The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Olympus ED 12-60mm f2.8-4.0 SWD and the Olympus 14-54mm f2.8-3.5 II 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. Olympus ED 12-60mm f2.8-4.0 SWD is the longer of the two lenses at 99mm. The Olympus 14-54mm f2.8-3.5 II with a length of 89mm, is 10mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Olympus ED 12-60mm f2.8-4.0 SWD also has a larger diameter of 80mm compared to the Olympus 14-54mm f2.8-3.5 II's 75mm 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. Olympus 14-54mm f2.8-3.5 II weighs 440g, 23% (135g) lighter than the Olympus ED 12-60mm f2.8-4.0 SWD's weight of 575g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Standard Zoom Lenses in Four Thirds Mount for size comparison purposes.
Standard Lenses in Four Thirds Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Olympus ED 12-60mm f2.8-4.0 SWD has a filter size of 72mm whereas the Olympus 14-54mm f2.8-3.5 II has a 67mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 72mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Olympus ED 12-60mm f2.8-4.0 SWD:
And these are the 67mm filters that we recommend for the Olympus 14-54mm f2.8-3.5 II:
Lens Mounts
Both the Olympus ED 12-60mm f2.8-4.0 SWD and the Olympus 14-54mm f2.8-3.5 II has the same Four Thirds lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Four Thirds lenses are Olympus E-5, Olympus E-600 and Olympus E-620.
Focal Range
Olympus ED 12-60mm f2.8-4.0 SWD has a focal range of 12-60mm and
5.0X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
24-120mm when used on a FourThirds format camera.
On the other hand, the Olympus 14-54mm f2.8-3.5 II has a focal range of 14-54mm and 3.9X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 28-108mm when used on a FourThirds format camera.