Olympus mZD 14-150mm f4-5.6 Experience Diary

Hello everyone,

through my Olympus contacts here in the UK, I have managed to secure one of the first production mZD 14-150mm f4-5.6 lenses, to be able to answer your questions here and to arrange for some hands-on impressions by Olympus Photo Safari Group members here in the UK.

I am not a paid reviewer, so please don't expect a lab review (here's one I recommend, by Andy Westlake) - I don't photograph resolution charts... this will be a hands on experience diary, with lots of example images.

OK, first off some sample images from today - all converted from raw using the free Olympus Viewer software, and shadows enhanced + scaled for web using Lightzone.

First off, the image I selected for my PAD image for today...

"This is ENGLAND"
E-PL1 + mZD 14-150mm f4-5.6
1/250s f/5.6 at 42.0mm iso200


Normally, I would carry the Pen with the 20mm f1.7 in my left hand with a wrist strap, ready to shoot easily... today I took the E-PL1 with the mZD 14-150mm lens and EVF attached. It took a little getting used to carrying with the lens protruding about the same distance at 14mm as the mZD 14-42mm extended - but the light weight of the lens made it possible to get comfortable... carrying with the lens retracted to 14mm

I took the shot above from the other side of the road, looking down into the EVF raised - so easy having the range to get just the right framing.

"One legged biker"
E-PL1 + mZD 14-150mm f4-5.6
1/160s f/5.6 at 63.0mm iso640


One of the most important features of this lens, apart from the incredible flexibility of zoom range, is being able to isolate the subject at full zoom...

Very shy guinea pig
E-PL1 + mZD 14-150mm f4-5.6
1/160s f/7.1 at 150.0mm iso640


E-PL1 + mZD 14-150mm f4-5.6
1/640s f/5.6 at 150.0mm iso200


Notice the beautiful bokeh at the close focusing distance (a very useful 50cm).

I have the PL 14-150mm OIS for 4/3rds... tomorrow I will take some side by side shots to compare quality, but my gut feeling is that it is very comparable.

This is the most exciting lens for m4/3rds since the 20mm f1.7... it is beautifully made (better action than the mZD 14-42, fast, silent, compact and lightweight).

Please post any questions you have, or examples you would like me to provide...

Cheers

Brian

 

This is a great lens for candid portraits, my youngest daughter... absorbed by a game on my iphone (at least it's not facebook yet! )

E-PL1 + mZD 14-150mm f4-5.6
1/50s f/5.6 at 150.0mm iso1600


I cropped this slightly to bring the focus into her face and ruffled hair... she's at the back of the room, so the light was low - ISO 1600 on the E-PL1 is very easy to work with.

Cheers

Brian

 

Thank you David, I'm off out to do some side by side shooting with the E-PL1 + mZD 14-150 vs E-30 + PL 14-150 and will be able to give you a better idea on CA then...

In low light, the superior stabilisation of the E-30 at 150mm will make a difference in getting sharp images (vs the E-PL1 which supposedly has the weaker stabilisation system)... here's a shot from the same seat across the room of a cross stitch picture - the PL 14-150 is a tiny bit sharper and more contrasty wide open I think, but I don't think you'd notice it in a print or web presented image.

One thing to note - the mZD 14-150 at 150mm seems to be noticeably longer than the PL 14-150? I will do a tripod test to confirm this outside.

E-30 + PL 14-150mm f3.5-5.6
1/6s f/5.6 at 150.0mm iso200


E-PL1 + mZD 14-150mm f4-5.6
1/8s f/5.6 at 150.0mm iso200


Both images developed straight from raw using Capture One 5 PRO - no processing to remove CA on either.

Cheers

Brian

 

Hi tam,

it will take a while to exercise the lens in a good range of conditions and applications... here are a set I took this morning - I realise these are too small to pixel peep, but I'm happy to supply any raw files on request.

E-30 + PL 14-150mm f3.5-5.6
1/250s f/8.0 at 14.0mm iso200


E-PL1 + mZD 14-150mm f4-5.6
1/500s f/8.0 at 14.0mm iso200


E-30 + PL 14-150mm f3.5-5.6
1/400s f/8.0 at 21.0mm iso200


E-PL1 + mZD 14-150mm f4-5.6
1/640s f/8.0 at 20.0mm iso200


E-30 + PL 14-150mm f3.5-5.6
1/500s f/8.0 at 69.0mm iso200


E-PL1 + mZD 14-150mm f4-5.6
1/1000s f/6.3 at 67.0mm iso200


E-30 + PL 14-150mm f3.5-5.6
1/400s f/8.0 at 150.0mm iso200


E-PL1 + mZD 14-150mm f4-5.6
1/400s f/8.0 at 150.0mm iso200


I'll post some 100% crops from the 14mm shot.

Cheers

Brian

 

Some 100% pixel level crops from the 14mm shots.

Centre crop :
E-30 + PL 14-150mm f3.5-5.6
1/250s f/8.0 at 14.0mm iso200


E-PL1 + mZD 14-150mm f4-5.6
1/500s f/8.0 at 14.0mm iso200


Right hand edge crop :
E-30 + PL 14-150mm f3.5-5.6


E-PL1 + mZD 14-150mm f4-5.6


Top left corner crop :
E-30 + PL 14-150mm f3.5-5.6


E-PL1 + mZD 14-150mm f4-5.6


Cheers

Brian

 

I was wondering about that... I had IBIS enabled, and this was tripod mounted - I'd like to try more shots to see whether this is consistent.

As for the 14-42 + 40-150... I'd probably go that way (having the 20mm f1.7 for when portability is essential), despite the fact the 14-42 is more compact and closer focusing.

Cheers

Brian

 

Thanks Don, as you said... our loved ones make our most compelling work :smile:

Cheers

Brian