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This blog is a user's perspective on the Micro Four Thirds camera system. Read more ...

Lens Buyer's Guide. Panasonic GH4 review.

My lens reviews: Olympus 9mm f/8 fisheye, Lumix G 12-32mm f/3.5-5.6, Leica 25mm f/1.4, Lumix X 12-35mm f/2.8, Lumix X 35-100mm f/2.8, Sigma 30mm f/2.8, Sigma 19mm f/2.8, Lumix X PZ 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6, Lumix X PZ 45-175mm f/4-5.6, Olympus M.Zuiko 45mm f/1.8, Panasonic Lumix G 100-300mm f/4-5.6, Panasonic Leica Lumix DG Macro-Elmarit 45mm f/2.8 1:1 Macro, Panasonic Lumix G 45-200mm f/4-5.6, Panasonic Lumix G 20mm f/1.7 pancake, Panasonic Lumix G 14mm f/2.5 pancake, Panasonic Lumix G HD 14-140mm f/4-5.8, Panasonic Lumix G HD 14-140mm f/3.5-5.6, Panasonic Lumix G 8mm f/3.5 fisheye, Lumix G 7-14mm f/4, Samyang 7.5mm f/3.5 fisheye, Tokina 300mm f/6.3 mirror reflex tele, Lensbaby 5.8mm f/3.5 circular fisheye lens
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Sunday, 17 May 2015

Lumix 14-140mm OIS jitter?

I really like the Lumix G 14-140mm f/3.5-5.6 superzoom lens (click for my review). Compared with the older version of the lens, I find that it is better in every way: Smaller, lighter, cheaper, better image quality. So what is not to like?

There are some who say that the new version of the lens causes "micro jitters" when recording video handheld, which makes it impossible for use with video. As the lens is advertized for video use especially, this sounds like a very bad thing.

To test if there is merit to the claim, I have tried to put both lenses (the new and old version) on the same camera, Lumix GX7, and recorded video at 1080p, 50FPS. To avoid motion blur, which might hide the micro jitters, I set a fast shutter speed at 1/200s.


Both cameras were connected to a Desmond mini stereo bracket. The new version of the lens to the left.



Here are the results, at 140mm, 50mm, and then 14mm:



Looking at the results, I don't see any adverse jitter effects with any of the lenses. The new lens is not consistently better than the old one in terms of stabilizing the video, but neither does it make the video "useless", as some would say.

Looking back, people would always say that lens based optical image stabilization would be best for video, and, hence, look to Panasonic rather than Olympus within Micro Four Thirds.

However, with the Mark II of the Olympus E-M5, they have taken the in-body image stabilization to a new level when it comes to video stabilization. See my comparison here, which shows a truly amazing performance from Olympus without lens based IS.

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14 comments:

  1. Anonymous19 May 2015 at 14:49

    Please can you test with stationary video clips, not panning or moving camera. The micro jitter shows only when the video is still. The 1080P50 resolution is so bad that it is hard to see that jittering.
    -Vesku

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous19 May 2015 at 16:45

    i agree with vesku. I have the problems primarily when the video is supposed to be not moving. in this video, i can barely tell any difference. For me this looks way better, than my own experience.
    Maybe we see a fix soon, since the updated now the 35-100mm f/2.8 too, maybe 14-140mm is next.

    guelinator

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous21 May 2015 at 01:14

    ... and why exactly is OIS needed for a stationary setup? Just switch it off and be done with it.
    - Martin

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous21 May 2015 at 08:16

      I mean stationary hand held shooting. No one can hold a camera rock steady hand held. OIS is supposed to smooth little hand vibration but Pana 14-140 II "ADDS" its own micro vibration to stationary hand held video even at 14mm. That lens is still good in panning and normal camera movement.

      Delete
  4. Anonymous27 May 2015 at 10:25

    It is sad that so few people recognizes this issue. Video quality seems to be a difficult matter to most.
    -Vesku

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous23 September 2015 at 13:50

      You alone Vesku are responsible for around 90% of the posts on the whole internet regrading this it must keep you very busy lol

      Delete
  5. ScottW20 June 2015 at 00:25

    I've notice the micro jitter issue as well and seen several examples posted on YouTube. In my tests, it's most noticable when trying to hold the camera stationary without panning or tilting. For example, filming a brick building from across the street. Unlike the example in the article, the jitter is VERY noticeable especially compared to my 1st generation 14-140mm. Also, other lenses in my collection with OIS don't have the problem. What's worse is that, in 4K, the jitter leads to rolling shutter problems (4K is more sensitive to rolling shutter than 1080p on a GH4 when there are small movements)...my footage often looked like jello. I ended up returning it.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous14 October 2015 at 09:58

    Look at this example. Jitter/wobble is very bad.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ1jZy62Jqc

    -Vesku

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous24 November 2015 at 10:37

    Pana 14-140mm II OIS vs Olympus IBIS :

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9jwfxpSUwk

    OIS jittering is very clear.

    -Vesku

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous3 January 2016 at 11:34

    repeat the test and focus on something that isn't moving and keep the camera still (hand held of course)..

    cheers

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous8 January 2016 at 09:24

    The test is not from real life situation because the rig with two cameras reduces micro vibration.
    -Vesku

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fredrik Gløckner9 January 2016 at 09:54

      Why don't you make your own video comparison, to show the point you want?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11 January 2016 at 09:26

      I have made a test MEGA OIS-vs-POWER-OIS

      https://vimeo.com/107988986

      -Vesku

      Delete
    3. The Yogi21 May 2016 at 20:38

      Hi Vesku, I a seeing you name appear in nearly all places where i check for the jitter problem. I am keen on buying the 14-140 mm lens. can you share with me if panasonic has addressed the issue already or are all their lenses still a problem to shoot videos with? Could you kindly reply on da.yogi@gmail.com Thank you

      Delete

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