First of all, I take issue with the best "kit-lens" out there, bar none, in terms of value for money - that was most definitely the 14-45 as part of the G1 or GF1 kit. Of course that isn't available anymore, so maybe my point is moot ;)

I've been rather unimpressed with the sharpness of the 12-50 from the samples I've seen. That said, sharpness primarily matters if you are going to enlarge to gigantic proportions. Most people don't, and even people that do only do so rarely. Really, how much wall space do you have for giant images?

With that in mind I think the 12-50 seems to offer a lot for the compromise in IQ. 12-50 is definitely a more useful range than 14-42. Good macro performance can be a big asset for some. Weather sealing as well. Jack of all trades and master of none seems a good characterization and there is a lot of utility in that. As part of a kit seems a decent value.

It really depends on what you are most likely to use. Want the best IQ in a walk around slow zoom - get the Panasonic 14-45. Want the most compact slow zoom at any price - get the Panasonic 14-42X, but beware of the OIS issues. Want a very compact slow zoom with decent IQ and very low price, get the Olympus 14-42II as part of a kit. Don't mind a slightly bigger lens and not quite the best IQ for a broader range of features, get the 12-50.

And then of course there is the 14-140, 14-150 and 12-35/2.8 as well.

We are blessed with so many mid-range zoom options in m43 these days!

Ken

Well, we're blessed with a gazillion slow kit zooms, and one fast zoom in the mid-range. What we lack is a medium aperture zoom with a decent range and price tag, like the old 14-54/2.8-3.5 or 12-60/2.8-4.0.

DH

That's exactly why I am still keeping my 14-54MkII/2.8-3.5 around!

No matter which way you turn, you've got to give up something. Just decide what you can trade off for what you want to have.

Here's hoping the rumored 12-60 hits it out of the park.

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Don

I using the 12-50mm for walkaround all the time. It's so simple with just the camera and one lens. I don't even touch my bag at all other than storing the camera or changing batteries.

I really hope the 12-60 turns into reality, the speed and IQ upgrade are much needed...

I am able to get rather sharp images, with nice color from this lens.

I have yet to test it in lowlight or pitch darkness, and I will....

Indeed. Unfortunately it would appear that for the first few years of m43 that Olympus was still kidding itself that four-thirds was a realistic answer to the high end market. As a result we got mostly junk from Olympus as far as optics goes for m43. All the decent optics were coming from Panasonic, but even they weren't doing much in the zoom category you are referring to.

Fortunately with things like the 45/1.8 and 75/1.8 coming out (not to mention the E-M5) there is hope Olympus is figuring out 4/3 is an anachronism and that the real market for high end optics is over on the m43 side. They can make amazing optics when they want to, as so many 4/3 lenses demonstrate.

All that said, to stay alive they need their low cost slow zooms to sell cameras to "most" consumers.

Ken

No doubt that in good light the lens performs pretty well. Though it still lacks the pop or wow factor that I'm looking for. In low light this lens is just very difficult to use at the long end and I that's why I now have the range of primes that pretty much cover the focal lengths I use most.

It is no doubt a compromise lens, but a very versatile and capable one. Is it great, no, but it is better than most seem to give it credit for.

I really enjoy using it and so look forward to the rumored 12-60. If Oly would make the 11-22 and 50-200 in m43 I'd be more thrilled, those were my two favorite, non-exotic, 4/3 lenses.

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There is no comparison with 24-70 or other lenses from CaNikon. And the Pany 12-35 isn't expensive, IMO, if you compare it with those lenses, right?

I should have cleared my initial post by saying that I'd definitely wouldn''t buy the 12-50 by itself esp. at the retail price it sells. But as a kit with the E-M5, I stand by my initial statement of it being the "best" current kit-lens (read "best compromise in all respects") out there.

I have high hopes of a 12-60 ported from 4/3. This lens has great IQ and performance on 4/3 and from 12mm to 35mm its aperture would be (guessing) f/2.8 to less than f/3.5, so not much slower than the Pany 12-35.

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