Olympus Pen 14-42mm MKI vs 14-42mm MKII

Zuiko 14-42mm Features

The new M.Zuiko 14-42mm II lens features an updated optical design with improved autofocus drive and smaller dimensions.

While the focal length and aperture range are the same as the MkI lens, the focusing mechanism has changed. The MKI lens has a traditional focusing method with a rotating and extending front section which lengthens the closer you focus, and the new version has a rear optical adjustment that's internal. Two clear benefits here are that the front doesn't rotate so if you're using a graduated or polarising filter it stays in the same desired position throughout the focus range.

And, more important for video users, the focusing on the new lens is the adoption of Olympus' MSC (Movie & Still Compatible) design, as seen previously in the M. Zuiko Digital ED 9-18mm f/4.0-5.6 and M. Zuiko Digital ED 14-150mm f/4.0-5.6 lenses. Olympus MSC lenses have autofocus motors which focus quickly and accurately and are near silent, so the motor won't be picked up by the microphone.

The newer design has around 25% reduction in weight, so the old 150g is now a featherweight 112g. And a smaller barrel diameter of 56.5mm from 62mm makes it slimmer, with a filter size reduced from 40.5mm to 37mm.

The minimum focusing distance is unchanged at 25cm, but the maximum magnification is now 0.19x (equivalent to 0.38x on a 35mm camera), versus 0.24x (0.48x equivalent) in the previous design.
In my test I attached the camera to a tripod and moved as close as the focusing system would allow. This resulted in the following two photos. On the left the MK I was approx 10cm from the front of the lens to the face, while on the MkII it was 15cm away.

Olympus 14-42mm Mk I	Olympus 14-42mm Mk II
Close Focus 0.5 sec | f/5.6 | 42.0 mm | ISO 100	Close Focus 0.3 sec | f/5.6 | 42.0 mm | ISO 100

The lenses have seven-bladed circular apertures resulting in quite pleasing bokeh (out of focus background specular highlights).

Olympus 14-42mm Mk I	Olympus 14-42mm Mk II
Bokeh test - 1/500 sec | f/5.6 | 42.0 mm | ISO 200	Bokeh Test - 1/640 sec | f/5.6 | 42.0 mm | ISO 200

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