lens or the Week. And the first lens to be featured and revered is the classic original Four Thirds kit zoom lens, the ZD 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5.

My article exploring the 14-54 will be appearing soon (I'm travelling to Hungary today but with luck I will get the article published this evening or the following day).

But that shouldn't prevent you from sharing your views on this lens and some of your photos taken with it. There is so much to say about the 14-54; weather sealed, very close focus, the surprising absence of ED glass, low distortion, the slightly modified Mark II version, etc.

So what are your memories and experiences of the 14-54?

Ian

[snaarman]

I have the Mk2 version, and used it on the E-1 ( a classic combination), and the E620. The 14 to 54 range suits me well, and the lens is bright enough for most jobs.



These days it sits on my E-M5 and delivers excellent images. It is still my first-call lens if I want sharp results and minimum post processing, it is on the E-M5 as I type....

Pete

[theMusicMan]

I have the MK I, and I think this must be my all time most used lens, Ian. I use it for the majority of my portrait shoots - though it's not generally the lens that one would find placed on my camera if someone were to randomly ask me what lens is on your camera now!

[andym]

This was the first HG lens I brought in 2007.Gave me great service on my E500 and E1.
When I got the E3 kit with the 12-60 that became my lens of choise for general day to day usage.The 14-54 was used more my daughter on the E420.
Since investing in an EM-5 the 14-54 has a new lease of life,it's not to heavy and focuses very accurately if a little slowly with a sort of two movement action.I've got the micro 4/3 14-150 as light weight travel lens but for much better alround images and weight the 14-54 can't be beaten in my opinion.
Mines the Mk1 and I know the bokah is supposed to be better on the Mk2 but I can't see much wrong here.



Taken the other day using the EM-5.

[John Perriment]

Great example pictures so far from Andy and Pete.

As with John, the 14-54mm Mk1 is my most used lens, accounting for at least 90% of my shots. These days it's pretty much bolted permanently to my E-3. It covers a very useful range, has excellent close focusing for a standard zoom and is respectably bright, with only a 2/3rd stop shift in maximum aperture between 14mm and 54mm. I was surprised to read that it doesn't have ED glass; it's such a good lens I just assumed it did! Add to this that it's weather and dust sealed and affordable and you pretty much have the perfect lens. In fact, it may not be the best lens I've ever used (I have borrowed the 14-35mm f2) but it is certainly the best lens I've ever owned, or am ever likely to. No wonder it is firmly established as a modern classic.

Andy and Pete have both shown great examples of shallow DOF, so I'll post an example of enormous DOF at f16 - an aperture best avoided on the 4/3 format due to diffraction issues. However, when the composition demands it this lens resolves surprisingly well at small apertures.

[Ross]

I bought the Mk II version soon after it was available to use on my E520 & I proudly went off to my photography class & this is one of the photos with it (a combined student composition with my violins & tartan wear).



I later bought an E30 (used) & here is a sample from it of a Pink-tongued skink



And now for quality photos (with a larger aperture) on my E-M5 it also is getting used with this sample photo of a Lambertia formosa



It's been a great value & performing lens.

[Graham]

So much was achieved with this brilliant lens. The combination of a good working range of focal lengths and light transmission capability, provided a near perfect general purpose lens.

This is Katie, taken on one of my many "Walkabout" shoots in London


Many of my best images were produced with it, including one in particular that gained several competition wins, was selected for the DPNow "Golden Gallery" and published in photography magazines.

[whatapicture]

I use a Mk1 on my old E-510 and it takes excellent pictures. Several review sites gave it higher marks for IQ than the Mk2!

Although the 14-54 Mk1 and the 12-60 for that matter are top performers and even the Nikon and Canon equivallents struggle to match their performance in certain areas, John Foster's reviews of these lenses found the 14-54 more consistant over its entire focul range than the 12-60.

[timg]

As already mentioned above, it's a great all-rounder and is nearly always attached to my E1 where it is perfectly balanced... reasonably wide, reasonably long, reasonably bright and focusses reasonably closely.

My other lenses are used for special requirements, but this is a general workhorse lens and does not disappoint!

[David M]

I'll be the voice of dissension and say I was never very impressed with my sample of the original 14-54 (although it was better than my sample of the original 50-200).

I sold my copy after testing the 14-42 kit lens that came with my E-410.