Review: Lumix G X Vario PZ 45-175mm F4.0-5.6 ASPH Power OIS power zoom

[AbsolutKev]

That s wat i call Power...OIS.

[wong_se]

There are times I don’t feel like carrying around all the full compliment of lenses (anyway i dun have many), I took only 1 body, 20mm f1.7 and 45-175mm for a short vacation at Bali. 20mm f1.7 comes good in low light shot and shorter distance, where 45-175mm comes in handy to cover a very good tele range. I will be fully rely on the Power OIS, and left tripod at home.

The combo is neat and very compact. The picture shown, are handheld, no flash, shot with EP3 body, RAW, and converted to jpeg with slight exposure adjustment , no enhance on color saturation, no sharpening.

f4.8, 1/250, 77mm, ISO250




f5, 1/640, 68mm, ISO640




f5.6, 1/320, 175mm, ISO640

[wong_se]

f5.6, 1/400, 175mm, ISO800




f5.6, 1/400, 84mm, ISO640




f5.6, 1/500, 175mm, ISO200




f5.5, 1/250, 138mm, ISO400




f4.1, 1/640, 48mm, ISO400

[wong_se]

f5, 1/320, 45mm, ISO320

f5, 1/500, 57mm, ISO320





f6.3, 1/250, 74mm, ISO200





f5.6, 1/125, 163mm, ISO800





f4.1, 1/250, 48mm, ISO1250

[wong_se]

f5.3, 1/100, 116mmm, ISO200




f5.6, 1/1250, 175mm, ISO200




f5.6, 1/800, 175mm, ISO200




f5.3, 1/1250, 116mm, ISO200




f7.1, 1/1600, 175mm, ISO200

[wong_se]

f7.1, 1/800, 138mm, ISO250




f5, 1/1250, 84mm, ISO250




f4, 1/1600, 45mm, ISO250




f5.3, 1/1250, 116mm, ISO250




f8, 1/400, 150mm, ISO150mm

[wong_se]

here are original vs 100% center cropped ;


f7.1, 1/1600, 175mm, ISO200




f5, 1/1000, 80mm, ISO200




f5.5, 1/2500, 157mm, ISO200




f5.3, 1/100, 116mm, IS200




f5.5, 1/320, 138mm, ISO800

[wong_se]

Here is my conclusion to draw my final review after testing this lens for 2 weeks.

• Built – Please refer to my earlier post on the 1st impression of handling this lens. There are likes and dislikes.
  
  
  
• I really like the compactness. There is no other lens, whether APS-C, full frame, M4/3 mount of E mount could match the size yet could cover the effective range of 90-350mm. this serves the m4/3 right to the point.
  
  
• Power OIS. I have tested few shots at maximum zoom, few stops below the recommended shutter speed (shutter spend > the focal length, ie 50mm -> max 1/50 sec), and the pictures turn out quite convincing. Though Oly PEN has a IBIS, in my opinion, the Power OIS comes much stronger and effective.
  
  
• Very good color reproduction, accuracy, contrast. Camera is set at AWB, and there are no adjustment made on my Bali travel picture. Color turn out well above my expectation.
  
  
• CA, Vignetting. It suffer slightly both on CA & vignetting. The CA is basically invisible one stop down. I do not have a Panny body to test, would like to see how the CA can be auto-correct when shot in JPEG on Panny camera. When shoting wide open in a very strong light situation, (pointing at bright day sky), there seems to have obvious vignetting. One stop step down is necessary . Besides that, almost all of rest picture, I could hardly see any picture suffer from vignetting.
  
  
• Lens flare , have not experienced any all. Could be due to the nano coating, and I have not pointed to shot directly to the sun or strong light source.
  
  
• Sharpness/Resolution - Well, it is a tele lens. When I evaluate the sharpness and resolution, I have to be realistic that I could not expect the sharpness to match the fixed focal lens, 20mm f1.7 or 25mm f1.4. Nor I would expect this lens to give me that much of details, especially on maximum focal length and wide shot. To my surprised, the result has done more. Refer to my 1st pic of the 100% center cropped comparison, you could see most of the detail the man riding the Fly Fish. Here is the 200% center cropped of the original pic, judge yourself !
  
  
  

[ed9119]

will talk to Panasonic about supplying reviewers with a Lumix camera body in future when Panny lenses are being reviewed Lolzzz ...

[CrimsonS]

Here is my conclusion to draw my final review after testing this lens for 2 weeks.

• Built – Please refer to my earlier post on the 1st impression of handling this lens. There are likes and dislikes.
  
  
  
• I really like the compactness. There is no other lens, whether APS-C, full frame, M4/3 mount of E mount could match the size yet could cover the effective range of 90-350mm. this serves the m4/3 right to the point.
  
  
• Power OIS. I have tested few shots at maximum zoom, few stops below the recommended shutter speed (shutter spend > the focal length, ie 50mm -> max 1/50 sec), and the pictures turn out quite convincing. Though Oly PEN has a IBIS, in my opinion, the Power OIS comes much stronger and effective.
  
  
• Very good color reproduction, accuracy, contrast. Camera is set at AWB, and there are no adjustment made on my Bali travel picture. Color turn out well above my expectation.
  
  
• CA, Vignetting. It suffer slightly both on CA & vignetting. The CA is basically invisible one stop down. I do not have a Panny body to test, would like to see how the CA can be auto-correct when shot in JPEG on Panny camera. When shoting wide open in a very strong light situation, (pointing at bright day sky), there seems to have obvious vignetting. One stop step down is necessary . Besides that, almost all of rest picture, I could hardly see any picture suffer from vignetting.
  
  
• Lens flare , have not experienced any all. Could be due to the nano coating, and I have not pointed to shot directly to the sun or strong light source.
  
  
• Sharpness/Resolution - Well, it is a tele lens. When I evaluate the sharpness and resolution, I have to be realistic that I could not expect the sharpness to match the fixed focal lens, 20mm f1.7 or 25mm f1.4. Nor I would expect this lens to give me that much of details, especially on maximum focal length and wide shot. To my surprised, the result has done more. Refer to my 1st pic of the 100% center cropped comparison, you could see most of the detail the man riding the Fly Fish. Here is the 200% center cropped of the original pic, judge yourself !
  
  
  

Great review!

[adrian1234]

cool review

any idea when the retail date will be and the RRP?

[wong_se]

cool review

any idea when the retail date will be and the RRP?

Thanks. hope you find this review useful.
No idea of SG retail price/date, though the suggested worldwide retail price is USD449 and launch date in Sep.

I believe Panasonic would reveal these pretty soon within this month.

[idestiny]

cool review

any idea when the retail date will be and the RRP?

Any updates on this lens? ... Btw, anyone knows how much is the 45-200mm lens selling now? Sorry....not very updated in this..

[wong_se]

Any updates on this lens? ... Btw, anyone knows how much is the 45-200mm lens selling now? Sorry....not very updated in this..

i believe the lens would only be available Q4. my guess is late Oct.
pricing of 45-200mm is OT here. You may check m4/3 pricing guide.

[ed9119]

i hope Panny is going to supply TWO of these zooms during CB8 .... otherwise I'm going to start fighting with you over it ha ha ha !!!

[Don Marcaroni]

i hope Panny is going to supply TWO of these zooms during CB8 .... otherwise I'm going to start fighting with you over it ha ha ha !!!

What's CB8?

[wong_se]

What's CB8?

This is CB8

[kst]

Hi,

Great review !

Btw, did you manage to test if the OIS work in video mode ?

I'm looking at buying EP3 but heard about the software IS causing jello effect in videos.

Hence, if the OIS in Panny lens work with EP3 (IBIS turned off) video, it will be great


Thanks !

[wong_se]

Unfortunately, I have returned this lens. However I am currently reviewing G X Vario PZ 14-42mm, would mount this lens on EP3 to see whether there is jello effect in video.

[kst]

That's great - 14-42 would be the X lens that I'm more interested in anyway

Unfortunately, I have returned this lens. However I am currently reviewing G X Vario PZ 14-42mm, would mount this lens on EP3 to see whether there is jello effect in video.