Convince me of the 14-140mm Panny

MegaPixelTravel · #1 May 28th, 2011, 10:25 AM

I'm getting a GH2 for mainly video work (replacing a D90) and travel photography (where I tend to shot wide angle 90% of the time of buildings and landscapes).

I'm wondering if I should get it with the Kit Lens 14-140mm. I'm told its a good lens, but for me it seems very slow and I wondering if its worth the price (~$700 as a kit, vs $900 without).

My Expected Set-up of lenses will be Panny Pancake 20mm f1.7, 14-140mm?+ Nikon Lenses (Mainly 28-80, 80-200 f2.8 zoom glass + Primes at f1.2-1.8 range from 16mm to 58mm).

So I have the range mainly covered (14-20mm is a bit less so).
So my question to you guys is do you use the 14-140mm a lot in shooting because it fully functional with the camera or do you tend to leave it for better glass and manual controls?

~tc~ · #2 May 28th, 2011, 11:27 AM

Holy cow that's a lot of large, heavy glass to carry around as a "travel" photographer.

Personally, the kind of travel photography I do, AF and small, light lenses are huge advantages. I carry the 20/1.7, PL45/2.8, 45-200, 8mm fisheye, and PL14-50 f/2.5 (with adapter) for my GF1, so I'm covered from 28 - 400 mm equivalent, all in very good to exceptional image quality (maybe only "good" out past 200mm equiv).

That said, there are indeed not currently a lot of bright lenses in the native stable, and I do see that as an issue.

So, I guess in the end, it comes down to exactly what situations do you find yourself in. It sounds like you're OK with having to change lenses, so maybe a super zoom isn't necessary. Of course, at the kit price discount, you probably stand to make your money back if you decide you don't want it.

John M Flores · #3 May 28th, 2011, 11:43 AM

Yup that is a lot of glass! Don't forget that the 14-140 has Mega OIS, which is worth 2+ stops of stability.

My travel kit is shaping up as follows:
GH2 + Panny 100-300
GH1 + Panny 14-140
20 F1.7

At some point I hope to add either the Panny 7-14 or Oly 9-18, giving me massive coverage (14-600 35mm EQ) plus good low light! While this is a pretty big M43 kit, it's tiny compared to an equivalent dSLR setup.

chuckgoolsbee · #4 May 28th, 2011, 11:57 AM

If you like shooting wide, why not add a Panny 7—14? It is an amazing WA lens. I've found the 7—14 + the 20 are the most often used lenses in my collection.

MegaPixelTravel · #5 May 28th, 2011, 12:21 PM

I'm finding the 7-14mm a tad expensive to be honest. I would rather spend the money on a 8mm Peleng for Nikon (use a N to MFT adapter) @ ~$350 then +$1000 or +$2000 for the oly. Honest to god, spending more than $250 for a lens is almost unheard for me.

For Travel (not for a photography purpose like my African Photo Safari last year). I would ideally take...

GH2
20mm f/1.7
Either the 14-140 (Panny) or 12-24 (Nikon)

Last Time in Europe I took a D80, 50mm, 12-24, and 180mm and used the 12-24 99.99% of the time with the 50mm f.18 three times when it was too dark for 1/10th shutter @f4 (the slowest I can go handheld).

turbodieselvw · #6 May 28th, 2011, 02:11 PM

The 14-140 was made by Panasonic specifically for video or so they claim. It's a very quite focussing lens and allows for continuous AF (hence the made for video designation). This lens also covers the widest focal range of any native m43 lens other than the UW zoom but it ain't a very fast lens. If you shoot a lot of video then you may want this lens. Otherwise there are lots of other lenses out there that are able do the same job (but not the 10X zoom).

~tc~ · #7 May 28th, 2011, 04:01 PM

The 9-18 and 8 fisheye are both tiny tiny lenses. The 7-14 is small, but considerably bigger than either.

As for price .... There is always the used market. As reviews come out claiming the 45/2.8 is overpriced more and more come available used and take care of the problem, allowing you to pick up this phenomenal lens at about $600, which, in native lens terms, is actually one of the best "image quality per dollar" lenses out there

Since the 7-14 gets such good reviews (despite image quality similar to the 45/2.8 and an even higher price) they seem to rarely come up for sale used, though.

Personally, I am waiting with baited breath for the rumored bright zoom

tomrock · #8 May 28th, 2011, 04:42 PM

You can hear the 20 focusing when you shoot video with it. If you're doing something else for audio then you may be all right but if you 're recording the audio with the camera it won't work.

Luckypenguin · #9 May 28th, 2011, 05:36 PM

Define very slow. There is no such thing as a fast superzoom, and the Panny is in the ballpark for this class of lens. I like mine at wide angle, less so at telephoto. A 14-100 or even 14-70 would have suited me fine, especially if it made the lens smaller or lighter. The focus is very quick.

BTW, as an aside, I don't agree with the assertion that a camera kit for travelling should be as minimal as possible. I take more gear with me travelling than I would ever carry around at one time at home. If you're happy to carry it for the results it will give then it is worth bringing along, whether it's a GF2 or 5D.

~tc~ · #10 May 28th, 2011, 07:35 PM

Unfortunately, in today's world of limited carry on and charges for checked baggage, size and weight limitations of your gear are being forced on you by the airlines (at least in the US).

I have much better things to spend money on than baggage quantity/weight charges.