Introduction:
Since the Micro Four Thirds (MFT) lenses generally on the concept of compact MFT cameras (eg Lumix G1, Lumix G2, Lumix G10 or Oplympus Pen and many others) are aligned and with a diameter of 52mm (size of the filter thread) a comparison rather pointless with the objectives of the much larger DSLRs from Canon or Nikon. You have to know before buying a camera, what you want - compact or not.
My decision was made in favor of compactness on the Micro Four Thirds technology.
Packaging and contents:
With a very low weight, well packaged and with a lens case and instructions came directly from Amazon.
The lens case is like the case of Kitobjektivs (which was at the camera with me) of a sturdy nylon fabric and can be closed with a cord. The manual is multilingual and sufficient. In addition, a lens hood is included, which is significantly larger than the standard lens hood. Of course, there is a lens cap on the lens and a dust lock on the bayonet.
Processing and haptics:
The lens is very well made, the bayonet of the MFT is made of metal and looks very stable. The lens can be easily and simply snap on the bayonet. The adjustment of the focal length (zoom) is not too light and not too heavy, it is nearly perfect - this is very important because too light often means an inadvertent movement with "perpendicular recording" or downward tilt. An effect that sometimes occurs in lenses - gravity does not adjust the focal length at the telephoto zoom Panasonic 45-200 anyway.
In addition, there is a switch on the side of the lens where you can turn off the stabilization OIS manually.
The lens hood is large enough to provide a reasonable result even at full zoom. Unfortunately, it is therefore unsuitable for they have perverted permanently around to stow on the lens, it covers so the entire focus ring for manual adjustment of focus from.
Optical performance:
Impressive autofocus is in its speed, have rarely experienced such a quick AF. The imaging performance is neat and sharp enough in all areas. My pictures are rarely larger than A4 currently developed / printed and in size, the result is really good, one should perhaps even superior to how many photos you want to print 70 x 100 cm as a poster, because there you just go before the limits 12 megapixels * (* maximum resolution of the MFT system - as of 2010) with an MFT lens and the image sensors ...
The OIS (image stabilizer) function is absolutely first class, this stabilizer is very reliable and you can definitely work without a tripod. Once the shutter button is pressed halfway, the image noticeably more stable - even with restless hand - and this is very important. Miracles with OIS can not, of course - thus, an exposure time of several seconds is despite stabilizer an uncertain matter - here it will be difficult without a tripod. A filter thread owns the lens also (52 mm) and the adjustment of the focus is here also possible manually - there is a focus ring that can turn.
Who wants to know how far and strongly the zoom enlarges, which can look at me, I have added the photos. There are two focal lengths are given, once minimum focal length (45mm) and once maximum focal length (200 mm)
Conclusion:
MFT stands for compactness, the sensor is well exposed with this lens, the lens is very bright and really very valuable.
Price / performance ratio was really here because of lenses you can spend quite more money.
Who gets by with a focal length of 200mm (equivalent to small format = 400 mm), which is with the Panasonic 45-200 (H-FS045200E) optimally equipped - who more Zoom needs, which can on the Panasonic 100 - rely 300, but it is about twice more expensive.
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Added on 13/12/2010:
Buy recommendation for the 45-200mm lens, however - because I could also test the 100-300er lens from Panasonic, I have decided for the future to 100-300 mm, it is the maximum zoom significantly more and qualitatively equal to the 45-200 mm lens. After careful consideration, I have returned to the 45-200 mm - not really like, but two telephoto lenses I think is unnecessary. Then I prefer to invest in the long term even in a pancake lens as fixed focal length.
