After experiencing TWO of the "pancake" (EZ) lenses failing (and spending $180 on getting one repaired), I realised that its greatest weakness was that it had too many electrical functions. I therefore bought the RII lens because I figured that this at least eliminated one potential cause of failure, namely the electric extension/retraction. Another recognised weakness of the EZ lens is that it is difficult to set a specific focal length, whereas this is much easier with the RII. Maybe people would criticise the RII because it takes a split-second longer to extend the lens on switching on the camera, but frankly I have never found this a problem - and I no longer live in fear of the lens failing without warning, as the EZ version does.
I got back into serious photography in 2015 after an almost 20 year absence. The camera was an Olympus E-M5 mk 1 and this lens along with the 40-150mm F4-5.6. I still shoot with this lens occasionally even though I've upgraded to the 12-45mm F4 Pro. I agree with everything you've said about it. Very good lens for a kit zoom.
I just retrieved mine and replaced the primes I usually wear on the camera . In good light you can capture some pretty good images . The centre part is very nice and stop down to 5.6-8 and the edges pop nicely . At 42 it is softer , but that can work to your advantage in portrait work . Yes , I have a really good walk about and portrait lens , but there is something very appealing using this kit lens if you understand how to use it to maximise what it does very well and limit those things it does less well . At the end of the day it is the person taking the image that makes a great image and that has little to do with sharpness and everything to do with emotion and telling a story when we capture our memories . Thanks once again for a great video and the suggestions you raise about this often overlooked lens .
Don, thanks for talking about this lens. It deserves lots of love. I use it on my E-M 10 mk ii and really like the images from it. I remember from before I went to MFT. I had a Canon EOS Rebel t3i, and the reviewers from, I believe DPReview (RIP), said the the 18-55mm kit lens that came with it made it hard to justify spending lots of money to upgrade the lens (or words to that effect). I think Olympus did much the same thing with this lens-they made a fundamentally sound lens. So the question I have to ask myself is, “Do I really need to spend beaucoup $$$ for a weatherproof lens with constant f/4 max aperture which weighs a whole lot more, AND will require me to upgrade the camera body to one from the E-M 5 or 1 family for the weatherproofing. For me the answer is no. I’ll spend some money on some f1.8 primes thank you. I already bought the well-reviewed plastic fantastic 40-150mm f4.0-5.5 lens as part of the kit, so I’m good to go. And thanks for keeping that cheeky little northern cardinal in your title sequence. It makes me smile every time I see the wee fellow!
Actually I love this lens on my E-PM2, PL2, PL5, E-M5 .. Makes me feel happy. Super light, and the zoom and focus rings fit my hand perfectly. Btw.. your photos have those warm comfy Olympus colors. The more I mature, I find I’m putting sharpness on the back burner. 💁🏻♀️🔥🌸❄️
This is going to be my next lens purchase for my EPL7. Currently using an Olympus 40-150, which is amazing and i really like the combination but i also need the option of a wider lens. I think this is that perfect choice. Thanks for your great videos Don, it was your video about the EP5 that finally made me choose the EPL7 last year (along with the 40-150mm lens) and i am so happy with it. :)
Here I am, next to me a E-PM1 + 14-42mm FIRST version... After well over decade now with Olympus OM-D series top line models, I started to gather various other Olympus models. Example, I skipped the OM-D (then, later as E-M5) and first m4/3 body to buy was E-M1 with a 12-40mm as kit lens to it (kit lens is the one that comes in the same box with the body from the factory, not that is bundled as separate box as deal by the store). The E-P5 was released same time with the E-M1, and it was the E-M5 without EVF. I decided first to avoid PEN line, and now I have multiple ones that I have purchased.. E-P2, E-PL6, E-PM1, E-P5 and PEN-F. I am looking to buy E-P7 as successor to PEN-F! I love the Olympus E-M1 series raw power and quality. I do think that E-M1 II was last good upgrade model, and III was not so worth upgrade, and E-M1X even less. Haven't taken the OM System models, not so interested. I have full set of the Olympus lenses from the 7 mm all the way to 400 mm. I purchased the 100-400 mm two weeks before 150-600 was announced. And you can guess, I wasn't interested for that one. But, I bought the E-PM1 because I wanted Olympus "crappiest" small body, a 12 Mpix old sensor (the 16 Mpix is superior to it). And I wanted even the worst lens to go with it, that the 14-42mm original is for. And It is amazing that how much better quality that combo is, compared to what you had back then in 2009. I have handled and tested almost all the Canon and Nikon models from 2004 to 2013 from their common and more expensive lenses and bodies. And the cheap kit lens like this 14-42 is really a great performer for many of those others. It is just something that you can not value without experiencing it first hand. And this II R model is even better. I would love to use the E-P2 I have, but the IBIS just malfunctioned last time, and I dismantled the body but noticed I was going to wrong direction as I didn't get access to the frontal part where the IBIS motors are locked. There is little information on some forums for what to do, but not how to dismantle the body to get those visible as it skips that part. I don't give up, but need to find little more information for that model to fix it. As it is so fancy old body. What I love to do with these is to challenge myself. Remind what photography is about. It is easy to take the latest model and just snap going and get different experience and feeling. But going with these old bodies and lenses and combine them with newer ones, it is fun. Like example, Olympus 100-400mm with MC20 on E-PM1? That thing looks crazy funny, and results are great...
@@dongummphotography In here the photography schools often were visited by the camera companies representatives (sales people) or just famous photographers. The foremost was mostly about showing what is to offer by the brand, and sometimes providing a small number of stuff for school to be given students for loaners. Like 4-5 units of bodies or 2 lenses of new kinds etc. These often resulted to students buy some of these for themselves, so it was brand loyalists hooking time... Olympus wasn't there back then, and I always found colors be nicer there and camera handling nicer. I have acquired some of the old models from those eras as well, like Nikon D2x and D200 (little version), or Canon 5D... Those are fancy, but they really more reveals how far ahead Olympus was for almost 2 decades. No matter what they did, the vocal minority looked down the sensor size and judged everything based that. Nothing is really more pleasing than walking someone with strong opinion about sensor larger size importance, front of a large prints and ask can the IQ reveal format? Or hand a photography book with A4 or A3 size photos and ask can the format be identified? There is so much fallacies, like your mentioned metal/plastic bayonet difference. It was refreshing to hear someone talk more about the difference of plastics and benefits. As the Roger in lens rental did write, the people talk often too much about mounts when they mean bayonet or screw. Most people think that as objective has metal shell, and metal bayonet, it must be metal inside. While very few really is, and most have plastic barrels and basic mounts and metal bayonet screwed on that mount that exist behind bayonet. My only plastic bayonet objective is m.zuiko 40-150 mm R, and after years good use, it is totally fine. Not much different from example 40-150mm PRO with metal bayonet. But when 40-150 Pro once fell from my bag, it was just like you said, objective bayonet detached from the mount, and body bayonet detached from the body... That one mistake not to check did I secure zipper cost 150€ insurance bill, but both were replaced as not worth to repair, so without insurance it would have been ~2100€. When a friend dropped his E-M10 with 40-150 R, it was just the objective bayonet wings snapping and for 80€ a second hand was available instantly.
Exactly. I love this hobby. It’s free and it gets you out walking in nature. Meeting folks. Old simple gear challenges us to think. What to pull out that morning, and how to use it. ツ
I agree with what you have stated very well. I recently got that M.Zuiko 14-42MM, as a complement to my Olympos and OM System cameras, and I was very surprised by its lightness, how smooth the zoom wheels go and the image quality. It is a recommended objective. I chose the silver version and it seemed very aesthetic (a well-made silver) that looks very good on my Olympus PEN F (silver version) and my EPL8 😁
Appreciate the review. I am fairly new to Olympus M4/3. I’ve got this lens, the pancake, and the older full size 4/3 version. Have made some nice images with the 14-42 IIR. The pancake EZ version if you are needing a compact form, is good but it extends out when you are actually using it. One nice thing about that EZ is the optional automatic lens cap. I do like that. The older lens, that I somehow ended up with was used once with an adapter. A bit noisy and seemed slower to AF. But if end up with an older Olympus body, I’ll have a lens for it. Several other RUclipsrs like the IIR the best of the three.
Just ordered one of these for $77 to go with an EM5 I am not using since I added a couple of EM1 bodies to my collection. Already have one on my EPL-7 and like it on that for a compact carry. Good info on this
Very good of you to mention this lens Don. Kit lenses are so often overlooked. In general the Olympus kit lenses are better than the average kit lens. Personally I use the 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 EZ pancake kit lens, because it allows me to carry the camera in a small pouch on my hip wherever I go. For sure size is its strong point. Probably the II R is optically slightly better, and the EZ version definitely has its minor flaws, but you won't hear me complain. It is quite good enough for me.
Thanks for your incite full videos and for showing us your great photos. Do you use a lens hood or polarising filter on that zoom? I'm considering buying an Olympus dem1ii - have you ever used a camera with the buffering feature, which is useful for sports photography? Thanks
I sometimes use a lens hood but not a polarising filter. I have not used a camera with buffering but I don't shoot much in the way of action photos. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Years ago I bought the cheapest interchangeable lens camera (Olympus E-PM2) to try out my old Leica lenses. I quickly realized that this was not a meaningful combination. But I was amazed at the excellent image quality with the kit lens. Unfortunately, it only leads a stepmotherly existence. I now use the prime lenses from Olympus, which are even better.😸
I've had both this, the pancake and both the equivalent Lumix lenses as well (Lumix also has a powered pancake and a non-powered standard zoom lens). It is interesting that both Olympus lenses are smaller than their Lumix counterparts. I've, perhaps a little too quickly, discarded this lens due to a bias against plastic. That, and I find it a little clunky to use with the extension mechanism being what it is. I've mostly used the Olympus pancake. It is just a little more in line with my use case that prioritizes transportability and quick deployment. However, I do have to say that you've made some really lovely images with that plastic kit lens. Apart from the pictures themselves being very good, the image quality is definitely better than one would expect from such a cheap-looking lens. It also explains why these lenses sell quite well - I do some trading in camera gear to support the hobby. That being said, I think I can name one more advantage of the IIR over the EZ, that being durability. While I've never had any problems with my EZ, I've had plenty of customers who accidentally damaged their pancake EZ lenses. I think the fine motors of the EZ make it a little less robust than this IIR.
I had one of these for a couple of years. I liked the optics and form factor but the lens became usable only near the minimum focal length after a couple of years of moderate use due to ribbon cable failure. I was quite shocked and find that it has tended to make me more likely to consider lenses by Lumix and other manufacturers.
It certainly takes nice clean photos Don, and interesting that you use it to digitise film too, ... wondering that you do shoot in raw?, cheers, Steve :)
This is the only decent video "review" of this lens on Yt. Well done, Don has done it ;). Your samples are fine too! Just be aware that it can have a quirk. I have had one that would only work from 35 mm on to 42mm, and another that works fine. Olympus charges more for the repair than is the market price for the working second hand version out there. Also the new price is unrealistically high. The true quality this lens shows only when you set out to a heavy edit, starting from a raw file.
Thank you for the compliment! I have not had to heavily edit photos from this lens. I find it's performance quite good, especially considering the price.
@@dongummphotographyit is certainly not bad, I'm just about revealing the full potential of the lens. It _is_ softer at 42 mm but I have shot my all-time favorite portrait with it! :)
Got my copy of Oly 14-42 R MSC lens for $60 on ebay in new condition. Also have the most recent version of the Panasonic Lumix 14-42, the ii version with 46mm filter. That may be slightly sharper but also cost more, wanted that for the optical image stabilization on Panasonic M43 bodies with no IBIS. So should probably sell the Olympus 14-42 BUT like the image quality and collapsibility so still have both 14-42 lenses!
That's funny because I use this kit lens probably >50% (probably more like 80%) of the time, and it's more than good enough for my uses (not professional). I especially like it as a video lens that gives me a little versatility in terms of working more confined spaces, and filling the frame. Another kit lens I've always felt didn't get enough respect is the old Canon EFS 18-55 kit lens. I'd rank these as fairly similar, but with a slight nod to the Olympus lens.
This IIR is superior compared to the EZ version in built and image quality. Owned all the black and silver versions that came with the Pens and E-M5/EM-10 bodies but both the EZs are no longer functioning after only 2-3 years of use. I'm still happily taking photos with both the IIRs until today.
Please tell me, what is your general starting point for setting your camera for street photography. I'm planning on visiting London in April and wondered if Auto setting would be fine. I tend to set it on Aperture, but think that Auto would be easier. Thanks
@@dongummphotography Thank you! I've watched many clips where they URGE you to shoot in Manual, but somehow, I always end up with over -exposure! I find Aperture to be fine, but it has been YEARS since I've taken some shots with my OMD 5 mark ii. Would you recommend a 17 mm or 25 mm to take with, along with a kit lens, or would the kit lens do? Thanks
Hello Don. I know this kit lens can show a bit of chromatic aberration in high contrast areas. Is it easy to remove that chromatic aberration in software ? I found a review that showed the ED version of this lens to be of higher quality than this lens.
There are some tools for removing chromatic aberration in Photoshop. I've never found it necessary to worry with it myself. The only ED version I am aware of is the old 4/3 version (not Micro 4/3), which would require an adapter to make it work on an M43 body.
Hi Don, good review. I have also this lens and have also the Olympus om-d-em5mk2. Is the 12- 45 mm F4 pro better of almost the same quality? i think about it to buy one.
I would bet the 12 to 45 f4 Pro is a better lens and it has a wider field of view but it costs a lot more. I would like the extra wide angle capability.
Thanks for you anser. I think i well buy it. i can use this 14- 42 mm lens for my Olympus om-d-em10 and the better 12- 45 mm for my om-d-em5mk2. These camera's are both from metal and i like that. What you say polymer is also strong, but it's not the same. The extra wide angle capability interesting. i live in the Netherlands and i like to buy it in a real shop Foto Kino Linders in Venlo not from a internet- shop.
@broekbos, I think it will be a good choice. Always better to buy it in person if you can. I like supporting local businesses when possible plus you get to examine the product you are buying. Sadly, no photo stores in my area stock Olympus or Panasonic.
I just getting into Olympus system and I just got the 14-42 kit lens but Im noticing that the lens makes an unusual notice when focusing is like friction noice. Anyone has that experience, is this normal on this lens? I got the lens on Ebay and I need to returned if damaged in any form. Please, help!
The lens should be pretty quiet when focusing. You can sometimes hear an almost imperceptible sound in the video when it focuses but it has to be pretty quiet for it to be heard. If it makes a clearly audible sound when focusing then it may have an issue.
Great information in this video but it makes it difficult to connect when you're looking at your cameras screen and not at me through your cameras lens
Thanks for this video Don, very informative and helped me choose this lens for myself! All the best from the UK
@richardhurst1194 thank you, and thanks for watching and commenting!
After experiencing TWO of the "pancake" (EZ) lenses failing (and spending $180 on getting one repaired), I realised that its greatest weakness was that it had too many electrical functions. I therefore bought the RII lens because I figured that this at least eliminated one potential cause of failure, namely the electric extension/retraction. Another recognised weakness of the EZ lens is that it is difficult to set a specific focal length, whereas this is much easier with the RII. Maybe people would criticise the RII because it takes a split-second longer to extend the lens on switching on the camera, but frankly I have never found this a problem - and I no longer live in fear of the lens failing without warning, as the EZ version does.
I think the RII version will serve you well. Mine certainly have. Thanks for watching!
are there any cheap pancake lenses that don't break as easily?
Thank you for this, just getting serious about the hobby along with my lil one. appreciate your video sir
Thank you and thanks for watching and commenting too!
Thanks for your review, I just bought one on eBay for my OM5 looking forward to giving it a try
I got back into serious photography in 2015 after an almost 20 year absence. The camera was an Olympus E-M5 mk 1 and this lens along with the 40-150mm F4-5.6. I still shoot with this lens occasionally even though I've upgraded to the 12-45mm F4 Pro. I agree with everything you've said about it. Very good lens for a kit zoom.
Thanks for watching!
I just retrieved mine and replaced the primes I usually wear on the camera . In good light you can capture some pretty good images . The centre part is very nice and stop down to 5.6-8 and the edges pop nicely . At 42 it is softer , but that can work to your advantage in portrait work . Yes , I have a really good walk about and portrait lens , but there is something very appealing using this kit lens if you understand how to use it to maximise what it does very well and limit those things it does less well .
At the end of the day it is the person taking the image that makes a great image and that has little to do with sharpness and everything to do with emotion and telling a story when we capture our memories .
Thanks once again for a great video and the suggestions you raise about this often overlooked lens .
Thank you and thanks for watching!
Don, thanks for talking about this lens. It deserves lots of love. I use it on my E-M 10 mk ii and really like the images from it. I remember from before I went to MFT. I had a Canon EOS Rebel t3i, and the reviewers from, I believe DPReview (RIP), said the the 18-55mm kit lens that came with it made it hard to justify spending lots of money to upgrade the lens (or words to that effect). I think Olympus did much the same thing with this lens-they made a fundamentally sound lens. So the question I have to ask myself is, “Do I really need to spend beaucoup $$$ for a weatherproof lens with constant f/4 max aperture which weighs a whole lot more, AND will require me to upgrade the camera body to one from the E-M 5 or 1 family for the weatherproofing. For me the answer is no. I’ll spend some money on some f1.8 primes thank you. I already bought the well-reviewed plastic fantastic 40-150mm f4.0-5.5 lens as part of the kit, so I’m good to go.
And thanks for keeping that cheeky little northern cardinal in your title sequence. It makes me smile every time I see the wee fellow!
Can't agree more! Thanks for watching!
Actually I love this lens on my E-PM2, PL2, PL5, E-M5 .. Makes me feel happy.
Super light, and the zoom and focus rings fit my hand perfectly.
Btw.. your photos have those warm comfy Olympus colors.
The more I mature, I find I’m putting sharpness on the back burner. 💁🏻♀️🔥🌸❄️
@@Koji-888 sharpness got put on my back burner when I took up pinhole photography!
This is going to be my next lens purchase for my EPL7. Currently using an Olympus 40-150, which is amazing and i really like the combination but i also need the option of a wider lens. I think this is that perfect choice. Thanks for your great videos Don, it was your video about the EP5 that finally made me choose the EPL7 last year (along with the 40-150mm lens) and i am so happy with it. :)
Glad you like the videos, thanks for watching!
Here I am, next to me a E-PM1 + 14-42mm FIRST version...
After well over decade now with Olympus OM-D series top line models, I started to gather various other Olympus models.
Example, I skipped the OM-D (then, later as E-M5) and first m4/3 body to buy was E-M1 with a 12-40mm as kit lens to it (kit lens is the one that comes in the same box with the body from the factory, not that is bundled as separate box as deal by the store).
The E-P5 was released same time with the E-M1, and it was the E-M5 without EVF.
I decided first to avoid PEN line, and now I have multiple ones that I have purchased.. E-P2, E-PL6, E-PM1, E-P5 and PEN-F. I am looking to buy E-P7 as successor to PEN-F!
I love the Olympus E-M1 series raw power and quality. I do think that E-M1 II was last good upgrade model, and III was not so worth upgrade, and E-M1X even less. Haven't taken the OM System models, not so interested.
I have full set of the Olympus lenses from the 7 mm all the way to 400 mm. I purchased the 100-400 mm two weeks before 150-600 was announced. And you can guess, I wasn't interested for that one.
But, I bought the E-PM1 because I wanted Olympus "crappiest" small body, a 12 Mpix old sensor (the 16 Mpix is superior to it). And I wanted even the worst lens to go with it, that the 14-42mm original is for.
And It is amazing that how much better quality that combo is, compared to what you had back then in 2009.
I have handled and tested almost all the Canon and Nikon models from 2004 to 2013 from their common and more expensive lenses and bodies.
And the cheap kit lens like this 14-42 is really a great performer for many of those others.
It is just something that you can not value without experiencing it first hand. And this II R model is even better.
I would love to use the E-P2 I have, but the IBIS just malfunctioned last time, and I dismantled the body but noticed I was going to wrong direction as I didn't get access to the frontal part where the IBIS motors are locked. There is little information on some forums for what to do, but not how to dismantle the body to get those visible as it skips that part.
I don't give up, but need to find little more information for that model to fix it. As it is so fancy old body.
What I love to do with these is to challenge myself. Remind what photography is about. It is easy to take the latest model and just snap going and get different experience and feeling. But going with these old bodies and lenses and combine them with newer ones, it is fun.
Like example, Olympus 100-400mm with MC20 on E-PM1? That thing looks crazy funny, and results are great...
Wow, what an Olympus journey! I really enjoy my Olympus cameras but you've taken it to the next level. Thanks for watching and commenting!
@@dongummphotography In here the photography schools often were visited by the camera companies representatives (sales people) or just famous photographers. The foremost was mostly about showing what is to offer by the brand, and sometimes providing a small number of stuff for school to be given students for loaners. Like 4-5 units of bodies or 2 lenses of new kinds etc. These often resulted to students buy some of these for themselves, so it was brand loyalists hooking time...
Olympus wasn't there back then, and I always found colors be nicer there and camera handling nicer.
I have acquired some of the old models from those eras as well, like Nikon D2x and D200 (little version), or Canon 5D...
Those are fancy, but they really more reveals how far ahead Olympus was for almost 2 decades. No matter what they did, the vocal minority looked down the sensor size and judged everything based that.
Nothing is really more pleasing than walking someone with strong opinion about sensor larger size importance, front of a large prints and ask can the IQ reveal format? Or hand a photography book with A4 or A3 size photos and ask can the format be identified?
There is so much fallacies, like your mentioned metal/plastic bayonet difference.
It was refreshing to hear someone talk more about the difference of plastics and benefits.
As the Roger in lens rental did write, the people talk often too much about mounts when they mean bayonet or screw. Most people think that as objective has metal shell, and metal bayonet, it must be metal inside. While very few really is, and most have plastic barrels and basic mounts and metal bayonet screwed on that mount that exist behind bayonet.
My only plastic bayonet objective is m.zuiko 40-150 mm R, and after years good use, it is totally fine. Not much different from example 40-150mm PRO with metal bayonet.
But when 40-150 Pro once fell from my bag, it was just like you said, objective bayonet detached from the mount, and body bayonet detached from the body...
That one mistake not to check did I secure zipper cost 150€ insurance bill, but both were replaced as not worth to repair, so without insurance it would have been ~2100€.
When a friend dropped his E-M10 with 40-150 R, it was just the objective bayonet wings snapping and for 80€ a second hand was available instantly.
Exactly. I love this hobby. It’s free and it gets you out walking in nature. Meeting folks.
Old simple gear challenges us to think. What to pull out that morning, and how to use it. ツ
I agree with what you have stated very well. I recently got that M.Zuiko 14-42MM, as a complement to my Olympos and OM System cameras, and I was very surprised by its lightness, how smooth the zoom wheels go and the image quality. It is a recommended objective. I chose the silver version and it seemed very aesthetic (a well-made silver) that looks very good on my Olympus PEN F (silver version) and my EPL8 😁
@@salgado_fotos it is very good for a kit lens indeed!
Appreciate the review. I am fairly new to Olympus M4/3. I’ve got this lens, the pancake, and the older full size 4/3 version. Have made some nice images with the 14-42 IIR. The pancake EZ version if you are needing a compact form, is good but it extends out when you are actually using it. One nice thing about that EZ is the optional automatic lens cap. I do like that. The older lens, that I somehow ended up with was used once with an adapter. A bit noisy and seemed slower to AF. But if end up with an older Olympus body, I’ll have a lens for it. Several other RUclipsrs like the IIR the best of the three.
Thanks for watching! The IIR is my favorite.
Just ordered one of these for $77 to go with an EM5 I am not using since I added a couple of EM1 bodies to my collection. Already have one on my EPL-7 and like it on that for a compact carry. Good info on this
Thanks for watching!
This lens is my favorite. I consider it a gem and it was a big surprise for me. It does what others cannot do.
I agree! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Very good of you to mention this lens Don. Kit lenses are so often overlooked. In general the Olympus kit lenses are better than the average kit lens. Personally I use the 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 EZ pancake kit lens, because it allows me to carry the camera in a small pouch on my hip wherever I go. For sure size is its strong point. Probably the II R is optically slightly better, and the EZ version definitely has its minor flaws, but you won't hear me complain. It is quite good enough for me.
I think it is a very similar formula, also with 3 aspheruc elements in a more compact form. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for your incite full videos and for showing us your great photos. Do you use a lens hood or polarising filter on that zoom? I'm considering buying an Olympus dem1ii - have you ever used a camera with the buffering feature, which is useful for sports photography? Thanks
I sometimes use a lens hood but not a polarising filter. I have not used a camera with buffering but I don't shoot much in the way of action photos. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Years ago I bought the cheapest interchangeable lens camera (Olympus E-PM2) to try out my old Leica lenses. I quickly realized that this was not a meaningful combination. But I was amazed at the excellent image quality with the kit lens. Unfortunately, it only leads a stepmotherly existence. I now use the prime lenses from Olympus, which are even better.😸
Old Leica lenses are sweet. Thanks for watching!
I appreciate your divery. Very informative. Good stuff. Thank You!
Thank you! Thanks for watching and commenting too!
thank you for all the knowledge and sharing, i use the pancake version on my em10mk4 (came as kit)
thanks again
I've had both this, the pancake and both the equivalent Lumix lenses as well (Lumix also has a powered pancake and a non-powered standard zoom lens). It is interesting that both Olympus lenses are smaller than their Lumix counterparts. I've, perhaps a little too quickly, discarded this lens due to a bias against plastic. That, and I find it a little clunky to use with the extension mechanism being what it is.
I've mostly used the Olympus pancake. It is just a little more in line with my use case that prioritizes transportability and quick deployment.
However, I do have to say that you've made some really lovely images with that plastic kit lens. Apart from the pictures themselves being very good, the image quality is definitely better than one would expect from such a cheap-looking lens. It also explains why these lenses sell quite well - I do some trading in camera gear to support the hobby. That being said, I think I can name one more advantage of the IIR over the EZ, that being durability. While I've never had any problems with my EZ, I've had plenty of customers who accidentally damaged their pancake EZ lenses. I think the fine motors of the EZ make it a little less robust than this IIR.
Thanks for sharing your experiences and thanks for watching!
I had one of these for a couple of years. I liked the optics and form factor but the lens became usable only near the minimum focal length after a couple of years of moderate use due to ribbon cable failure. I was quite shocked and find that it has tended to make me more likely to consider lenses by Lumix and other manufacturers.
Interesting. I have used mine for several years without issue.
It certainly takes nice clean photos Don, and interesting that you use it to digitise film too, ... wondering that you do shoot in raw?, cheers, Steve :)
I shoot in raw + jpeg but only use the raw if I have to. Thanks for watching!
This is the only decent video "review" of this lens on Yt. Well done, Don has done it ;). Your samples are fine too!
Just be aware that it can have a quirk. I have had one that would only work from 35 mm on to 42mm, and another that works fine. Olympus charges more for the repair than is the market price for the working second hand version out there. Also the new price is unrealistically high. The true quality this lens shows only when you set out to a heavy edit, starting from a raw file.
Thank you for the compliment! I have not had to heavily edit photos from this lens. I find it's performance quite good, especially considering the price.
@@dongummphotographyit is certainly not bad, I'm just about revealing the full potential of the lens. It _is_ softer at 42 mm but I have shot my all-time favorite portrait with it! :)
Got my copy of Oly 14-42 R MSC lens for $60 on ebay in new condition. Also have the most recent version of the Panasonic Lumix 14-42, the ii version with 46mm filter. That may be slightly sharper but also cost more, wanted that for the optical image stabilization on Panasonic M43 bodies with no IBIS. So should probably sell the Olympus 14-42 BUT like the image quality and collapsibility so still have both 14-42 lenses!
The best of both worlds! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Bought a kit olympus kit for only 90€.
Olympus e-pl5 and this lens. I can take some really amazing pictures.
That's a great combo. The same one I got started in digital with. Thanks for watching!
Great combo. That’s really all I need to be happy. Small. Tilt screen. 16MP
That's funny because I use this kit lens probably >50% (probably more like 80%) of the time, and it's more than good enough for my uses (not professional). I especially like it as a video lens that gives me a little versatility in terms of working more confined spaces, and filling the frame. Another kit lens I've always felt didn't get enough respect is the old Canon EFS 18-55 kit lens. I'd rank these as fairly similar, but with a slight nod to the Olympus lens.
This IIR is superior compared to the EZ version in built and image quality.
Owned all the black and silver versions that came with the Pens and E-M5/EM-10 bodies but both the EZs are no longer functioning after only 2-3 years of use.
I'm still happily taking photos with both the IIRs until today.
I agree that the IIR is best. Thanks for watching!
Please tell me, what is your general starting point for setting your camera for street photography. I'm planning on visiting London in April and wondered if Auto setting would be fine. I tend to set it on Aperture, but think that Auto would be easier. Thanks
@kina7128 Auto is fine for street photography. I generally prefer Aperture priority, however.
@@dongummphotography Thank you! I've watched many clips where they URGE you to shoot in Manual, but somehow, I always end up with over -exposure! I find Aperture to be fine, but it has been YEARS since I've taken some shots with my OMD 5 mark ii. Would you recommend a 17 mm or 25 mm to take with, along with a kit lens, or would the kit lens do? Thanks
@kina7128 if you can't take both, I would choose whichever one has the largest aperture.
@@dongummphotography Thank you, once again!
Thanks ! Great review 😃
Thanks for watching and commenting!
Hello Don. I know this kit lens can show a bit of chromatic aberration in high contrast areas. Is it easy to remove that chromatic aberration in software ? I found a review that showed the ED version of this lens to be of higher quality than this lens.
There are some tools for removing chromatic aberration in Photoshop. I've never found it necessary to worry with it myself. The only ED version I am aware of is the old 4/3 version (not Micro 4/3), which would require an adapter to make it work on an M43 body.
Hi Don, good review. I have also this lens and have also the Olympus om-d-em5mk2. Is the 12- 45 mm F4 pro better of almost the same quality? i think about it to buy one.
I would bet the 12 to 45 f4 Pro is a better lens and it has a wider field of view but it costs a lot more. I would like the extra wide angle capability.
Thanks for you anser. I think i well buy it. i can use this 14- 42 mm lens for my Olympus om-d-em10 and the better 12- 45 mm for my om-d-em5mk2. These camera's are both from metal and i like that. What you say polymer is also strong, but it's not the same. The extra wide angle capability interesting. i live in the Netherlands and i like to buy it in a real shop Foto Kino Linders in Venlo not from a internet- shop.
@broekbos, I think it will be a good choice. Always better to buy it in person if you can. I like supporting local businesses when possible plus you get to examine the product you are buying. Sadly, no photo stores in my area stock Olympus or Panasonic.
Lots of good information here. Thanks!
Thank you for watching!
just order flex cable for repair my lens after watched this
I just getting into Olympus system and I just got the 14-42 kit lens but Im noticing that the lens makes an unusual notice when focusing is like friction noice. Anyone has that experience, is this normal on this lens? I got the lens on Ebay and I need to returned if damaged in any form. Please, help!
The lens should be pretty quiet when focusing. You can sometimes hear an almost imperceptible sound in the video when it focuses but it has to be pretty quiet for it to be heard. If it makes a clearly audible sound when focusing then it may have an issue.
Great information in this video but it makes it difficult to connect when you're looking at your cameras screen and not at me through your cameras lens
Are you looking for a date?
🤦♂️