And please note firmware version too. I've seen people complaining about the 12-35mm until they updated their firmware…

This issue cant be sample variation. One more to complain:

http://www.dslrfilmnoob.com/2014/03/19/preparing-panasonic-gh4-lenses/

"Mike March 20th, 2014 at 4:16 pm

Hi, as for the 12-35 2.8 Panasonic lens I have tried it extensively and being the only alternative in that range, large aperture I guess it’s ok but I’m very disappointed with the stabilization. It does help a lot compared to a non stabilized lens but it does not “float” the picture like for instance a Canon stabilized lens. I get these bad micro vibrations in the picture when shooting handheld and have to use post production stabilization for all handheld clips."

Sorry for bumping but I collect these complaints for Panasonic and for users to notice this issue. I think that many users just accepts that jitter or dont understand it.

Here is a new test I made:

MEGA OIS 14-42mm. POWER OIS 14-140mm. Both handheld at 14mm.

Little vibration in POWER OIS but still big enough to ruin the shot:

Has anybody any kind of information, how serious Panasonic is about the topic ? The 12-35mm received a fix a long time ago, but they did not even acknowledge the issue with the 35-100mm. From my experience, all PowerOIS driven lenses have this issue. All my MegaOIS lenses are doing just fine. It's a shame that their very pricy lenses perform better in their best selling point video.

@Vitaliy_Kiselev

And what might then happen? Are you going to do something with this issue. Maybe inform your Panasonic contacts?

Thanks for caring our problem.

I can get steadier shots handheld at 300mm MEGA OIS than 14mm POWER OIS. That is absurd.

This sums it up perfectly.

@Vesku i am not saying pan. I am saying handheld is done for a certain raw aesthetic, or for portability and fast and dirty shooting. But zooming in tight and going for a locked down look is playing directly to the weakness of the lens and rig. You wouldnt put a camera on a tripod and try and create a handheld look. Yes i know, that's sometimes done in high end jobs but generally it isnt. Why make this hard? Add a pound or two to your rig, calm you nerves, zoom out, you wont have micro jitters. Or us a monopod. The gear is better than its ever been, but we still need to utilize our skills and experience to get a good shot. Camer can't do it all. The title of this topic seems crazy to me.

@brianl

Is that the tip for POWER OIS users. Dont use OIS, use a tripod or heavy rig. If you shoot handheld never stop the camera, just pan around all the time. ( In fact I am forced to do so and it helps a bit but video is restless if I move camera all the time)

I cant carry a tripod or rig when I am hiking or taking photos and videos in events. Besides I can get very pleasing and steady shots with my MEGA OIS lenses. The new 14-140mm II is still optically so good that I just want to use it too.

Post stab helps and it would be nice if Mercalli comes as free extra with POWER OIS lenses.

With the GH2, i've used the 14-140 (which i own) and the 35-100 (which i rented) - as much as I try to avoid going handheld, neither had "micro jitters" when doing so.

@davjd

New or old 14-140? Are the jumps small and rapid and all the time? Can you shoot stable stationary videos handheld? Do you have a Panasonic body. Is the situation same with it?

Thanks

I will give honorable mention to the Nocticron, as it seems to be the first Power OIS lens they nailed in terms of getting rid of micro jitter. Hopefully the LX100, if it uses Power OIS (not Mega OIS), will also not have the issue.

@MarcioK

If you will be focusing long enough and hard enough you'll see it in each video and after some practice start to see it constantly occurring with your own vision in real life.