Help me pick a MFT lens

[YellowJersey]

So I'm in the market for a small MFT camera and I've pretty much settled on a body. The question now is what lens. I'm torn between

Olympus 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 II R and the Panasonic 12-32mm f3.5-5.6 Mega O.I.S.

I'm having a hard time coming up with a good comparison between the two. Based on IQ (differences in focal length notwithstanding), which one is the optically superior lens?

 

[Don Haines]

This may be an outstandingly poor place to ask the question..... it is a Canon users site and that is where the expertise of most of it's members lies....

You will probably get more and better responses from any of the u4/3 user groups.....

 

[NorbR]

IQ-wise, there likely won't be any significant difference imho.
photozone.de has tested both, they come out pretty similar.

Why are you considering this particular version of the Olympus zoom, which is not the most recent? I'm guessing you don't want the motorized zoom (EZ version), which I can understand. But the EZ one is smaller and better built, and again won't be very different from an IQ point of view.

Personally I would then go for the Panasonic version, similar IQ, mechanical zoom and wider angle in a smaller package.

I also assume that your body of choice has IBIS (i.e. Olympus body, or one of the recent Panasonic)? Otherwise the choice of the Panasonic becomes even clearer.

 

[Mikehit]

So I'm in the market for a small MFT camera and I've pretty much settled on a body. The question now is what lens. I'm torn between

Olympus 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 II R and the Panasonic 12-32mm f3.5-5.6 Mega O.I.S.

I'm having a hard time coming up with a good comparison between the two. Based on IQ (differences in focal length notwithstanding), which one is the optically superior lens?

Such a simple question, so many possible variations in answer.
In owning a mix of both Olympus and Panasonic bodies/lenses I really don't think you will find a worthwhile difference between them so I would say that your requirements for zoom range should be a greater consideration as would be the need for OIS.
The 12-32 is a much more compact lens as well if you can live with the shorter zoom.

 

[old-pr-pix]

There are a number of us on here with both Canon and m43 - I'm one, but I have no experience with the two lenses in question. Instead I have the Oly 14-42 EZ version as my ultra small package. I also have the 14-150, the 12-50 EZ, and the 12-40 f2.8 PRO in similar zoom range. Of these, only the 14-42 EZ is not weathersealed. IQ wise the best is the 12-40 PRO followed by the 14-150, then 12-50 EZ and finally 14-42 EZ - although all except the PRO version are very close and very good. PRO lens is excellent. Remember, we are talking m43 here. I prefer the extra 2mm at the short end and usually have the 12-40 PRO mounted. The 14-150 is a great one-lens travel kit. The 12-42 EZ is perfect for almost pocketable size. The 12-50 EZ is a basic kit lens, it's a little slow but is good for video and does add a MACRO mode the others lack.

 

[Mikehit]

I would also suggest looking up David Thorpe's videos on youtube - he is an ex-professional photographer who gives a very grounded assessment of the gear.