GH2 Adapt Canon EF lenses for Panasonic GH2 micro four-thirds (m4/3)

Griffinity

Griffinity

Active member
In my office, I work with a photographer who shoots on a Canon 50d. I shoot video on a Panasonic GH2, and we'd like to see if we can save some money going forward by sharing lens purchases. Because of the lack of electronic control available between Canon lenses and the GH2, I understand why most people advise buying Canon FD, rather than EF lenses. But he'd benefit from the EF lenses, so...

I'm wondering if anyone's aware of a decent adapter for Canon EF lenses for a micro four-thirds body (Panasonic GH2). (It would need an aperture ring, too.)

Any other compatibility issues I should consider? Thanks for the help!
 
This is the one I use when you have to throw on Canon EF glass:

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It's not a perfect solution. And mind has a tiny bit of play in it between the adapter and the body. But it gets the job done and allows use of the Canon EF lenses that many of us have already. There's supposed to be a new one coming out from Birger that will allow full electronic control, but I've heard it will be around $800.
 
I've used one of those Kipon adapters on a shoot, they're quite good but as you can see are aperture limited (about f/2.8)
So OK for zooms, not so useful for fast primes. But that iris is really nice and round!

Also, there is a new fully automatic adapter coming out (made by Birger) but they'll be much more expensive.
 
Thanks for the info, everyone! Should I expect the adapter to alter the optics of the lens at all, or does it place the lens at the same distance from the sensor as it would be on the Canon?
 
The adapter doesn't alter the optics per se. Sensor sizes are obviously different between the two cameras anyway.
 
Griffinity said:
Thanks for the info, everyone! Should I expect the adapter to alter the optics of the lens at all, or does it place the lens at the same distance from the sensor as it would be on the Canon?
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It is the same distance, so you get infinity focus.
The only difference optically is that the aperture is now in a different (possibly suboptimal) place, so technically, image quality is not exactly the same. But try to tell the difference, I bet you couldn't.
 
mr bill said:
Sensor sizes are obviously different between the two cameras anyway.
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What's the difference in sensor sizes? Is it 1.9x crop factor for the GH2 and 1.6x for the Canon 50d (and 7d)?

Thanks again, for the advice, everyone. Very helpful, and I believe I'll purchase the Kipon adapter and start testing out the EOS lenses we already have before purchasing more.
 
You're right with the crop factor. Best to budget for ND filters if you don't have any, as the ef lenses will mount wide open using the adapter.
 
I bought one and it sucked. Didn't fit any of the lenses that I use on the 5D or the 7D.. and they were all supposed to work. I have now moved to all Nikon lenses for use with my cameras and the adapters cost 20 bucks and work really really well. I like the 5D and what it does, but the lenses are a PITA to use with anything else. From now on I want to pick up mostly full frame Nikon glass...

I would not recommend this but maybe it works for some lenses. I know for sure it didn't work on the 85mm 1.8 or the Tamron Lens or the 1.2 85mm Canon.... I would be highly cautious of this....
 
Help me out

Help me out

I thought this thread about how can I use EF canon lens with Panasonic GH2 with a right adapter. So I don't understand why you talking about a 5D and Nikon lenses? Will u clear this out?
 
I bought the Kipon and it just destroyed my 70-200L mounted on a GH2 - I also think the iris is more gimmick than useful. I found a trust eos - m4/3 adapter on ebay that works great (although all eos glass will only shoot wide open with these adapters)
 
I have two Kipon adapters that I use with L glass and the 7D 28-135mm kit lens and they work fine! For those who had fitment issues and "destroyed" lenses, you must have had a knock-off adapter or mounted incorrectly. These adapters even work with old EF lenses from the Rebel 2000 (35mm film camera). Fitment has never been an issue with any of the Canon lenses I use. Although, the Kipon adapter does have a soft vignette when you close down the aperture too far. To see an example of the vignette, scrub to 2:26 here http://vimeo.com/32748908

By the way, if you really need to close down the aperture on the Canon glass for greater DOF you need to set the f-stop of the lens on your Canon body first. Then mount the lens to your GH2 body. It's a pain but you do have that choice.
 
Gary Huff said:
Nikons can easily go on a Canon or a GH2, unlike the Canon FDs.
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I use FD lenses all the time on my GH1.. O_o They mount up perfectly with a $20 adapter, and they have manual aperture control and focus, so you have full control over the lens, unlike the EF lenses that require expensive adapters to have aperture control.
 
ErikTande said:
I use FD lenses all the time on my GH1.. O_o They mount up perfectly with a $20 adapter, and they have manual aperture control and focus, so you have full control over the lens, unlike the EF lenses that require expensive adapters to have aperture control.
Click to expand...

The Problem with FD lenses is not relevant if you only ever plan on using the lenses with a micro 4/3rds camera. But on anything else, they become a massive pain. FD lenses will not mount on Canon EOS or Nikon bodies, so for someone shooting both video on a GH1/2 and stills on something else, they are not a good option. Same goes for futureproofing - if Canon or Nikon release a camera in the next few months that just happens to blow the GH2 away (yeah, right!) then upgrading would mean you'd have to buy all new lenses. This is why Nikon is the preferred choice of many people who like to think beyond their current camera body - because lenses are an investment and should stick with you throughout many different cameras. EF lenses are even worse in this regard, as they will only work properly on EOS cameras because the aperture is controlled electronically rather than manually with a lever.
 
I actually have an Fotodiox EF adapter that works just fine with the lenses I use- Mostly, a Tamron 17-50 zoom and sometimes (believe it or not) Nikon primes with an EF adapter already on it. I like doing that because I frequently swap lenses between camera bodies. I like leaving the EF adapter almost permanently attached to the GH2, and pretend both actually have that mount. ;)

I had some reservations about working this way (2 adapters = twice the weak points for something to go wrong), but after doing it a few times I'm comfortable with it.
 
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