GH2 Can a heavy lens damage the lens mount / body of the GH1 or GH2?

[MalfunctioningHuman]

I'd like to experiment on the anamorphic field, and I'm thinking of mounting a lens that I have on my GH1 and GH2 cameras, but I'm afraid the setup will be too heavy for the camera frame or the lens mount.

The setup will be a prime lens (probably Canon FD or Sigma), an anamorphic clamp, and the Singer 16D anamorphic. Now, the Singer 16D is quite heavy, and since it's farther away from the lens mount, I imagine the torque must be considerable.

So, do I risk damaging the camera doing this? Or are they solid enough to handle the weight?

Would this setup somehow deform the plastic body enough so that the focal plane is not perfectly parallel to the sensor?

 

[pulpfiction007]

I'd be very careful...you'd be best with some sort of support to offset that weight on the lens mount.

 

[Rolf Silber]

Rig it.

 

[Egg Born Son]

I have used a similar set up regularly with the same anamorphic attached to various Nikkor F-mount primes. The mount can take it. Under ideal conditions the filter threads can handle the weight no problem although it might sag a degree or two. But if the lenses were to take a significant knock, turning into a wall, light stand falls down, talent runs into you...I wouldn't want to be you. The filter threads will let go well before the mount and will probably end up more costly. If your threads go, the taking lens will be ruined and the anamorphic will fall on the floor.

Get a rig with rails and get a cheap lens support off ebay. Just a little bit of support will go a long way with this arrangement and give you peace of mind. It will also take the slight sag out of the lenses and help them keep aligned. The support doesn't have to be anything fancy, put it under the anamorphic lens to build a bridge. If you plan on throwing the camera about some, there are some cheap canon support rings which wrap around the lens or alternatively I've seen people use elastic bands, hair lackeys or velcro to secure the lens to the rig.

If you haven't got a clamp then I measure the rear thread to be 49mm with the vernier. But a 49mm - 52mm step ring is vastly inferior to a clamp. You might not be able to get the anamorphic properly aligned without leaving it loose. A clamp eliminates this problem. I have also successfully attached an anamorphic using a rotating filter like a CPL or split ND. It makes adjusting it possible but keeping the alignment requires constant attention and it will introduce a lot of sag with a heavy lens like the 16D. Get a clamp.

Here's a couple of photos. A Redrock 35mm adapter with Nikon F-mount -> Nikkor 35mm AF-D -> Singer 16D (via redstan clamp)



I've got this hanging off a plastic AF-D lens, no probs. With the support it's a lot more solid. The sag you see is just because I just threw it together for a quick photo. With a few minutes adjustment it would be perfect. If you're wondering what is on the end it's a filter clamp to hold a diopter (let's you focus closer). I normally set up with the rails further forward to put the support just before the focus ring. Anamorphics are fun. Enjoy.

 

[MalfunctioningHuman]

Thank you, gentlemen.

@Egg Born Son:
That's great, thank you for all this useful information and the photos! Like you say, the 16D is quite heavy and I'm surprised the camera is holding up in the first picture without any additional support. But also like you mentioned, probably not a good idea in the long run.

I already have an inexpensive rod support system, and what I was thinking originally is to have two of the type of lens supports that have a strap surrounding the whole lens so that I would have two anchor points, in order to hold the anamorphic on its own without it actually being hooked to the prime lens in any way (just put in front of it). But I'm not sure how that would work in practice, so maybe doing what you are doing would be the way to go.

I have the 16D plus an old Bell & Howell 2x Anamorphic (not the Kowa one, but another one called "Filmorama" which was designed originally in the 50s as a dual projection / photography lens). So yeah, I'm really looking forward to getting into the anamorphic thing, I really do love the images you do get with them!

Thank you very much once again, I think I might go with a clamp and a lens support. Now it's a question of finding something suitable in eBay which won't break the bank.