Cheapest new Lens for GH1 / Micro Four Thirds ....?

C

CRFilms

Active member
I bought a GH1 because of the cheap sale Panasonic is having and I'm overall happy with the cam BUT...as I look to new lens prices, I don't see anything at or under $100. You can get cheap lenses with Nikon or Canon, but not Panasonic.

I thought I saw a Olympus lens, refurbished, for $90, but not sure if that works for M/43rds or just 43rds. I hear a china company is making a cheap new lens, but it's not out yet.

Anybody else a broke cheapskate like me, AND you know of any cheap deals?

EDIT: And by new, I just don't mean a "brand new lens", but a lens that's electronically controlled by the camera so when you attach it to the GH1 the camera can autofocus.
 
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Well here in the UK its very easy to buy the 14-42mm new from ebay for £90. Alternative is getting M4/2 adapters for cheap cctv lense C mounts,Canon FD's,Nikons,Minoltas,Pentax list goes on Panasonic lenses may be expensive but the benefit of M4/3 as well and the Nex system is the amount of old lenses you can use. Theres a huge choice. Find yourself a great condition Canon FD lense with adapter...you will be hooked.
 
You can get the "Toy" lens for $79.99...

(but that's kind of cheating -- it's not really an m43 lens, it's a c-mount lens with an m43 adapter).
 
Thanks for the responses, but I need to clarify on "new". New as in it will work with the autofocus, i.e. so the camera can control the lens, not just a lens that's new. I have 4 adapters and 7 cheap lenses I bought on ebay and have no problem with that, but I'd also like a new lens that the camera can autofocus itself and to use as a benchmark against the older glass.

Plus 90 quid equals around $150, so for you it may be cheap, but for me, it isn't.
 
£90 is cheap for what the lense is in the UK...if I imported one from US it'll be cheaper.
What would be a good price to you?

Unless its a really used bought from ebay lense like the 14-45mm (out of production going up in price) or 14-42mm you have no chance. 20mm f1.7 for example will if anything go up in price with the current japan crisis. 14-140mm absololute no chance..14mm f2.5 is gaining popularity and is from the recent range...some olympus pen ep1/2 etc m4/3 lenses can be found a bit cheaper but for AF you may well stick with panasonics (faster more accurate af)
The rest no chance. So no. Not yet...you have to wait until M4/3 dies in popularity (not any time soon) or you find someone crazy enough to sell you one dirt cheap or you get lucky in a online auction.

14-42mm is the cheapest M4/3 lense both olympus and panasonic. Id start with that.
 
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+1. Get 20.7. The price will go up. In fact get your desired lenses asap. Those won't be cheap anymore.
 
Just so you know Its cheaper to buy a 35mm f1.7 cctv lense and c mount adapter seperately from a HK seller than to but the SLR magic "toy lense" range...no difference than the toy lense ...theyre jut cheeky and sell it as a "brand" when these cheap cctv lenses are actually unbranded.
 
The toy lens looks identical to the Fujian 25mm f.1.4 CCTV lens. Cheapest I've seen it on ebay is $19.95. The Fujian 35mm f1.7 is OK, but due in part to the small curved lens element, it's soft on the edges, unless you stop it down all the way.

Occasionally, I've seen Panasonic 14-45 and 14-42's go as low as $139-$149 on ebay.
 
BrandonT said:
Does the 25 mm vignette?
Click to expand...

the 25mm (fujian/toylense) isnt very good little vignette but image is not so sharp...good as a effect lense. the f1.2 looks the same...functional.
The fujian 35mm is better choice (yes soft at corner edges but not that bad) out of these cheapo lenses. Love using mine....and indeed stop it down a bit it gets very sharp.
Example
http://vimeo.com/19009095





Best fast cctv lense in the 25mm range ar Pentax/cosmicar f1.4 or Computars both have very minimal vignette.
 
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