I wonder, anyone else here thinks Panasonic stuff is boring? Let's discuss. I personally believe Panasonic makes fantastic stuff and I'm a fan of many of their amazing products over the years. The GM1/GM5, LX100, G9 were my absolute favorites. I also think they have some excellent lenses eg 8-18mm is one I'm looking at now.
@@robinwong I like my GX9. Together with the Panasonic 15mm f1.7 it is a special and very underrated combination. The very small but sharp Panasonic 12-32mm is amazing too. The m.Zuiko 60mm f2.8 macro is my favorite lens of Olympus on my GX9.
I think it's quite the opposite, awesome that there are other brands available for our cameras and that these are also reviewed... How boring it would be if there were only "originally branded and manufactured" lenses and accessories for dslrs (like olympus for olympus, canon for canon etc)!
@@robinwong I love that I can choose lenses from both companies having worked professionally in either/or film era Canon and Nikon world. Thanks to you, I'm learning important considerations like the 14mm has more chromatic aberration on Olympus cameras. I have an E-PL8 and a GX-85 because both are highly pocketable with pancakes - so I can take a 'real' camera with me more often. I'm still trying to decide which one like best for me. I use the GX-85 more because I'm more an eye level shooter. BUT, I've just had my cataracts done and will have to try taking the E-PL 8 out more.
At $198 a good deal. It is a bit wide for me, so I may not be using it as much as I thought I would be, but it is fast enough and sharp enough. I would rate it a B, or a B+ considering compactness and price :)
I used to use my 14 f/2.5 a lot when travel wasn't such an issue in my area. My 20 f/1.7 was my favorite pancake lens in 2020 but I'm hoping that 2021 will allow more opportunities for travel and street photography.
On a Panasonic body there must be automatic CA correction, because I’ve never noticed fringing on any of my Lumix cameras. Thanks for giving this great little lens some attention. Any Lumix owners definitely should consider it!
I used to own this lens and the 20mm f1.7 when I first got a Panasonic G3 so many years ago. It was one of the most versatile lenses I had since I paired it with the Panasonic DMC-GWC1 0.79x wide angle converter lens (discontinued and almost impossible to find now!!) effectively turning it into a 11mm prime!! I kept that combo for many years as a poor man's Olympus 12mm f2.0... lol. There was another lens made for the 14mm but I rarely used it. I've switched over to Olympus system since, but watching this review brought back fond memories of what made me fall in love with m4/3 system. Yea, it had the purple fringing and slow focus speed but the TINY SIZE and image quality you were able to produce with these first-gen pancake lenses legitimized the m4/3 system (for me at least). Love your content Robin!
I have had this lens since 2014. As someone who primarily photographs birds the 300 f4 is my "walking around" lens but it is easy to pop the 14 in a pocket in case there is an opportunity to photograph a subject the the 300 is too long for. I don't regard it as a great lens optically but it gets top marks for portability. The 20 mm Lumix pancake is also handy in this way.
Great video, thank you so much! I'm actually happy to see your content without those "olympus visionary restrictions". It is always nice to hear your opinion on any cameras/lenses as I find your approach very honest and sane.
I bought this lens more than 10 years ago for the GF1. It was new in store that was specialized on professional DSLRs and such. They hadn't looked into the box. First they thought the box must be empty but the lens was in and they where a bit shocked. Today the lens lives on my GX80 and I grab it whenever I want to take out a small camera setting just in case. It has a 46mm filter thread. The same as the 20/1.7, the Laowa 7.5mm and the new Laowa 10mm. I would like to see a new GM5 for this package. For me, this form factor is kind of the soul of MFT.
One of my first MFT lenses was a pancake, and I love it. In part, because it had a built in lens cap (throw a leaver and it closes). I lost it because it was so small, it slipped out of my bag (or is somewhere else in my office, who knows). I also liked it on a light gimble.
Concerning the autofocus speed, I was surprised with your experience of it being slow. I have both the 14mm F2.5 II, and the 15mm F1.7 lenses (why both 14 & 15mm? - see the end of my comment.) and find them both very quick to focus. I checked your video closely and you were testing the original version of the 14mm (H-H014). At least a few reviews have noted the mark II version (H-H014A) does have a faster, quieter AF. Why do I have both the 14 & 15mm? I sold my 14mm and bought the 15mm because of the faster aperture to help with indoor and evening shooting (and I found a great price). The 15mm is a great lens, but even though it is pretty small and relatively light I missed how incredibly light and low profile the 14mm is when street shooting paired with a GX9. So when I saw a great deal I bought another 14mm F2.5 II. I'm enjoying both - the 15mm paired with my G9, and the 14mm with my GX9. I appreciate your videos on the 14mm and the 15mm. I enjoy your channel a great deal - thanks for all your work!
Robin, Thank you for your input and sharing your knowledge and experience. I just bought a gx7 thanks to you. I'm just a beginner so any useful advice is invaluable. I've been watching your channel a lot in search for knowledge. You've got awesome energy! Cheers from Poland! Now I'm looking for a prime lens :)
Definitely an underrated lens, and one of my favorites. I love it on my Panasonic GM5 (super compact combo) and my Olympus Pen-F. I'm enjoying your new videos as you branch out into other manufacturers. Thank you, Robin.
as a lumix guy im impressed you actually reviewed this lens. I love using the m43 system regardless of brand as long as the images come out good. I currently use a panasonic gx85 and been looking for an olympus portrait lens that would go well with my camera.
@@deez5396 congrats on the purchase! depends on what type of photography you are more into for the wides i would recommend the Lumix G 9mm f/1.7, Leica 12mm f1.4 or slightly on the narrow but easier on the pocketbook with quality images LUMIX G LEICA DG SUMMILUX 15mm / F1.7 as far as for portrait i have yet to purchase one im currently getting by with the super cheap xiaoyi 42.5mm 1.8 and though it works invest a lil more on a better lens 😅
Thank you Robin, excellent review as always! I like all of the examples you provided, but most of all - the amazing food images, why not a subject of a special new video.
I’ve actually been thinking about getting this lens because of how cheap it is and because I want a pancake lens. Fantastic review! Surprised by how good this lens is actually!
Hi Robin, I have a lowly epl-5 but it takes great quality photos. I’m ready to upgrade, and have been tempted to switch, with all the concern for the future of Olympus, maybe to Fuji or Sony. But, when I see your photos I’m reminded that it’s the photographer and there is nothing bad, and much good in Olympus. For some reason the sharpness is always there with Olympus, and your photos really bring out the color that just amazes me.
Micro Four Thirds is a very optimized system, hence you get sharp results easily, and I personally like Olympus' color science over Fuji and Sony. Of course others can choose to disagree, these things can be personal. I don't think Olympus is going to get any worse under the new direction of JIP, but we shall wait and see what happens. Exciting times ahead.
It is a UV filter issue that can be solved for Olympus cameras in theory, but the solutions range from tweaking the lens to tweaking the sensor. The thing is you have to use a specialized UV filter that stronger filters a certain UV range.
@@robinwong May I prove you otherwise? This website has a nice explanation. If you have any further questions feel free to ask. Not a lens expert, but I had in my past one or two lectures on color science and image processing, so there is a good chance I can answer. alanwatsonforster.org/writing/mft-purple.html
Hi Robin and thanks for a review of one of my favourite lenses. Couple of points. The CA on the Olympus bodies is pronounced but on both my GX8 and my G9 lumix cameras it is almost non existent plus my 14mm is a fast focusing lens on my Lumix bodies but slow on my EM1 and EM1 mk2. This is similar to the results I get when using the 35mm 1.8 lumix lenses on Olympus and Lumix bodies. I cannot believe I missed this video when it came out two years ago.
The pancakes are beautiful lenses. I have the Panasonic 12-32mm and love it. It was glued to my Olympus E-PL5 until I broke that camera. It now regularly rotates between my Panasonic GX85 and Olympus EM5 MkII. Some of my favourite images have been taken with this tiny lens.
Besides the fact that you look like a genuinely cool guy, this video was very complete and informative, and I learn lots of good things about that pancake so thanks a lot Robin :)
Wide angle is my wheelhouse. Unlike you I don't see the 25mm focal length naturally. So maybe I should by the Olympus 25mm 1.8 to challenge myself! My all time favorite lens was the 20mm Nikkor and I really like the manual full frame fisheye lenses available for M4/3 because stretching and elongating distortion appeal to me. I even have some idea why - the Mannerist painters like El Greco immediately following the Renaissance used distortion aesthetically and they have always taken me to a different world. I was a bit surprised that you found the 14mm Panasonic slow to auto focus, but I am comparing it to the very lenses you identify as slower - the 20mm Panasonic and the early 14-42mm kit lens that came on the first OM-D. BTW I agree with you about the importance of pancake design lenses in M4/3 photography and can say my 14mm Panasonic is the smallest and most pocketable and my first choice for both street and land/cityscape shooting.
Update to my last post. This is my go to lens. It's size and weight compliment my E-PL6; keeping the camera's footprint small and lightweight. I too had a couple focusing issues myself, however this lens holds its own well. These days I'm keeping it minimalist with my gear. This lens helps lots! All the best!
Thank you Robin! This is exactly the followup video I was hoping for after your XF10 review. Missing my annual KL trip even more after seeing those food shots!
My fave walk around lens in the old days was always the old Oly 40mm . I have had a couple of 20mm Panys and liked them but auto focus was slow and also I did not like look or construction so much, now I use the 17mm f1.7 (a bit wider than I like but I like the build and manual focus ring and it looks much nicer on the penF).
I have had one of these for years but not used it for ages. I must rescue it from the drawer and give it some exercise! You might try the Lumix 12-32 some time, a tiny pancake.
Beautiful color rendition in addition to appearing to be razor sharp. I love pancake lenses, too. The smaller the better on any m4/3 camera body. Very nice sample images, BTW.
A very honest review. I had this lens for many years and eventually moved to the 15mm Pana-Leica. I love the 15mm lens but I really miss the size advantage of the 14mm lens!
Nice review of a nice compact Lens Robin! I have bought this lens not long ago and really liked it, till I saw that the right was always blurry on one side cause I got a decentered copy and didn't really like how wide it really was, so I returned it and got myself the Laowa 17mm 1.8. It has uncorrected distortions and Vigneting wide open and I kinda miss the autofocus but it is as sharp as this panasonic. But it simply can't beat the panasonic when a compact lens is all you need.
For weddings and reportage, I used the following on my Olympus micro 4/3 digital cameras: 45mm f/1.8 20mm f/1.7 14mm f/2.5 I also used the 14-42mm f/3.5 to f/5.6 zoom lens as a backup.
Robin, nothing you present to us is boring. As for Panasonic Lumix Cameras and Lenses go they are fully supportive of the micro four thirds systems. Without them would see a huge decline of the micro four thirds universe. Cheers John
It is great to have with as a partner to a kit zoom when you want the smallest 2 lens outfit and indoors gets too dark. The PL 15 1.7 is a better lens if you don't mind the jump in size, weight and price. A good RAW processor like DXO PL4 cleans up the 14 2.5 colour fringing very well.
The Panasonic 15mm is definitely a superior lens, but it costs much more! Of course, 15mm vs 14mm may not seem like much of a difference, but the classic street photographers will make some fuss about having a true 28mm coverage, so the 14mm fits into that better.
I used the 14mm with an E-P3 about a decade ago. It's small and snappy so I appreciated that. But despite delivering colorful images, I didn't find it much better than a kit lens. Especially when both Olympus and Panasonic came with decent pancake zooms later, there was no reason for me to continue using the 14mm. I think another reason for my mixed feelings is the lens was just not fast enough at f2.5. It didn't measure up to the classic 20mm f1.7 which despite AF flaws, is a significant step up from a kit zoom in terms of speed and IQ. If I want wide and fast, I prefer the Panasonic Leica 15mm f1.7 over the 14mm f2.5. Much better lens.
A new generation of pancake lenses at around f1.8 would restore the micro43 advantage in 2021 now that most APSC and FF have become smaller and the lenses slightly more compact then they used to be. I wish there were available more 1.8 pancakes, 1.4 premium lenses and may be the current 1.2 which are good but too large for personal usage as carry around.
Hi Robin, Enjoyed your review. I used to have this 14mm f2.5. I sold it and kept my Panasonic Leica 15mm f1.7, Olympus 25mm f1.8 and the Panasonic GM1 with its lovely 12-32mm kit lens. This is pretty much my "compact and light" setup. I also sold my Olympus Pro zoom trinity set and the OMD bodies and changed to good old Nikon DSLRs. What I learnt was pretty much horses for courses. What I learnt from you videos and articles are it is the photographer who makes photos and not his/her gear. I like your photos. Perhaps you may like to share more on your experience. More than happy to buy you a cup of coffee, especially during this difficult time for photographers who need to make a living out of photography.
I paid 300 USD for similar Leica_Panas used/like NEW 15mm F1.7 and it became my best lens in Olympus system a year ago- Often I screw a 0.75x super wide adapter in the front and feel HAPPY
Oh man, I love my black copy. A tad slow to focus in low light, but it works great. My favorite street shooting lens... well, a very close second to the Oly 17mm f/1.8. It's used most of the time for me on my black E-M10 II.
Hi Robin. Great review. Please note the you have an older version of this lens (with the red dot). I have the mark II version and the autofocus seems to be fast enough for me.
Hi Robin, about the speed of AF. I have seen videos, where is compared 25mm form Olympus and Panasonic on a Olympus body and the Panasonic lens had problems with AF on Olympus body. During video shooting it took some time to focus on a subject. Olympus was almost instant. So it can be problem of compatibility between some Panasonic lenses and Olympus body. That is my opinion based on review videos about 25mm MFT lenses.
You also have to take into consideration that the 14mm is a much older lens. Much like Olympus' older lens, the AF is noticeably slower. Newer Panasonic lenses focuses really fast, even on Olympus bodies.
I own it. Second copy, since the original one got washed off a rock by a wave in Bali on my wife's Panasonic GM1, but the upside was that since the tiny Panny was her travel camera- to save carrying her Canon DSLR- she replaced it with an E-M10 and dumped the Canon for good. Anyway, purple fringing is rarely an issue for what we shoot, and the slow autofocus similarly isn't an issue as it's a wide lens for (usually) static subjects. She also has the Panny 20 f1.7 and loves it, but the purple fringing is much worse on that lens. Often, I'll go out with either the Oly 25 f1.8 or this Panny 14 f2.5 on my old E-M1 with no other lenses and have a happy day of shooting. I like that it forces me to think about composition, being so wide. If I lose/ break this one, I'll buy another one on Taobao for 600rmb (maybe $80?) in a heartbeat.
I've thought about getting this lens but having the wonderful 12-32mm kit zoom that is already sharp wide open (about a stop slower though) and goes a bit wider, it's a lens that would probably sit around unused.
What a coincidence, I was just looking at these lenses on B&H earlier this week. Yes, more pancakes, or even collapsing ones like the EZ lens. Sometimes you just want to point-and-shoot, but you shouldn't need to use your phone or a crappy P&S when you already have a decent camera. Hopefully, we can see some new innovations from OM Digital Solutions over the coming years. Do you have a UV or polarizing filter you can try using to see if it reduces fringing?
I have that lens. The focus seems fast to me. Sharpness is good to very good -- my copy might not make it to excellent level ;) Sharpness at the edge, when wide-open is just OK. Overall, it is a decent lens, when bought at $198 US or less -- mine was made in Japan. Best of all is the Lumix 12-32mm inexpensive lens, IMHO. It bests the Olympus 14-42 with ease. I have that lens on my PEN PL-8, and keep the 14mm Panny lens in the case with my GX-85. Maybe I should drop it into my Olympus EM10 mkII case.
Indeed, in terms of overall image quality (minus CA/Purple fringing issues) the 14mm Panasonic pancake beats any kit lenses out there. The sharpness is not at "PRO" lens level, but it is surely good enough for the price it asks for!
The 14mm is almost a unique lens, with nothing as 'pancake' among all MFT lenses. AF speed is surely not really an issue?! We've just got used to near instant AF from MFT cameras & lenses, rather than .02sec 'slow' (just try old school manual focussing and see how quick a human is?!). On the CA purple fringing, Lumix cameras process this out in-camera, but I believe Olympus cameras don't, hence it's only apparent on files from those bodies. The 14mm is so small, light, and cheap, it's well worth having one which ever system you use (imho!). Pair it with the 42mm f1.8 and you've got a great combo of tiny lenses.
I love pancake lenses! They are light, they are fast and they look cool, but I have a feeling they are a bit limited when it comes to OIS or weather resistance😅
Great video. I choose the Olympus pancake 14-42 too for versatility. Thanks for the warning the issues on Chromatic Aberration for using Panasonic Lens on Olympus body. Just wondering if you can the following reviews using an Olympus Body. 1) Panasonic 10-25 F1.7 2) Panasonic 100-400 F4 - 6.3 There are hardly any reviews on Panasonic Lenses on Olympus bodies (I guess that's the Olympus or Panasonic Ambassadors are not allowed to do that).
Hi Robin,while watching this video,i was thinking of the oly 12mm f2. Although a old lens by now,would it be a better option. Maybe slighty bigger and more expensive,but that oly 12mm f2 is surely a lens thats on my wishing list.
I don't think it is fair to compare it directly like that. If you need a wider coverage and brighter aperture, the 12mm Olympus is the clear choice. But to say which lens is better, is like comparing apples to oranges. 24mm and 28mm are different focal lengths and they each have their own places.
I must have the two slowest AF lens then, the 20 and the 14 🤣. The 14 is relatively expensive alone so is best bought from someone or shop who divorced the lens from a Panasonic camera combo package. Purple fringing doesn't bother me, current software easily takes that out during raw development. What gives me trouble is I am too relaxed a quick shooter and often don't pause the moment enough to ensure my hand movement and shutter speed and AF are optimum before I click. Oh, I found both the 20 and the 14 flare with a veiling haze too easily if the sky is bright cloudy and I happen to have a UV filter
I wish we see pancake for 25mm, a nifty fifty or some sort. Our software are advanced enough to correct distortion or imperfection automatically (except flare)
Hi Robbin, This is the older version of the 14mm f2.5 though. Any chance you might do a re-review of the MARK 2? perhaps if the lens you've been looking for after the disappointment you have with the 15mm f1.7 hehe. Thanks for the review!
Interesting review, thanks Robin. I've read a lot about the chromatic abberation you can get using this lens on an Olympus camera, do you think its a significant issue? I'm looking for one for my EP-5 and I shoot mostly jpegs.
Hi Robin, thanks for the nice videos and reviews that you've been doing since a long time ago. Thanks to you, I will buy the Pana 17mm instead the Pana 14mm. I don't like to spend a lot of time in post production. IQ is also better with the 17mm. I'd like to know what picture mode do you use in the photos of this video and what adjustments you made, color adjustments like contrast, sarturation... BTW, what is the city in the photos ? Looks very pleasant. Thank you very much !
Hi Robin, the Anti-aliasing filter has certainly nothing to do with chromatic aberration (it is to prevent the Moiré effect). On the other hand, virtually all digital camera sensors (Olympus included) has a UV filter. On the other hand, the lateral chromatic aberration (i.e. when the color components are all sharp, but of different size) may partially be corrected by software. The lack of this software correction can be the problem. However, the nature of lateral c.a. is a bit different from what I can see on your pictures. It is more pronounced towards the edges, but also has an asymmetric nature. An easy test - the lateral c.a. cannot be eliminated by stopping down. Another type of chromatic aberration which appears in the out of focus area. This is difficult to remove by software, thus it will be the same on any camera.
Then maybe it is not Anti-Aliasing filter, it must have been something else in front of the sensor, because the lens does better in Panasonic bodies. Unless the correction is purely software, which can also be true.
@@robinwong I'm pretty sure it is corrected by software if it is corrected at all. Another commenter complains about chromatic aberration on Panasonic body, too.
PL 15/1.7 withstands light source in the frame fairly well. Don't know how 14/2.5 does. From Robin's samples it looks it does, but it is not a comparison with PL.
there are two versions of this lens....one made in 2014 which I'm told has yellow lettering, and the one in 2019 which has white lettering???? or is it the other way around? and is their a difference, besides price. I would have to go 'used'. thanks
Maybe you mentioned it but I missed it. How would you compare it to the OIy 17mm 2.8? Slightly less wide of course, but in terms of fringing and things like that? So far my experience has been the Panasonic lenses are just better (sharper) but fringing can be a pain.
Robin, It is well know fact that Panasonic lenses perform better on their native bodies. Perhaps it would focus faster if you were to use it on a Panasonic body.
Please robin no more boring stuff from panasonic. I'm here because of your great reviews of Olympus products.
I wonder, anyone else here thinks Panasonic stuff is boring? Let's discuss. I personally believe Panasonic makes fantastic stuff and I'm a fan of many of their amazing products over the years. The GM1/GM5, LX100, G9 were my absolute favorites. I also think they have some excellent lenses eg 8-18mm is one I'm looking at now.
Not at all, everything is interesting regarding mft
@@robinwong I like my GX9. Together with the Panasonic 15mm f1.7 it is a special and very underrated combination.
The very small but sharp Panasonic 12-32mm is amazing too. The m.Zuiko 60mm f2.8 macro is my favorite lens of Olympus on my GX9.
I think it's quite the opposite, awesome that there are other brands available for our cameras and that these are also reviewed... How boring it would be if there were only "originally branded and manufactured" lenses and accessories for dslrs (like olympus for olympus, canon for canon etc)!
@@robinwong I love that I can choose lenses from both companies having worked professionally in either/or film era Canon and Nikon world. Thanks to you, I'm learning important considerations like the 14mm has more chromatic aberration on Olympus cameras. I have an E-PL8 and a GX-85 because both are highly pocketable with pancakes - so I can take a 'real' camera with me more often. I'm still trying to decide which one like best for me. I use the GX-85 more because I'm more an eye level shooter. BUT, I've just had my cataracts done and will have to try taking the E-PL 8 out more.
That is a sweet little lens. My favorite when I want a really compact lens.
At $198 a good deal. It is a bit wide for me, so I may not be using it as much as I thought I would be, but it is fast enough and sharp enough. I would rate it a B, or a B+ considering compactness and price :)
It really is a very small lens
I used to use my 14 f/2.5 a lot when travel wasn't such an issue in my area. My 20 f/1.7 was my favorite pancake lens in 2020 but I'm hoping that 2021 will allow more opportunities for travel and street photography.
On a Panasonic body there must be automatic CA correction, because I’ve never noticed fringing on any of my Lumix cameras. Thanks for giving this great little lens some attention. Any Lumix owners definitely should consider it!
I used to own this lens and the 20mm f1.7 when I first got a Panasonic G3 so many years ago. It was one of the most versatile lenses I had since I paired it with the Panasonic DMC-GWC1 0.79x wide angle converter lens (discontinued and almost impossible to find now!!) effectively turning it into a 11mm prime!! I kept that combo for many years as a poor man's Olympus 12mm f2.0... lol. There was another lens made for the 14mm but I rarely used it. I've switched over to Olympus system since, but watching this review brought back fond memories of what made me fall in love with m4/3 system. Yea, it had the purple fringing and slow focus speed but the TINY SIZE and image quality you were able to produce with these first-gen pancake lenses legitimized the m4/3 system (for me at least). Love your content Robin!
I have had this lens since 2014. As someone who primarily photographs birds the 300 f4 is my "walking around" lens but it is easy to pop the 14 in a pocket in case there is an opportunity to photograph a subject the the 300 is too long for. I don't regard it as a great lens optically but it gets top marks for portability. The 20 mm Lumix pancake is also handy in this way.
Agreed! More pancakes! Maple flavored accessories are welcome too! 😋
I love the Panasonic 20mm 1.7, it always attach on my camera from my first m4/3 camera Panasonic GF1 to the latest Pen-F, must have lens.
awesome
Great video, thank you so much! I'm actually happy to see your content without those "olympus visionary restrictions". It is always nice to hear your opinion on any cameras/lenses as I find your approach very honest and sane.
Any other Panasonic lenses that you want to see me make a video about? Let me know here. I will try to source (loan) it from friends, if available.
how about a 12-35 vs 12-40/45 comparison?
12mm 1.4
Oly. 45 1.8 vs super cheap Yi 42.5 1.8 for your oly. pl7. I know that neither of the two is panasonic but that comparison to me would like to see.
12-32mm kit lens
42.5mm f/1.7
12-60mm
30mm macro
Possibly the Panasonic-Leica/DJI 15mm 1.7 would be awesome if you could!
I bought this lens more than 10 years ago for the GF1. It was new in store that was specialized on professional DSLRs and such. They hadn't looked into the box. First they thought the box must be empty but the lens was in and they where a bit shocked. Today the lens lives on my GX80 and I grab it whenever I want to take out a small camera setting just in case.
It has a 46mm filter thread. The same as the 20/1.7, the Laowa 7.5mm and the new Laowa 10mm. I would like to see a new GM5 for this package. For me, this form factor is kind of the soul of MFT.
Just got this lens for $100 off of ebay. Looks great on my GM1, looking forward to using it. Thanks for the review.
One of my first MFT lenses was a pancake, and I love it. In part, because it had a built in lens cap (throw a leaver and it closes). I lost it because it was so small, it slipped out of my bag (or is somewhere else in my office, who knows). I also liked it on a light gimble.
This plus a GX1 has been my actually pocketable combo.
Awesome
Your enthusiasm and content is as always contagious, Robin. Happy New Year!
Concerning the autofocus speed, I was surprised with your experience of it being slow. I have both the 14mm F2.5 II, and the 15mm F1.7 lenses (why both 14 & 15mm? - see the end of my comment.) and find them both very quick to focus. I checked your video closely and you were testing the original version of the 14mm (H-H014). At least a few reviews have noted the mark II version (H-H014A) does have a faster, quieter AF.
Why do I have both the 14 & 15mm? I sold my 14mm and bought the 15mm because of the faster aperture to help with indoor and evening shooting (and I found a great price). The 15mm is a great lens, but even though it is pretty small and relatively light I missed how incredibly light and low profile the 14mm is when street shooting paired with a GX9. So when I saw a great deal I bought another 14mm F2.5 II. I'm enjoying both - the 15mm paired with my G9, and the 14mm with my GX9.
I appreciate your videos on the 14mm and the 15mm. I enjoy your channel a great deal - thanks for all your work!
Robin, Thank you for your input and sharing your knowledge and experience. I just bought a gx7 thanks to you. I'm just a beginner so any useful advice is invaluable. I've been watching your channel a lot in search for knowledge. You've got awesome energy! Cheers from Poland! Now I'm looking for a prime lens :)
More or should I say updated Pancake lenses in the future? YES! But please weathersealed.
I am ok, if they don't weather seal the lens, just make them cheap and good!
Definitely an underrated lens, and one of my favorites. I love it on my Panasonic GM5 (super compact combo) and my Olympus Pen-F. I'm enjoying your new videos as you branch out into other manufacturers. Thank you, Robin.
as a lumix guy im impressed you actually reviewed this lens. I love using the m43 system regardless of brand as long as the images come out good. I currently use a panasonic gx85 and been looking for an olympus portrait lens that would go well with my camera.
I have the Olympus 45/1.8 and it’s just outstanding for portraits. I shoot with Lumix cameras. The 45 is a great value, too.
@@skfineshriber thank you for the suggestion, definitely one im going to check out
I also picked up a gx85 recently any lens recommendations?
@@deez5396 congrats on the purchase!
depends on what type of photography you are more into for the wides i would recommend the
Lumix G 9mm f/1.7,
Leica 12mm f1.4
or slightly on the narrow but easier on the pocketbook with quality images
LUMIX G LEICA DG SUMMILUX 15mm / F1.7
as far as for portrait i have yet to purchase one im currently getting by with the super cheap xiaoyi 42.5mm 1.8 and though it works invest a lil more on a better lens 😅
My own GF1 + 14 2.5 still going strong!
Thank you Robin, excellent review as always! I like all of the examples you provided, but most of all - the amazing food images, why not a subject of a special new video.
Thanks Robin, that is a very good lens that almost went Forgotten.
I’ve actually been thinking about getting this lens because of how cheap it is and because I want a pancake lens. Fantastic review! Surprised by how good this lens is actually!
Hi Robin, I have a lowly epl-5 but it takes great quality photos. I’m ready to upgrade, and have been tempted to switch, with all the concern for the future of Olympus, maybe to Fuji or Sony. But, when I see your photos I’m reminded that it’s the photographer and there is nothing bad, and much good in Olympus. For some reason the sharpness is always there with Olympus, and your photos really bring out the color that just amazes me.
Micro Four Thirds is a very optimized system, hence you get sharp results easily, and I personally like Olympus' color science over Fuji and Sony. Of course others can choose to disagree, these things can be personal. I don't think Olympus is going to get any worse under the new direction of JIP, but we shall wait and see what happens. Exciting times ahead.
great lens. i love Panasonic. this company oozes quality. i also admire you Robin. great video as almost always.
Panssonic does make some great products. I wish they pay more attention to purple fringing issues in a lot of their lenses.
bought one as a 'body cap' for my gx80 recently, I agree with Robins thoughts on this. Its only 55g and very cheap used!
This lens also makes a great webcam angle
It is a UV filter issue that can be solved for Olympus cameras in theory, but the solutions range from tweaking the lens to tweaking the sensor. The thing is you have to use a specialized UV filter that stronger filters a certain UV range.
UV filters do not prevent Chromatic Aberration. It prevents haze, but won't change the color fringing issues.
@@robinwong May I prove you otherwise? This website has a nice explanation. If you have any further questions feel free to ask. Not a lens expert, but I had in my past one or two lectures on color science and image processing, so there is a good chance I can answer.
alanwatsonforster.org/writing/mft-purple.html
Hi Robin and thanks for a review of one of my favourite lenses. Couple of points. The CA on the Olympus bodies is pronounced but on both my GX8 and my G9 lumix cameras it is almost non existent plus my 14mm is a fast focusing lens on my Lumix bodies but slow on my EM1 and EM1 mk2. This is similar to the results I get when using the 35mm 1.8 lumix lenses on Olympus and Lumix bodies.
I cannot believe I missed this video when it came out two years ago.
The pancakes are beautiful lenses. I have the Panasonic 12-32mm and love it. It was glued to my Olympus E-PL5 until I broke that camera. It now regularly rotates between my Panasonic GX85 and Olympus EM5 MkII. Some of my favourite images have been taken with this tiny lens.
I just purchased one for my E-PL6. Thanks for sharing an informative video Robin!
Besides the fact that you look like a genuinely cool guy, this video was very complete and informative, and I learn lots of good things about that pancake so thanks a lot Robin :)
I have this lens and I find it very good . In my opinion pancake lenses are hard to beat . Good educational info. Great shots of KL.
Wide angle is my wheelhouse. Unlike you I don't see the 25mm focal length naturally. So maybe I should by the Olympus 25mm 1.8 to challenge myself! My all time favorite lens was the 20mm Nikkor and I really like the manual full frame fisheye lenses available for M4/3 because stretching and elongating distortion appeal to me. I even have some idea why - the Mannerist painters like El Greco immediately following the Renaissance used distortion aesthetically and they have always taken me to a different world. I was a bit surprised that you found the 14mm Panasonic slow to auto focus, but I am comparing it to the very lenses you identify as slower - the 20mm Panasonic and the early 14-42mm kit lens that came on the first OM-D. BTW I agree with you about the importance of pancake design lenses in M4/3 photography and can say my 14mm Panasonic is the smallest and most pocketable and my first choice for both street and land/cityscape shooting.
this is my favorite lens
Awesome
Update to my last post. This is my go to lens. It's size and weight compliment my E-PL6; keeping the camera's footprint small and lightweight. I too had a couple focusing issues myself, however this lens holds its own well.
These days I'm keeping it minimalist with my gear. This lens helps lots! All the best!
Excelente video gracias por compartir sus conocimientos y experiencias👏👏👏👏
Keep up with this new content, Robin!
Thanks, more similar content coming for sure.
Thank you Robin! This is exactly the followup video I was hoping for after your XF10 review. Missing my annual KL trip even more after seeing those food shots!
My fave walk around lens in the old days was always the old Oly 40mm . I have had a couple of 20mm Panys and liked them but auto focus was slow and also I did not like look or construction so much, now I use the 17mm f1.7 (a bit wider than I like but I like the build and manual focus ring and it looks much nicer on the penF).
Oh wow, I recently ordered this only 2-3 days ago, and didn't see this video until now :D !
I have had one of these for years but not used it for ages. I must rescue it from the drawer and give it some exercise! You might try the Lumix 12-32 some time, a tiny pancake.
Go bring it out for a spin or two!
Great review, I really enjoyed some of the evening architectural photos.
Beautiful color rendition in addition to appearing to be razor sharp. I love pancake lenses, too. The smaller the better on any m4/3 camera body. Very nice sample images, BTW.
I still have that 14-42 olympus pancake, which I still use on my Zcam E1 (as a C cam).
A very honest review. I had this lens for many years and eventually moved to the 15mm Pana-Leica. I love the 15mm lens but I really miss the size advantage of the 14mm lens!
Nice review of a nice compact Lens Robin!
I have bought this lens not long ago and really liked it, till I saw that the right was always blurry on one side cause I got a decentered copy and didn't really like how wide it really was, so I returned it and got myself the Laowa 17mm 1.8. It has uncorrected distortions and Vigneting wide open and I kinda miss the autofocus but it is as sharp as this panasonic. But it simply can't beat the panasonic when a compact lens is all you need.
Sorry to hear that you got a lemon! If you can find another good copy, I am sure you will love the 14mm pancake.
For weddings and reportage, I used the following on my Olympus micro 4/3 digital cameras:
45mm f/1.8
20mm f/1.7
14mm f/2.5
I also used the 14-42mm f/3.5 to f/5.6 zoom lens as a backup.
Can i see some examples of your work?
Robin, nothing you present to us is boring. As for Panasonic Lumix Cameras and Lenses go they are fully supportive of the micro four thirds systems.
Without them would see a huge decline of the micro four thirds universe. Cheers John
It is great to have with as a partner to a kit zoom when you want the smallest 2 lens outfit and indoors gets too dark. The PL 15 1.7 is a better lens if you don't mind the jump in size, weight and price. A good RAW processor like DXO PL4 cleans up the 14 2.5 colour fringing very well.
The Panasonic 15mm is definitely a superior lens, but it costs much more! Of course, 15mm vs 14mm may not seem like much of a difference, but the classic street photographers will make some fuss about having a true 28mm coverage, so the 14mm fits into that better.
I used the 14mm with an E-P3 about a decade ago. It's small and snappy so I appreciated that. But despite delivering colorful images, I didn't find it much better than a kit lens. Especially when both Olympus and Panasonic came with decent pancake zooms later, there was no reason for me to continue using the 14mm.
I think another reason for my mixed feelings is the lens was just not fast enough at f2.5. It didn't measure up to the classic 20mm f1.7 which despite AF flaws, is a significant step up from a kit zoom in terms of speed and IQ.
If I want wide and fast, I prefer the Panasonic Leica 15mm f1.7 over the 14mm f2.5. Much better lens.
A new generation of pancake lenses at around f1.8 would restore the micro43 advantage in 2021 now that most APSC and FF have become smaller and the lenses slightly more compact then they used to be.
I wish there were available more 1.8 pancakes, 1.4 premium lenses and may be the current 1.2 which are good but too large for personal usage as carry around.
I agree
Hi Robin, Enjoyed your review. I used to have this 14mm f2.5. I sold it and kept my Panasonic Leica 15mm f1.7, Olympus 25mm f1.8 and the Panasonic GM1 with its lovely 12-32mm kit lens. This is pretty much my "compact and light" setup. I also sold my Olympus Pro zoom trinity set and the OMD bodies and changed to good old Nikon DSLRs. What I learnt was pretty much horses for courses. What I learnt from you videos and articles are it is the photographer who makes photos and not his/her gear. I like your photos. Perhaps you may like to share more on your experience. More than happy to buy you a cup of coffee, especially during this difficult time for photographers who need to make a living out of photography.
I paid 300 USD for similar Leica_Panas used/like NEW 15mm F1.7 and it became my best lens in Olympus system a year ago- Often I screw a 0.75x super wide adapter in the front and feel HAPPY
I have one of these little guys gathering dust. Gonna take it out soon!
Oh man, I love my black copy. A tad slow to focus in low light, but it works great. My favorite street shooting lens... well, a very close second to the Oly 17mm f/1.8. It's used most of the time for me on my black E-M10 II.
Small pancake lenses rock!
Hi Robin. Great review. Please note the you have an older version of this lens (with the red dot). I have the mark II version and the autofocus seems to be fast enough for me.
Hi Robin, about the speed of AF. I have seen videos, where is compared 25mm form Olympus and Panasonic on a Olympus body and the Panasonic lens had problems with AF on Olympus body. During video shooting it took some time to focus on a subject. Olympus was almost instant. So it can be problem of compatibility between some Panasonic lenses and Olympus body. That is my opinion based on review videos about 25mm MFT lenses.
You also have to take into consideration that the 14mm is a much older lens. Much like Olympus' older lens, the AF is noticeably slower. Newer Panasonic lenses focuses really fast, even on Olympus bodies.
Great review. This lens is also good on an IR converted camera!
Robin fantastic videos!!!
I own it. Second copy, since the original one got washed off a rock by a wave in Bali on my wife's Panasonic GM1, but the upside was that since the tiny Panny was her travel camera- to save carrying her Canon DSLR- she replaced it with an E-M10 and dumped the Canon for good. Anyway, purple fringing is rarely an issue for what we shoot, and the slow autofocus similarly isn't an issue as it's a wide lens for (usually) static subjects. She also has the Panny 20 f1.7 and loves it, but the purple fringing is much worse on that lens. Often, I'll go out with either the Oly 25 f1.8 or this Panny 14 f2.5 on my old E-M1 with no other lenses and have a happy day of shooting. I like that it forces me to think about composition, being so wide. If I lose/ break this one, I'll buy another one on Taobao for 600rmb (maybe $80?) in a heartbeat.
I've thought about getting this lens but having the wonderful 12-32mm kit zoom that is already sharp wide open (about a stop slower though) and goes a bit wider, it's a lens that would probably sit around unused.
This is one of my favorites. The other is the 12-32 LUMIX zoom. The existence and reviews of the 14 was what drew me away from Sony APSC to mft.
What a coincidence, I was just looking at these lenses on B&H earlier this week. Yes, more pancakes, or even collapsing ones like the EZ lens. Sometimes you just want to point-and-shoot, but you shouldn't need to use your phone or a crappy P&S when you already have a decent camera.
Hopefully, we can see some new innovations from OM Digital Solutions over the coming years.
Do you have a UV or polarizing filter you can try using to see if it reduces fringing?
UV, Polarizer and any filters in front of the lens won't help in reducing purple fringing, in some cases, it makes things worse.
I have that lens. The focus seems fast to me. Sharpness is good to very good -- my copy might not make it to excellent level ;)
Sharpness at the edge, when wide-open is just OK. Overall, it is a decent lens, when bought at $198 US or less -- mine was made in Japan. Best of all is the Lumix 12-32mm inexpensive lens, IMHO. It bests the Olympus 14-42 with ease. I have that lens on my PEN PL-8, and keep the 14mm Panny lens in the case with my GX-85. Maybe I should drop it into my Olympus EM10 mkII case.
Indeed, in terms of overall image quality (minus CA/Purple fringing issues) the 14mm Panasonic pancake beats any kit lenses out there. The sharpness is not at "PRO" lens level, but it is surely good enough for the price it asks for!
The 14mm is almost a unique lens, with nothing as 'pancake' among all MFT lenses. AF speed is surely not really an issue?! We've just got used to near instant AF from MFT cameras & lenses, rather than .02sec 'slow' (just try old school manual focussing and see how quick a human is?!). On the CA purple fringing, Lumix cameras process this out in-camera, but I believe Olympus cameras don't, hence it's only apparent on files from those bodies. The 14mm is so small, light, and cheap, it's well worth having one which ever system you use (imho!). Pair it with the 42mm f1.8 and you've got a great combo of tiny lenses.
Would you say that this lens with the lumix gx80 would be pocketable?
I love pancake lenses! They are light, they are fast and they look cool, but I have a feeling they are a bit limited when it comes to OIS or weather resistance😅
Great video. I choose the Olympus pancake 14-42 too for versatility. Thanks for the warning the issues on Chromatic Aberration for using Panasonic Lens on Olympus body. Just wondering if you can the following reviews using an Olympus Body.
1) Panasonic 10-25 F1.7
2) Panasonic 100-400 F4 - 6.3
There are hardly any reviews on Panasonic Lenses on Olympus bodies (I guess that's the Olympus or Panasonic Ambassadors are not allowed to do that).
Thanks!
Thanks Craig for the support!
Cheers
Hi Robin, have you compared version I and II of the 14mm f/2.5 lenses in terms of AF speed and purple fringing?
Subscribed. You're great on camera dude.
Did you check how it handles Video CAF with the EM5iii PDAF?
Great sharp lens...but advisable to check the SCP to see if there are changes in settings.....eg ISO change...
Hi Robin,while watching this video,i was thinking of the oly 12mm f2. Although a old lens by now,would it be a better option. Maybe slighty bigger and more expensive,but that oly 12mm f2 is surely a lens thats on my wishing list.
I don't think it is fair to compare it directly like that. If you need a wider coverage and brighter aperture, the 12mm Olympus is the clear choice. But to say which lens is better, is like comparing apples to oranges. 24mm and 28mm are different focal lengths and they each have their own places.
I must have the two slowest AF lens then, the 20 and the 14 🤣. The 14 is relatively expensive alone so is best bought from someone or shop who divorced the lens from a Panasonic camera combo package.
Purple fringing doesn't bother me, current software easily takes that out during raw development. What gives me trouble is I am too relaxed a quick shooter and often don't pause the moment enough to ensure my hand movement and shutter speed and AF are optimum before I click.
Oh, I found both the 20 and the 14 flare with a veiling haze too easily if the sky is bright cloudy and I happen to have a UV filter
I wish we see pancake for 25mm, a nifty fifty or some sort. Our software are advanced enough to correct distortion or imperfection automatically (except flare)
Hi another great video love the lens 👍
Hi Robbin, This is the older version of the 14mm f2.5 though.
Any chance you might do a re-review of the MARK 2? perhaps if the lens you've been looking for after the disappointment you have with the 15mm f1.7 hehe.
Thanks for the review!
Soon I buy this lens for my M1 Mk3
Interesting review, thanks Robin. I've read a lot about the chromatic abberation you can get using this lens on an Olympus camera, do you think its a significant issue? I'm looking for one for my EP-5 and I shoot mostly jpegs.
Hi Robin. The 14mm lens you were using was the Mk1. I wonder how the Mk 2 would compare. Enjoyed your video
this lens is a wide anglev?
Hi Robin, thanks for the nice videos and reviews that you've been doing since a long time ago. Thanks to you, I will buy the Pana 17mm instead the Pana 14mm. I don't like to spend a lot of time in post production. IQ is also better with the 17mm. I'd like to know what picture mode do you use in the photos of this video and what adjustments you made, color adjustments like contrast, sarturation... BTW, what is the city in the photos ? Looks very pleasant. Thank you very much !
Hi Robin, the Anti-aliasing filter has certainly nothing to do with chromatic aberration (it is to prevent the Moiré effect). On the other hand, virtually all digital camera sensors (Olympus included) has a UV filter. On the other hand, the lateral chromatic aberration (i.e. when the color components are all sharp, but of different size) may partially be corrected by software. The lack of this software correction can be the problem. However, the nature of lateral c.a. is a bit different from what I can see on your pictures. It is more pronounced towards the edges, but also has an asymmetric nature. An easy test - the lateral c.a. cannot be eliminated by stopping down. Another type of chromatic aberration which appears in the out of focus area. This is difficult to remove by software, thus it will be the same on any camera.
Then maybe it is not Anti-Aliasing filter, it must have been something else in front of the sensor, because the lens does better in Panasonic bodies. Unless the correction is purely software, which can also be true.
@@robinwong I'm pretty sure it is corrected by software if it is corrected at all. Another commenter complains about chromatic aberration on Panasonic body, too.
Robin …. aren’t you tempted to have a pani G9? I just think there’s a magic clarity to its images?
I would like to see a comparison between this and Panasonic Leica 15mm f1.7, though the latter is not a pancake.
No point comparing really. Both are different lenses. the 15mm cannot give a true 28mm classic wide angle coverage.
PL 15/1.7 withstands light source in the frame fairly well. Don't know how 14/2.5 does. From Robin's samples it looks it does, but it is not a comparison with PL.
I'm enjoying your reviews n comment.. Very informative! Don't mind to have a few cup of coffee with you someday.. Kelantan.
I go for the Panasonic because I need more light capture in the low light.
The Panasonic Leica 12mm f1.4? In my opinion beautifully sharp, but big and heavy, and has the same purple fringing issues as the 14mm.
Hi Robin...What a wonderful pictures, but do you do any postprocessing and if so what programme do you use?😊
Iv got this lens. It’s rather sharp
is there any benefit to this if you have the olympus 14-42 which is pancake at 14….. oh I see now the quality is amazing …. 😊
there are two versions of this lens....one made in 2014 which I'm told has yellow lettering, and the one in 2019 which has white lettering???? or is it the other way around? and is their a difference, besides price. I would have to go 'used'. thanks
Maybe you mentioned it but I missed it. How would you compare it to the OIy 17mm 2.8? Slightly less wide of course, but in terms of fringing and things like that? So far my experience has been the Panasonic lenses are just better (sharper) but fringing can be a pain.
Robin, It is well know fact that Panasonic lenses perform better on their native bodies. Perhaps it would focus faster if you were to use it on a Panasonic body.
Not according to a lot of people who comment here. The lens is slow even on Panasonic bodies.
does it fit to Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4k ?
What do you think as a second lens?
I’ll use it mainly for video having a Zuiko 12-40mm 2.8 pro with Olympus omd om5 mark2.
Who decide the focus point? You or the camera????