New firmware update for the Olympus 14-42mmII and 14-150mm lenses.
There is a new firmware update for the 14-42mm II and 14-150mm Olympus lenses. Source: Olympus Japan. With the fw update the lenses will focus faster on the new Olympus E-P3!
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Comment from Miroslav: I know pop-up flash can't sync above 1/1...- Comment from Miroslav: :)
Same here: m4/3 + waterproof P&S...
Comment from TR: Why not use the XZ1 for your zoom and tr...
Comment from Steve Tsiopanos: Chris, I think that's called "serendipit...
Henrik
11 months ago |Ive considered a travel kit with the new E-PM1 (if it turns out any good) and the 14-150 from Olympus, coupled with the XZ-1. What would you guys think of that? Ive heard/read different opinions about the 14-150…
Maley
11 months ago |Why u need the XZ-1 if u got the E-PM1 and the 14-150 `?
Mr. Reeee
11 months ago |Forget the XZ1. Just just get the EPL3.
The EPM1 is exactly the same size as the EPL3, except the 3 adds 1/4″ (3.4mm) thickness for the pivot screen. I really see no point to the EPM1 at all.
Miroslav
11 months ago |“I really see no point to the EPM1 at all.”
The point of E-PM1 is to lure new people into the system by making it as simple to use as P&S and selling it dirt cheap. We’re yet to see the latter, 490 euros isn’t anything special. For 350 euros it would be a great success.
Michael Meissner
11 months ago |The 14-150mm on my E-P2 most of the time, though the 20mm, and 4/3rds 11-22mm also spend time on the camera. I don’t look at pictures at 100%, and all I really care about is how the image looks when it is viewed on the web or printed, so any flaws (real or imagined) of the 14-150mm I really don’t see. Sure, there are times when I would like it to be a faster lens, but then it would be a much bigger and heavier lens.
Note, the 14-150mm does not ship with a lens hood. If you have an old 14-42mm lens from a classic 4/3rds kit, the lens hood from the 14-42mm will fit perfectly on the 14-150mm lens, as will the center pinch 58mm lens cap.
Another thing to think of, is I know the E-P3 says in its documentation that the pop-up flash will have a shadow when you use the 40-150mm or 14-150mm lenses. I would imagine the add-on flash of the E-PM1 or E-PL3 might have the same issue. So you probably need to budget for a flash (FL-300R or FL-36R), and bring along a charger for the flash batteries as well as the camera. I have the FL-36 as my flash on the E-P2, and I think it balances nicely with the 14-150mm mounted. I got some battery cases from greenbatteries.com and I find each case can hold 1 BLS-1/5, 2 AA batteries for the FL-36, and an extra memory card.
I can see the XZ-1, as it is much smaller and more pocketable than the micro 4/3rds are. For a travel camera, there are times when smallness wins out. Obviously though if you take two cameras, you will need two sets of chargers, and two sets of extra batteries.
In terms of the E-PM1 and 14-150mm, frankly I don’t see the draw, compared to other bodies with that lens. With small lenses like 14-42mm II-R or 20mm, sure, I can see it. But the size of the 14-150mm (or the 40-150mm, or the Panny zoom lenses) is such that that advantage of the smaller body kind of disappears. My vote would be pairing the E-P3 or E-PL3 with the 14-150mm, and getting the FL-300R flash.
One other thing, is you ever plan to get the VF-2 (or unannounced VF-3) electronic viewfinder, you won’t be able to use that and the flash on the E-PM1 or E-PL3 at the same time, while with the E-PL1, E-PL2, and E-P3, you can use the pop-up flash and EVF.
Mr. Reeee
11 months ago |As far as the XZ1 goes, when traveling, the compact I carry is a waterproof Olympus Tough camera. Take anywhere. Do anything. Zero worries. Yes, I snorkel with it and spent a week in the Costa Rica rainforest hiking in driving rain. Not so good IQ compared to M4/3, but it went EVERYWHERE.
Miroslav
11 months ago |Same here: m4/3 + waterproof P&S (not Olympus). Although, I use my P&S only when it’s too wet for m4/3.
Miroslav
11 months ago |“E-P3 says in its documentation that the pop-up flash will have a shadow when you use the 40-150mm or 14-150mm lenses”
Don’t know about E-P3, but 14-150 definitely casts a shadow with E-PL1′s built-in flash at 28mm. I shoot at 16:9 in landscape orientation almost all the time, so the shadow is negligible, but in 4:3 it is to big to be ignored ( see dpreview review of 14-150 for samples ). I am thinking of buying FL-300R because of that and its built-in AF assist lamp, but I’m put off by the lack of SuperFP mode.
About 14-150: not the sharpest of lenses, yes, but compared to DSLR superzoom lenses, it wins on size, price and performance. It has a bit of purple fringing that Olympus stubbornly refuses to correct in camera. For me, paired with E-PL1 it is “take everywhere” combination. XZ-1 shaped P&S are to small for me and I don’t think pockets are right places for cameras
.
Btw, E-PM1 and E-PL3 are almost the same size – PL3 is 3mm thicker.
Michael Meissner
11 months ago |Miroslav:
If you are comparing the pop-up flash to the FL-300R, note that the pop-up flash also doesn’t have FP-TTL mode. Yes, if you are finding you need FP-TTL mode, then you have to go up to the FL-36R instead of the FL-300R.
Miroslav
11 months ago |I know pop-up flash can’t sync above 1/160 on E-PL1, and that’s one of the things I miss the most in it. And that’s also one thing why I’m wondering whether to get FL-300R at all. Maybe I’ll try with some ND filters…
FL36 is too big for me.
Miroslav
11 months ago |“With the fw update the lenses will focus faster on the new Olympus E-P3″
That’s excellent news! I hope not only on E-P3, but on all new models.
Anonymous
11 months ago |Yes, I’d like to know if this 14-150 FW update applies to use on all three of the new PEN’s as well.
To those who say the 14-150 is too big on the E-PM1 and E-PL3 – What do suggest instead? Forget about having a compact body or tilt screen unless we only use more compact lenses? Get a larger body for the larger lenses and a smaller body to use with smaller lenses?
For me – I want a simple travel kit of one camera body & two or three lenses. And I want the small lenses like the 20/1.7 to give me the compactness advantage of being used on a smaller body like the E-PL3. If that means that I’m going to suffer for breaking this rule about using large lenses on a small camera body occasionally, so be it. I’m already using a large and heavy 400L on my DSLR sometimes inspite of its size and weight for the same reason – You do what’s needed and try to enjoy an overall experience with your equipment which can include any number of different lenses & situations along with the tradeoffs that you have along the way.
Amanda
11 months ago |With all the new lenses there will be some camera firmware updates?
Like GH2….. I hope
Henrik
11 months ago |Thanks for all the replies. I should have clarified that I already own the XZ-1. I wasnt planning to buy both. As for E-PM1 I was thinking of it because of the price mainly (I havent seen price difference of E-PM1 and E-PL3 yet).
I was thinking to have both because of when I have “stamina” to carry the E-PM1 with 14-150 I would do so and when I need a very compact camera Id bring the XZ-1.
A different route would be to go for Tough camera (or something like it, I heard the Tough have bad IQ compared to other waterproof cams?).
Trip Im thinking about is backpacking in Australia, maybe 4-6 months. Thats why I want a small system but still decent IQ since its probably a-one-life-trip.
TheVoiceoverman
11 months ago |Buy an Aquapac and save yourself a fortune. The XZ-1 is much smaller than a Pen with a 14-150mm lumped on the front, extremely versatile, and very capable in good light, of which they have plenty in Australia.
TR
11 months ago |Why not use the XZ1 for your zoom and travel with the e-pm1 with a pancake for high quality landscapes?
Victor
11 months ago |OV2 is also updated, now it can read EPL-3 raws.
Chris K.
11 months ago |Ironic!
I took my 14-150 out yesterday (probably been 6 months since I touched it) ’cause I was wanting to see how it handled on my G3. Quite nicely, although even during full daylight there were a couple instances of seeking. Hopefully this fix will address that issue.
I’ve generally been using a Sigma 28-300mm Nikon-mount lens for my wildlife shooting; sure, no auto-focus, but the auto-focus was useless when trying to take shots of birds on the wing (too small/fast a target for a-f.) My 14-150 is sure a lot smaller and smoother operating, I just generally want to get a whole lot closer to my subjects. Still considering a 300mm m43 lens, but few good objective reviews of either Oly or Panny’s offerings (like dpreviews).
Steve Tsiopanos
11 months ago |Chris, I think that’s called “serendipity”.