The retractable design of the LUMIX G X VARIO PZ 14-42mm/F3.5-5.6 ASPH./POWER O.I.S. replaces standard zoom and iris control rings with quiet levers. And the optical elements have been upgraded with a Nano Surface Coating designed to cut down on ghosting and flare. The new POWER O.I.S. now features 9 elements in 8 groups as opposed to 12 elements in 9 groups (in the H-FS014042); it is also controlled via the camera’s menu system (no external switch).

A Compact Retractable Lens. When not in use, the lens is a mere 26.8mm and extends to roughly 47mm when the camera is turned on (this extension takes place in less than a second). Panasonic was able to achieve this by using 4 aspherical lenses and exchanging the manual rings for levers. The change in lens length when moving between the 14mm and 42mm positions is barely perceptible and takes approximately 3.5 seconds.

Light Speed AF. Lumix G cameras and lenses work together to autofocus – utilizing the camera’s microprocessor. The inner focus system (again, controlled via lever) is driven by a stepping motor. This reportedly allows the camera/lens setup to achieve approximately 0.1 second Light Speed AF (As measured on the GF3, moving the lens position from 2m to Infinity).