Any suggestions for lenses - GH1 and ability to migrate upwards?

M

MIchelleLane

Member
Hi all,

Thanks for all the good information. I just got a GH1 and my goal is to eventually move to additional cameras such as a Red One or similar future options.

Here's my question... what is the best strategy for creating upward compatibility as I purchase lenses? Taking into account cost effectiveness and results for the dollar...

I realize it's vague but I would welcome some thoughts and opinions of experienced shooters.

Thanks!
 
Good choice on the GH1, if lens capability is important to you. The GH1 can be adapted to accomodate virtually any lens mount there is and has been. There are adapters for Nikkor, Canon, FD, M42, Pentax K, and believe it or not, PL (and I could've sworn I saw a BNC-R adapter).

PL and BNC-R, among others service lenses for Cine, and these differ from still lenses, in ways that really help for motion.

I would go for a cheap FD adapter to get by, Canon's old FD optics are good to get by, and you'll want to have a chance to use PL glass. It is more expensive, but using the GH1 you can rent, before you buy your big rig, and try the difference.

The fact that the GH1 can take all these lenses makes it a great step in between cams, and also people have kept them as viewfinders.

Cheers, hope this helps.

Tarek
 
If you're looking to someday move up to a different format (not 4/3s or m4/3s) you might want to avoid the FDs. From Wikipedia:

The 42mm flange focal distance of the FD mount is shorter than that of most other lens mounts. This means that it is impossible to mount an FD lens on most other types of cameras using an adapter, unless the adapter contains corrective optics or the ability to focus at infinity is sacrificed.
Click to expand...
 
I faced this same question, and for me, the answer was: Nikon mount. Nikon can be adapted to Canon bodies, but you can't put Canon lenson on Nikon bodies (without an optical corrective element). Nikon or Canon can be put on a Red, or a GH13, or an AF100.

I wanted manual lenses, so I got the Zeiss ZF set. If you're happy with manual lenses, Nikon-mount seems to be about the most future-proof.
 
Dalton Boettcher said:
If you're looking to someday move up to a different format (not 4/3s or m4/3s) you might want to avoid the FDs. From Wikipedia:
Click to expand...

This I just learned now. Sorry to OP for misinformation.

I do like what the FD's do with the GH1, they're cheap, but Nikkor glass is fantastic. Good point about adapting to Canons.

But good one about the Nikons. The ZF glass is fantastic I played with it twice, don't own a set, but if I have the cash I'm going for it.

Cheers all, Thanks Barry and Dalton,

Tarek
 
Thank you all - to get started, I ordered the adapter and Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF - I'll check into the Zeiss ZF set.

Under this upward path philosophy, am I correct that avoiding additional micro 4/3 Lumix lenses makes sense (I have the kit lens)?

For renting better glass are there any PL mount options available beside hotrodcameras solution?

Again, thank you.
 
I bought a PL adapter from ciecio7, cheaper, mine was good build good finish, no support or rods, nothing like the hotrod, but it works. Tried master primes on it. That one ran me 320 bucks as opposed to the 1500 I would pay hotrod.

Yet the ONLY reason I went for the other option is because i didn't have the hotrod money. If i did I would take it in a heartbeat.

That said, ryszard of ciecio7 is a pleasure to deal with from my experience. I would make purchases from him again.
 
I've got an extensive collection of Zeiss Contax primes. They work great with a 7D or 5D as well as the GH1 (I bought a Cameraquest Contax adaptor for the GH1). Contax lenses are extremely sharp with excellent contrast and have a long focus throw. They also focus in the "right" cine-style direction unlike the Nikons.

Peter
 
I was in a similar situation about 9 months ago when I started looking at lenses for my GH1. I looked at all options and over about 7 months I pieced together a set of Zeiss ZF's. Because they're the Nikon mount you can use them with a lot of different cameras with an adapter (Canon, m4/3, Red, etc). I have 6 total and couldn't be happier. It took me a while because I was looking for deals and buying them when I found the deals. 4 are used, but they were in brand new shape with boxes and everything. And then I bought 2 new at used prices (they were displays sitting in a glass case so they were sort of used) with boxes and everything. I was able to put my lens kit together for about 50% of the prices you see on B&H and Adorama. So, if you can hold off until the deals come around you can do something like that and great an excellent lens set for a great value.

Also, the Zeiss ZF lenses were very easy to declick the aperture ring. I did all 6 myself in less than an hour. And if I ever want to I can put the click back in.
 
There are many other brands of top quality manual focus 35mm lenses, for which you can get micro 4/3 adapters, to fit to your GH1.

Apart from Nikkor (Nikon), Canon FD, Pentax Takumar (M42), Pentax K, etc, there are also Olympus OM, Minolta MC/MD Rokkor, Konica Hexanon AR, Tokina AT-X, Tamron SP (with adaptall 2. You can get an adaptall - micro 4/3 adapter)

Some of the top notch ones that are quite cheap include:
Canon FD 50mm F1.4 SSC
Minolta MD Rokkor 85m F2
Konica Hexanon 57mm F1.7
Tamron SP 90mm F2.5 Macro
Tokina AT-X 80-200mm F2.8
Minolta MC Rokkor 58mm F1.4
 
I bought a whole set of Zeiss Contax lenses from KEH and an adapter from a person in eastern Europe (sorry, I don't remember who). I got an 18, 24, 28, 50, 85, and 135 - all in nearly mint condition - for less than $2000. These lenses are very highly rated even outperforming the Zeiss video lenses in areas such as breathing, etc. All I had to do was remove the detents (which was easy). Because these are manual focus lenses the focus rings are already appropriately stiff and work well with follow-focus gears. All of the lenses, except the 18mm use the same filter size - which is nice.

Seems like a really good deal to me.

Chris
 
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