This lens is used on a Lumix GX1 Panasonic I own for two years, so as usual I would say that my level is amateur.
The main motivation that prompted me to buy this, it is of course that of versatility. Do you think! A single 10x to take a trip to the link supplemented with a 14-42mm 45-200mm, it can not refuse!
No seriously, during a first trip, where j'avais took two objectives (14-42 and 45-200 cited above), I m'ennuyais to change lenses depending on the situation: oh pretty landscape! (-> 14-42), then two minutes: oh pretty castle in the distance (-> 45-200), and then again a street or a landscape ... It is a caricature, but it's true, d especially as each change exposes the sensor from dust, and if there's one thing I did not really want to worry about on vacation is to know if my photo sensor is not too dirty! In addition if you are alone, it goes, but if you are a family or a group, it becomes a handicap I think.
In short, I saw that Panasonic went a second version of its 14-140mm there some time, and I quote "lighter, brighter, faster" than the first. The choice between the two, I did not hesitate. But we must not delude ourselves, we 10x can not have the same optical quality (sharpness, distortion) than a fixed focal length. We know it is a compromise.
But quite honestly, by re-looking at my pictures vacation this summer, I was delighted: a very decent sharpness, very contained distortions, although corrected by the internal software of the device. Despite the ambient brightness not always what you (cloudy ++), optical stabilization is efficient and I had very little waste by camera shake, even at 140mm f / 5.6. By zooming digitally on some pictures, we still see some softness of the image, but everything is relative. I like the pictures although usually pitted, but with the 14-140mm, even cropant a little you can make good quality prints. It's good!
It's true that sometimes we would be a little more wide-angle (24mm 24x36) or a little TV (300 or 350mm), but hey these situations are not the most frequent, and if limited to a 28 -280mm can make me keep a good image quality as this is the case, then it is without regret that I stand.
So now, this 14-140mm is above all the goal to have if you want to travel light. It allows great versatility with its x10 zoom. I even caught myself doing the proxy-photography at 140mm. Although I prefer my 45mm 2.8 for the macro, the first objective can troubleshoot on condition of not wanting a very shallow depth of field.
However, I recommend to accompany it with a bright fixed focal (type Pana 20mm f / 1.7) for evening or special situations. You will then good versatile combo, qualitative, and especially space-saving (GX1 + 14-140 V1 + V2 + 20 viewfinder LVF-2, all in a small tote Case Logic).
If you have any questions do not hesitate!
Thank you.
