Plastic and plastic bayonet socket, which are "features" that one of SLR lenses does not know but we're not talking about a D-SLR!
The concept of system cameras is compactness and light weight. And with 190 grams, this lens is a lightweight that retracted, leads to an E-PL1, not even the top-heaviness. Also, I've heard many complain about the plastic bayonet of Olympus, so someone really has problems in practice I have not encountered until now.
I bought this lens quite deliberately, so it was with me and I have no Kitobjektiv also bought quite aware of the "R" variant.
Although other photographers keep the 14-150 for "exciting": It is difficult, in image quality as good and more expensive. I had the 14-42 so this push was first choice for me. Together with an E-PL1 has just 560 grams in his hand.
Why the "R" version?
Well, visually it is identical to the previous model, and thus the image quality is equally good. But: The version does a much wertigeren impression that it focuses more quickly and it is the automatic focusing whisper, really hard to hear!
Really Negative falls on that the lens hood is included and this is the original lens hood outrageously expensive. I opted for this product: Sun Visor DH-61D for Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 40-150mm lenses fits you and doing their service, what more could you want?
The image quality, for a standard zoom, exceptionally is (Olympus dominates here his craft excellent) I can only confirm: Great sharpness over the entire zoom range, little distortion, vignetting hardly, balanced Boketh, good colors. In terms of image quality, this lens has to compare with any Stanadardzoom. Not even if one takes to the D-SLR range!
Added to this is that it is priced very interesting.
So why only 4 stars?
Well this is simple: Less than 90cm minimum focusing distance is desirable. Since that is 14-150 much better suited with 50cm close-ups! And the missing lens hood: These are the 2 points that bother me a bit.
I highly recommend this lens each photographer recommend working with Four Thirds, no matter which camera and which manufacturer.
With best regards
Lieve-Jong