Kit Lens Street Pics

[Robert Watcher]

My most used lens for my street and travel photography over the past years, is my 14-42mm kit lens for my Olympus bodies. I got rid of the one I had earlier this year, and have really been missing it - even though I haven’t been out shooting the streets.

This morning I noticed in Facebook Marketplace a lady with a brand new Olympus 14-42 EZ Pancake lens. They retail for $399.00 plus 13% tax here in Canada and are on sale for $75.00 off —— and so her reduced price of $100 was justification for me to drive the couple of hours and pick it up (after not selling, she had reduced her asking price of $250 a week ago, to $150 and then this morning to $100).

I had never been to this city before and so even though it was bitter cold outside, I hopped out of the car when I noticed a few spots I could try the lens out on.

On the way home I stopped to let Anne check out a fabric store, while I transferred these files to my iPad, processed them in Snapseed and uploaded them - while sitting in the car. I set my camera on the passenger seat and used my ipad as a background by setting the camera on it. That shot was with my iPhone.

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[Jerome Marot]

I think that all the major brands now have a small kit lens for their mirrorless mount. The specifications are similar, typically a 24-70 or 28-80 equivalent zoom, give or take a few mm. The optics use a center element which can be moved sideways for the lens to collapse to a tiny package. Their main limitation is the aperture and geometric distortion at the short end of the zoom range. Modern cameras of course correct that distortion.

The mechanics are often a bit flimsy as the elements are quite small and the movements complex. Be careful not to stress the mechanics.

 

[Asher Kelman]

Congrats!

So what dis the girl use instead?

Asher

 

[Robert Watcher]

Congrats!

So what dis the girl use instead?

Asher

It’s a woman in her mid 50’s and she gave up any cameras she had. She sold the camera body a few years ago, but not the lens. Like most people nowadays, any pics are with her phone she said.

 

[Asher Kelman]

It’s a woman in her mid 50’s and she gave up any cameras she had. She sold the camera body a few years ago, but not the lens. Like most people nowadays, any pics are with her phone she said.

There’s no doubt that the newer phones with 3 lenses and phenomenal computational power, continue to put pressure on utility of regular cameras.

This means that classic cameras will eventually leverage the mobile phone technologies and deliver even better images!

We already see that in the Fuji GFX series where 100 MPX MF sensors are provide for the cost of a Nikon DSLR!

Asher

 

[Robert Watcher]

A few others I took from my car window with the EZ lens, yesterday. Hardly anyone on the streets.