New Lumix lenses focus on svelte zoom

Just when you thought lenses couldn't get any more compact, Panasonic comes along with some new models for its interchangeable lens camera range.

The 26.8mm-thin Lumix G X Vario PZ 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 ASPH Power OIS pancake zoom kits lens is a new addition to the Micro Four Thirds lens line-up for Panasonic and Olympus interchangeable lens cameras. Compared with the previous 14-42mm kit lens (63.6mm), in terms of body length, there's a 35.8mm difference. The new 14-42 pancake zoom (95g) also has a weight reduction of 70g when compared with the typical kit lens (165g).

The 14-42mm can now focus as close to 20cm, as opposed to the 30cm found in its standard kit lens line-up. Autofocus has also been improved, with the lens capable of focusing as fast as 0.1 seconds, according to Panasonic. With typical Micro Four Thirds kit lenses being slightly larger, we like how Panasonic seems to be going further in their lenses and addressing user concerns by constructing a more compact lens to match the already svelte Lumix DMC-GF3.

The new X-series lenses are supposedly Panasonic's premium lens offering, with improved contrast and flare reduction in images. The company also said that they have plans to further expand the Lumix lens and X-series lens line-up in future.

Also announced is a Lumix G X Vario PZ 45-175mm F4.0-5.6 ASPH Power OIS telephoto lens, which offers users a versatile zoom range of 90mm to 350mm (35mm equivalent). What's new is that the 45-175mm lens features an internal focusing system, which does not extend the lens barrel, unlike earlier telephoto lenses. Panasonic has also claimed to have adopted a new focus system that allows for faster autofocus — as fast at 0.15 seconds.

Both lenses will be available in black and silver in late October, and the 14-42mm will also come in a lens kit with the GF3.

Via CNET Asia