GH3 What's a great stabilized small lens for m4/3?

DPStewart

DPStewart

Veteran
Howdy crimestoppers,

So, this is just for vacations and "out and about" shooting.

I already have the Panasonic 14-140mm Mega Image Stabilization lens, and it's been great, but my tiny GH2 loses all of its tiny with that lens on it obviously.

Is there a really great SMALLER lens with really good in-lens stabilization out there? Brand doesn't matter - it just has to be an M4/3 lens so I can use all the auto functions.

Thank you,
Gracias,
Merci,
 
DPStewart said:
Howdy crimestoppers,

So, this is just for vacations and "out and about" shooting.

I already have the Panasonic 14-140mm Mega Image Stabilization lens, and it's been great, but my tiny GH2 loses all of its tiny with that lens on it obviously.

Is there a really great SMALLER lens with really good in-lens stabilization out there? Brand doesn't matter - it just has to be an M4/3 lens so I can use all the auto functions.

Thank you,
Gracias,
Merci,
Click to expand...

If you want stabilization then I believe your only choice is a Panasonic brand lens. What about a shorter focal length lens like a 14-45mm. It also has mega stabilization like the 14-140 but weighs less than half of the 14-140.

Myself personally I love the 14-140 on vacations because of the range of the lens and how it lets me get just about anything during the day. I find primes to be a bit limiting on vacation since I can't always get up close to everything. I really don't find the 14-140 all that heavy especially in comparison to what a similar lens would weigh for a FF camera. When the lights go down I do switch to my 25mm f1.4 for video or use a flash for stills and continue to use the 14-140. Depends on the situation of course.
 
I've had the 14-45 and it works pretty well. Like Thomas said you won't have the range that you do with the 14-140 so as long as you can "zoom with your legs" you should be fine. And yes, the 14-45 is much nicer than the 14-42 in my opinion.
 
I use the cheapo 14-42 lens... I'm sure the 14-45 is better, but the 14-42 is cheap and stabilizes pretty well to my eye. And if I break it... I don't really care because it's so low cost.

If you want even smaller, they make a pancake zoom version of the 14-42 (about the size of the 20mm pancake). It's got a powered zoom and is very small... but it's more expensive.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/818962-REG/Panasonic_H_PS14042S_Lumix_G_X_Vario.html
 
Bern Caughey said:
The 12-35mm f2.8 is only slightly larger then the 14-45mm f3.5-5.6, but the image quality & speed are superior.
Click to expand...

Completely true... if your budget can handle it and you don't mind the shorter reach, it's THE zoom to have. For some reason my mind censored itself on low cost.
 
Also, the second version of the standard 14-42mm kit lens is quite good. ( the first version was quite soft at longer focal lengths )
 
14-140 II is small, handy and has good IQ. Unfortunately the jittering OIS is not good for video. Must stabilize in post every clip.
 
The new 14-42 is really quite good, and smaller than the old 14-45. Make sure there's a "II" in the name. It's the one with the metal-covered barrel (internal construction is still plastic).
 
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