Dear Panasonic : An Open Letter

No one said it isn't a viable, professional system. Nor I am saying - in the slightest - that the AF100 is a bad camera, or inferior.

However, micro 4/3 is a format that has it's foibles; people who don't want to buy into have legit reasons for feeling the way they do. If those concerns aren't concerns for you, that's great.

More to the point, I'm talking more about the glass needed to run said camera. Camera's come and go, seemingly on about a 3-4 year pace. Good glass should last the user several times longer than that. The m4/3s format is incapatible w/ every other large chip camera system, and might possibly die out altogether. Those are concerns that remain regardless of whatever camera you're currently making with.

Again, I don't believe it's a slam on AF100 owners or 4/3 affectionados in general; rather it's my preference. I'm biased - I own (and like) Canon glass. I know that same glass can be used on every large chip video & still camera, and will likely be able to do so for years to come. I'd like to see a larger sensor, and judging by the dozens - perhaps hundreds - of other references to the desire by other DVXuser members for a larger sensor size, I'm not alone.

Will it happen? I wouldn't bet a dollar on it.
 
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Definitely don't want to turn this into a fanboy war, but yes. The inability to to go wide without using one of their dedicated lenses was what turned the tide for me when I was camera shopping. They are pretty amazing cameras, just weren't the right camera for me, not the look I wanted and and limiting in ways that mattered to me. To each his own, that's why they make different cameras.
 
I use a Duclos 11-16mm at 11mm to give me a S35 16mm FOV for example.

For what it's worth the lens cuts just fine with vintage glass.

As you admitted there are wide lenses available, you have just chosen to not use them for your own reasons.
 
gonzo_entertainment said:
Yes, to get the equivalent of a 28mm field of view you'd need what about a 14mm lens. for a 35mm FOV you'd need about an 18mm.
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...But this wide lens issue is the same for almost all film and video cameras, with the exception of the Canon 5D MK2 and the Nikon D3. Most SLR still photo lenses are really not wide enough for m4/3, APS-C, or Super 35mm formats.

A Full Frame 35mm still photo sized sensor is essentially the same format as a Vista-vision motion picture camera.
 
How wide do you really need to go? I have a Canon 10-22 that I use once in a while on my T2i, but it's not a lens I would use often because it is just too wide for most situations. I think 14mm on m43 can be too wide at times.
 
hendosan said:
How wide do you really need to go? I have a Canon 10-22 that I use once in a while on my T2i, but it's not a lens I would use often because it is just too wide for most situations. I think 14mm on m43 can be too wide at times.
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Gonzo's referring to older SLR lenses ( made for 35mm still photo film cameras ), where a 14mm lens sold brand new for $2,000+, and on a 35mm Full Frame body like the Canon 5D MK2, this 14mm lens would be like a 9mm lens on your T2i body. ( stupidly wide )

Fortunately we have new lenses made for digital sensors, that are slowly closing the gap. ( we still need more fast wide prime lenses made for digital sensor formats )
 
Yes, The point being there is no "this is the perfect camera", it's always the best camera for your purposes which involves trade offs in other areas. I have a mostly complete set of matched lenses (Pentax) from 28mm all the way through 200mm, eight lenses, that I paid less than $1000 for total. I LOVE their look. So for me the 5D was a better choice, might not be for somebody else. Like everything else it depends.
 
Hmm, I have a set of Super Takumar's I bought new many years ago. No problems using them on a M4/3 camers.

I've got no problem with anybody's camera choice, but stating that there are no wide angle lens choices available aside from native mount lenses for M4/3's cameras is just misinform.
 
David W. Jones said:
Hmm, I have a set of Super Takumar's I bought new many years ago. No problems using them on a M4/3 camers.

I've got no problem with anybody's camera choice, but stating that there are no wide angle lens choices available aside from native mount lenses for M4/3's cameras is just misinform.
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What would they be, that don't cost $1500?
Nothing newer than maybe the mid 1970's.
That would be good info to have out there.
 
David W. Jones said:
Any reason you are limiting yourself to radioactive lenses under $1500?
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Because aesthetically I really like their look and if I had $1500 to spend on gear/production a single lens would be way down the list of things I'd buy. I have a friend with a full set of L glass I could borrow anytime I want, I never do because it's not the look I'm going for.

Not sure how we got on this tangent, other than me stating the truth, that micro 4/3s doesn't work for everybody and has disadvantages as well as advantages. It's not the be all end all of sensors. There are a lot of great features in the Panasonics, I looked long and hard at the GH2 which had just come out when I bought my 5D. It wasn't the right camera for me. Not saying it can't be the right camera for you.
 
the 4/3 is not wide enough is a myth.

so far ive bought nikon & fd mount lenses. very reusable to other cameras system
i have 2 m4/3, the 14-140 & the 20 pancake
with the EF live lens canon lenses are usable as well.

i also have the 11-16 which i only use on certain stuations.

my most used lens is my 20 which is roughly equivalent to aps-c 28mm.
 
It would be nice again for the 1000 times to stress that the standard s35 mm size that is use in the vast vast majority of film is about apsc size or 1.5 crop factor compared to 35mm photo camera also known as full frame. So no your lens is not going to be x2 crop compared to the industry standard size, it is more like 1.3 or even lower in the case of the multi aspect ratio gh2 sensor. If people sometime could be a little bit more honest to advance their argument it nice, no need to make as if the micro 4/3 sensor size are minuscule compared again I say it .... industry standard S35. Yes Mr and Mrs photographers (which I am) this world of cinematography is not the same as yours, does not work in the same rule as yours and when you will be the next Spielberg, Cameron, Scorsese etc, perhaps you can try to change the rule.
 
Again to the misinformed one, you have a new Olympus 12mm f2 for about $ 800 and the $ 500 slr magic 12 mm F 1.6, both having excellent reviews and different character. Now if it is not wide enough and fast enough for filmmaking I am speechless.
 
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