GH13 Anyone use prime lenses exclusively with their GH? Made me fall in love with it again

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bronxjragon

Well-known member
Just as the title suggests...how many of you are using prime lenses exclusively with your GH1/13/2 camera?

I recently decided to add to my Canon 50mm fd f1.4 by getting a Sigma 24mm fd f2.8 and Canon 28mm fd f2.8 and its like I have a new cinema camera.

I love the 14-140mm for events or family shooting, but sometimes it just looks so 'video' (I know its video, but I always try to get a film look).

I actually just got rid of my pancake lens as well (bad luck for me the prices actually went up and I should've gotten more than I paid for it) because I wasn't so happy with it. I do regret it a little bit now because it was a great value for such a wide lens AND fast, and Canon prime equivalents cost a fortune.

I'm sticking with my GH13 for a while until the GH2 becomes more available. Then I'll get one of those Pentax 6mm like Seb Farges for some actual wide shots that aren't super cropped.


Anyone else feel the same way?
 
Personally, I love the Filmic Look from my 20mm f.17 (Panasonic) and 30mm f1.4 (Sigma) because of the resultant image. However, I still bring along the 14-140 with me at all times simply because of the cost involved. One day, I would love to exclusively use Prime Lenses, but the Cost is no doubt a barrier to a student like myself. (ETC Mode is really helpful for these sorts of things).

I eagerly await the rumored 25mm f1.4 from Panasonic. Hopefully the Price is Right!
 
I carry a Konica Hexanon 40mm f1.8 around with me in addition to the 14-140mm, which is always on the camera.

Here's a picture of it on the GH2.

I love the Konica, but I don't use it as much as I'd like because I don't do a whole lot of low-light shooting (and it's not really small enough for candid/street shooting).

I'd like to pick up a Panasonic pancake, but I haven't been able to convince myself that I'd actually use it.
 
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a mark a yen a buck or a pound

a mark a yen a buck or a pound

Funny, it is exactly because of the LOW cost of abandoned analogue gear that I have become a chronic prime lense collector!

As long as you remember how to focus using hands/eyes/brain you can get, e.g. beautiful Canon FD lenses for a song-and-dance (a mark a yen a buck-or-a-pound) at flea markets and at that internet-thing starting with the 5th letter of the alphabet-bay.

The lenses are damn fast even if lacking the latest multi-deluxe coatings... in any case much better than the constaints of the stock zoom.
And each lense has its own feel which is always adds another tool in your armory when shooting that shot.
Carrying around that glass also keeps you in shape.
What more could you wish for?
Fall in love...

good luck, ninetto
 
bronxjragon said:
Then I'll get one of those Pentax 6mm like Seb Farges for some actual wide shots that aren't super cropped.
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I think you'll need a GH2 for that. That six in c-mount vignettes like a keyhole gobo unless you shoot in extended mode, doesn't it? But I'm with you on the primes. The brilliance of the m43 system is that you can pick up hd glass for reasonable price. In my signature pix you'll see the edge of my dream lens, an 8mm f2.8 nikon prime fx. Covers a 16x9 frame beautifully.
 
When i bought my gh2 , i tested with 14-42 lens and canon fd. Since then i never touched pana 14-42 again.
Recently i bought a few Zeiss lenses, 28 and 50mm, result is amazing. Only the problem finding cheap wide manual lens.
 
I've found the same thing. I use the 14-140 when I have a lot of area to cover and/or when I'm outside. A great lens for daytime shooting... However I do love a fast wider lens for just everyday things.. Finding a 20-or 24mm 2.8, 2 or faster that isn't a major budget killer is the objective right now
 
Picked up some old OM Zuiko primes for cheap on craigslist. I really love these old primes. Picked up the canon 50mm 1.4 FL and the 50mm Minolta f1.7 for $50 a piece I really love the Minolta 1.7. I'll put a test of the minolta/canon up soon.

 
Even in local camera shops, manual primes are dirt cheap! I picked up a full set of OM Zuiko primes (28/2.8, 50/1.8, 50/1.4, 100/2.8, 135/2.8, 200/4), a Micro-Nikkor 55/3.5, and even a pair of Leicas (Elmarit 28/2.8, Summicron 50/2), and could have paid for them all if I sold the 14-140 (which I won't because it's a great lens in the right situation). Even with three different 50's, they all have their own distinct look and flavor. It's hard not to go overboard amassing the things.
 
I only shoot with the Voigtlander 25mm 0.95mm. I come from a stills background and people like Cartier Bresson were my heroes. He exclusively used a 50mm lens. The great Japanese director Ozu pretty much only used the one prime lens too (can't remember the exact length). I will buy more primes eventually but at the moment I'm happy. I will probably never buy a zoom. I wouldn't mind making a complete feature on one lens though. I would relish the challenge.
 
Searcher said:
I only shoot with the Voigtlander 25mm 0.95mm. I come from a stills background and people like Cartier Bresson were my heroes. He exclusively used a 50mm lens. The great Japanese director Ozu pretty much only used the one prime lens too (can't remember the exact length). I will buy more primes eventually but at the moment I'm happy. I will probably never buy a zoom. I wouldn't mind making a complete feature on one lens though. I would relish the challenge.
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Yes, I'm trying to force myself to try and shoot with my Sigma 24mm f2.8...apparently a lot of films are filmed mostly with a 50mm, so the 24mm with crop is the closest I can get...would kill to get the Voigtlander...considered selling my 14-140mm to help pay for the cost of one, but I'd miss that lens really quick for family stuff.

I contemplated going for a Canon 7D for a long time now, but these primes really have given me a new tool.
 
Important point you raise: on most small projects, I try to limit myself to one or two lenses. Otherwise you spend so much time fiddling and switching that you miss something.
 
I've got two GH13's, no Panasonic lenses. I've got an old Takumar 28 - 80 that I use at times, but everything else goes thru a collection of ancient Nikkor Non-ai. The story we are telling has a lot of dark moments, the extra lens speed is vital.
 
The voigtlander is a beast of a beautiful lens. I think that atleast half of my feature will be shot with that lens.... It's awesome and just adds such a nice "mojo" quality to the image. I too picked up some cheap Pentax Glass but I need to find a whole bunch more. It is truly now an addiction.. It would be an easier addiction if I had tons of money to just throw at the situation, but i Don't, so I have to scout around and see what I can scrounge up.
 
Justyn said:
The voigtlander is a beast of a beautiful lens. I think that atleast half of my feature will be shot with that lens.... It's awesome and just adds such a nice "mojo" quality to the image. I too picked up some cheap Pentax Glass but I need to find a whole bunch more. It is truly now an addiction.. It would be an easier addiction if I had tons of money to just throw at the situation, but i Don't, so I have to scout around and see what I can scrounge up.
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Oddly enough, I'm starting to feel that's the beauty of it...limited budget, force yourself to work your magic and produce something....but would love to get my hands on some Pentax lenses as well!
 
Right now the cheapest semi-fast wide m4/3 lens is the Lumix 14mm f/2.5 AF lens or the Samyang 14mm f/2.8 MF lens. ( Bower 14mm f/2.8 : $420 at B&H )

Between these two, I would probably choose the Samyang because it's manual focus with a large focusing ring, and it can cover full-frame sensors, so you could use it with many different cameras.
 
I own the 20mm and the 14-140 (both great lenses for specific needs). After using the Canon FDs I see that they are perfect for cinema work and the Panny lenses seem well equipped for turning the GH2 more into an ENG style video camera.

My plan is to save up for FD L glass (24/50/85) so that i have a top notch matching set. Unfortunately I have found that these lenses, and other cheaper FDs are starting to creep up in price. I have a feeling in an another year or two (as the FD stock starts dwindling due to increasing m4/3 popularity) that the FD lenses will start getting expensive (however sad this realization sounds).

I suggest if anyone is considering moving to a set of FDs (L series or even just regular glass) or similar glass like older Nikon, to grab them as soon as financially possible, as they will inevitably start going up more and more in price. Fortunately, given the growing popularity of m4/3, once you have these lenses they will only appreciate in price. Seems like a pretty solid investment, at least if you get rid of them before m4/3 becomes obsolete.

1 year ago a 24mm FD L Series f1.4 was around $800 and now they are selling for around $1000.
 
JerryB said:
I own the 20mm and the 14-140 (both great lenses for specific needs). After using the Canon FDs I see that they are perfect for cinema work and the Panny lenses seem well equipped for turning the GH2 more into an ENG style video camera.

My plan is to save up for FD L glass (24/50/85) so that i have a top notch matching set. Unfortunately I have found that these lenses, and other cheaper FDs are starting to creep up in price. I have a feeling in an another year or two (as the FD stock starts dwindling due to increasing m4/3 popularity) that the FD lenses will start getting expensive (however sad this realization sounds).

I suggest if anyone is considering moving to a set of FDs (L series or even just regular glass) or similar glass like older Nikon, to grab them as soon as financially possible, as they will inevitably start going up more and more in price. Fortunately, given the growing popularity of m4/3, once you have these lenses they will only appreciate in price. Seems like a pretty solid investment, at least if you get rid of them before m4/3 becomes obsolete.

1 year ago a 24mm FD L Series f1.4 was around $800 and now they are selling for around $1000.
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This is annoying news to hear...
 
I went out to the local "market" of used camera lenses and all of a sudden there were no more fast 50s to be found! I saw exactly ONE Nikon 50 f1.4 in so so condition, and no f1.2 lenses at all (of any brand). I recall that a few years back you could buy these for a song, and all the stores had a few dozen that nobody wanted to buy. One of the sellers told me that you used to be able to buy these lenses for less than 10USD, but now they are so hard to find because the film students buy them all up. In fact he told me that a Korean guy bought 20 50mm lenses from him a few months ago to sell on eBay.

So I would be very happy to try a fast 50 myself, but I can't seem to find any locally! For sure, its threads like this that are to blame!
 
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