RED 18-50mm T3 ZOOM LENS

[bitcrusher]

I have noticed that this guy (http://www.red.com/store/lenses/product/red-zoom-18-50mm-t3-i) is really affordable right now any thoughts on this on a GH2?

On the used market they are going for 2200-2800usd which sounds like a killer deal.

[joe1946]

I think I would go for the 14-35 F2.0 m4/3rds zoom that is the fastest wide-short tele FL (28-70mm 35mm eqiv) zoom made. They also have the 35-100mm F2.0 that is equal to a 70-200mm that is also the fastest in that FL range.

http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/product.asp?product=1334

http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/product.asp?product=1335

[bitcrusher]

Been looking at those as well but am a little shy to drop that much cash on a native m4/3 lens right now. I do plan to get a Nokton .95 in the next month or two anyway

In the back of my mind I am gearing up for something in a PL mount. I think that there will be so much change in the next 2-3 years and I want something that I can use with s35 size sensors. I have a felling that I will be jumping from camera to camera for a while. The red 18-50 prices look like a steal right now.
edited for grammar

[liem1]

Those Olympus zooms are not native m4/3 but 4/3 lenses, you would need an adapter and depending on what camera you use it with, may not autofocus.

[bitcrusher]

Those Olympus zooms are not native m4/3 but 4/3 lenses, you would need an adapter and depending on what camera you use it with, may not autofocus.

Thats a good point. AF is not a big deal for me as I never use my gh2 for photo work.

[Lpowell]

Those Olympus zooms are not native m4/3 but 4/3 lenses, you would need an adapter and depending on what camera you use it with, may not autofocus.
Both Olympus f2.0 zooms will auto-focus with the GH2, but not with the GH1. I have the 35-100mm f2.0 and it is indeed a very sharp and distortion-free lens at all apertures. One of its virtues is that since both zoom and focus mechanisms are entirely internal, its giant 77mm outer lens barrel remains completely stationary and impervious to rain. OTOH, the hefty size and weight of this lens makes tripod mounting mandatory, and like all Four Thirds lenses I've tried, its auto-focus behavior is quite clunky. But in the end, its 35-100mm zoom range and marvelous speed make it ideal for filming night club performances at a convenient distance from the stage.

For my purposes, the Olympus 14-35mm f2.0 does not quite make the grade. Its zoom range isn't long enough for close-ups, limiting it to wide-angle shots only. It's a bit too large to hand-hold, but lacks the rotating tripod mounting collar that comes built-in with the 35-100mm lens. What's worse is that the 14-35mm lens' electronically-controlled aperture varies slightly, but noticeably, while zooming. These short-comings make it less useful to me than the compact Panasonic 14-50mm f2.8-3.5 lens, with its versatile zoom range and awesomely stable Optical Image Stabilization.

[liem1]

Both Olympus f2.0 zooms will auto-focus with the GH2, but not with the GH1. I have the 35-100mm f2.0 and it is indeed a very sharp and distortion-free lens at all apertures. One of its virtues is that since both zoom and focus mechanisms are entirely internal, its giant 77mm outer lens barrel remains completely stationary and impervious to rain. OTOH, the hefty size and weight of this lens makes tripod mounting mandatory, and like all Four Thirds lenses I've tried, its auto-focus behavior is quite clunky. But in the end, its 35-100mm zoom range and marvelous speed make it ideal for filming night club performances at a convenient distance from the stage.

For my purposes, the Olympus 14-35mm f2.0 does not quite make the grade. Its zoom range isn't long enough for close-ups, limiting it to wide-angle shots only. It's a bit too large to hand-hold, but lacks the rotating tripod mounting collar that comes built-in with the 35-100mm lens. What's worse is that the 14-35mm lens' electronically-controlled aperture varies slightly, but noticeably, while zooming. These short-comings make it less useful to me than the compact Panasonic 14-50mm f2.8-3.5 lens, with its versatile zoom range and awesomely stable Optical Image Stabilization.

How does the Panasonic 14-50mm F2.8-3.5 compare to the Olympus 14-50 F2.8-3.5. Does the Optical Image Stabilization make a lot of differences?

[liem1]

How does the Panasonic 14-50mm F2.8-3.5 compare to the Olympus 14-50 F2.8-3.5. Does the Optical Image Stabilization make a lot of differences?

Also have you found issues like the one discussed here about the Pana lens: http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?224155-Use-of-Leica-Panasonic-14-50mm-(f2.8-3.5)-on-GH1-13

[Lpowell]

How does the Panasonic 14-50mm F2.8-3.5 compare to the Olympus 14-54mm F2.8-3.5? Does the Optical Image Stabilization make a lot of differences?
I'd recommend both of these zooms over the slower Lumix kit lenses, though not for their auto-focus features. But for handheld video shooting, the Panasonic 14-50mm's OIS is the next best thing to a steadicam.

I've found the auto-focus hunting issues described in the link above to be common (in varying degrees) to all Four Thirds lenses when used on a Panasonic G-series camera. Lumix auto-focus lenses are often able to shift focus quickly and smoothly when you give the shutter button a half-tap. Perhaps it's a limitation of the electronic adapter, but Four Thirds lenses cannot do this, they have to start over from scratch every time they need to refocus. This is what produces dramatic breathing effects when auto-focus is engaged on the Panasonic 14-50mm and other Four Thirds lenses. My advice is to forget about using auto-focus while recording. I've racked the 14-50mm frequently in live performance shoots, and nothing like this occurs when manually focusing or zooming the lens.