Panasonic 45-200mm f/4.0-5.6 Lumix G Vario MEGA OIS Zoom Micro Four Thirds Lens for Panasonic and Olympus Micro Four Thirds Cameras
by Panasonic
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Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: PanasonicFormat: CD-ROM
Model: H-FS045200
Color: black
Product features:
- Micro Four Thirds lens mount system produces professional level images while greatly reducing the overall size compared to traditional DSLR lenses
- Built-in Optical Image Stabilization reduces blurry pictures due to hand movement that is especially useful at longer focal lengths
- Maximum f/stop opening of 4.0 (at 45mm wide) to a minimum of f22 with a filter size of only 52mm
- 16 elements in 13 groups utilizing 7 circular aperture diaphragm blades with a total weight of only 13.4 ounces
- Standard accessories include front and rear lens caps, lens hood and lens storage bag
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Panasonic 45-200mm f/4.0-5.6 Lumix G Vario MEGA OIS Zoom Micro Four Thirds Lens for Panasonic and Olympus Micro Four Thirds Cameras
Customer Review: For a budget telephoto, it's actually pretty good
Summary: 4 Stars
How you view this lens will largely depend on your expectations. This is not a top notch lens, like the Olympus Zuiko 50-200mm f/2.8-3.5, and you can't really expect that sort of performance from it. This is, rather, a "budget telephoto": a bit slow, a bit cheaply constructed, possessing some minor optical defects.
The aperture range of 4-5.6 is exactly the norm for this class of lens, and it's a major weakness. This thing needs light, and lots of it; you might as well forget shooting moving subjects unless it's a sunny day or you're using a flash.
This is my only OIS lens for M4/3, and thus far I'm rather unimpressed with this stabilization technique for stills. My E-P2's in-body stabilization seems to be more effective, so I use that instead (note to PEN shooters: you can't combine OIS with in-body IS, you must choose one or the other). If you're shooting Panasonic, OIS is your only option, and it's better than nothing.
When it comes to video, though, OIS is a godsend. The E-P2's IBIS doesn't work in video mode, with the body instead employing software compensation, so OIS is a real win here. This makes the 45-200mm (or another Panasonic OIS lens) a better choice than the Olympus equivalents for video work on Olympus bodies.
Build quality is somewhat marginal, but probably above average for this class. It does have a metal mount and it doesn't wobble or stutter during zoom. The zoom ring is fairly smooth and the focus ring is, as with other M4/3 lenses, really an electronic control for the AF micromotor. Love it or hate it, it is what it is; I've gotten used to it and find it to be quite effective, but I still can't quite get the hang of not having any physical stops at the ends of the range. I really wish there was some kind of visual cue as to your focusing distance displayed in the EVF; surely the body does have this data, I just don't think it can be displayed.
Lens size is a bit on the beefy side of things, looking slightly imbalanced on my E-P2 (especially with the hood mounted). Of course, this *is* a telephoto, and you have to accept that it will have some extra bulk. It's still a good bit smaller than comparable lenses for DSLRs, but don't expect that this thing will be slipped into your pocket like the diminutive Panasonic LUMIX G 20mm f/1.7 Aspherical Pancake Lens.
Sharpness is pretty darn good across the frame even wide open. Keep in mind that 400mm equivalent f/5.6 can be very difficult to handhold, even with OIS, and at that focal length atmospheric haze can reduce contrast (I have to wonder whether these factors contribute to some peoples' perceptions of softness). It may not be "tack sharp" wide open, and the pixel peepers will surely lament this fact, but in most cases it's perfectly usable even for moderate crops.
Chromatic aberration, on the other hand, is no joke. Point this thing at a tree backed by a light sky and you'll see huge purple fringing towards the corners. Stopping down helps but doesn't get rid of it. I understand that Panasonic bodies automatically compensate for this, but my Olympus surely isn't doing so.
There's also some fairly substantial vignetting wide open, which won't be a problem in most real world scenarios, but is something to be aware of.
Autofocus on this lens is very snappy and nearly silent on my E-P2 with the latest firmware. It's much better than the kit lens in both respects, easily a match for my DSLR with a comparable lens. Again, this makes it a good choice for video.
At the end of the day, this lens meets my expectations: it's a competent performer that has weaknesses which are typical of its class. As of the time of writing, this is also the *only* lens longer than 150mm with a native M4/3 mount, so if you want the range you have little choice (outside of purchasing an expensive and massive 4/3 telephoto like the Zuiko 50-200mm f/2.8-3.5 and combining it with a Panasonic Mount Adapter).
If I have one complaint about this lens, it's in the price. I've got a similar lens for my Sony A700 (the Sony 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6) which costs substantially less, and offer similar performance. We're still paying a premium for M4/3 lenses right now, and this lens serves as a reminder of that fact.
More Panasonic 45-200mm f/4.0-5.6 Lumix G Vario MEGA OIS Zoom Micro Four Thirds Lens for Panasonic and Olympus Micro Four Thirds Cameras reviews:
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Description of Panasonic 45-200mm f/4.0-5.6 Lumix G Vario MEGA OIS Zoom Micro Four Thirds Lens for Panasonic and Olympus Micro Four Thirds Cameras
Lumix G VARIO 45-200mm/4.0-5.6 zoom lens w/MEGA Optical Image Stabilization covers the 35mm equivalent from 90-400mm to help the user capture crisp, blur-free, shots when shooting sports events, wildlife and other distant subjectsAccessories
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