Panasonic 14-45mm Lens

A recession busting price lens for Micro 4/3rds

If you're in the market for a standard zoom lens or like me you want a decent quality lens that can be used wider than the 20mm f1.7, then the Panasonic 14-45mm is well worth a look.  Tests show that it out-performs all iterations of the 14-42mm kit lenses currently available.  Furthermore, the 14-45mm now represents good value for money on the pre-owned market and can be had for as little as under £100.

The main purpose of this lens for me is to use it at its wide 14mm setting.

Panasonic 14-45mm f3.5-5.6 OIS

This is not intended to be a technical review but just an opinion from a user perspective.

The 14-45mm is the kit lens that was introduced with the world’s first Micro 4/3rds camera from Panasonic.  The Panasonic team clearly wanted to impress with their newly designed camera so engineered a kit lens that would perform to a high standard to make the most of the new technology.  Whilst the 14-45mm lens can no longer be purchased as part of a kit, it can however still be bought new for around £250.  I get the impression that Panasonic downgraded their kit lens to the 14-42mm due to the high cost of producing the 14-45mm. 

The optical construction of this lens includes 12 elements in 9 groups including 1 aspherical element.  It has OIS (Optical Image Stabilisation) built into the lens, which will give approximately up to 3 f-stops of extra handholding ability before you need a tripod or flash.  Autofocus performance is quick and silent with a high level of accuracy.  Other features include a circular aperture and a metal lens mount..

The 14-45mm lens is sharp with good contrast from maximum aperture and in my opinion out-performs the more expensive Panasonic 14mm f2.5 Pancake at the equivalent setting.  

A notable comment about the 14-45mm from the What Digital Camera review said, “In it’s own way, this versatile and well-quipped lens is every bit as good as the 7-14mm zoom at about one-quarter of the cost.”  Bearing in mind that the excellent Panasonic 7-14mm lens costs a whopping great £950, proves that the 14-45mm in terms of optics is punching well above its weight.

Here are some photos I took with the Panasonic 14-45mm

Taken at 14mm f3.5

Taken at 14mm F4.5

Taken at 28mm f5.6

Taken at 14mm f5.6

Taken at 14mm f5

Oh no! Not red phone boxes ........

Taken at 14mm f5

....... and buses!

Taken at 14mm f5

Taken at 45mm f5.6

Taken at 45mm f5.6

I'm used to shooting with fast aperture lenses and not with this type of zoom but I'm very pleased with the results from the 14-45mm and I think I'll use it more than anticipated.