Hi, just asking... I have not seen a really definitive answer to this question. Are Lumix lenses fully compatible with Olympus bodies, and vice versa?
I have heard some stories about various incompatiblities, but figured someone must have experienced this. EG. Will the 7-14mm, 25mm, 20mm and 100-300mm work with no problems on a E-M1.
There are a couple of Olympus lenses I would like to buy for my GX7 and GH4 when it arrives...... but it would be good to be sure.
Phil
The main difference between Panasonic and Olympus concerns :
1) Olympus doesn't correct CA in camera or transmit that info with the raw.
2) Olympus stabilize images in the body and Panasonic in the lenses (but not all).
But since the beginnings, things have evolved a little : with the introduction of the E-M1, Olympus is also correcting CA, but I'm not sure whether this is also valid for Panasonic lenses. For me, this is a non issue, since it is easily corrected in LR.
Then Panasonic has also issued at least one body allowing IBIS. So there is some convergence. Some Panasonic stabilized lenses don't have a physical switch for IS and couldn't be controlled by Olympus bodies. However I think that newer firmwares allows that (not sure which bodies).
Other than that, there are small differences varying lenses by lenses, but I have been mixing and matching Olympus lenses with Panasonic bodies and vice versa without much problems. I now use mainly an E-M5 with several Panasonic lenses, including all those you mention :
- 7-14mm is probably the most problematic : on the most recent sensors, it can produce nasty flares in the form of purplish blobs. So you have to be cautious when shooting.
- 14mm pancake : no problem.
- 20mm pancake : has a reputation to be a little slower to focus on Olympus bodies. I never felt it was a problem personally.
- 25mm : it will constantly produce a little clattering, as the aperture blades are constantly moving for live view. Comes from the fact that apparently Olympus deals with live view focusing differently than Panasonic. It is there, but never disturbed me.
- 100-300mm : for me it is a crap zoom, but it was just as bad on the G3 than it is on the E-M5.