Panasonic PZ 45-175mm f/4-5.6 Power OIS review

The Panasonic PZ 45-175mm f/4-5.6 Power OIS packs impressive telephoto reach into a super-small build

Panasonic PZ 45-175mm f/4-5.6 Power OIS
(Image: © Panasonic)

Digital Camera World Verdict

With an effective 90-350mm zoom range in full-frame terms, this Panasonic lens is amazingly small and lightweight for a telephoto range. Nevertheless it packs and optical image stabilizer and motorized zoom mechanism that makes it ideal for shooting movies as well as stills. That’s further reinforced by a smooth and virtually silent autofocus system. Levels of sharpness could be a little better but overall it’s a highly attractive proposition at the price.

Pros

  • +

    Motorized zoom

  • +

    Optical stabilization

  • +

    Powerful zoom range

Cons

  • -

    Only 3-stop stabilization

  • -

    Sharpness could be better

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The Panasonic PZ 45-175mm f/4-5.6 Power OIS is designed for Micro Four Thirds system cameras. These give a real boost to telephoto photography, thanks to the 2.0x crop factor, or ‘focal length multiplier’. As such, the lens has a powerful ‘effective’ zoom range of 90-350mm yet measures just 62x90mm and weighs in at an unfeasibly light 210gm making it amazingly compact and lightweight for a telephoto zoom.

Specifications

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Matthew Richards

Matthew Richards is a photographer and journalist who has spent years using and reviewing all manner of photo gear. He is Digital Camera World's principal lens reviewer – and has tested more primes and zooms than most people have had hot dinners! 

His expertise with equipment doesn’t end there, though. He is also an encyclopedia  when it comes to all manner of cameras, camera holsters and bags, flashguns, tripods and heads, printers, papers and inks, and just about anything imaging-related. 

In an earlier life he was a broadcast engineer at the BBC, as well as a former editor of PC Guide.