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

[MichaelLee]

This thread is dedicated to review of Lumix G 45-175mm F4.0-5.6 lens. Official announcement from Panasonic can be referred to this link

- Impression on the lens design, build and feature
- Field test
- Comparison with LUMIX G VARIO 45-200mm F4.0-5.6 MEGA O.I.S. and LUMIX G VARIO 100-300mm / F4.0-5.6 / MEGA O.I.S


Technical Specifications of
Please refer to this link

[MichaelLee]

Main Feature
- Electric-powered and manual zoom operation
This lens feature both electric powered and manual zoom. The electric zoom is soundless and smooth. Placed on the left side of the lens, easy operation with left hand thumb. I am neutral to this design because I do not find myself in a situation to use this. Will be solely on manual zoom.

There is no distance scale on the lens but the focal length is shown on the top right corner of LCD. This applies to both Panny and Oly latest GF3 and EP3 model. Not sure about other models. When you zoom in-out, the focal length on LCD changes instantly. Nice features, I like it.


- Power O.I.S.
Unlike Panny 45-200mm, there is not any button to switch on/off OIS. Which means, the Power O.I.S is always on by default. If one is using Oly m4/3 body, he has to manually switch off the IBIS in order to have the Power O.I.S. If forget to do so, there will be no IS at all. PLease take note that when both O.I.S. and IBIS are switched on, none IS will work.

Official site claim that POWER O.I.S. suppresses large, slow movements two times more effective than Mega O.I.S. A scientific figures, I am not sure how to justify and challenge this result. I could only review the IS efficiency by field test.


- Nano Surface Coating
The Nano coating would minimizes reflections at entire visual light range to reduce ghosting and light flare.

The cheapest Nano coating lens in the market, for a lens below USD450. Though there is Nano coated filter available in the market, the smallest size is from filter size 52mm onwards. For price reference B+W nano coated UV filter is around USD46. For a lens at USD450 (suggested retail price) that comes with nano coating, it is good value.


- Multi-Actuator Floating Inner Focus System
The X lens comes in innovative design with multi actuator floating inner focus system, that control three lens groups separately to significantly reduce both size and weight. The lens is approx. 90mm and 210g, and will not extend out when zoom. One of the most compact tele lens.


- Two Extra-low Dispersion (ED) lenses
2 X ED element that should effectively prevent CA. I believe CA would be drastically reduced to almost visibly none if mounted on Panny body, mainly software correction by body. For user like me, who use Oly body, this features might come in good to combat CA. Below is the lens construction (copied from Panasonic website)



- Seven aperture blades
Aim to produce good bokeh shooting at large aperture. However, given that the largest aperture is at f4, I certainly have some reserve how good the bokeh it could be.


- Available in black and silver
At least there is now a pure black Panny lens to mix and match the color of the body that you like.


On paper, I like all the features listed above besides the electric-powered zoom that I am neutral to.
Here is the list I wish the design could be better ;

- Even you shake the lens a bit, you could hear a sound from the lens (like loosing part). This is from the Power O.I.S element. Only if you mount the lens to the body and switch on the power and O.I.S is active, the "loosing part" sound is gone.
- The lens cap could hardly be fitted or easily dropped out when lens hood is inserted to the lens, either way of direction pointing in or out.
- The zoom ring too move, I oftenly overshot when zoom in/out and spend extra second on getting the right distance scale.

[MichaelLee]

How does the lens look like ?



Front View : "X" and Power OIS are red-bolded



Side View : Electric-power Zoom button / Nano Surface Coating / Made in Japan
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EP1 and 14-175mm
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Silver matched
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[MichaelLee]

Side by Side : Panny 45-175mm vs Panny 45-200mm

Filter size 46mm vs 52mm
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One of the main feature (Multi-Actuator Floating Inner Focus System) that I like, is the size of 45-175mm. The lens does not extend out when zoom.
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[MichaelLee]

Angle of View : 45-175mm vs 45-200mm






Changes : Focal Length/Aperture
Lena 45-175mm vs 45-200mm
45mm @ f4 vs f4
60mm @ f4.5 vs f4.1
80mm @ f5 vs f4.5
100mm @ f5.3 vs f5
138mm @ f5.5 vs f5.2
163mm @ f5.6 vs f5.3
175mm @ f5.6 vs f5.4
200mm @ N/A vs f5.6



A few pictures* taken at close focal length for comparison ;
* please note all pictures are taken with EP3 body, at RAW and convert to jpeg and resize, with no other processing

- 45-200mm has extra 50mm (effective range) in longer end
- Though both lenses are at f4-f5.6, 45-200mm has slightly upper hand in f stop. For example at 80mm, 45-175mm is at f5 wheres 45-200mm is at f4.5 at its largest aperture
- In terms of sharpness, I could not tell a difference from the below pictures. A further comparison on pixel mapping or 100% cropped would be required

[MichaelLee]

Vignetting Test without hood

at f5.6, the vignetting still quite visible, once stop down to f8, it is barely noticed. Fully gone when further stop down at f11








CA Control

Pretty good handling on CA, bear in mind that EP3 does not auto correct any CA

[ricleo]

Thanks for the review and comparison shots so far.

Is it me or does the 45-200 seem to render warmer colors compared to the 45-175 in the comparison shots? Were the shots taken in M mode with the same shutterspeeds since F stops used in the comparison are the same?

[MichaelLee]

Is it me or does the 45-200 seem to render warmer colors compared to the 45-175 in the comparison shots? Were the shots taken in M mode with the same shutterspeeds since F stops used in the comparison are the same?

I am not sure this is true, it could be due to the lens or the AWB that set by the cam body.

Yes, the shot are taken at M mode, and same shutter speed.

[NazgulKing]

The size comparison is quite stark. Talk about a reduction in not just diameter but also length.

[ed9119]

Thanks Mike ..... this is a Class 1 'A' Grade review

[MichaelLee]

The size comparison is quite stark. Talk about a reduction in not just diameter but also length.

Here is the size comparison ;

45-175mm vs 45-200mm
Weight 210g vs 380g
Length* 90mm vs 156mm

Length* hood off at maximum zoom


Weight is 40%+ lighter, length is 55%+ shorter.

[MichaelLee]

Here is the field test ; All the picture are shot with Oly EP3 and RAW.
Only convert to jpeg and resize and no other processing.


f8m, 1/100, 45mm, ISO200



f7.1, 1/640, 91mm, ISO200



f6.3, 1/500, 163mm, ISO200



f6.3, 1/1600, 91mm, ISO200



f5, 1/400, 84mm, ISO200

[MichaelLee]

f4, 1/250, 175mm, ISO200



Absolutekev in action f4.8, 1/320, 68mm, ISO200



f5.4, 1/160, 132mm, ISO800



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



f6.3, 1/100, 91mm, ISO500

[MichaelLee]

f5.3, 1/100, 116mm, ISO1000




f5.6, 1/160, 163mm, ISO500




f5.6, 1/500, 175mm, ISO250




f5.6, 1/1250, 175mm, ISO250




f5.6, 1/400, 163mm, ISO400

[MichaelLee]

f5.3, 1/400, 91mm, ISO250



f5.6, 1/500, 175mm, ISO800



f5.3, 1/320, 95mm, ISO800



f5.3, 1/640, 116mm, ISO200



f6.3,1/200, 71mm, ISO200

[MichaelLee]

f5.3, 1/200, 107mm, ISO640




f5.6, 1/200, 175mm, ISO800




f5, 1/125mm, 65mm, ISO400




f5.6, 1/80, 175mm, ISO640
* Notice that for 175mm focal length (effective range at 350mm), it is advised to shot at least 1/350 to avoid handshake. This picture is shot at 1/80. Though not at 100% super sharp, I am quite convinced that the Power OIS works pretty convincing.




f5.5, 1/125, 138mm, ISO 800

[sohwy]

Many thanks for the review. Interesting info.

[MichaelLee]

Another pic to test the Power OIS at maximum zoom. A situation I would have shot by 1/350 if no IS. Looks good to you ?


f5.6, 1/50, 175mm, ISO400

[ed9119]

".... f5.6, 1/50, 175mm, ISO400 ...."

tripod mounted or handheld ???!!!???

[MichaelLee]

".... f5.6, 1/50, 175mm, ISO400 ...."

tripod mounted or handheld ???!!!???

all the shot i taken above are handheld. No tripod