Lens review

Olympus Zuiko Digital 14-54 mm f/2.8-3.5

11. Summary

Pros:

• good build quality,
• very good image quality in the frame centre,
• very good or good image quality at the frame edge,
• chromatic aberration low or medium at most,
• relatively low distortion,
• well-controlled coma,
• slight astigmatism,
• moderate vignetting taking into account the view angles and the fastness,
• good price/quality ratio.

Cons:

• the focusing mechanism’s accuracy should have been better.

The test summaries of such lenses as the ZD 14-54 mm are written easily and pleasurably. Good or very good results in almost all categories, just one slip-up, a moderate price – the verdict could be only one. If you can’t afford the ZD 12-60 mm but you expect a better performance than in the case of the kit 14-42 mm model, the 14-54 mm will be a perfect device for you – it will meet all your requirements.

Sample shots:

Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 14 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/2500 sec., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3648x2736 pix, 4.5 MB	Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 14 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/800 sec., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3648x2736 pix, 4.6 MB	Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 22 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/800 sec., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3648x2736 pix, 4.7 MB
Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 54 mm, f/5.0, exp. 1/800 sec., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3648x2736 pix, 4.4 MB	Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 54 mm, f/3.5, exp. 1/160 sec., ISO 320 File: JPG, 3648x2736 pix, 4.7 MB	Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 54 mm, f/5.0, exp. 1/100 sec., ISO 320 File: JPG, 3648x2736 pix, 4.7 MB
Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 35 mm, f/3.2, exp. 1/200 sec., ISO 320 File: JPG, 3648x2736 pix, 4.6 MB	Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 25 mm, f/3.1, exp. 1/250 sec., ISO 320 File: JPG, 3648x2736 pix, 4.6 MB	Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 14 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/2000 sec., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3648x2736 pix, 4.9 MB
Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 14 mm, f/8.0, exp. 1/160 sec., ISO 100 File: JPG, 3648x2736 pix, 5.2 MB	Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 33 mm, f/4.0, exp. 1/500 sec., ISO 100 File: JPG, 3648x2736 pix, 4.4 MB	Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 54 mm, f/8.0, exp. 1/320 sec., ISO 100 File: JPG, 3648x2736 pix, 4.3 MB
Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 25 mm, f/3.5, exp. 1/1000 sec., ISO 100 File: JPG, 3648x2736 pix, 4.8 MB	Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 14 mm, f/3.5, exp. 1/640 sec., ISO 100 File: JPG, 3648x2736 pix, 5.2 MB	Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 14 mm, f/5.0, exp. 1/1000 sec., ISO 400 File: JPG, 3648x2736 pix, 4.3 MB
Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 33 mm, f/8.0, exp. 1/160 sec., ISO 100 File: JPG, 3648x2736 pix, 4.1 MB	Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 54 mm, f/8.0, exp. 1/160 sec., ISO 100 File: JPG, 3648x2736 pix, 4.2 MB	Camera: Olympus E-3 Parameters: 54 mm, f/8.0, exp. 1/160 sec., ISO 100 File: JPG, 3648x2736 pix, 4.3 MB