Looking for filmlike lens for GH1

[Indyreel]

I read something that said 50mm lens look the least filmlike because they basically have the same effect as the human eye. If that's the case, then what would be a good lens for the GH1 that will produce the most film like image?

[yslee]

What's that meant to mean? No rectilinear distortion or perspective compression?

Set the lens to ~22 focal length then.

[chrismagicc]

i swear films are supposed to mimic are eye sight? That's why they are displayed in a super wide format (anamorphic).
Correct me if im wrong

[Ben_B]

Fast 50mm primes, f/1.4, etc, look great on the GH1 despite cropping to 100mm (you have to get further back.)

They shoot films at all kinds of different focal lengths and I don't really think one or another is particularly more film like or not.

With a 50mm f/1.4 you're going to be getting a nice, filmic DOF, at a cheap price. No other lens is going to get you that kind of shallow DOF for your buck unless you get lucky and stumble on a really good deal somewhere. You can usually get the old, full manual (which is all you need and what you want cause it ensures you have an aperture ring) versions of these lenses for Nikon for under $100 easily.

[Huy Vu]

Where is this magic lens that I can just put on my camera and get the automatic film look? I NEED TO KNOW!

Seriously, whoever said that thing about the 50mm has no idea what they're talking about. The lens is just one part of the equation and each affects the perspective differently, and you use different lenses to best tell the story. There's no such thing as a "filmlike" lens, there's so much more that goes into it.

[Car3o]

50mm is the most common lens used....seriously....

[Fluke]

I find 50mm on the GH1 a bit uncomfortable due to the crop. But the the possible speed of a 50mm is quite nice. I'm hanging out for the 20mm 1.7... though, part of me wishes it was a 25mm. There's just no pleasing me...

But, yeah, as said before, there is no single perfect "film like lens". Films use a variety of different lenses for different applications.

[ryansheffer]

I'm pretty sure films started being wide screen so that they would be different than television.

[Ben_B]

This is correct. And everyone is getting 16:9 TVs, etc, and pretty soon you'll be seeing anamorphic TVs...there's already one out.

They experimented with some ridiculously wide format stuff, and used a lot of weird things liek CinemaScope.

However a film being wide screen really doesn't have anything to do with what lens you're using on this camera.

[Lauri Showler]

A lot of 'film like' look you see in video is done in post production, grading, filters and vignettes etc. Although some FD lenses do seem to have a softer focus, usually open at 1.4 I have found. But really film is a different media totally both mechanically and of course; chemically. Magic Bullet has quite a few filters to emulate film.

[Car3o]

I find 50mm on the GH1 a bit uncomfortable due to the crop. But the the possible speed of a 50mm is quite nice. I'm hanging out for the 20mm 1.7... though, part of me wishes it was a 25mm. There's just no pleasing me...

But, yeah, as said before, there is no single perfect "film like lens". Films use a variety of different lenses for different applications.

you're talking about a 50mm crop factor based of a full 35mm frame. Film frames are very close to that of a gh1, so the crop fact from that is like .5 something. Correct me someone, please. You'd be no more uncomfortable using a Arri 35mm camera as you would a gh1. People have become used to the idea of shooting FF 35 because of the adapters.

[Ben_B]

1.35 crop I think.

[Huy Vu]

It's a 2x crop on the GH1.

[Ben_B]

It's a 2X crop vs a Full Frame still camera, it's a 1.35 crop vs a 35mm motion picture film camera. I might be wrong on this concept or on the number but I am pretty sure I remember reading this from Barry or someone.

[Huy Vu]

It's a 2X crop vs a Full Frame still camera, it's a 1.35 crop vs a 35mm motion picture film camera. I might be wrong on this concept or on the number but I am pretty sure I remember reading this from Barry or someone.

You're right, I misread the question.

[Fluke]

you're talking about a 50mm crop factor based of a full 35mm frame. You'd be no more uncomfortable using a Arri 35mm camera as you would a gh1.

True. I guess I worded my post wrong. I should have left out "on the GH1 due to the crop". 50mm lenses definitely have their place but, given the choice, I'd prefer to work with something a little wider.