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 Olympus 14-54mm f2.8-3.5 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 14-54mm f2.8-3.5 is the longer of the two lenses at 87mm. The Olympus ED 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 with a length of 61mm, is 26mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Olympus 14-54mm f2.8-3.5 also has a larger diameter of 74mm compared to the Olympus ED 14-42mm f3.5-5.6's 66mm 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 ED 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 weighs 190g, which means it is 245g (56%) lighter than the Olympus 14-54mm f2.8-3.5 which has a weight of 435g.
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 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 has a filter size of 58mm whereas the Olympus 14-54mm f2.8-3.5 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 58mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Olympus ED 14-42mm f3.5-5.6:
And these are the 67mm filters that we recommend for the Olympus 14-54mm f2.8-3.5:
Lens Mounts
Both the Olympus ED 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 and the Olympus 14-54mm f2.8-3.5 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.
Olympus ED 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 is also available in the Micro Four Thirds mount.
Focal Range
Olympus ED 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 has a focal range of 14-42mm and
3.0X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
28-84mm when used on a FourThirds format camera.
On the other hand, the Olympus 14-54mm f2.8-3.5 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.
