Author Topic: E-P1 and Panasonic 14-42mm - OIS? (Read 2225 times)

madmaxmedia · « **on:** March 03, 2011, 01:35:56 PM »

Does anyone know if OIS on the Panasonic 14-42mm is enabled when mounted on the E-P1? (so that you should turn off IBIS) The Panasonic 14-42mm is cheap secondhand, focuses quickly and silently, and could offer OIS for both stills and video (I don't care about collapsible design.)

The new Oly kit zoom looks nice too, but just trying to expand my options for a second lens. I wonder if this sort of thing is addressed in the M 4/3 system specifications.

Josel · « **Reply #1 on:** March 03, 2011, 09:19:58 PM »

Quote from: madmaxmedia on March 03, 2011, 01:35:56 PM

Does anyone know if OIS on the Panasonic 14-42mm is enabled when mounted on the E-P1? (so that you should turn off IBIS) The Panasonic 14-42mm is cheap secondhand, focuses quickly and silently, and could offer OIS for both stills and video (I don't care about collapsible design.)

The new Oly kit zoom looks nice too, but just trying to expand my options for a second lens. I wonder if this sort of thing is addressed in the M 4/3 system specifications.

I have this lens too on my E-P1. I regret buying it though. It's a waste of money. I'll tell you why but lets first answer with your question. The recent Lumix 14-42 (plastic mount) has no IS switch unlike the previous 14-45 (metal mount) which has a dedicated switch to turn on/off Image Stabilization. The Lumix 14-42 will rely on a Panasonic body's menu to turn-on/off the IS, which the Olympus doesn't have. I do have some stable shots with the Lumix 14-42 but I presume the stabilization is coming from the body(?).

Why I regret buying this lens: CAs - they are everywhere, all the time. The Panasonic bodies have in-camera correction for CAs and so Panasonic users rally to this lens's capabilities. Unfortunately, in our stable the Olympus bodies don't have and in-camera CA correction.

madmaxmedia · « **Reply #2 on:** March 03, 2011, 09:31:10 PM »

Thanks for the info Josel.

I wonder if most of the CA can be corrected by programs that recognize the lens- Photoshop Elements, etc. At least then the performance would be the same on our bodies.

This seems like an issue with the M 4/3 spec. I wonder if you turn off IBIS in the camera, if the lens stabilization will operate? So much for compatibility among different M 4/3 companies...the OIS would be nice for video.

Josel · « **Reply #3 on:** March 03, 2011, 09:46:09 PM »

Quote from: Josel on March 03, 2011, 09:19:58 PM

...The Lumix 14-42 will rely on a Panasonic body's menu to turn-on/off the IS, which the Olympus doesn't have. I do have some stable shots with the Lumix 14-42 but I presume the stabilization is coming from the body(?).

Sorry, I stand corrected. The E-P1 has option to turn-on/off IS but I have yet to see evidence that the lens's IS is working when the E-P1's is turned off. I have more stable shots at 1/8 and 1/6 when the E-P1's IS is on than off (thinking that the Lumix's will kick in).

adash · « **Reply #4 on:** March 03, 2011, 09:51:38 PM »

Quote

I wonder if most of the CA can be corrected by programs that recognize the lens- Photoshop Elements, etc. At least then the performance would be the same on our bodies.

Almost all half-serous programs will. My Bibble has both pre-defined profiles for many lenses, and allows manual CA adjustments with sliders.

Quote

This seems like an issue with the M 4/3 spec. I wonder if you turn off IBIS in the camera, if the lens stabilization will operate?

It should. It is actually recommended in the camera manual to turn off IBIS when using an OIS lens.
But I have no experience with Lumix lenses myself, so you should better check for yourself.

Quote

I have more stable shots at 1/8 and 1/6 when the E-P1's IS is on than off
(thinking that the Lumix's will kick in).

I see your point. The In-lens IS should indeed kick in. Check and see if it is active in LiveView. When you set the lens to 42mm and try to shake the camera around and see if the view in the LCD is stabilized.
Moving this to Lenses, BTW.

madmaxmedia · « **Reply #5 on:** March 04, 2011, 09:06:25 AM »

Quote from: Josel on March 03, 2011, 09:46:09 PM

Sorry, I stand corrected. The E-P1 has option to turn-on/off IS but I have yet to see evidence that the lens's IS is working when the E-P1's is turned off. I have more stable shots at 1/8 and 1/6 when the E-P1's IS is on than off (thinking that the Lumix's will kick in).

If you get a further chance to try this out, it would be much appreciated. Otherwise your info is already very useful.

It could be said that this issue is unimportant, since the Oly bodies have IBIS anyway. But I still think this is a problem with the M 4/3 spec. These kinds of things should be handled consistently across all M 4/3 bodies. The Panasonic 14-42mm is interesting to me because of the faster focus, it would be nice to be able to take advantage of the somewhat better OIS too.

Brianetta · « **Reply #6 on:** March 04, 2011, 11:55:00 AM »

If the OIS didn't work, I think I'd rather have a lighter lens.

peterb666 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 04, 2011, 04:26:50 PM »

The Olympus has in-body IS. Turning IS on or off in the Olympus turns the in-body IS on or off.

madmaxmedia · « **Reply #8 on:** March 04, 2011, 09:51:15 PM »

Quote from: peterb666 on March 04, 2011, 04:26:50 PM

The Olympus has in-body IS. Turning IS on or off in the Olympus turns the in-body IS on or off.

I would assume so, I wonder what happens to the Pansonic lens OIS?

peterb666 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 04, 2011, 10:39:30 PM »

Quote from: madmaxmedia on March 04, 2011, 09:51:15 PM

I would assume so, I wonder what happens to the Pansonic lens OIS?

That is an interesting question. Quite possibly the IS is in whatever the default state is for the lens so it may be on all the time or off all the time. Nothing in FAQs from Panasonic or the little instruction sheet that comes with the lens?

E-P1 and Panasonic 14-42mm - OIS?