Basic help REALLY needed when it comes to lenses- could help other noobs too!

H

hatsoff2halford

Well-known member
Hey everyone, I was hoping you could answer a few questions I have/fact check the things I think I know…

I’m seriously confused about lens information because I’m knew to using them, especially coming from a dvx100B.

I’m desperately trying to figure out what two lenses to start with, the most I could spend is probably 12-1500 dollars, so it’s tough to decide.

I want a good zoom range like 14-140 or so, and then a standard viewpoint lens like a 25mm (or 50 mm I guess? Look at question 1 for why I’m confused), or instead of the 25mm get a wider angle (Because the zoom lens if covers 14-140 should be able to reproduce the normal viewpoint, right?).

Lens info

1) Let’s say I’m looking for just a normal viewpoint lens, according to Barry’s chart, this would mean a 50mm still camera lens, but is equivalent to a 25mm when attached to the AF100, so should I purchase a 25mm lens if I want it to have a similar look as a 50mm would on a still camera? Also, does this apply to cinema lenses, or do I have to take into account some other viewpoint issues if I’m going to purchase a cinema lens.

2) What’s the downfall to using a still lens besides the fact that you probably can only adjust the Iris in stops, not continuously like a cinema lens?

3) On this chart- http://pro-av.panasonic.net/en/af100/lens_compatibility.html
it shows the lenses that are compatible, as well as what functions they have – I am failing to understand if the camera itself can adjust focus/iris? If it can, then does that mean a follow focus is almost useless? Or will the af100 never be able to adjust the focus of a lens? As far as things like autofocus- will the Af100 be able to autofocus? Or is it the actual lens I put on the camera that does the autofocus? Same question for the OIS.

I would be so grateful if someone could answer these questions for me. I am lost as to the basics of the lenses as they apply to the AF100. I don’t understand the communication between camera and lens, and I especially don’t understand the difference between a still lens on the camera and a cinema lens on the camera and how they differ as far as the communication between the camera and lens- and I don’t understand if I need to look at different size lenses if they are cinema.

Thanks in advance!
 
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http://www.abelcine.com/fov/

Here's a good first start on lenses :)

Remember it's about the 'crop' of the sensor... if you are comparing against a stills lens on fullframe (5DMKII) it'll be one crop... compare to a 35mm cine frame or sensor and it'll be something else again... and compare to a camcorder and it'll be different again.

Play with the FOV chart, I'm sure it'll help.
 
Awesome link, thanks a ton! Surprised I didn't find that before.

I was just reading that all Micro4/3 lenses are fully compatiable with the AF100- so the af100's iris control can electronically effect the lenses Iris, correct? Does this exist with the focus as well? Or am I missing something.

EDIT: I'm considering going with this, http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/630572-REG/Panasonic_H_VS014140_Lumix_G_Vario_HD.html for my basic zoom/focal length coverage, which means this would work fine for 25mm shots, right?

And possibly a 7-14mm or something for indoor shots/wider angle places; however, say I got the LUMIX G VARIO 7-14mm/F4.0 ASPH, wouldn't that be too slow? I'm not qute sure what that means as far as the final product though, so what's the implications of having it be a 4.0 versus this non-micro 4/3 lense that's faster, but not as wide angled: LEICA D VARIO-ELMARIT 14-50mm/F2.8-3.5 ASPH./MEGA O.I.S.

Any help is huge for me right now, thanks!
 
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Hopefully some other AF100 owners will step in and help now - I only use manual lenses (very old school - LOL), so I can't help you out on what works (or doesn't!), in terms of modern electronic lenses.
 
MadMonkFish said:
Hopefully some other AF100 owners will step in and help now - I only use manual lenses (very old school - LOL), so I can't help you out on what works (or doesn't!), in terms of modern electronic lenses.
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Not all m43 lenses are compatible. Panasonic has a table of the various lenses and their comparability with the af-100 on their website.
 
I recently started using the AF100. Along with the Lumix 14-140 kit, I purchased a Zeiss 50mm (http://www.adorama.com/ZI5014PTZF2.html) and the Lumix 20mm (http://www.adorama.com/IPC2017.html). I LOVE the 50mm but it was occasionally too tight for my docu work. The 14-140 is great at its widest, but also not fast enough for many of my locations...enter the 20mm, which is inexpensive and effective. both Lumix lenses are obviously Panis and are super compatible with the camera. The Zeiss is manual and also needed the Nikon mount, but the image you get is so worth it. Light lenses so easy to control the camera and focus.
 
I'm pretty much with Scott. Your best best for starting lenses is the Lumix 14-140 (yes it's slow but gives you proper control from the camera which I think is important when you're first learning it) plus it gives you the focal range you need. Add to it a good fast 25mm lens, ideally the Voigtlander Nokton 0.95 if you can find it. That way you have your bases covered with the zoom and you can use the 25mm for shallow depth of field work as and when you need it. You'll soon pick up more lenses, but these two are a decent starting point. Best of luck with it!
 
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Thanks for the replies!

@scott- I was definitely going to go with the 14-140, and the Lumix 20mm. How does the 20mm work for you? It seems promising, especially at that price range.

@Tom- So, when you say a 25mm, on the AF100 that would be around the same view as a 50mm would be on a DSLR- so pretty much a 'normal' viewpoint, right?

I'm still confused on what MM I'm looking for. If I want just a 'normal' lens viewpoint (equivalant to a 50mm) I would purchase a 25mm. Is that the basic idea?
 
hatsoff2halford said:
I'm still confused on what MM I'm looking for. If I want just a 'normal' lens viewpoint (equivalant to a 50mm) I would purchase a 25mm. Is that the basic idea?
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If you have been working on a DSLR and are used to a 50mm on a 5DMKII then yes (as it's a full frame sensor)... but if you've been using a 7D (APS-C) then you'll want a 37.5mm (so for ease, a 35mm) - it depends on your background. Stills guys tend to use fullframe as their basis, whilst cine folks use the S35(similar to 7D etc) frame of reference.

The 25mm .95 is great and a low light monster... (part of my kit bag) but it's fully manual - I think the Op wants electronic lenses.
 
Hatsoff- It can be hard to wrap your head around what lenses will cover what. My advice to you - Just get the 14-140 and figure out which focal lengths you like to work with. Your LCD will give you a readout for what focal length you're at while using the 14-140. Once you do a few shoots with this lens, you'll quickly find out a few things. The first being, do you want faster glass? If your answer is yes, then your next step would be to find out what focal length you like working with based on your 14-140. From there you can purchase a good lens for your needs. The only way you will know what focal length is right for you, is to shoot a few things. I had a big list of lenses I wanted to grab before I had my AF100 in hand, without really knowing what focal length I really liked, and how fast I needed the f./stop to be. After a few days using just the one lens, you'll be able to clarify a lot of your questions to yourself.
 
Great advice above. Start with the 14-140 and see what length you use.

You could add an old nikon 50mm for interviews. I find 50mm to be about right for this, and the old nikons are fairly cheap. If you find you don't like it, just sell it for what you paid for it.

The .95 25mm could be a great b-roll lens. Probably would have trouble finding it used, tho. Not many parting with that one.
 
The 25mm .95 sounds like a sweet lens, but for my type of shooting, I love the 35mm area. My favorite lens is the 14-35mm f/2.0 Olympus, mostly on the 35mm end of it, and at 14mm. I don't really use much in between, but it's nice to have if I need it.
 
Awesome advice, thanks! I have an old Canon 50mm 1.2 laying around, as well as a zoom lens (forget the focal length) at 2.2 I believe. So, I have some other manual glass to work with. I'll definitely start with the 14-140, and maybe find one fast zoom lens that covers a different focal length (somewhat at least). I was thinking the panasonic Lumix 20mm...looks promising, and I'd be under a grand at that point.

So, a 14-140
a 20mm 1.7
and a few old manual 50mm lenses laying around

I feel like the 20mm is something I will want no matter what, but it might also be too wide. I'm not sure what works best for indoor shooting, say an apartment?

Any input?

Thanks again
 
A fast prime on this camera is just so nice. Lately I've been shooting a lot with just available light indoors. Amazing on the Voight .95 to be inside, sometimes in relatively dim rooms, and still dialing in ND2...
 
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