Olympus M.Zuiko OM SYSTEM Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 Review

The Olympus 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 is a tiny, lightweight zoom for Micro Four Thirds cameras. At just 91 grams, it's built for travel and daily carry. Its main trick is the electric zoom, which you can control from your phone for smooth video pulls. That's a neat feature you don't see every day.

This lens is a mixed bag. Its build quality is fantastic, landing in the 99th percentile, so it feels solid. But the optics and autofocus are just okay, sitting in the 33rd and 47th percentiles. The aperture is slow, and it's terrible for macro work, scoring a dismal 16 out of 100. The electric zoom is cool for video, but that's the main performance highlight.

At $300, it's a tough sell. You're paying a premium for the compact size and the electric zoom feature. If you don't need that specific video function, you can get sharper, faster lenses for the same price or less. The value is only there if the electric zoom is a must-have for your workflow.

Compared to the Panasonic 14-140mm, you lose a huge zoom range for a bit of size and the electric zoom. Against primes like the Viltrox 35mm f/1.7, you give up a lot of light and sharpness for convenience. The Meike 55mm f/1.8 Pro is sharper and faster, but it's a prime. This Olympus is a niche pick for the video-focused traveler who prioritizes size above all else.

Buy this only if you're a Micro Four Thirds shooter who absolutely needs a super-compact zoom with electric control for video. For everyone else, especially photographers, there are better-performing zooms and much faster primes in this price range that will give you more for your money.