The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Panasonic 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 OIS and the Panasonic 20mm F1.7 II ASPH 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 OIS is the longer of the two lenses at 27mm. The Panasonic 20mm F1.7 II ASPH with a length of 26mm, is 1mm shorter. On the other hand, the Panasonic 20mm F1.7 II ASPH has a larger diameter of 63mm compared to the Panasonic 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 OIS's 61mm 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 20mm F1.7 II ASPH weighs 87g, 8% (8g) lighter than the Panasonic 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 OIS's weight of 95g.
Filter Threads
The Panasonic 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 OIS has a filter size of 37mm whereas the Panasonic 20mm F1.7 II ASPH 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 37mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Panasonic 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 OIS:
And these are the 46mm filters that we recommend for the Panasonic 20mm F1.7 II ASPH:
Lens Mounts
Both the Panasonic 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 OIS and the Panasonic 20mm F1.7 II ASPH 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-3 Astro, OM System OM-5 II and OM System OM-3.
Panasonic 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 OIS is also available in the Micro Four Thirds mount.
Focal Range
Panasonic 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 OIS 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 Panasonic 20mm F1.7 II ASPH is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 20mm which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 40mm when used on a FourThirds format camera.
