GH2 14mm vs 20mm lens -- which is best?

R

rc444

Well-known member
I currently have a 28mm and a 50mm lens for my GH2, and am wanting to get a third lens.

I am thinking of either getting a 14mm or 20mm lens for establishing shots but can't decide which. I still want to use my 28mm for faces and my 50mm for close ups.

I love the wide expansive look of the 14mm, even though it distorts walls and edges making them slightly skinny and angular. The 20mm is not as spacious looking as the wider 14mm but there are no obvious distortions with it.

Which is best for all-round establishing shots / group shots?

(The distortions in the 14mm Panasonic are not bad, though lines and walls often look skinny/elongated. If I framed a face with a 14mm the distortions would be more off putting).
 
Seems your using SLR lenses so may want to avoid Panasonic's wonky fly-by-wire focusing system, especially if shooting narrative. Might consider a Rokinon 16mm DS Cine. Supposedly works with a Speedbooster too.
 
I have both and use the 14mm a lot more often.

The 20mm is a nice sharp lens, but it's an "in between" focal length for me- not wide enough for establishing shots, nor tight enough for close-ups.

The 14mm is relatively inexpensive, tiny, and has autofocus. Not the fastest autofocus, true, but useful in some situations and definitely for stills. I use the 14mm in conjunction with the Panasonic 45-200 mm for stills photography in the mountains. The image quality out of such a tiny camera/lenses package is awesome.

If you really don't use autofocus and want cine lenses, look at the Samyang/Rokkinon options too.

Cheers, Hywel
 
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