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Anyone who’s used Panasonic’s 14-42mm Micro Four Thirds zoom lens has probably noticed its relatively bulky design, especially when compared to Olympus’s counterpart. Today, the company announced the GF3X, a new lens kit that offers the same zoom and f/3.5-5.6 aperture range in a housing less than half the size when closed, and still noticeably smaller when extended. The first of two optics in Panasonic’s premium X-series — the second is a 45-170mm f/4-5.6 zoom — it’s been billed as the world’s smallest digital interchangeable power zoom lens, thanks to its internal zoom motor which lets you adjust the focal length using a side-mounted rocker — the design is similar to the zoom toggle included with the company’s new FX150 superzoom. Priced at $399, it also includes a metal lens mount, instead of the plastic mount used with the existing $199 14-42mm lens. That second 45-170mm zoom ($449) can replace Panasonic’s 45-200mm lens ($349), and while the size difference isn’t as dramatic is its smaller X-series sibling, it’s still noticeably smaller and lighter. Both lenses include optical image stabilization and feature nano surface coatings, designed to reduce ghosting and lens flare. The 14-42mm lens will ship in October in black and white (for use with silver bodies), and the 45-170mm zoom will ship in September. They’ll only be compatible with the GF-2 , GF-3 , and G3 at launch after downloading a firmware update — Panasonic is leaving it up to Olympus to release supporting firmware for its own cameras. Jump past the break for more details from Panasonic, and check out the gallery below — complete with side-by-side shots for both lens classes. Gallery: Panasonic X-series Micro Four Thirds Lenses Continue reading Panasonic shrinks its Micro Four Thirds lenses, launches X-series with wide-angle, telephoto zooms Panasonic shrinks its Micro Four Thirds lenses, launches X-series with wide-angle, telephoto zooms originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Aug 2011 01:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink