Olympus 14-54 version I vs Olympus 14-54 II

anatusa

anatusa

Veteran
Hello

i found a used Olympus 14-54 version I locally, so i wonder if some one knows anything about it? maybe some common problems that I version has? how close it is to II version and what is the difference between 2 models?
If some one used it with AF100 plz let us all know your experience with it!

as i understand its also 4/3 same as II version, i already have olympus adopter for 4/3 to m 4/3.

If some one used manfrotto or bebob elctro FF with I or II version plz post your experiance as well. I am interested to know how noisy it is with these electro FF, how fast is the response to FF.

thanks for the help!
 
ok , i actually bought that Oly 14-54 version I for 200usd, few things:

1. Never buy a used lens with electro connections at the street. i met with that guy near local gas station and it was mistake. At first while i was checking the lens i was surprised how nice and smooth the focus ring is. i really loved it and bought it. but when i came home and checked the lens with out street noise ......i understood that i got "robed" :-) . The Focus ring IS SO ...... Noisy! i dont know if it was fixed for the the Version II of that lens, but here its just terrible, when u turn the Focus Ring it produce around 65% of noise from what the IRIS does, with only difference - noise from focus comes out every single mm ! So i would not be in that situation if i would check it INSIDE some where......
btw if lens is not connected or if camcorder is turned off and u turn focus ring - focus not making any noises!

2. Noisy IRIS - well it was not a news i already knew about it from the posts here, some one even posted a video for OLY 14-54 II. so it was not a surprise, but at version I i think its a little different : u get like 2 clicks when zoom in, and much more clicks like 5 when zoom out. it is not a big deal for me as i never change iris after i set it up, and if i zoom i always cut it in post.

3. Well if i ll forget about the noises - i must say that i like the way Oly 14-54 version I does focus! Much better than my Panasonic 14-54 leica 2.8-3.5, because with Oly its much easier to catch the object in focus + less breathing. if talking about breathing than i would rate (1-10 where 10 is worst) Pany with 10, but Oly with 2-3. but my Pany defiantly Wins at noise fight as there is non during focusing!

4. Auto focus NOT working with my AF101. Push not working as well!


So now i would like to know:
- if VERSION II does same noise during FOCUSING or not? and i mean focusing with just hands, not with some electronic tool
- if you tried BeBob Foxy or Manfrotto ff with version I or II plz let us know if it works and how noisy it is!
 
I am thinking about buying an oly 14-54 too. - does the af 100 read out and display the distance correctly? which adapter do you use?
 
i have now both adopters from oly and from pany - there is no difference, i stopped on OLY as its kind looks more solid....

for sure do not buy V1 ! u ll hate it! i dont know about VII as i never used it, but V 1 is kind of - crap! my oly has same issues as probably all 4/3 has...... like iris clicking, as its iris not constant so u get terrible clicks on zooming, breathing(probably not the worst in 4/3 family but it has some) , but also u ll get with V1 crappy sound from the FOCUS ring, my english not allows me to describe it exactly, but it DOES make sound when u rotate focus ring!! Maybe V II will not have that focus ring sound, i dont know it, but the rest of the issues are still there for sure!

also V 1 - does not work with remote Focus controllers like Bebob foxi or manfrotto 521pfi. as the lens electronic the camcorder sees it, and displays all the info from it, like iris..... looks accurate, but i cant confirm that it displays the distance accurate, i never tested it!

so if say true i would not recommend not V1 not V II, the only thing - its maybe not that hard to resell V II... if u still want to try.

my self as a zoom lens, if u want electronic connections, and a cheap lens - buy a Sigma ex dc macro 4/3 18-50 f2.8! yes it has constant iris, makes no sounds at all when zooming, or when u rotate focus ring. its my main lens for now, - i payed like 400$ used. 1 uk store on ebay sells it for like 350pounds new with 2y eu warranty..., but used was ok for me. it will not works with focus remote controllers as well! but i think i ll keep it as a macro even after ill switch to something like canon after/when finally birger is out! i think the boke from that lens is stronger then from my Oly. i filmed 1 press conference with that sigma and i really liked the result.
there is no any other fast and silent zooms currently at 4/3 or m4/3!

i also have sigma 4/3 30mm f/1.4, kind of nice one too, but at that range u got to be peaky as there are alternatives..... but i think it all depends on the price u r willing to pay and if u r going to switch to something else!
 
thank you very much for the quick and detailed reply! - the sigma 18-50 sounds interessting- again the same question: what adapter do you use? and does it read out the distance accurately? - it has no OIS, i suppose ...
 
non of them have ois, - i already told i use Oly model number mmf-1, but has pany as well

and i told that i cant confirm if the distance displayed is accurate, as i never tried to measure, and never did it in my life yet. but i just went and tried - seems like focus distance does not displayed accurately, on display i see 0.51m but its should be more then 0.60m (of course only if i do it right and i have to measure from the image sensor ...)

or u are talking about zoom distance? if so , then yes it displays accurately, - 18 mm is 18mm, 35 mm is 35mm.... display shows it right
 
thomas diehl said:
ah, ok the mmf-1 works for the sigma as well - thank you!
thank you very much for checking!
Click to expand...

there is no difference between what brand u ll use, adopters are not from pany to oly, these adopters are from 4/3 to m4/3, so any lens with 4/3 mount will work on any m4/3 camera with any of these 3 adopters (pany dmw-ma1, oly mmf1,2)

sigma does lenses with many different kind of mounts, u need 4/3(four thirds)!
 
Hi there,

I own the Oly II, and the panasonic adapter.

It took me a few weeks to decide of a zoom, read a lot about it, talked to fellow DVX users... etc.

I knew all the cons mentioned above, and that is no surprise after you do the homework. So if you re buying this zoom, you are buying it in knowing of certain things.

For me, I needed a zoom (a variable prime should we call it) that I can use for event type of stuff, I wanted something fast (2.8 - 3.5), something I could afford.

It's noisy when you zoom? It is ok, it s not a parfocal lense, you probably won't use the zooming part of your shot.

The iris is noisy? Ok, it clicks, but it clicks when you are zooming or when you changing the iris.

The focus makes some sound too. But, I've shot with it many projects with it, I actually did some narrative work too with it (iike guerilla webisode thing), and the sound was never an issue. Could be if you d use the internal mic of the cam, but that s not something you should use...

I also wanted a wide lens to complete my primes, and 14mm was a good start.

Bottom line, it was the best zoom at the moment, for the speed, the price, the quality of built ( weather sealed, feels solid...) I could find. Now if I d have to look again, I would maybe look into nikon 2.8 zooms, although not sure if they are parfocal, if the 2.8 is constant, won't cover the wide range...

I have this zoom for 1 year now. I will probably sell it and get something like the X lenses when they come out, but different price range... hope it helps.

Seb
 
I had in mind to wait for the new X-Lenses as well - but they simply take too long.
I have just ordered the 14-54 II - maybe I will sell it when they come out - on the other hand: 14-34mm is not really what I need.
14-80 f2.8 x-lense would have been nice.
do you miss the OIS when shooting handheld with the oly II?
 
sometimes, but I think you get use to work without it. in broadcast camera, red, alexa, 35mm and 16mm, there is no OIS, and many movies have been made, and are made with them....
 
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