AF100 Lens Suggestions

cathstrat

cathstrat

Active member
Hi, I just bought an Af100. So far I have a nikon 50mm 1.4 prime and a tokina 28-70mm 2.8. Both of these are great lenses but I need something easier to use for run and gun stuff and am very tempted to purchase the lumix lenses because I can control them from the camera -- even though they get a bad rap from some.

First, I'd like to hear opinions about the Lumix 14-140mm vs. the Lumix 45-175.

Secondly, I'd like recommendations as to which lenses will be most practical to add to what I already have. I can't afford the 1K lenses right now so need to go for 'best for price' ideas.

Thanks.
 
It may be $1300, but the 12-35 is absolutely worth it. Great quality and operability.

The 14-140 is so-so. I use it often when I really need that range, but it doesn't hold focus in a zoom, iris isn't constant, and it's slow.

Can't comment on the 45-175, haven't used it.
 
cathstrat said:
Hi, I just bought an Af100. So far I have a nikon 50mm 1.4 prime and a tokina 28-70mm 2.8. Both of these are great lenses but I need something easier to use for run and gun stuff and am very tempted to purchase the lumix lenses because I can control them from the camer
Thanks.
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I guess I don't understand how controlling a lens from the camera is that much better for "run-n-gun" than controlling from the lens itself? You still have to focus and set the iris do you not?
 
Having the camera autofocus (as in push-to-focus) can be helpful at times, surely?

If the 12-35mm is unaffordable, the Lumix 14-45mm is a nice lens for less. Slower and variable aperture though.
 
Have to agree with David. I shoot with a HPX-370 a lot and never in auto anything. Run and gun is all about having a large focal range and that is hard to get on such a large sensor as the AF-100 and up. Might not be the camera for what your needs are or you just have to find a way to work with zoom SLR lenses and be fast at changing them.
 
No, I'm with Graham. Push auto, primarily for iris, can be very helpful at times in order to find the range then fine tune -- admittedly push focus is not as helpful but can be too in changing circumstances. Does everybody feel as Erik does that the Af100 is NOT a good choice for being out in the field, sans tripod?
 
I make documentaries - only documentaries, and have since 1966 - yes, that's 1966 - I shoot in a lot of spontaneous situations (I abhor the term "run and gun" by the way, especially these days). I think the AF100 is an excellent camera when properly set up - but admittedly it is a brick out of the box.

Anyway, I have been shooting handheld daily with the Lumix 12-35. True it's not quite long enough, but the excellent OIS allows me to physically move closer when I need to - and use the move in the shot. I also carry two other lenses in a small pouch, the Voigtlander 17.5 (my favorite lens) and either a Vivitar 28-85 (a little soft but acceptable) or an Angenieux 45-90 f2.8 (Leica-R lens, which matches the 12-35 perfectly in color and sharpness but is heavier than the vivitar). With this combination of lenses I can shoot everything from no light (Voigtlander) to tight close-ups of fingers (Angenieux) and everything in between with the Lumix, which realistically is about 80% of what I need to shoot. If I could only own one lens for handheld documentary work it would be the 12-35.

And, a note to Panasonic - I will buy the 35-100 as soon as it's released - what's taking so long?
 
cathstrat said:
Does everybody feel as Erik does that the Af100 is NOT a good choice for being out in the field, sans tripod?
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I think it's the best of the large-sensor cameras for being out in the field, certainly. That doesn't make it as ideal as, say, a dedicated servo-zoom video camera, but for a large-sensor camera it's the best of the bunch. Especially with something like the 12-35 with its image stabilization.
 
Mac said:
... a Vivitar 28-85 ...
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Interesting ... the Vivitar 28-90mm f2.8-3.5 and Rokkor 50-135mm f3.5 are my two favorite legacy zooms for interview shooting on the GH2. Nice to see someone else using a Vivitar vari-focal.
 
Mac -- Thanks so much for your post. I feel much better now. It appears hands down that the 12-35 is the way to go. Gotta save my pennies. Wondering too if I should have bought the Konika 28-70mm now. Not really wide enough for out in the field -- do you agree. Seems easier to move closer than to move out further. Especially when you're kind of close to begin with . . . . Do you think I should sell the Tokina and spring for the 12-35? Love to get your thoughts.
 
I think Mac and I are essentially the same person (albeit ~40 years apart in age and experience). Also own, shoot, and love the 12-35, Voigt 17.5, and a Vivitar 28-90.

Graham, I'll have to check out that longer Rokkor.

Another "stopgap" lens I'd been using and still use despite owning a 12-35 (which should theoretically wholly displace it) is the Leica D 14-50/2.8-3.5. Set to f3.5, it's constant, no iris flicker in the zoom, stays pretty close to parfocal (need to test this to be certain someday), just as smooth to operate as the 12-35, plus a little more reach and so-so OIS... albeit the bothers of not a single automatic feature working on the AF100.
 
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Mac said:
And, a note to Panasonic - I will buy the 35-100 as soon as it's released - what's taking so long?
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Not to make anyone unhappy, but -- I don't believe the 35-100 has ever actually been announced as a product. I think it's only ever been shown as a "concept" lens at a show back in January. They announced the 12-35 would be coming, and now it exists, but I don't think any formal announcement of a 35-100 has ever taken place, and presumably such an announcement has to occur first before we'll see the lens itself... so I would expect it's going to be at least a couple of months after an announcement takes place.
 
Barry_Green said:
I don't believe the 35-100 has ever actually been announced as a product. I think it's only ever been shown as a "concept" lens
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That's true - however one has to assume that Panasonic showed it as a concept to garner potential customer response, otherwise why bother - so, as I said, I'm waiting in line with the cash in my hand...
 
Yes, agreed, but the point is -- don't expect it any time soon. It's not like it'll come out any day, because they haven't even announced that they intend to produce such a lens yet. That's all I'm saying -- you can't expect to see it until maybe a couple of months after they announce it, and they haven't actually announced it yet.

It would be silly to not produce it, and I fully expect them to. Just don't have any idea when, is all.
 
Catherine- After 20+ years shooting shoulder mount cameras and nearly 10 on small cameras, I can relate to your desiring push auto, as a starting point, then tweaking manually.
I never shoot auto anything, but not having any lenses that talk to the camera (ie Lumix), I still miss having that feature at times.

I think Mac's advice on focal lengths is great, keeping things a little wider for handheld.

BTW, loved your City Symphony! Very cool- especially loved the heads peeking out, the car-to car shots that get very surreal, and the old City Hall station. HMC150?

mcbob, we'll have to rename you Macbob... :laugh:
 
"Do you think I should sell the Tokina and spring for the 12-35? Love to get your thoughts."

Catherine: I'm never one to advise another, bit if it was me I would... The Tokina is a nice lens, but - and again, I'm an old school filmmaker, so this is weird for me to say - but given the built in potential of the AF100 in talking to the lens, and assuming you're willing to change your technique to adapt to it, I think the Lumix is nearly ideal for documentary shooting.. It would be better if it was, say 14-60, but it isn't.. The point is that it is senseless to adamantly reject the auto features out of "tradition" - I used to write on an old Corona typewriter too, and there are many that still prefer to, but not me...
 
I should add that I do still prefer manual lenses - I have 5 excellent leica-R and 3 Canon FD lenses, and of course the Voigtlander and Vivitar. But the 12-35 works so well with the 100 that I now consider it my "A" lens... I handhold using a EVF and even with peaking focusing can be a problem when working fast with a wider lens... using the Function toggle I can select a portion of the frame, hit Push-To-Focus, and get crisp focus every time - and I'm getting pretty fast at it... Plus it is possible to actually follow focus by switching to Auto-Focus and moving the toggle to stay with a subject in the frame.. it's a little like patting your head and rubbing you tummy, but with practice it can be done - it works great with the lens at 35mm - it loses focus for brief instances, but I kinda like it.

BTW - My Vivitar is a 28-85, not 90 - Is there a 28-90?
 
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