Canon ENG B4 Lens on GH1

Gaman said:
Those stills show less vignetting than I would expect for 1/2" lens. However softness is excessive, expecially in the 3 first shots.
Other forum members got much better results, shooting wide open with their 2/3" lenses...
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These photos are cropped to show how such a lens might perform in ETC mode on a GH2. The original photos are mostly blank with little circular images in the middle. After cropping I shrunk the images down to make this mosaic since the differences were so obvious.

The better results other forum members have gotten wide open were with 2x doublers on the full 4/3 sensor. In that case, wide open is two stops less and the sensor is 2.6 times bigger. Those factors together reduce the appearance of the problem greatly.

The extreme softness is because this is a 3 chip lens on a single chip camera, and it doesnt matter what the make or model of the lens is; they all look terrible in this situation. This is a fundamental property of these lenses, and this is the reason a $5000 optical adapter is needed to use a 3 chip video lens on a single chip or film camera.
 
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wbamb83392 said:
These photos are cropped to show how such a lens might perform in ETC mode on a GH2. The original photos are mostly blank with little circular images in the middle. After cropping I shrunk the images down to make this mosaic since the differences were so obvious.

The better results other forum members have gotten wide open were with 2x doublers on the full 4/3 sensor. In that case, wide open is two stops less and the sensor is 2.6 times bigger. Those factors together reduce the appearance of the problem greatly.

The extreme softness is because this is a 3 chip lens on a single chip camera, and it doesnt matter what the make or model of the lens is; they all look terrible in this situation. This is a fundamental property of these lenses, and this is the reason a $5000 optical adapter is needed to use a 3 chip video lens on a single chip or film camera.
Click to expand...

Many years ago I've tried a Fuji A7X7 (developed for tube cameras) and a A14X8.5 broadcast, on an old JVC BY10 single 2/3" ccd camera, and the results were good, for what I remember. That camera was usually sold in bundle with a low price Canon lens.

However, if your findings turn to be true even with high quality B4 lenses, than GH2 loses a lot of interest to my eyes...
 
Sorry to hear you leaving B4 stonebat. I wish you good luck on the sale. Let me talk to a buddy of mine to see if he's interested in the mount. I already have two Canon FD versions which seem a little thinner than the Nikon one otherwise I would have loved to try it out. Good luck on the sale!
 
Thanks gmoe. I would have kept it if I can carry a rig. I've read so many postings about rig setups and I got really close to buying a set. But I know it's impractical for me. bumkicho has a simple rig setup, but I just can't carry a rig. I just sold a big video tripod, too. Nothing but hand-held to catch my little kids as seb33 does on his cute girl. Maybe I should learn tai chi to get more stabilized video from hand-held. Hehe.

I paid $200 plus shipping cost. I'm selling it at $150. I got B4 lens at $500. I'm selling it on ebay. Shipping cost is on a buyer. Canon YJ18x9B4 KRS IF at $500 is pretty good deal.
 
Got myself a Canon J13x9B IRS for 200$. I'll get back to you regarding IQ as soon as I can. As far as my limited tests go, it's plenty sharp despite being SD lens. Back-focus is a tad fidgety to get used to.
I'm using it with my GH-2 so it's either 2x extender or crop-mode which can be used.
 
I have seen J13x9Bs with several different types of back focus adjustments - don't know what was up with that.
Looking forward to seeing some grabs.
The J13x9s are good lenses - have several myself and quite pleased with them on my GH1 (and my big video cams).

Grunf said:
Got myself a Canon J13x9B IRS for 200$. I'll get back to you regarding IQ as soon as I can. As far as my limited tests go, it's plenty sharp despite being SD lens. Back-focus is a tad fidgety to get used to.
I'm using it with my GH-2 so it's either 2x extender or crop-mode which can be used.
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My project fell through. I have 2 unused B4 to nikon adapters to sell. I paid 220 each shipped- anyone interested - $185 a piece, postage to US address included.
 
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Hi people,

Ebay seller ciecio7 is selling a "B4 to M43 adapter with tripod mount" which seems perfect for this heavy lenses. http://cgi.ebay.es/B4-2-3-CANON-FUI...19632?pt=Lens_Accessories&hash=item3a62ebbcd0

I know with a nikon mount there are more posibilities, but I couldn't buy one of these (stonebat didn't reply to pm), I tried to made myself one from a cheap nikon macro ring (nikon mount doesn't fit too well and it's a bit hard to drill) and I want a tripod mount, because my Canon J14x8'5B4IRS has 2xextender below lens, so I can't use a plate like lvlinux.

I ordered mine today, so I'll try to make a video about adapter and lens test sample.

Byez
 
Koitz_roller said:
Hi people,

Ebay seller ciecio7 is selling a "B4 to M43 adapter with tripod mount" which seems perfect for this heavy lenses. http://cgi.ebay.es/B4-2-3-CANON-FUI...19632?pt=Lens_Accessories&hash=item3a62ebbcd0

I know with a nikon mount there are more posibilities, but I couldn't buy one of these (stonebat didn't reply to pm), I tried to made myself one from a cheap nikon macro ring (nikon mount doesn't fit too well and it's a bit hard to drill) and I want a tripod mount, because my Canon J14x8'5B4IRS has 2xextender below lens, so I can't use a plate like lvlinux.

I ordered mine today, so I'll try to make a video about adapter and lens test sample.

Byez
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Oops. I forgot to reply to you :(
 
Don't worry, finally I think this adaptor is the best option, because past week I tried to make some kind of tripod to lens support and I doesn't feel good with results (2x Extender in this lens is an annoyance).

Byez
 
Cool. I have loads of Fujinon HD lenses, which have the same mounting as a Canon HD lens. Also have the Canon 5D Mk2. Would your adapter work for me? Work also with Nikon lenses with an adapter. If it does then where can I can get it and for how much. Thanks
 
Hi everybody,

Good video greeches, but have you adjust back focus??? It seems like it loses focus when zoom.

I received ciecio7 adapter past week and I've testing (even I've recording a musical video with it). Adapter is built like a tank, very precise and tripod support is sturdy enough. In addition you can rotate it to accomodate lens to your preferences (it comes with 2 allen keys) but with tripod support is not possible, because it rotates m4/3 mount, so really it rotates the camera (not tripod mount and B4 mount). Apart of this, is perfect.

Here some unpacking photos (made with a cell, sorry about quality):

2011-02-12 10.39.16.jpg2011-02-12 10.40.49.jpg2011-02-12 10.39.58.jpg2011-02-12 10.40.32.jpg

And here with GH1 and Canon J14ax8,5B4 IRS SX12

2011-02-12 10.41.17.jpg2011-02-12 10.45.35.jpg2011-02-12 10.45.14.jpg

About lens (I'm using with 2X extender), is perfectly usable although drops some green or magenta casts depending of focus. In addition, in extreme zoom positions it's some soft, but between 20 and 70 mm it's good enough.

I'm making a little adapter to power zoom and making REC and RET buttons usable with GH1.

Byez
 
Yea, I adjusted it several times, but never really got it precise.

How are you pinning out the connectors for power zoom and such?
 
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