Best run n gun zoom lens suggestions
- Thread starter 811productions
- Start date
ScottNelson
Well-known member
groveChuck
U-matic Member
brm might be right afterall, at least as far as rumors are concerned.
But at least they rank the likelihood of their rumors being correct, this one being FT5=81-99% chance the rumor is correct
Well, after looking at all the posted rumors elsewhere, it looks like whatever this lens is, it's probably going to be another f___ing auto/still/useless for serious cinematography lens.
monkeyking
Well-known member
My Run n Gun solution..
My Run n Gun solution..
I can't wait for some nonexistent expensive dream lens to appear for a job next week. I use a B4 mount 2/3" ENG lens on the AF100. Just like the old days! Parfocal lens, servo enabled zoom and hand holdable. Lose 2 stops of light and focal lengths are doubled, but so what? It works for me and it's available today.
My Run n Gun solution..
I can't wait for some nonexistent expensive dream lens to appear for a job next week. I use a B4 mount 2/3" ENG lens on the AF100. Just like the old days! Parfocal lens, servo enabled zoom and hand holdable. Lose 2 stops of light and focal lengths are doubled, but so what? It works for me and it's available today.
TubEfingers
Well-known member
the best run and gun zoom lens is the one attached to an hmc150 or hpx170!
heavyG
Underwater Giraffe Member
yes...
Shooter
Veteran
Which is possibly why one of the reasons one might choose that camera for run and gun instead of an AF100. (The other maybe... smaller sensor)
Something I would question though is how good are the servo zoom mechanisms on these ( cheap - relatively) cameras?
My DVX and HVX had really sucky servo zoom controls. Basically - unuseable - so we didnt use them ever.
FWIW : just built a servo control motor system on a camera slider device. Its not simple and plastic tiny gears, tiny motors and cheap components dont cut it . period.
Greg Smith
Veteran
I can't speak to the 150/170 specifically, but I have an HMC80 (same lens is on the HMC40), and I was much more pleased with the responsiveness of the servo zoom control than I expected to be. I was used to the zooms on pro Canon and Fuji ENG lenses and expected that the "economy" camera would be a lot rougher, or have a more limited range of speeds. I was pleasantly surprised that the rocker action feels almost exactly the same as on the Canon 2/3" and 1/2" lenses I've used for years, and if anything, it's easier to get a smooth, very slow zoom speed out of it (which is the most critical to me -- I like my minor adjustments during interviews and such to be as slow and subtle as possible). I can't speak to the long term durability of the mechanism, but then again, I had to have the zoom rocker potentiometer replaced and recalibrated twice in the six years or so I used my first Ikegami with a pro Canon lens, so they're not immune to failure (or poor design) either.
- Greg
ScottNelson
Well-known member
For what it's worth...
I recently took delivery of a PanaLeica Lumix 14-45 and am convinced now that for the relative inexpensive ($299) cost, I couldn't find a better R&G lens. It has a very stable OIS, and I was surprised to find the push-Auto/Iris and push Auto/Focus to be very quick and effective when needed plus it's native MFT and requires no adaptor. I strapped a zip-tie to the zoom control and can also manually focus the lens.
It's a bit slow, (f3.5-5.6) but the majority of my work is out-of-doors and a faster lens is not required though I did one recent shoot inside and simply boosted the ISO to 800, added a 270 shutter and had no problems what-so-ever.
I was unsatisfied with Zuiko lenses (14-54 & 12-60) requiring MFT adaptors and no OIS at a far greater cost than this Lumix lens.
I still have my Tokina 11-16 and 16-50 and will continue to use them as very sharp variable prime lenses in more controlled circumstances and environments.
In the past I've been outspoken against Panasonic but I have to say: Jan, good job - your people made a very effective and useful R&G lens with this simple 14-45.
Regards,
Scott
I recently took delivery of a PanaLeica Lumix 14-45 and am convinced now that for the relative inexpensive ($299) cost, I couldn't find a better R&G lens. It has a very stable OIS, and I was surprised to find the push-Auto/Iris and push Auto/Focus to be very quick and effective when needed plus it's native MFT and requires no adaptor. I strapped a zip-tie to the zoom control and can also manually focus the lens.
It's a bit slow, (f3.5-5.6) but the majority of my work is out-of-doors and a faster lens is not required though I did one recent shoot inside and simply boosted the ISO to 800, added a 270 shutter and had no problems what-so-ever.
I was unsatisfied with Zuiko lenses (14-54 & 12-60) requiring MFT adaptors and no OIS at a far greater cost than this Lumix lens.
I still have my Tokina 11-16 and 16-50 and will continue to use them as very sharp variable prime lenses in more controlled circumstances and environments.
In the past I've been outspoken against Panasonic but I have to say: Jan, good job - your people made a very effective and useful R&G lens with this simple 14-45.
Regards,
Scott
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@monkeyking
is this the cieco Adapter?
Do you have troubles with the Picture like CA or Egde Softness etc? Abelcine has this expensive Adapter which eliminates this Drawbacks. So it would be nice to hear from somebody with everyday Experience how serious those Drawbacks really are..
thank you ....
is this the cieco Adapter?
Do you have troubles with the Picture like CA or Egde Softness etc? Abelcine has this expensive Adapter which eliminates this Drawbacks. So it would be nice to hear from somebody with everyday Experience how serious those Drawbacks really are..
thank you ....
negativespace
Member
I love the AF100. I shoot on it weekly. I truly love the camera and the image it renders. But it's ugly...and awkward....and run and gun is certainly challenging. But there is hope...Mac's setup is awesome and it makes the AF look sexy. Very sexy. Nice job with that.
I shoot some narrative and music video, but lately mostly interviews/documentary/reality/ run and gun. I am struggling with a Nikon 20-35 2.8 and a proaim shoulder mount (Indian redrock rip off). Lens almost good enough...not quite wide enough and not quite long enough. The 17-55 sounds closer to what I need. My shoulder mount need an upgrade..its front heavy and awkward.
I shoot some narrative and music video, but lately mostly interviews/documentary/reality/ run and gun. I am struggling with a Nikon 20-35 2.8 and a proaim shoulder mount (Indian redrock rip off). Lens almost good enough...not quite wide enough and not quite long enough. The 17-55 sounds closer to what I need. My shoulder mount need an upgrade..its front heavy and awkward.
monkeyking
Well-known member
Tet20,
Not the ciecio7 adapter, but we have the English MTF adapter which now costs $485 from ZGC. I think that price does not include the necessary adapter-to-rod support which I believe costs an additional $300 for a total of $785. Cieco is a much better deal at $320 which includes adapter support. Of course ZGC offers customer support for US customers whereas ciecio7 is a Polish ebay seller who sells many excellent adapters to DVXusers. I have bought several other adapters from ciecio7 and they have all been first rate, so I have no doubt that his B4/mft adapter is also excellent.
IQ with our sd B4 lenses has been excellent. Testing with some hd B4 lenses yielded only marginally improved IQ. Wide open aperture at widest focal length showed very slight edge softness but definitely no deal breaker. Stopping down, as with any lens, outdoors provided fantastic looking footage.
I would not hesitate to use this lens/camera combo especially with the Abel custom cable that enables the servo zoom, rec button and remote zoom capability. I'm sure the $5000 HDx2 adapter by Abel yields even better IQ but $5000 better? I will hopefully be doing a side by side shootout in the near future with a local shooter who owns an HDx2 adapter. He also requires an expensive PL/mft adapter to mount on his AF100!
chris
Not the ciecio7 adapter, but we have the English MTF adapter which now costs $485 from ZGC. I think that price does not include the necessary adapter-to-rod support which I believe costs an additional $300 for a total of $785. Cieco is a much better deal at $320 which includes adapter support. Of course ZGC offers customer support for US customers whereas ciecio7 is a Polish ebay seller who sells many excellent adapters to DVXusers. I have bought several other adapters from ciecio7 and they have all been first rate, so I have no doubt that his B4/mft adapter is also excellent.
IQ with our sd B4 lenses has been excellent. Testing with some hd B4 lenses yielded only marginally improved IQ. Wide open aperture at widest focal length showed very slight edge softness but definitely no deal breaker. Stopping down, as with any lens, outdoors provided fantastic looking footage.
I would not hesitate to use this lens/camera combo especially with the Abel custom cable that enables the servo zoom, rec button and remote zoom capability. I'm sure the $5000 HDx2 adapter by Abel yields even better IQ but $5000 better? I will hopefully be doing a side by side shootout in the near future with a local shooter who owns an HDx2 adapter. He also requires an expensive PL/mft adapter to mount on his AF100!
chris
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Thank you very much for this Answer...
This B4 Lens thing really is Interesting.. I only need a Servo Zoom for about 10 Percent of my Shoots.. and thats for Motorsport... Buying a separate Camera with Servo Zoom is a bit too much at the Moment..
Looking forward to the Side by Side Shootout...
This B4 Lens thing really is Interesting.. I only need a Servo Zoom for about 10 Percent of my Shoots.. and thats for Motorsport... Buying a separate Camera with Servo Zoom is a bit too much at the Moment..
Looking forward to the Side by Side Shootout...
frozenlights
Member
my favorite lenses
my favorite lenses
I have a panny 14-140 for outdoors with AF and all. A lense talking to camera. Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 for indoors with novoflex adapter. couldn't be more happier!
my favorite lenses
I have a panny 14-140 for outdoors with AF and all. A lense talking to camera. Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 for indoors with novoflex adapter. couldn't be more happier!
thomas diehl
Active member
is the Tamron a Canon-lens?
What about IS? Don't you miss it?
What about IS? Don't you miss it?
heavyG
Underwater Giraffe Member
Take that crutch and throw it in the river!
Barry_Green
Moderator
I do understand the sentiment, but -- remember that the title of this particular thread was asking for a "run 'n' gun zoom lens", and that usually means handheld, and for that purpose IS is quite handy. And at longer focal lengths, I'd almost say necessary.
thomas diehl
Active member
right. but which one could you recommend?? - apart from the 14-140 which I mostly use (but which is too slow sometimes)...
Barry_Green
Moderator
The 14-140 is the best choice right now, for a budget lens. It just does everything, even if it doesn't do some of those things very well. The OIS is good, the zoom range is great, the autofocus is the best you're going to find. It loses focus during a zoom, but will snap back into focus once the zooming stops. It's really sharp, it's rectilinear (no barrel distortion), it's nice and wide...
It's slow, yes, that's the one big drawback. And there's not really much else out there. If you need an all-purpose lens, the 14-140 with some gain is about the only practical way to go right now. If you need a faster lens there are other faster lenses out there, like the Olympus 12-60 or the PanaLeica 14-45 or whatever, which will gain you a stop or two, but have their own set of compromises.
It's slow, yes, that's the one big drawback. And there's not really much else out there. If you need an all-purpose lens, the 14-140 with some gain is about the only practical way to go right now. If you need a faster lens there are other faster lenses out there, like the Olympus 12-60 or the PanaLeica 14-45 or whatever, which will gain you a stop or two, but have their own set of compromises.