Zuiko Digital (Olympus) 14-54mm f2.8-3.5 - High Grade

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Technical Info:
focal length: 14-54mm
angle of view: 74 to 23 degrees
closest focusing distance: 8. 67";
Max Aperture: f2.8wide - f3.5 telephoto
Min Aperture: f22
Filter size: 67mm
dimensions:2.8" D x 3.4" L
Weight: 15.3 oz.
Tele 1.4: Yes
Ext Tube: Yes max magnification 1:2.1
Price: ~$450
Olympus website here (http://www.olympusamerica.com/e1/sys_lens_14mm.asp)

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Other Reviews:
Photozone (http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/olympus_1454_2835/index.htm)
Ozray's Review (http://www.australianimage.com.au/reviews/14-54mm.htm)

[tspore]

manmachine
Pros: very fast and quiet AF, sharp, very well built, little distortions, little vignetting, little or invisible CA, good focal length range
Cons: only F3.5 at 54mm
Price: used KIT - 230000HUF (14-54 + E-1 + second BLM-1) $1150USD
Other: fair price!
Cephalotus
PRO: Little distortion for such a zoom range, close up to 22cm from sensor, seals, "good" corner to corner sharpness at all apertures and focal range, fast AF, nice MF ring, good price/performance ratio, little CAs, little vignetting
CON: "Good" sharpness, but not great sharpness, lens cap is a pain to remove when hood is mounted (Tamron or Nikon 67mm lens caps work much better), parfocal design, changes focus when zooming, distance information quite useless.
PRICE: came as the kit lens with my E-1
OTHER: This lens is one of the main reasons why I switched from Canon to Olympus. There are sharper lenses out there and I think that the 14-54 is almost on its limit with 8MP. It is a good and very versatile lens which has no significant flaws. It's quite cheap for it's aperture and built quality. I dropped my E-1 with that lens from about 1,5m and it hit the ground with the attached lens hood. A small plastic nose broke on the lens and the hood (a bit hard to fit now) otherwise camera and lens did survice quite well. I used the lens in rain, snow and dust and on five week very rough bike trip through Romania without any problems. It also has quite nice macro capabilities but does not work well with the EX-25. Bokeh could be better at 54/3,5 but this is a weak point of the small sensor. Highly recommended as a "do it all and do it quite good" lens.
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PS: Yes, this is snow...
2164
jdc cool
I recently obtained the 14-54 f2.8-3.5 lens and think it is a really good all around lens.
Especially for shooting architecture and landscape. AF is smooth, plus sharpness is better then average.

image shot using 14-54mm f2.8-3.5 attached to e-330 body set at 1/125 s at f/4.0...iso 100,focal length 14mm.
2166
cisaaca
This kit lens (E-1) redefines the value of all kit lenses out there. I have done numerous fashion shoots with this lens and it never fails. The images are beautiful, nice contrast, nice colour capture, and the weight allows me to work for longer hours than before. Manual focusing on this lens is quite easy to get used to. (I like manual focusing for some reasons). I shoot more on this lens for portraiture than any other lens that I have. (The 50-200 comes in at a close second place).

If you are thinking of a lens replacement for the E-xxx series kit lens, this is it! Its a no brainer. Of course, there is always the Super High Grade lenses from the ZD line. That is a difference beast altogether.
totetuti
Pros: a solid all-around lens, good sharpness, contrast, little CA, little distortion, relatively bright 2.8-3.5.
Cons: not as sharp as the 11-22, 50-200 but still very good
Price: $375 (used in mint condition)
robh3
Pros: Cheap, sharp, fast and solid. Bright viewfinder. Smooth focus.
Cons: A bit on the heavy side, albeit super-light when compared to competition. No VR of course, but that will come in-body soon ?
price paid: E-1 package.
borgunit
Stepping up from the slower 14-45 made a big difference for me. Allowed me to push a little more for my shots and get the ones I really wanted. One of the most "solid"; lenses I have used. A must for any Olympus user. A great step up from the base "normal" lens.
baal
I bought one as well to upgrade my 1445 and ...Wow! That is a new world! I heard that it was as sharp as the 45 but it isn\'t , it is much much more sharper and the AF is in another league. The only cons: It is quite heavy and it is 3,5 at 54
MattO
Ok so I finally upgraded to the 14-54 lens. And I have to tell you there is a huge difference between the kit lens and the ED lens. Both in feel and in performance. I can see a huge differnce in low light focusing, speed of AF. Its definatly sharper across the whole frame as well. I\'m really impressed with this lens. The only Con I can find is that it is heavier then most of the other lens that I use and I can feel it after carrying it around an hour or so. But the results are worth the extra weight.
Bojan
Actually Matt, 14-54 is NOT ED lens.
ok. to make it sure, I've decided to browse Olympus america site and make a list which of the lenses have ED element:
(from http://olympusamerica.com/e1/sys_lens_spec.asp
Lens with ED element:
8
7-14
50
35-100
40-150
50-200
90-250
18-180
150
300
not that it matters TOO much (it is also very important what glass element is ED where it is possitioned etc etc.
but just for metter of correctness.
Lenses without ED glass element are:
11-22
14-45
14-54
Yours Bojan
kanji
Pros:fast,sharp,good contrast,no visible CA,no visible vignetting(to me),zooms' FL range.
Cons:would have liked 58mm filter size
Price: $300 used absolutely mint condition.
If you are going to stick with the Oly DSLR,this is a must have lens,it is just an excellent lens to use in almost any situation.
DDL_4ever
I just upgraded to the 14-54mm yesterday (from the 14-45mm).
What an amazing difference!
Pros: This lens is built so much stronger than it's cheaper brother, it's weatherproof, has a faster/brighter maximum aperture, is A LOT faster in focusing, especially in low light, produces less vignetting at the wide-end, good focal length (again, better than it's little brother lens), sharp, etc.
Cons: Hmm... Honeslty, can't think of anything...
Price: Baught new from Henrys.com for $599 CA (plus tax)
Other: This lens suites the E1 so much better than the 14-45mm. I'm so happy i made this upgrade!

[theMusicMan]

Hi All

I am not a pro, but thought I would treat myself to my first quality lens, and bought this one a week or two ago - and am already delighted at the quality of the images I have managed to get out of it. I have used it predominantly indoors with studio setup for portrait shots, but have taken several outdoor shots too.

Here's a few samples...

1. Taken with studio setup...
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa14/themouthpiecedotcom/jb3.jpg
2. Statue outside Buckingham Palace (HDR'ed slightly)
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa14/themouthpiecedotcom/statue0-1_2-1_-2-1.jpg

3. Night shot local to where I live...
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa14/themouthpiecedotcom/night_shots-55.jpg

I find the lens superb, and it's always the first one I put on my camera whenever I go out now. I guess this is going to be my main lens from now on.