Panasonic Lumix G 14‑140mm f/3.5-5.6 AS PH Power OIS

£550/$550 It’s a lightweight, in a good way

Eminently suitable for travel photography, the Panasonic is the outright smallest and lightest lens in the group, measuring just 75mm long and weighing

in at 265g. It undercuts the competing Olympus MFT format lens in both respects.

While it comes up a bit shorter in telephoto reach, it adds optical image stabilisation. In practice, the difference in maximum effective focal lengths (280mm versus 300mm) is barely noticeable, while the addition of stabilisation is worth having, especially on non-stabilised Panasonic bodies.

Build quality feels of a similarly high standard to the Olympus lens, although the Panasonic lacks weather seals. The stepping-motor based autofocus system is equally near-silent. Further similarities include non-rotation of the focus ring during autofocus.

Performance

Good at both ends of the zoom range, sharpness drops off in the middle sector, where the Panasonic loses out to the Olympus. Colour fringing and distortions are low, but not as comprehensively corrected as with the Olympus.