But what about flares?

Some samples:







Via: http://dslr-check.at.webry.info/201110/index.html#1014

+1. Compact pancake design and OK performance.

GH2 definitely needs the 1.1 firmware to be able to use the X lens correctly. AFC wasn't really functioning well.

GF3 with the latest firmware had no issue.

@Mimirsam
"Any steppy aperture while zooming in and out?"
Did initial tests today. Zooming where aparture changed from 3.5 to 5.6. i cound not see any major stepping as I earlier have seen with my 14-140. Looking close one can see some but very minor. In the viewfinder the aparture changes in steps of 0.1 after 4.0, before that in .2 steps. I compared it with my 14-140 with new firmware. it is stepping in steps of .2 to .3 so there is a diference.

14-42X vs 14-45. OIS off & On Tripod on GH2. Manual focus.

At 14mm, 14-45 showed CA all over where the X showed almost none. The X is a tad bit sharper... but its barely noticeable. I would say they have about same sharpness.

At the max focal length respectively, 14-42X has noticeably sharper corner.

The X wins hands down. At least my copy does. Considering that 14-45 is regarded as one of the best kit zooms, the X lens deserves premium tag. It controlled flare and ghost well and it has better build quality than the 20mm pancake. Anyone wants my copy for $600? :)

The Lumix 14-140 lens has a stepless aperture control.

Edit: oops, probably not.

The 14-140--and other Panasonic HD lenses--only have smooth aperture when recording video in auto or shutter priority, otherwise it changes the aperture in hard 1/3rd stop increments. It's not stepless, the steps are still 1/3rd of a stop. It just takes a little longer to make the step.

@stonebat and @AdamT, after some experimentation, I believe you are correct that the Lumix 14-140 lens does not have a stepless aperture. The Panasonic literature describes this lens as having continuous auto exposure, which I believe people have interpreted to mean a stepless aperture. But I now believe that the continuous auto exposure function is a product of very small steps in shutter speed and very careful synchronization of shutter speed and aperture changes.

I will try to give an example: assume that the GH1 and GH2 cameras are able to change shutter speeds in 1/9 stop increments, but the lenses change aperture area in only 1/3 stop increments. Now say the camera decides to increase the exposure by 1/9 EV: it can increase the aperture by 1/3 stop and simultaneously decrease the shutter period by 2/9 stop. If these changes are timed carefully, the net change will be 1/9 EV, which is barely noticeable to the human eye. But if the two changes don't happen simultaneously or at the same speed, you'll see a jump in exposure, up and then back down, or down and then back up. This is exactly what I see with the 14-42 (non-X) lens when using auto shutter and aperture. Using the 14-140 lens, using auto shutter and aperture, I can hear when the aperture is changing, and based on the frequency of the changes I believe they are 1/3 stop increments, but there is no noticeable jump in exposure. Incidentally, the Lumix 20-mm lens seems to perform somewhat better than the 14-42 (non-X) lens in this regard, having less noticeable jumps in exposure when the aperture is changed using auto shutter and auto aperture.

On a related note, it appears that the GH2 is capable of sub-1/3 stop ISO steps when auto ISO is enabled. So my conclusion is that if you want smooth changes in exposure (and you don't have a lens with a stepless mechanical aperture ring), you should use auto shutter and/or auto ISO.

But since I'm a video guy, I always want to control the shutter speed manually. So what I can do if I want smooth or automatic exposure adjustment is use shutter priority mode with auto ISO. Set this way, the camera seems to favor the largest aperture setting and lowest ISO setting. It uses a higher ISO setting with the largest aperture in low light, and the lowest ISO setting with a smaller aperture in bright light. Indoor lighting puts the camera in the ISO-adjustment range. Outdoors, you could use a neutral density filter to force the camera into the ISO-adjustment range.

@stonebat, I'm not sure what you were trying to say with 1/3 * 1/3 = 1/9. Mathematically, of course it is true. :) But if your aperture size has 1/3 stop increments and your shutter speed has 1/3 stop increments, that doesn't give you 1/9 stop granularity in exposure adjustment. It's still just 1/3 stop granularity in exposure adjustment.

I have the Lumix G 14-42 lens, and it doesn't exhibit the same smooth exposure adjustment that the 14-140 does, even with the 1.1 firmware. I believe the "HD video support" mark is now for lenses that have fast focusing during video recording and quiet operation, and that "continuous auto exposure" is not a component of being HD. http://www.dpreview.com/news/2011/9/13/panasonicfw

Panasonic's web site is now showing the 14-45 G lens as being HD, though its last firmware update was in 2009. It seems like they have relaxed the standard for HD, because I'm pretty sure that when I was checking these a year ago, the 14-140 was the only HD lens. What are you thinking the other lenses gained in the latest round of firmware updates that the 14-45 G didn't?

Can anyone confirm what features of the Lumix G X Vario PZ 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 Power O.I.S. lens won't work on the GH1? It looks from Panasonic's website that the Light Speed AF might be missing and possibly the POWER O.I.S.

Panasonic state ...... The power zoom lenses can be used with DMC-GH2, DMC-G3, DMC-GF3 or DMC-GF2 if the firmware is not updated. However, Panasonic recommends all users to update it.

Anything else?? Thanks.

How much slower AF, same as the 14 - 140kit? Better than the 20mm pancake?? Thanks

Ok thanks again, i have both 14 - 140 and 45 - 200 so the speed with a GH1 is probably the same as the 45-200. That is fast enough for my requirements (20mm pancake was not) and the Power OIS will be a bonus.

There are some misinformed posts on the net about x lenses not working at all with any of the "1"Cams (GH1/GF1/ etc.) so i just wanted to make sure. Gunna grab one in Hong Kong this weekend.

R