Olympus ZUIKO 14-42mm F3.4-5.6: Review

Posted to Lenses 2009-10-13

Olympus 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 Zuiko ED review:

The Olympus Zuiko 14-42mm F3.4-5.6 is a standard zoom lens that is available from Olympus and is often packaged with most Olympus DSLR cameras so there may be no need for you to buy this lens separately should you be looking at purchasing a Digital SLR camera from them. The lens offers standard 3x zoom and is extremely lightweight at only 190grams.

This lens uses an internal focusing system, meaning there is very little physical extension done when zooming in the lens, allowing for a more compact look and feel to this often bulky camera extension. There is a maximum aperture available of between f3.5 and f5.6 and a minimum of f22, so you should be fairly well looked after when searching for the right exposure for your shot. You can also check out some sample photos on the Olympus website taken with this lens which is a handy research tool if you are still undecided given the variety of choices out there.

Rating:

3.4 out of 5

Value

To be significantly noticed from the pack in the digital photography world takes some real legwork beforehand to figure out what consumers are after. Current economic circumstances deem that you can probably make the most inroads if you offer some substantial value in your products for a price that is lower than the rest, so this lens from Olympus manages to fall into that category. Some good zoom range, packed with an unexpected maximum aperture make this 14-42mm Zuiko ED lens a good fit for those of us who are looking to shop purely based on value for money.

Ergonomics

Compact designs on camera lenses are becoming increasingly important. Yes we all want the maximum photo quality that you can get and yes, we all know that is achieved by a digital camera, but the sheer size of them often makes them unattractive to the everyday consumer. Given that this lens weighs a small 190 grams makes it the perfect candidate for a mobile lens that you can attach to your DSLR camera without adding in a further bulky component.

Summary

Olympus have been involved in making reliable camera accessories for some time and there is nothing to suggest otherwise here. There is a small lack of additional features such as extended zoom functionality, but overall this unit gives a nice compact design without the need to break the bank. Check for compatibility on your camera, as well as taking a peek at the sample photos to ensure you are getting what you expect.

Pros

Lightweight
Internal Focusing
14-42mm (28-84mm 35mm equivalent)
Reliable Olympus Zuiko lens

Cons

Limited to 3x zoom