Any new Lens coming this year from panasonic or olympus?
- Thread starter anatusa
- Start date
On subject, relative to this thread, it seems that everyone wants something different, and my fear is that the (potential) manufacturers of a decent zoom for the AF100 is going to be discouraged by that. I, personally, want a simple, mechanical parfocal f2.8 5:1 or 6:1 relatively light-weight lens. Others want auto focus and exposure, and some want OIS as well.
You know what? Put all that in, I don't care. Just make a lens that doesn't change length when you zoom or focus, that doesn't change focus when you zoom, that doesn't click EVER, that doesn't change exposure in increments when you need to follow stop.
The cheapest, crappiest lens in the worst bargain-basement camcorder does those things - why, oh why, can't we have a lens that does them too?
You know what? Put all that in, I don't care. Just make a lens that doesn't change length when you zoom or focus, that doesn't change focus when you zoom, that doesn't click EVER, that doesn't change exposure in increments when you need to follow stop.
The cheapest, crappiest lens in the worst bargain-basement camcorder does those things - why, oh why, can't we have a lens that does them too?
Eithcowich
Active member
I actually have a Canon HD lens for 2/3", but don't want to spring 7 grand for the Abel adapter and lose two stops... And the lenses that cover 35 are way too heavy and unwieldy for documentary work.
What is NOT out there is an equivalent to the workhorse 16mm/super16 lenses of the past - small, 5:1, f2.8.. lenses like the Angenieux 11-57 and Cooke 10.4-52... These documentary intended lenses were all over 20-30 years ago, everyone had at least one of them. And the excellent Cooke, which I still have one of, was used for production work as well.
I spent $11,000 for my Cooke lens, used, 20 years ago, so cost doesn't scare me.
What is NOT out there is an equivalent to the workhorse 16mm/super16 lenses of the past - small, 5:1, f2.8.. lenses like the Angenieux 11-57 and Cooke 10.4-52... These documentary intended lenses were all over 20-30 years ago, everyone had at least one of them. And the excellent Cooke, which I still have one of, was used for production work as well.
I spent $11,000 for my Cooke lens, used, 20 years ago, so cost doesn't scare me.
And let me add one thing, and then get off this horse, I've got work to do - At NAB Panasonic made a big point of telling everyone how well the AF100 is selling. There's no doubt that there are many thousands of MFT cameras in use already world wide, and assuming upgraded models, will be for many years.
Okay, Panasonic doesn't make lenses, but Leica does - like, uh, for Panasonic camcorders. With a potential and enthusiastic market of thousands, I would think they would consider throwing us a bone. I know Barry has begged them with no luck, but I for one, and I hope many others here, intend to keep badgering the universe until there is a decent zoom produced expressly for this camera.
Okay, Panasonic doesn't make lenses, but Leica does - like, uh, for Panasonic camcorders. With a potential and enthusiastic market of thousands, I would think they would consider throwing us a bone. I know Barry has begged them with no luck, but I for one, and I hope many others here, intend to keep badgering the universe until there is a decent zoom produced expressly for this camera.
stevedocmaker
Well-known member
+2!
IF the Berger mount actually makes it to market, and it if supports AF, auto-iris and OIS, the Canon 17-55/2.8 will be close (if the OIS motor isn't too noisy), but the incremental exposure will still be a problem.
I'd like to add that Panny makes a BIG deal in marketing this camera that a) the larger chip allows for that DOF look that everyone wants, and b) this is a "full function" digital video camera (as opposed to a DSLR). But where's the lens to support these claims (please don't tell me it's the 14-140, because it's not)?
I bought one and it's still in the box till the Birger shows, then I'll probably sell it because of the iris thing (I thought it wouldn't be a problem, stupidly bought the lens before I knew better - oh well, a friend wants it if I don't)...
I have settled on shooting 80% of the time with a Canon FD 20mm supplemented by a Leica 28 and 50... I have to stop the camera change lenses, so I'm shooting dual system again, my soundman using my old (well, 10 years old) 24p Tascam. Back to the future...
Bern Caughey
Veteran
Quality all-mechanical lenses are more expensive to make than fly-by-wire designs so your wishes most likely will not come true.
I'd prefer a price-be-damed approach that produced truly great lenses designed specifically for filming with the m4/3 format.
Regards,
Bern
And I refuse to believe that, given the optics that already exist for various Lumix and Zuiko lenses, that this is out-of-the-question. There seem to be many that are willing to spend $2,300 for a 14-35 f2 Zuiko even with all the annoying problems.. I'm not looking for a handout, I'm looking for a lens.
Justyn
Veteran
Since the demand is there someone will come to market with options for all of us. I think it would also be fine if it were a full frame lens. I don't mind that at all, or I'll get a micro 4/3rds one too. I also don't mind loosing all of the automated options either. A simple MFL that's fast and wide is great. I love the voigtlander but even that at the 25mm can get hard to shoot with in some of my cramped locations. With that lens it makes nighttime car shots a bit more difficult to frame. Now a 14mm, F2 or a 1.4 would be awesome.
I'm kind of on the fence about the 20mm one as I've heard some mixed results on it's manual and auto focus... and for some steadicam shoots I was hoping for the AF and for other stuff, I'd be manually focusing...
Good thing is that it will come and we have options. I just bought a 25mm - 100mm 1.8 C mount lens that's probably as old as I am.... but for 175 and in mint condition I had to give it a shot. Even if it vingnettes, I"ll tell my clients that it was for aesthetics....
I'm kind of on the fence about the 20mm one as I've heard some mixed results on it's manual and auto focus... and for some steadicam shoots I was hoping for the AF and for other stuff, I'd be manually focusing...
Good thing is that it will come and we have options. I just bought a 25mm - 100mm 1.8 C mount lens that's probably as old as I am.... but for 175 and in mint condition I had to give it a shot. Even if it vingnettes, I"ll tell my clients that it was for aesthetics....
Justyn
Veteran
Thanks Mac.... I would prefer that and will check it out. A couple of years ago we could have picked these up cheap but now there's demand again.... I also have been looking into Nikon stuff and I did pick up some Pentax lenses as they were really cheap... Been a nice go to, but at 50mm they aren't all that functional.
This rumor just got confirmed during a G3 intro interview with John Mitchell (UK Product Manager for Lumix G) at the PhotographyBlog.com: Panasonic will be introducing a new native Micro FT 25mm f/1.4 lens co-branded with Leica. Another interesting bit relates to the factory (i.e. Japan) commitment to 3-4 new MFT lenses annually. This means more MFT lenses from Panasonic this year.
Barry_Green
Moderator
Where in that article did it say anything about lenses? I read through it but must have missed it.
I do not see this bit in the article any more. The blog owners must have removed it. This was clearly an accidental leak. Was in the middle of page 3 and picked up by a number of photography blogs out there. I should have quoted immediately... here is the partial quote:
