Before pulling the trigger on purchase- review my lens choices?

H

hatsoff2halford

Well-known member
I am purchasing the AF100 in December (unless Canon comes out with something I want more), and I have narrowed down my lens decisions to a few, for specific reasons.

I am going to be purchasing a boom eventually, so having lenses that can work with a controller is super important.

Lens list:

1. 14-140 (comes with the camera)
2. Panasonic Lumix 25mm 1.4
3. Olympus 14-54 f2.8

Now, I am going to be shooting indoors a LOT, in probably a small house for awhile.

Will something wider than 12mm be necessary? I'm not sure as of yet what different focal lengths look like in real use. I'm considering waiting to purchase any other lenses after using the 14-140 for awhile, but at the same time, the 25mm is essential (I think), and the 12-54 seem to provide a reasonable variable prime range at a decently fast f-stop.

I also have a 50mm old Canon- I'm going to purchase some older Canon primes as well. I'm thinking Canon over Nikon because of the Berger mount coming out (or does that work with Nikon too?)

Thanks in advance, any help is really appreciated.
 
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I to would be interested to hear about the olympus 12-54mm, as I'm currently debating about either getting that or the lumix 7-14mm. I'm sure the lumix would look great but I worry inside it will be to slow.
 
No doubt your Olympus 12-54 is going to be the go-to lens. If you're going to get a fast 25mm prime, you might think about saving up for a Voitlander f0.9. I've heard good things.
 
That Lumix 25mm looks pretty good, but I agree with Kindred - save up for the Voitlander. I don't have any experience with that Oly 12-54 (someone else will have to give you an opinion on that), but if you're happy with that lens in general it should cover that focal length well enough for you until you can save the money for the Voitlander. The low light capability of the camera itself should allow you to shoot indoors at 2.8 in the meantime and still get good results as long as it's not a situation with virtually no lighting. I shoot indoors all the time at 2.8 and rarely have a problem. :-)

Of course the Voit won't allow for focus/Iris control by the camera for your boom arm situation, but with the Oly covering that focal length it may not matter.

Just my two cents. Good luck and enjoy the camera when you get it!
 
Very good points...

I was originally planning on the Voigt, but you're right, the 2.8 should be find for most situations. Not to mention I'm purchasing a good amount of lights to use.

I may do that, but the ability to use the 25mm on a shoulder rig with the focus controller is pretty appealing.

And, I've seen some footage of it compared to the Voigt and I'm not sure I think the extra money is worth it- especially while the price is so inflated right now.

Thanks again!

If anyone has an opinion on the 12-54 I'd REALLY appreciate it.
 
hatsoff2halford said:
If anyone has an opinion on the 12-54 I'd REALLY appreciate it.
Click to expand...
Olympus doesn't make a 12-54mm lens, but does offer two zooms with similar ranges:

Olympus 14-54mm f2.8-3.5 Mark II Four Thirds zoom
Olympus 12-60mm f2.8-4.0 Four Thirds zoom

Both lenses have superb optical quality and funky iris operation, like virtually all Panasonic and Olympus auto-focus lenses. With both of these zooms, focus and aperture are electronically controlled by the camera. At apertures wider than f4, zooming the lens will cause automatic iris adjustments that produce visible flicker as the exposure adjusts in steps. The lenses also breathe while focusing, but this too is par for the course with Four Thirds lenses. If these drawbacks aren't a problem for you, then I think you'd find either to be a highly useful lens.
 
I'm not sure why I keep saying 12, I know it's 14mm. My bad!

Thanks for the advice, I need to look into how bad the breathing is, but with my budget I don't think it's an issue. I don't want to spend too much, and for the price it seems decent.
 
I have the Olympus 14-35/2, & Panasonic/Leica 14-50/2.8-F3.5, and the AF100 does not display either of their focus distances accurately, so I wouldn't be surprised if all 4/3 system lenses have this issue.
 
I have the Olympus 14-54 II , again it is the MKII . Fairely happy with it, 2.8-3.5, can shoot most indoor stuff, even if I have to iso up a tad in certain situations. BUT it is to be used as a VARIABLE prime . When you zoom in or out, focus does NOT hold, so you frame, then focus, then record... No image stabilizer, but build fairely well, weather sealed.

I got it because of the speed , and to cover the wide end of my primes (Contax Zeiss), use it almost on each shoot.

Glass wise, pretty sharp, but did a comparaison test with the same focal lengh with my Zeiss, and saw that the OLY is more contrasty than the primes, but hey, good enough to cut with , especially for wide end, it is not that noticeable... and much better built than the Leica one.

Probably a good choice if you re not going with the 14-140 , until Pana comes releases fast "HD" parfocal zooms....
 
The DSLR magic/Nokton 12mm 1.6 looks really really really incredible and it'll be available in Nov/Dec for 500 or so. I love the voigtlander... it's an awesome lens, but it's not the widest... Now this 12mm 1.6, that will really find a nice home in my collection.


I do also agree that a 2.8 will get you by most of the time, but having some faster glass is nice too. I also like the FD 50mm 1.4 cause it's so darn cheap. I picked one up for 80 bucks and that's hard to beat...


I do also really like the Tokina 11-16. That's been a real go to lens for a lot of things.
 
wow, that looks great...

I'm definitely going to add that. I think I can manage the extra cash for it.

I think the 14-140
25mm 1.4
Olympus 14-54 2.8
and the Noktor 12mm 1.6

would be a great starting kit. As well as the Canon FD 50mm f 1.4 as well.

Luckily, adding the noktor doesn't mean I have to buy an adapter or anything, either.

I'm considering actually waiting on the 25mm, and getting the noktor in place of that. the Olympus should do fine from what I can tell for most things, but having such a fast wide is going to be useful for indoor filming.
 
I am using the Panny 7-14, 45-200 and the Olympus 14-54 mk2.
I also picked up the Olympus 50mm f2.0.
I generally shoot outside with this camera, so superspeeds are not necessary for me.
If you can take you camera to the local camera/video vendor and try them out if possible.
I found the AF so quiet at higher ASA's, I can boost the gain up a little to compensate for a slower lens.
 
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