Author Topic: Kit zoom is Mickey Mouse. (Read 1336 times)

Olof in Amsterdam · « **on:** August 20, 2009, 01:57:26 PM »

Yes, I dare say so, Olympus, and it's an understatement. I am getting more and more angry after what I have discovered just 30 minutes ago.

I bought a UV filter plus a rubber lens hood (both 40.5mm) to protect my 14-42mm kit zoom lens. I screwed them carefully onto the front thread holding the front lens ring as not to put any force on the focusing mechanism. So far so good.

Tried a shot in the 42mm position. The lens would not focus. There was the usual focus confirm beep, but the front lens went on turning beyond the focusing position, hunted back, started a new focus attempt, beeped again and so on and so on. It would not stop repeating this until I released the half-pressed shutter button. Occasionnally, the warning: "Please check the status of a lens" passed by. I checked the 14mm position. This was better, although more focus attempts were needed than usually.

At first I blamed myself for not having been careful enough while mounting the filter and lens hood combination. I was afraid I had broken the focusing mechanism. I turned the camera off, removed the zoom, filter and lens hood. The lens remounted, everything was back to normal and focusing was "fast" and accurate at the first attempt.

After some further testing I can only conclude the following:

I tried different light conditions, but they didn't seem to influence the tests.

The filter weighs 12g, the lens hood 24g. The more mass you screw onto the front lens ring, The more difficult it gets for the focusing motor to accurately accellerate and stop in the proper position.

I am not sure why focusing is easier in the wide angle setting (shorter travel?).

Is the above an explanation why some users have no complaints about the focusing and others (the "heavy" filter users) do?

Is this the reason why Olympus does not offer a lens hood for this zoom? (If so, they knew about this issue but didn't care selling it...)

Finally I would suggest a sticker on this lens reading: "Caution: attaching any accessories to the front lens ring may damage the focusing system."

Anyway, Olympus, you deceived me...

darkspark · « **Reply #1 on:** August 20, 2009, 05:23:15 PM »

I have UV filter on my zoom kit lens... never have a problem with it. The front element moves in and out alright as it auto-focuses.

Maybe it's just your hood that's too heavy? I don't know how much my filter weigh but it's just a piece of thin glass...

Interesting to know though.

voyager · « **Reply #2 on:** August 20, 2009, 11:26:13 PM »

You might have got a defective lens too. Go back and try another one!

brachiopod · « **Reply #3 on:** August 21, 2009, 03:12:13 PM »

You know, this is a copy of the very same posting that you made on dpreview.com
(http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1041&message=32741056&q=mickey&qf=m)

I know that you are mad, but obviously everyone does not agree with you. I came here to get away from this sort of thing over there. You have made your point there, I don't see why you have to post this here.

voyager · « **Reply #4 on:** August 21, 2009, 05:19:38 PM »

Well in his defense, it is a forum specifically for the camera that he's complaining about. Don't worry though, if he gets too whiny I'll let him know. :-)

Federico Alberto · « **Reply #5 on:** August 27, 2009, 07:24:04 PM »

I'm glad he shared his experience here. I, for one, just sold the 14-42 yesterday. Couldn't stand the glare, the hunting and the generalized blurred look of most of the pictures I took with it.

Good riddance!

bodog · « **Reply #6 on:** September 05, 2009, 06:45:26 PM »

I have to agree with the OP. Very cheap build. I also use a hood and every time i touch it while zooming or focusing I can feel the little gears inside grinding. I don't see it having much longevity. I certainly hope Olympus comes up with something with better quality. The 17mm doesn't appear to be much better. But then, it is a kit lens and only $50 more than the body alone, so certainly can't complain about the price. And the few pics I get that are in focus are pretty sharp. I'm getting more keepers using old manual focus lenses and MF is not easy, at least for me.

Kit zoom is Mickey Mouse.