Panasonic 14mm f2.5 for Vlogging - Great price, but do you really need it?

[@dadisiolutosin4279]

Where this lens shines is not for video or vlogging, it shines for street photography especially on a GX7, GX85, or GX9. It's form factor and being a 28mm f5.6 full-frame equivalent lens gives you a nearly pocketable kit for street photography. Shooting f5.6, f8, and f11 depending on lighting conditions what street photographers go form. If I were doing video and needed bokeh, I agree, this isn't the lens for that and the Panasonic/Leica 15mm f1.7 would be a much better lens choice.

[@The_Hero_Is_Back]

Good review. I think there's one extra advantage to the pancake: the size. I tend to carry cameras in one hand, with a wrist strap. The 14mm makes cameras like the G2 / GF2 more comfortable to carry one handed. In addition, I tend to shoot any zoom at the widest end most of the time, which for me, means 28mm or 35mm. Put the 14mm on something like the GX80 or its predecessors and you have a pocketable combination for landscape, street, family gatherings or indoor photography.

[@hieppt]

Best resumé!❤

[@reekgoesoutside]

My G9 didn't come with a kit lens so I'll be ordering this one. Hoping the stabilization on the G9 will be sufficient for handheld videos.

[@diealx]

This is precisely the video I was looking for. I have a Lumix G7 with its kit lens and I was looking for an upgrade for vlogging. I have made the decision to continue with what I have and consider purchasing the 15mm f1.7 later. Thank you very much for your great work.

[@StewartPalmshore]

I like the 14mm lens because I can carry around my GH5 with ease while I learn how to use my camera. Even though it’s close in quality to the kit lens you compared it with, the pancake size is one of the desirable features.

[@KankukanAiki]

I am a fellow KZbinr and a G9 and GX800 owner. To develop my channel I try to learn how much I can on Panasonic MFT lenses. And let tell you that your video was intelligent and interesting. I was asking my self what you answered here. Thank you. I subscribed to help your channel and you deserve to grow 🙏

[@steve_heise]

Thanks so much!

[@KankukanAiki]

@@steve_heise thank you for the video. It helped me to make a good decision 🙏

[@steve_heise]

Thank you. I’m happy to help!

[@KankukanAiki]

@@steve_heise again.. I am the one who has to say thank you to you! I really had some ideas about the 14mm.. you confirmed me and gave me the strength to not buy it and for another lense! This video was awesome. Let me tell you that I clicked to the notification bell.. and I will continue to follow you 🙏😊

[@TimeCodeMechanics]

I would get this, but I don't use my G7 for vlogging anymore. I use the 1.7 20mm.

[@KathyXie]

Because they sold it as a bundle with old GF2 GF3, so you can get it second hand for like 60 or 70 usd, at least here in asia where compact cameras where popular few years ago, I got one just because it was cheap

[@JensMHA]

Sounds about right, I paid 80 bucks for my MkI and it came along with a GF2 with 2235 shutter actuations as the rear lens-cap. 🙂

[@jingcanvas]

Thanks for this video. Very well done. I'd also like to see the difference between the 14mm f2.5 and the 14-42 kit lens when shooting at night(e.g. street light flares) :) BTW the only reason I still use an MFT is because my smartphones always torture me with ugly flares on night photo and videos. That's really the pain in my ass! Orz

[@DigitalRetro]

Great comparison - straight to the point! I was wondering if it`s worth to switch from my G7 kit lens to a 14mm prime, but considering that I use G7 only for vlogging this video saved me a lot of time not to bother. I`ll def stick with your channel. Cheers!

[@steve_heise]

Thanks! I actually had to film this video twice. My initial thought was that it was going to be so much better, but when I got home and watched the test footage, I was surprised to see how similar they were. I did some more research and apparently a lot of other users had the same experience. I think the 15mm f1.7 really is gonna be a big upgrade but I haven’t had a chance to film with it yet. We’ll see!

[@mfda]

All fantastic points. Thank you!

[@jerrypflorida]

This video helped a bunch, thanks Steven!

[@cardbored_]

Why not try some lower light comparison shots? I think that’s where it makes more sense compared to the kit lens.

[@theurbanartist775]

Thank you bro. I already own the 25mm and the kit lens with my g7. Guess I want be buying the 14mm 2.5

[@dreezyfranklin]

I've only got a 30mm and 50-100mm I think ill need this in my collection

[@mjfab74]

Much appriciated information.

[@Daniel-xn6os]

Do you think the 2.5 aperture gives you better low light performance compared to the kit lens?

[@steve_heise]

It’s slightly better but not much.

[@HazkyGaming]

Awesome video ! What codec did you use? And what gh3 color profile did you use ? Or color correction in post ? Thanks a lot for this vid i just buy the 14mm !!

[@JasonBagherian]

The George A. Romero of KZbin (hipster) vloggers.

[@spudwas]

Too bad you did not present an example of the 2.5 low light abilities with this lens as opposed to the 3.5 kit lens.

[@yoonsikp]

I think you need some ND filters to bring down your shutter speed in your videos. Unless you're going for that look?

[@robertusreynaldi6672]

So i got G85 bundled with Panasonic 25mm f1.7, do you think the 14mm f2.5 will be my next wide angle lens? Or you think the kit lens will be better? Thanks in advance, great video!

[@lorenschwiderski]

The 14mm f2.5 is a nice little lens. I just got one from Samy's on sale during 44th yr. anniversary tax paid = only $198. This being said the 12-32mm kit is also very good indeed, and at 14mm it is f3.7 - a tad slower. I like the rendering on both lenses -- sort of nice colors - film like, one could say. I have only done two test shooting days, so it is hard to say which is best, the 12-32mm or the 14mm -- heck both are inexpensive - both are pretty sharp. As for that 25mm beware of f4 possible focus shift. Super good priced lens -- the 25mm is a steal. Also my copy of the 14mm was made in Japan. You can call to confirm before they ship as to where it was manufactured. -Loren

[@gutomakoletseatagain3140]

Awesome video! Thanks for uploading!

[@steve_heise]

Thanks!

[@danefoxx8318]

Thank you

[@walterzannoni]

Thanks

[@soultrekcentral]

damn it. bought this one 2nd hand, sold it. considering buying it again.

[@steve_heise]

It’s definitely a good lens. I go back and forth between it and the kit lens. (Sometimes I need the stabilization of the kit lens for walking and talking segments.)

[@mitchellwnorowski6747]

What do you think of the Sigma 19mm f2.8 for the same purpose.

[@steve_heise]

I’ve been hesitant to buy that lens because I saw so many people talk about the autofocus “breathing” during video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWHGq4ytZsqNisU However, they were all filming on Sony E Mount cameras so maybe it’s just specific to Sony. But overall, the Sigma 19mm f2.8 is a sharp lens with great image quality, though in terms of vlogging, you run into similar problems as the 14mm. 19mm at f2.8 is a full-frame equivalent of 38mm at f5.6. That’s a really tight field of view for vlogging and it’s not much more bokeh than the kit lens. But for general purpose photo and video, the Sigma 19mm f2.8 is a great lens.

[@JC-fj7oo]

Haven't watched yet but f2.5 on a m4/3. Might as well just use the kit lens. Even on apsc f2.5 isn't much better than the kit lens. Unless it does something amazing...

[@steve_heise]

Agreed

[@lorenschwiderski]

@@steve_heise Sharp at f2.5 & f2.8 -- good little street shooter lens. Mine is well made in Japan. The lens seems to have some character to it. Nice color so far. Only had it two shoot days, and then only short shoots, but so far I am liking the results. I also have a 12-32mm kit which is super great for the price and performance. Both lenses look sharp to me. For $198, I am pleased. I will say the best prime value lens however is the 45mm Olympus when bought for $249 -- sweet deal. And at one time the Lumix 25mm for $99 was awesome -- event he $150 is a great deal. Maybe for vlogging it is not your cup of tea -- just saying for stills, in many cases it is. -Loren

[@theurbanartist775]

@@lorenschwiderski I think the 42.5 will be my next lens purchase

[@knowknewpeople8018]

🐈🤭 DUDE. What's really good with the cats?

[@tinchin714]

Hey What camera here ?

[@ipclip]

gh3

[@lboymusic]

No difference, despite 14mm is not wide enough for vlogging,... Panasonic lenses are so expensive and most of them even don't have AFC. What a crappy system... man I shouldn't buy a lumix camera. Really disappointed with panasonic. I mean, with new firmwares AF is now acceptable, but most of the lenses are crap. Is there any pancake lens with good CAF, with a good fiedl of view, and nice aperture, for this system, for video vlogging? I mean, we are almost in 2023, rigjt? Auto focus has been around for ages... I don't understand how people enter this system... I'm looking for a good lens for vlogging small but with good aperture, for bokeh. I mean, this one seems good but has no bokeh... and we are talking about micro 4/3 which has such a small sensor... is there any 12mm, 1.4? With AFC?!?!? There should be...