Just ordered the 14-140 at DVinfo.net

Don Litten · June 11th, 2012, 10:46 AM

I was looking at one of Ian's video's yesterday, using the Panasonic 14-140....and it was great. Granted he's very talented but he couldn't do it with the kit lens I have.

It fills the niche I have for an af/ae lens. I love my manual exposure and usually use a camcorder when I need Auto, but at times, it would be handy to use the GH2,

All the reviews look good.

William Hohauser · June 11th, 2012, 01:45 PM

It's a good, workhorse lens. A little dark for theatrical work, a wider DOF than you might like for beauty shots (of course you can always get that with the zoom) but great for most situations. You might be interested in the DMW-ZL1 Zoom Lever attachment, I certainly am happy that I put one on my lens which arrives rather stiff out of the box.

Jeff Harper · June 11th, 2012, 03:18 PM

In the right light it's a nice lens. I kept mine for about a week, it just couldn't cut it indoors for event work, which is primarily what I do. On the other hand I just sold a 18-50mm F/2.8 for the same reason, and there are plenty of folks who make F/2.8 work where I cannot, so I suppose I'm a bad one to talk to about it. The fast primes just have me so spoiled I can't work with anything less than F/2.0 anymore.

Don Litten · June 11th, 2012, 04:36 PM

Thanks Guys!
I have fast wide primes already and most of what I do is outdoors. This will hopefully keep me from carrying 4 or 5 lenses with me.

William, I just ordered the Zoom Lever...Thanks!

Jeff, I'm as bad as you but I have primes as fast as 1 1/8 so that's covered.

I wonder if there's a market for the 14-45 (Which I don't have much good to say about)

Chip Thome · June 15th, 2012, 05:50 PM

Don the 14-45 Lumix is a much sought after lens, especially compared to the 14-42. Those I have seen as of late have been selling in the low $200s range and selling fast when offered.

Don Litten · June 16th, 2012, 04:14 PM

I've gotta say I'm impressed so far. The focus is lightening fast given enough light and contrast and silent.
The Stabilization works well and it's tack shark.

The zoom ring is a little stiff but I got the zoom lever today. I haven't had a chance to try it but it should help.

At $500.00 I didn't expect it to be as nice as it is. That was a pleasant surprise.

Thomas Smet · June 17th, 2012, 12:46 PM

I really wish I had one this weekend. Switching between the 14 to 42 and 45 to 200 was a major pain. The 14 to 140 seems like a nice balance between the two considering all three are pretty dark. I would miss the little extra reach but the flexibility would have been worth a lot to me for the shoot I was doing. If I could keep shooting while I switched lenses it might not be so bad but even then always carrying around 2 or three lenses is a major pain for quick run and gun shoots.

Debating if I should get a 14 to 140 or upgrade from my GH1 to a GH2 instead. I know a GH3 will be out soon but I don't want to pay full price for the GH3 and don't want to wait six months for it to actually be in stock somewhere.

Terry Wall · June 17th, 2012, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Litten

I've gotta say I'm impressed so far. The focus is lightening fast given enough light and contrast and silent.
The Stabilization works well and it's tack shark.

The zoom ring is a little stiff but I got the zoom lever today. I haven't had a chance to try it but it should help.

At $500.00 I didn't expect it to be as nice as it is. That was a pleasant surprise.

Hey, Don, where did you get the 14 - 140 for 500 bucks? Best price I've seen is $629 (@ B&H).

Tee

Bill Bruner · June 17th, 2012, 01:10 PM

It's a great lens. I love it. Why not trade in your GH1 with the 14-42 and keep the 45-200? New GH1s with the 14-42 are going for

$800 on Amazon

- maybe you can get $500 for the GH1 and use it toward a GH2 kit with the 14-140 --

$972 used from Amazon Warehouse

which has a 30 day return policy.

Cheers,

Bill
Hybrid Camera Revolution

Chip Thome · June 17th, 2012, 06:50 PM

Thomas I am just like you, still sitting on my GH1. It does everything I need it to do. I dumped my Nikon stuff earlier this year and took those funds and invested in Lumix glass for my GH1. I am getting stuff from my Panny set up I could only dream of from the Nikon. I also looked at the glass I have invested in as it will go forward with me. We leave bodies behind.....glass we buy for the long haul !!! :-)

Good luck on your decision !!!

Don Litten · June 18th, 2012, 03:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terry Wall

Hey, Don, where did you get the 14 - 140 for 500 bucks? Best price I've seen is $629 (@ B&H).

Tee

Amazon!

Amazon.com: Panasonic 14-140mm f/4.0-5.8 OIS Micro Four Thirds Lens for Panasonic Digital SLR Cameras: Camera & Photo

Bruce Foreman · June 18th, 2012, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chip Thome

I am getting stuff from my Panny set up I could only dream of from the Nikon.

Just curious, Chip. Why do you think that is?

Could it be because of better portability?

Ease of physical handling.

I just changed over from Canon 7D and Rebels, some "L" glass, over to Olympus E-P3 and GH2's for smaller gear and lighter "stuff". I find a "pound" of lenses goes a lot further. I have equipment with me more often and photography is more fun again.

And I don't feel like I've given up anything in sharpness or image quality.

Bruce

Chip Thome · June 18th, 2012, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Foreman

Just curious, Chip. Why do you think that is?

Bruce

Hi Bruce,

I am under the belief that Panny has some correction/sharpening/super wowy stuff going on in the body, when paired with a Lumix lens. I have owned and tried the 7-14, the 8mm, the 25, the 45, the 14-140, the 45-200, the 100-300 as well as the 14-42X. The closet any has been to CA was some "tinting" on the edges with the 7-14 and maybe the 8mm. I could not even call it CA, as there was no distinct edge as other lenses gave me on both the Nikon and my GH1. Also, the day the 45 arrived, I was excited to see how good it was. I unboxed, installed, walked to the front door, stuck the cam out the door and pushed the button. It was just that fast and with just that much preparation. I had said back then and still do, that I would have kissed someone's #$% to have gotten something of that quality out of the Nikon !!! So I don't know how much of this is software, or how much is glass, or how much is sensor, or OIS but I sure know it's not the shooter !!! :-) I don't think it's any single component as much as it is all designed to be working together in unison.

Don Litten · June 19th, 2012, 03:00 PM

Chip...I agree 100%.
I get images out of the GH2 with my 100-400L lens, for instance, that my 7D couldn't touch.

I get unbelievable images from Legacy primes and what I;m getting with the 14-140 in good light is wonderful.

Panasonic has some Voodoo going on in that body.

June 11th, 2012, 10:46 AM	#1
Don Litten Major Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Richmond Va Posts: 400	Just ordered the 14-140 I was looking at one of Ian's video's yesterday, using the Panasonic 14-140....and it was great. Granted he's very talented but he couldn't do it with the kit lens I have. It fills the niche I have for an af/ae lens. I love my manual exposure and usually use a camcorder when I need Auto, but at times, it would be handy to use the GH2, All the reviews look good.

June 11th, 2012, 01:45 PM	#2
William Hohauser Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: New York City Posts: 2,650	Re: Just ordered the 14-140 It's a good, workhorse lens. A little dark for theatrical work, a wider DOF than you might like for beauty shots (of course you can always get that with the zoom) but great for most situations. You might be interested in the DMW-ZL1 Zoom Lever attachment, I certainly am happy that I put one on my lens which arrives rather stiff out of the box. __________________ William Hohauser - New York City Producer/Edit/Camera/Animation

June 11th, 2012, 03:18 PM	#3
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: Just ordered the 14-140 In the right light it's a nice lens. I kept mine for about a week, it just couldn't cut it indoors for event work, which is primarily what I do. On the other hand I just sold a 18-50mm F/2.8 for the same reason, and there are plenty of folks who make F/2.8 work where I cannot, so I suppose I'm a bad one to talk to about it. The fast primes just have me so spoiled I can't work with anything less than F/2.0 anymore.

June 11th, 2012, 04:36 PM	#4
Don Litten Major Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Richmond Va Posts: 400	Re: Just ordered the 14-140 Thanks Guys! I have fast wide primes already and most of what I do is outdoors. This will hopefully keep me from carrying 4 or 5 lenses with me. William, I just ordered the Zoom Lever...Thanks! Jeff, I'm as bad as you but I have primes as fast as 1 1/8 so that's covered. I wonder if there's a market for the 14-45 (Which I don't have much good to say about)

June 15th, 2012, 05:50 PM	#5
Chip Thome Major Player Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Green Bay Wisconsin Posts: 553	Re: Just ordered the 14-140 Don the 14-45 Lumix is a much sought after lens, especially compared to the 14-42. Those I have seen as of late have been selling in the low $200s range and selling fast when offered.

June 16th, 2012, 04:14 PM	#6
Don Litten Major Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Richmond Va Posts: 400	Re: Just ordered the 14-140 I've gotta say I'm impressed so far. The focus is lightening fast given enough light and contrast and silent. The Stabilization works well and it's tack shark. The zoom ring is a little stiff but I got the zoom lever today. I haven't had a chance to try it but it should help. At $500.00 I didn't expect it to be as nice as it is. That was a pleasant surprise.

June 17th, 2012, 12:46 PM	#7
Thomas Smet Trustee Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 1,719	Re: Just ordered the 14-140 I really wish I had one this weekend. Switching between the 14 to 42 and 45 to 200 was a major pain. The 14 to 140 seems like a nice balance between the two considering all three are pretty dark. I would miss the little extra reach but the flexibility would have been worth a lot to me for the shoot I was doing. If I could keep shooting while I switched lenses it might not be so bad but even then always carrying around 2 or three lenses is a major pain for quick run and gun shoots. Debating if I should get a 14 to 140 or upgrade from my GH1 to a GH2 instead. I know a GH3 will be out soon but I don't want to pay full price for the GH3 and don't want to wait six months for it to actually be in stock somewhere.

June 17th, 2012, 01:10 PM	#9
Bill Bruner Major Player Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Sunny California Posts: 513	Re: Just ordered the 14-140 It's a great lens. I love it. Why not trade in your GH1 with the 14-42 and keep the 45-200? New GH1s with the 14-42 are going for $800 on Amazon $800 on Amazon - maybe you can get $500 for the GH1 and use it toward a GH2 kit with the 14-140 -- $972 used from Amazon Warehouse $972 used from Amazon Warehouse which has a 30 day return policy. Cheers, Bill Hybrid Camera Revolution

June 17th, 2012, 06:50 PM	#10
Chip Thome Major Player Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Green Bay Wisconsin Posts: 553	Re: Just ordered the 14-140 Thomas I am just like you, still sitting on my GH1. It does everything I need it to do. I dumped my Nikon stuff earlier this year and took those funds and invested in Lumix glass for my GH1. I am getting stuff from my Panny set up I could only dream of from the Nikon. I also looked at the glass I have invested in as it will go forward with me. We leave bodies behind.....glass we buy for the long haul !!! :-) Good luck on your decision !!!

June 19th, 2012, 03:00 PM	#14
Don Litten Major Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Richmond Va Posts: 400	Re: Just ordered the 14-140 Chip...I agree 100%. I get images out of the GH2 with my 100-400L lens, for instance, that my 7D couldn't touch. I get unbelievable images from Legacy primes and what I;m getting with the 14-140 in good light is wonderful. Panasonic has some Voodoo going on in that body.