Olympus 14-42mm Micro Four Thirds Lens Reviews, Samples and References

Last update (Jul 16, 2009): Full-resolution comparison sample images: 5D Mark II vs Olympus E-P1.

This page is a collection of photo samples taken with the Olympus M.Zuiko 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Micro Four Thirds lens, plus related image galleries, user pictures and other examples that I’ve come across in forums, online communities, blogs and related websites.

This should help in determining if the image quality of the 14-42/3.5-5.6 m4/3 zoom lens meets your expectations.

Bear in mind that the majority of these photos are re-sized, and may have gone through post-processing, retouching or other edits. I just thought that it would be interesting to see, at a glance, what Olympus M.ZUIKO 14-42mm owners and users are shooting with their lens.

Full-sized images, where available, will assist with judging the image quality.

Attribution is given by linking to the source and where available, the author’s homepage or photo gallery.

The Micro Four Thirds 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 was introduced as a kit lens together with the Olympus Pen E-P1 12.3MP Micro Four Thirds Electronic Viewfinder Interchangeable-Lens Digital Camera.

Professional reviews, user opinions, tests, ratings, conclusions and feedback

Brief impressions of the Zuiko 14-42mm by Lori Grunin, CNET — In her review of the E-P1, Lori said this of the 14-42mm lens:

For such a compact model, the 14-42mm (28mm-84mm equivalent) kit lens can be pretty sharp. It does a lot better at macro distances—and can focus pretty close—than at traditional ones, however. Overall, it delivers about the same shooting experience as the 18-55mm lenses from Canon and Nikon, with the exception of manual focus. Though the manual focus rings on those lenses don’t feel particularly fluid, they at least use a traditional geared mechanical operation. Like its Micro Four Thirds counterparts from Panasonic, the Olympus uses a servoelectronic ring, resulting in the infinite rotation experience; it’s not bad, just relatively loose and imprecise and takes some getting used to. The way you can retract the lens into itself when not in use is quite ingenious, however, and makes the difference between being able to slip the camera into a large jacket pocket and requiring a carrying case.

Sample photos and examples, image galleries

Full-resolution comparison sample images: 5D Mark II vs Olympus E-P1

zerglan posted a couple of full-sized photos from the Canon 5D Mark II and Olympus E-P1 cameras. See the first post here, and the second, here.

For the 5D2, zerglan mounted the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, while on the PEN E-P1, the kit 14-42mm lens was used.

The images are JPEG files straight out of the camera, unedited.

Olympus Pen E-P1 hands-on review sample photos (Stuff.tv)

Full hi-res images (all taken with the new E-P1) are available when you click through to the Flickr photo set.

Olympus Pen E-P1 Preview Samples Gallery on DPReview, June 2009

The first E-P1 preview gallery features 38 photographs shot with the Olympus M.Zuiko 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Micro Four Thirds lens mounted on an E-P1.

Below are direct links to the reduced size (with image details) and original images.

1. Image 1 (original)


2. Image 2 (original)


3. Image 3 (original)


4. Image 4 (ISO 400 — original)


5. Image 5 (original)


6. Image 6 (original)


7. Image 8 (original)


8. Image 9 (full-telephoto zoom detail shot — original)


9. Image 10 (full wide-angle zoom detail shot — original)


10. Image 11 (Black & White — original)


11. Image 12 (original)


12. Image 13 (original)


13. Image 14 (ISO 1600 — original)


14. Image 15 (full wide-angle zoom detail shot — original)


15. Image 16 (original)


16. Image 17 (original)


17. Image 21 (original)


18. Image 22 (original)


19. Image 23 (distant subject detail at full telephoto zoom — original)


20. Image 24 (original)


21. Image 27 (original)


22. Image 28 (original)


23. Image 29 (ISO 320, Black & White — original)


24. Image 30 (original)


25. Image 31 (original)


26. Image 32 (nice skin tones and detail in the t-shirt — original)


27. Image 33 (original)


28. Image 34 (original)


29. Image 35 (excellent — London Tower Bridge detail — original)


30. Image 36 (original)


31. Image 37 (London Tower Bridge detail — original)


32. Image 38 (London Tower Bridge detail — original)


33. Image 39 (Black & White — original)


34. Image 40 (Black & White — original)


35. Image 46 (ISO 6400 shot — original)


36. Image 47 (ISO 6400 shot — original)
37. Image 48 (ISO 3200 shot — original)


38. Image 49 (ISO 800 shot — original)

Olympus E-P1 Sample Photos at PhotographyBlog

PB used the 14-42mm lens to produce a collection of E-P1 photos, but what’s more interesting is their ISO series tests which goes from ISO 100 all the way to ISO 6400.

References

Olympus E-P1 14-42mm lens mechanism in action

See it in high quality on YouTube.