Newbie post - would I get more zoom with a 14-140 lens or a 45-200?

[Spudgun]

Dear all,

First post here, so please be gentle.

I have inherited a Lumix G3 micro 4/3 body with a 14-45 lens which I am intending to take on holiday with me to the states and canada.

In the past, I've got some decent wildlife photos (black bears and the like) from a simple point and shoot camera when animals are 30-50m away.

However, as I've now got a new camera I'd like to be able to take some better shots, but I am a bit confused with which lens to go for. The 14-45 lens I have seems fine everyday use, but a quick test at the weekend showed that it wouldn't be amazing for things 30-50m away and thus I have been looking at my options.

Looks like the next step up is either a 45-200 or a 14-140 lens, but having read many reviews I am really confused, so I wondered if the good people on here could help?

Many thanks in advance for your help!

 

[PistolPete]

If you want reach, then the 45-200 is longer than the 14-140 by just over 40%.

If you go with the 14-140 you lose the 140-200 bit but you are overlaping with the 14-45 so would only need 1 lens to take.
If you go with the 45-200 and take the 14-45 too, you get 14-200 covered, but obviously need to take 2 lenses with you.

 

[Spudgun]

If you want reach, then the 45-200 is longer than the 14-140 by just over 40%.

If you go with the 14-140 you lose the 140-200 bit but you are overlaping with the 14-45 so would only need 1 lens to take.
If you go with the 45-200 and take the 14-45 too, you get 14-200 covered, but obviously need to take 2 lenses with you.

Thank you, that is massively helpful

I'll do some more tests this weekend and add the equivalent weight to my bag of carrying 2 lenses to see how I would get on when I am on a long hike carrying 2 lenses as that seems to be what I am looking for.

Might also consider the 100-300 lens, but that looks like it might be too big/heavy for taking on the trail with me as a second lens.

Thanks again, your help has been invaluable.

 

[Trojan]

It's not just the carrying about of 2 lenses that can be annoying, but the fact that you may have to keep changing between the 2 depending on what you're shooting. At a friend's wedding the other week, I kept having to swap between my 18-55 and 55-250 lenses to get the shots I wanted. By the end of the day I was sick of swapping!