OM SYSTEM M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 EZ Lens (Silver)

The OM SYSTEM M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 EZ Lens (Silver) is an extremely portable, pancake-style electronic zoom lens designed to complement the compact design of any PEN or OM-D Micro Four Thirds body. Less than an inch thick, it covers a 28-84mm full-frame-equivalent focal range, making it a versatile everyday and travel lens that’s long been the go-to kit lens for Olympus/OM System’s smaller mirrorless cameras.

Optically, the lens is built from 8 elements in 7 groups, including three aspherical elements, one aspherical ED (Extra-low Dispersion) element, and one Super HR (High Refractive Index) element, working to reduce spherical aberrations and distortion throughout the zoom range. OM System’s ZERO (Zuiko Extra-low Reflection Optical) coating minimizes lens flare and ghosting for improved contrast and color fidelity in strong lighting conditions, and a 5-blade circular aperture diaphragm contributes to the lens’s background rendering.

A defining feature of this lens is its Electronic Zoom (EZ) mechanism rather than a traditional mechanical zoom ring, with a two-step variable zoom speed delivering smooth, consistent zoom control especially desirable when shooting HD movies. An Electronic Retraction feature automatically extends and retracts the lens barrel when the camera is powered on or off. Autofocus uses OM System’s MSC (Movie & Still Compatible) stepper-motor mechanism for near-silent, quick focusing performance suited to both photos and video.

The lens offers a minimum focusing distance of 0.2m (7.87 in.) at the wide end, extending to 0.25m (9.84 in.) at the telephoto end, yielding a maximum magnification of 0.23x (0.46x 35mm-equivalent). Build quality centers on an ultra-compact, lightweight design, measuring approximately 60.6 x 22.5mm and weighing just 93g, among the thinnest pancake-style zoom lenses in its class. It accepts a 37mm filter thread and does not include image stabilization or weather sealing, relying instead on in-body stabilization on compatible camera bodies.

As a Micro Four Thirds-specific lens, the M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 EZ is designed exclusively for Micro Four Thirds mirrorless cameras from OM System/Olympus, Panasonic, and other Micro Four Thirds alliance manufacturers.

Key Features
– 14-42mm pancake-style electronic zoom for Micro Four Thirds
– Approximately 28-84mm full-frame-equivalent focal range
– Maximum aperture f/3.5-5.6 (variable)
– 8 elements in 7 groups, including 3 aspherical elements, 1 aspherical ED element, and 1 Super HR element
– ZERO (Zuiko Extra-low Reflection Optical) coating
– Electronic Zoom (EZ) with two-step variable zoom speed
– Electronic Retraction (auto extend/retract with camera power)
– MSC (Movie & Still Compatible) stepper-motor autofocus
– 5-blade circular aperture diaphragm
– Minimum focusing distance of 0.2m (wide) / 0.25m (tele); 0.23x maximum magnification
– 37mm filter thread
– No image stabilization (relies on in-body stabilization)
– Not weather-sealed
– Ultra-compact, lightweight pancake design (approximately 93g)
– Compatible with Micro Four Thirds mirrorless cameras (OM System/Olympus, Panasonic, and alliance partners)