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

[RobertD]

I kept my 14-54mm when I sold my E30. And now use it on my GH2 for video and stills.
Here's a short video clip.
https://vimeo.com/22501204
Cheers, Rob

[snaarman]

Originally Posted by David M

I'll be the voice of dissension and say I was never very impressed with my sample of the original 14-54 I sold my copy after testing the 14-42 kit lens .

Hmm. Bad copy of the lens perhaps? I have had both of these. Yes the kit lens is good but my 14-54s (Mk1 and Mk2) walked all over the kit lens when I peeked at the pixels, as it were.

In fact I've used a handful of lenses that don't usually disappoint when viewed at 100%. These are: The 14-54, the ZD50 macro, and the new m4/3 45mm

Pete

[Ian]

I like the 14-54 a lot, especially for its excellent distortion control. But the lens does have a weakness and that is large aperture sharpness at the tele end of the zoom, most probably because the optical design does not incorporate ED glass.

Ian

[Graham]

In another place, Ian asked for anecdotes about this lens...

I was exceedingly lucky in getting my one from Henry's in Canada, for considerably less than I could get one over here. I fully expected to pay all the Duty & Taxes, but they shipped it by Canada Post and it arrived in a few days delivered by our normal post man, without any charges.

I sold it a while back to a fellow forum member, and got roughly what I paid for it. So not only did it serve me well, it cost me nothing.

http://www.henrys.com/

[Ian]

Originally Posted by Graham

In another place, Ian asked for anecdotes about this lens...

I was exceedingly lucky in getting my one from Henry's in Canada, for considerably less than I could get one over here. I fully expected to pay all the Duty & Taxes, but they shipped it by Canada Post and it arrived in a few days delivered by our normal post man, without any charges.

I sold it a while back to a fellow forum member, and got roughly what I paid for it. So not only did it serve me well, it cost me nothing.

http://www.henrys.com/

So, - if the 14-54 was that good why did you sell it?

Ian

[click-click]

Originally Posted by Graham

/.../ but they shipped it by Canada Post and it arrived in a few days delivered by our normal post man, without any charges.

That's also usually the case when ordering photo equipment from the US to Canada. Always try to avoid shipping by FedEx or UPS.

[Greytop]

I have only recently acquired the 14-54 in the Mk2 version, initially it spent most of it's time on my E-510 body (backup to the E-5).
But as my 4/3rds bodies have now moved on to pastures new the 14-54 is being used more frequently on my E-M5 and what quality piece of glass it is. As a general purpose walk around zoom it is my first choice and will likely remain so until perhaps Olympus pull back the curtains on a HG mZD 12-60 f/2.8-4
Here is an image taken by my daughter with the 14-54 Mk2 and E-510

[timg]

Originally Posted by Greytop

Here is an image taken by my daughter with the 14-54 Mk2 and E-510

I misread that as "an image taken OF my daughter"... I was scrolling down thinking "she's got some crazy hair!"

[T-Lama]

14-54 Mk.1 is my most used lens since I bought it on evilBay some 1.5 years ago, the lens is much more fun to shoot than the 14-45 I've used before - minimum flare problems, better minimal focusing distance (so I can do wide angle close-ups now, shoot pseudo-macro details at tele end, etc.) .
Sometimes the IQ is not brilliant at the wide end and the long end wide open can be slightly better, but I don't see it as a problem.
There are few minor things I do not like however - the angle of view is variable due to the internal focusing and the 2-step focusing is IMO sometimes slower (in low light) than the normal focusing of the 14-45.

14-54 Mk.1 at 54mm,f/3.5

[Graham]

Originally Posted by Ian

So, - if the 14-54 was that good why did you sell it?

Ian

It's all your doing, letting me have use of the 14-35...

My prefered focal lengths are very much at the wide end and beyond 35mm was hardly being used, so as the 14-35 did everything I ever wanted, the 14-54 was just stored in its pouch unused .

Another forum member wanted one to attach the ring flash onto, so I thought it would be better to have it being used, and spend the money on a 35mm Macro Lens (which I have bought from yet another forum member - What a great site this is )