The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Olympus ED 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 and the Panasonic 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 II OIS for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Size and Weight Comparison
The size of a lens is a crucial factor to consider when comparing two lenses. Panasonic 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 II OIS is the longer of the two lenses at 49mm. The Olympus ED 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 with a length of 44mm, is 5mm shorter. On the other hand, the Olympus ED 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 has a larger diameter of 62mm compared to the Panasonic 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 II OIS's 56mm diameter.
The weight of a lens is equally significant as its external dimensions, particularly if you intend to handhold your camera and lens combination for extended periods. Panasonic 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 II OIS weighs 110g, 26% (40g) lighter than the Olympus ED 14-42mm f3.5-5.6's weight of 150g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Standard Zoom Lenses in Micro Four Thirds Mount for size comparison purposes.
Standard Lenses in Micro Four Thirds Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Olympus ED 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 has a filter size of 41mm whereas the Panasonic 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 II OIS has a 46mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 41mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Olympus ED 14-42mm f3.5-5.6:
And these are the 46mm filters that we recommend for the Panasonic 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 II OIS:
Lens Mounts
Both the Olympus ED 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 and the Panasonic 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 II OIS has the same Micro Four Thirds lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Micro Four Thirds lenses are OM System OM-1 II, Panasonic G9 II and OM System OM-5.
Olympus ED 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 is also available in Four Thirds mount.
Focal Range
Both lenses have the same focal range of
14-42mm and the fastest aperture of
F3.5 - F5.6.