Panasonic Lumix G X Vario PZ 45-175mm f/4.0-5.6 Zoom

Well, this one has servo zoom and is non extending, not to mention more compact. Seems like it'd be quite an addition to the "slow zoom" variety! using filters/matte boxes should be much easier, not to mention the servo zoom if calculated right might even allow for focus to remain even if zooming.
 
Well, I guess that qualifies as an official announcement! The news here isn't that there's "another slow zoom", it's that there's another HD-optimized zoom. Up until now the 14-140 has been the only game in town. And, to me, the other news is that it's really inexpensive considering that it's branded with the "X" line. The "Lumix X" is supposed to represent their pro/optimized/highest quality lenses, and that could have meant some high prices, but $449 (which is probably MSRP) is pretty cheap. The 14-140 already covers most of this range, although this new lens would be a tad faster at its wide side, so I doubt I'll rush to get it, but I'm VERY glad to see that they're offering more "HD"-labeled lenses.
 
joesiv said:
Well, this one has servo zoom and is non extending,
Click to expand...
Nice -- hadn't noticed the power zoom button on there. But "non extending" would refer to focus, surely, and not zoom? If it didn't extend when zooming, that would be a huge plus to the lens, but I can't imagine that'd be the case...
 
Does the presence of the power zoom feature imply that these lenses won't have the focus and iris stuttering that we've all learned to know and love with the 14-140mm?

On the downside, I can't see myself liking the power focus on the 14-42mm very much. Give me a ring I can turn in fine increments to zero in the focus precisely.

I'm also guessing that's just a single-speed zoom motor -- the switch doesn't look like it's set up to be a pressure-sensitive variable speed control, does it?

Unfortunately, the AF100 doesn't have the jack for an external zoom controller like the other fixed-lens Panasonic cameras. That will kind of limit the practicality of using the power zooms. Maybe somebody will figure out a way to hack the lenses to put a jack on the lens itself.

- Greg
 
DPReview did a "preview" of the 14-42. They said the zoom was a multi-speed rocker, and that the zoom and focus are smooth HD-optimized.
 
Barry_Green said:
Nice -- hadn't noticed the power zoom button on there. But "non extending" would refer to focus, surely, and not zoom? If it didn't extend when zooming, that would be a huge plus to the lens, but I can't imagine that'd be the case...
Click to expand...
From all reports, including dpreviews specs, it's "internal zoom", so indeed the front isn't going to spin, and it's also not going to extend, good news!
 
Hmmm. Interesting. I dunno, I'd have to see it. It's like it's the compact size only during travel, and then when powered on (regardless of the zoom setting) it's the large size. Well, that's pretty cool I guess. Hard to tell from that angle, but yeah, it looks like it's a lot more stationary during the zoom than the 14-140, that's for sure.
 
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