GH2 Best lens package if using Canons

Brandon Rice

Brandon Rice

Distributed Producer
So I am about to purchase a GH-2 body, and I'm looking into getting a mount to be able to use Canon glass. I shoot weddings during the summer, and most of the folks I work with use Canon, so I want to be able to swap lenses if needed. I am looking at getting a 12-14mm, 24-28mm, a 50mm, and a 100mm. Does that sound like a good prime lens package and what can I expect to spend on these if I'm purchasing Canon glass? Thanks for any guidance!
 
Most adapters for using Canon EF/EF-S glass on micro four thirds camera bodies do not allow for aperture control. Those that do provide aperture control tend to be very pricey. The 12 or 14mm m4/3 lenses are not adaptable to Canon EOS mount (that I know of), same for other m4/3 lenses.

There are simple, inexpensive EOS mount to m4/3 mount adapters that will mount EOS lenses but the normal method of removing the lens from the EOS body leaves the aperture wide open and there it stays. Some have carried an EOS body for the purpose of setting the desired aperture then using the "unlock & twist" method to remove the lens with the aperture set to what you want to use on something like the GH2. But there is no way of changing the aperture with an EOS lens mounted on a m4/3 camera body.

The "unlock and twist" method is as follows: Set desired aperture with lens on an EOS body set to M or A, then while holding in the depth of field prevue button depress the lens lock button and gently twist the lens about 1/4 inch (or all the way to remove it) before releasing the depth of field of field prevue.
 
Bruce that's good to know, I don't think I'll be doing EF then... does FD allow aperture adjustment? Or do I need to stick with MFT lenses for that?
 
Most FD lenses will allow aperture adjustments as they have manual aperture control. IMHO one of the better species of lenses to adapt to MFT
 
With how fiddly many FD adapters are, just buy one for each lens you have, attach it, and leave it there.

Other options are OM (great glass, generally inexpensive) or a simple dumb EF mount used with Rokinon/Samyang lenses which are relatively inexpensive, available new, have aperture rings, and are available in a number of m43-friendly focal lengths. You could do the latter with Nikon mount as well, but IIRC the Rokinons in this form focus in the Nikon direction.
 
mcbob said:
With how fiddly many FD adapters are, just buy one for each lens you have, attach it, and leave it there.

Other options are OM (great glass, generally inexpensive) or a simple dumb EF mount used with Rokinon/Samyang lenses which are relatively inexpensive, available new, have aperture rings, and are available in a number of m43-friendly focal lengths. You could do the latter with Nikon mount as well, but IIRC the Rokinons in this form focus in the Nikon direction.
Click to expand...

Interesting! I actually had thought about doing that (just having an adapter for each lens) to make it easier/faster to switch out lenses.

Thanks for the information.
 
So, I just picked up a 50mm f1.8 Canon FD lens. Going to check it out, but I think I'll be back to these lenses. I love the manual lenses to be honest with you, the way they feel, the feel of the focus... coming from shooting a lot on the 35mm adapter/HVX combo, all we used was manual glass. I have the 14-140 zoom, but eventually I may sell and go all primes. We shall see.
 
I use Canon FD lenses with my GH cameras, and found that some of the cheaper adapters can be loose, poorly control flare with wider angle lenses, or have pins that bend. Very pricey, but I've been happy with the Novoflex adapters.

By the way, I just noticed there is a member here, Pelican, who is selling a Novoflex adapter for FD lenses at $90, shipped.
 
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i got the fd 50mm 1.4 for $45 and use it over my more expensive olympus 45mm 1.8 unless I am taking pictures and need the auto focus. It gives a nice shallow depth of field and a good film look. Also a sturdy smooth focusing lens.
 
B&H - easier than direct from Metabones as you avoid the intl shipping. Other popular stores may have them as well
 
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