Leica 14-150 on FT & MFT... a few questions...

[DJMC]

I decided to try a Leica 14-150 and it arrived today.

More for my E-1 than E-PL1, but it sits fairly well on the latter with the MMF-2.

A couple of questions though.....

1) The lens has an aperture ring. Will this do anything for me on either body?

2) On the E-1 I know I have the Mega O.I.S. switched ON.
What about the E-PL1? Should the O.I.S be switched OFF?

Many thanks for any help!

[Gwyver]

Re: Leica 14-150 on FT & MFT... a few questions...

I decided to try a Leica 14-150 and it arrived today.
...
A couple of questions though.....

1) The lens has an aperture ring. Will this do anything for me on either body?

2) On the E-1 I know I have the Mega O.I.S. switched ON.
What about the E-PL1? Should the O.I.S be switched OFF?

Many thanks for any help!

Q1 The Leica lens aperture ring is non-functional on Olympus bodies.
Q2 Provided you can switch-off the IS on the E-PL1, you can use the Mega OIS on the lens. (Alternatively, keep the Mega OIS switched-off and use the E-PL1 in-camera IS.) What you shouldn't do is to have both the lens & camera IS switched on at the same time.
HTH

[DJMC]

Re: Leica 14-150 on FT & MFT... a few questions...

Q1 The Leica lens aperture ring is non-functional on Olympus bodies.
Q2 Provided you can switch-off the IS on the E-PL1, you can use the Mega OIS on the lens. (Alternatively, keep the Mega OIS switched-off and use the E-PL1 in-camera IS.) What you shouldn't do is to have both the lens & camera IS switched on at the same time.
HTH

I wonder which IS is better on the E-PL1/Leica, the body or lens?

[Ian]

Re: Leica 14-150 on FT & MFT... a few questions...

I wonder which IS is better on the E-PL1/Leica, the body or lens?

Both are very effective in their own ways. I have tended to find that OIS is mrginally more effective on long lenses, but sensor shift IS is more effective in medium telephoto and shorter focal lengths. I does concern me that a moving lens element inside the lens will do no favours to the optical performance of the lens, so I personally prefer sensor shift IS overall.

Ian

[DJMC]

Re: Leica 14-150 on FT & MFT... a few questions...

Thanks Ian.

I'm thinking this lens could well be the holy grail of FT & MFT owners, IF its IQ is as good as its handling in the brief time I've been fiddling with it.

On the E-1 I notice no weight difference compared to the 14-54 MkI, and on the E-PL1 it seems more stable than the 70-300 I tried. Admittedly I didn't think to try that lens with the VF-2 (durrrr!) but I have it on at the moment and it gives extra stability up against my face. I do just wish there was a little more sticking out on the right hand side in the way of grip, then I'd be really happy. I'll have to create something.