Best standard zoom lens for video on my GH2

I love my 14-35mm f2. It's a great lens, but the reach is a bit short. Ive used it a lot on a docu series im shooting. As it's only available light it really is a life saver
 
nyvz said:
I've used that lens a lot on the AF100 and optically and financially it's nice but is near impossible to pull focus on due to its servo-only focusing. 12-60 is better optically and actually usable mechanically so it seems like a good option.
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seriously? i recently got this lens and LOVE being able to easily pull focus with just one finger! focus is so smooth and easy. it doesn't feel anything like the virtual digital focus ring on the 20mm Lumix for example.
 
Yoak said:
I love my 14-35mm f2. It's a great lens, but the reach is a bit short. Ive used it a lot on a docu series im shooting. As it's only available light it really is a life saver
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Have you tried ETC on the lens? 2.6x would give 36-91mm.
 
averan and nyvz, do you adjust ISO each time zoom in and out with 12-60? Or do you use Shutter priority mode?
 
Usually I can guess the optimal or desired shutter speed. Yes I wanna control aperture manually. They are pretty much fixed per scene. Then the only variable to control EV is ISO if throwing extra light isn't option. I'd use spot metering and auto ISO where SS and Aperture are set manually. AE lock button will come in handy.

Has anyone tried that with the lenses mentioned in this thread?
 
Yoak said:
I love my 14-35mm f2. It's a great lens, but the reach is a bit short. Ive used it a lot on a docu series im shooting. As it's only available light it really is a life saver
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Well, you could always just get the 35-100 too. :)
 
Gabriel Berube said:
I was also looking at the Leica 14-50mm but I've heard and read about a mechanical problem that seems to be common with this lens. Judging from the reviews of the lens on B&H and other forum comments I'm not sure I want to shell out a grand on a lens that might be problematic in the near future. Anyone else heard about this "common" problem or experienced it?
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Used Leicasonics can be found as low as $500, which I think is a good deal. This zoom was introduced in 2006 as the kit lens for the Panasonic L1 Four Thirds camera, and was originally designed for still photography rather than video. It works beautifully and silently on that camera, and auto-focuses in both AFS and AFC modes. It's a shame Panasonic has not been able to fully support the auto-focus features of legacy Four Thirds lenses on either the G-series cameras or the AF100.

Most of the Leicasonic's detractors point out how its framing changes noticeably when you focus it (lens "breathing"). While this is true, it's a prevalent design flaw of the internal focusing mechanism used in Olympus and Panasonic zoom lenses. In practice, the Leicasonic actually breathes less than my Olympus 35-100mm f2.0 zoom, and they're both superb in all other aspects. My copy hasn't shown any sign of malfunctioning yet.
 
Still havent decided, and the sad thing is the lens that has most of what I want is one I already have, my Sigma 24-70 f2.8 which pretty much lives on my Canon 7D... I was just researching more and realized that it has the bokeh I like and better mechanics than both of those Nikon and Olympus lenses I was considering in some ways and more resolving power than the Nikon which is twice the price and more coverage with less vignetting. Problem is as I mentioned just that 24-70 is not really wide enough on m4/3 but I find it very good for APSC. Maybe it means I should go with the Olympus 12-60 just because it is easiest and will be easiest to sell eventually when I give up my GH2 down the line and forget about getting a lens that might be better for a future camera since I already have the lens I'd want to use on my future FS100 or whatever S35 camera I eventually upgrade to for my A-Camera.
 
nyvz said:
the sad thing is the lens that has most of what I want is one I already have, my Sigma 24-70 f2.8
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Find the Nikon version of this lens and use a Nikon ---> M4/3 adapter. ( if the lens is a G style Nikon, then you'll have to buy and adapter with aperture control )
 
Just pick what you need. There's no fast zoom that can do it all... yet.

m43 zooms - OIS, fast & continuous AF, slow
43 zooms - a mixed bag of OIS or "faster" AF or silent AF or constant aperture
dslr zooms - constant aperture. silent MF.

OIS isn't a must feature when a rig is used. Fast AF isn't a-must feature either. But noisy focusing is big no no.

You know... zoom is zoom. We use it for convinience. When there is enough lighting, m43 zoom seems no brainer. 14-42 and a set of cheap primes didn't break my bank. But I sure wanna buy Leica-Sonic 14-50 and Oly 14-35.
 
Woohoo!!! A friend will bring his L1 to me tomorrow. Another friend has Canon L lenses that I can borrow. But Birger EF adapter is like $700... Darn. Currently I'm looking for a friend who has Oly pro lenses. lpowell, where do you live? Anywhere close to Washington D.C.? :)
 
The Golden State u lucky.

14-54 mkii seems great lens and prolly the fastest AF non-m43 lens, but the noisy focus is big no no. 14-50 has OIS and silent focus, but slow AF. Definitely I'd get 14-50 over 14-54 for video. I will test it out tomorrow.

BTW how did you secure 14-35 on your rig? Does GH1 need a lens support?
 
Does this lens exist?
a.) Fast autofocus
b.) Non noisy motor
c.) Good in lowlight
Don't much care about the OIS.

Like my 14-140 but good in lowlight.
 
Thanks stonebat.
Time to save until panasonic creates one. :)

I guess 14mm f2.5 is close enough but based on the reviews the autofocus is very slow.
 
Fast AF is nice, but not a-must have for videography.

Noisy motor is a showstopper for on-camera or nearby camera audio recording.
 
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