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View Full Version : Manual Still Lenses with Gh1 - Your Choice is?



Illya Friedman
06-04-2009, 02:50 AM
Hello all,

This is an informal poll. Perhaps I'll post a regular poll later, as I've been contacted by several people by PM about building "proper" manual lens adapters in a few different formats.

The question is- what kind of lenses would you most like to use on you Gh1?

I've already got a lot of people who have told me PL, which is why I built the Hot Rod PL (website should go live tomorrow, Friday 6/5).

Lately I've had almost 10 people ask for a properly supported Nikon adapter, so I'm strongly considering that one too.

I've also had a couple people ask for Arri B and Arri Standard.

What else are people interested in?

It takes about 10x units to make the R&D worth while, which allows me to keep the price (relatively) low per unit.

The stuff I'm building is pro-level; utilizing all military spec / cinema grade / aviation materials only, not plastic and thin metals like the cheapo units on ebay.

A word of caution- heavy lenses and a weak adapter can easily wreck the m4/3 flange mount on the G1/Gh1 (you don't want to know how I found out.) As Gh1 cameras start shipping more and more people are going to discover how weak the Gh1 flange really is. It's an expensive repair! Use common sense with your shooting style (no heavy vibrations, bouncing with heavy 3rd party lenses- that's like hanging a lens twice as heavy/long on the camera!) Be cautious with lens mounted accessories (clamp on mattebox/filters) which is going to happen more and more because of the "movie" mode, and don't ever hold the camera from the rear when you've got a big 'ol honking telephoto lens mounted. Even with the kit lenses you can feel a little rotational play.

If you're working with a long and unsupported lens, simply use prudent caution and get some support under it.

dcloud
06-04-2009, 04:24 AM
nikon for me...

If you can integrate an apperture control id bite on canon too.

J Davis
06-06-2009, 01:32 AM
It takes about 10x units to make the R&D worth while, which allows me to keep the price (relatively) low per unit.

The stuff I'm building is pro-level; utilizing all military spec / cinema grade / aviation materials only, not plastic and thin metals like the cheapo units on ebay.



Nikon for me
Can u post ballpark prices? (if possible)

dadoboy
06-06-2009, 03:52 AM
A solid Minolta MD mount would be great. You can find Nikon / Canon adapters for GH1 on ebay but Minolta MD adapters are more rare and lenses are cheap plentiful and very good.

Arri B mount would be interesting, but not very useful since the image coverage would only be a center portion of the 4/3 chip if using 16mm lenses.

Huy Vu
06-06-2009, 07:15 AM
A Canon FD adapter would be great.

Illya Friedman
06-09-2009, 02:23 AM
Hello everyone,

Thanks for the feedback and PMs. Hot Rod N (Nikon) is now officially in development.

"The N" will only be the adapter portion and can be added to any Hot Rod PL package, since the lens mounts are interchangeable. No idea on the cost yet.

Any Hot Rod PL orders placed now, ship in the next 3-weeks!

upshot
06-09-2009, 08:06 AM
I'd love to see a rod supported Nikon mount/adaper (like your pl mount)!! If you incorporate aperture control for non aperture ring lenses it would be the bomb. I'd buy one... my 17-35/2.8 is wonderful on the G (as well as some of my teles) but it's a pain and nerve inducing to handle.

Steve Castle
06-09-2009, 12:15 PM
Aperture control would also be my question. Having control of G/DX lenses that lack the aperture ring would be killer feature. Currently the only way now is using the aperture-plunger via a Nikon BR-6 adapter and stacking with a C-mount adapter- which is very inelegant.

If there was aperture control this would be an instant buy for me. I would want it for my Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED. I'd even go out and get the new AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G lens to go along with it. It's a $200 fast prime that would give a full-frame equivalent of 70mm (which is a little wider then what 50mm primes get on APS-C bodies).

ydgmdlu
06-09-2009, 02:37 PM
Aperture control would also be my question. Having control of G/DX lenses that lack the aperture ring would be killer feature. Currently the only way now is using the aperture-plunger via a Nikon BR-6 adapter and stacking with a C-mount adapter- which is very inelegant.
Consider this solution: http://www.16-9.net/nikon_g/

It would require you to stack with an EF to Micro Four Thirds adapter, but it should be a better solution than the one that you've found. Illya's product will undoubtedly be the best way, but keep in mind that as a pro-level product, it will have pro-level pricing as well. Affordability might be an issue...

Psynema
06-10-2009, 06:25 PM
How is everyone liking telephoto lenses without IS, on tripod and off?

Final Design Studios
06-10-2009, 06:45 PM
So I guess I'm a tad bit confused. Is the hotrod just a lens adapter? I've got two Nikon lenses that I want on my GH1, should I go for this?

Or does this do more than just adapt the lenses?

Final Design Studios
06-10-2009, 06:48 PM
Never mind. I dug into the website a bit more and found what I was looking for. My bad.

RS-Colo
06-11-2009, 07:09 PM
I'm planning on getting the GH1 and for a while I plan to just use the kit lens. But I have a lot of old lenses, 30-40 years old. Three are for the Leica CL. The 40mm and 90mm Leitz and a 28mm Minolta. I also have some Canon lenses for an old FTb camera. A 55mm and a 24mm. There are a lot of nice optics here.

So here are the questions:

1. Will they work at all. Is there enough coverage for the format, etc.?

2. Are there adapters? I'm pretty sure the answer is yes, especially for the CL lenses. They are M-Mount, I think. I'm not as sure about the Canons.

3. None of these lenses have auto focus or appature. So I assume I would need to use manual exposure. Or would appature priority work? I understand manual focus will be necessary.

4. What other issues don't I even know about?

Thanks for any help on this.

DrBlaz
06-11-2009, 07:24 PM
I will get a nikon as soon as available, I have nikon lenses from a 35mm adapter I hope to "retire" soon...

Ben_B
06-16-2009, 06:46 PM
Cheap, fast, Nikon AI primes.