Does the lens I'm looking for exist?

Griffinity

Griffinity

Active member
I have the 14-140mm kit lens, and a couple old Minolta lenses: 50mm f/1.7 and a 28mm f/2.8 (with a micro 4/3 adapter). I like the faster Minolta lenses in lower light, but without OIS or autofocus, I find myself limited in many shooting situations. I also don't like the electronic focus ring on the 14-140, because I can't mark rack focus positions.

I've used the 20mm pancake lens, and I like it, but it also has the electronic focus ring, and no OIS.

Any recommendations for a new lens? Preferably something meeting these criteria:
  • Prime, between 25 and 50mm
  • Between f/1.7 and f/2.8
  • Mechanical focus ring
  • Autofocus compatible
  • OIS
Does the lens I desire even exist? Thanks for your help!
 
Griffinity said:
Any recommendations for a new lens? Preferably something meeting these criteria:

  • Prime, between 25 and 50mm
  • Between f/1.7 and f/2.8
  • Mechanical focus ring
  • Autofocus compatible
  • OIS
Click to expand...
The only prime lens with OIS is the Panasonic Micro Four Thirds 45mm f2.8, which lacks a mechanical focus ring:

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-45m...3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1301273739&sr=1-3

The Sigma 30mm f1.4 Four Thirds lens has no OIS, but comes close to meeting your specs on the GH2. While it's focusing ring is not really mechanical, you can feel when it hits the focus stops and it has almost non-existent breathing:

http://www.amazon.com/Sigma-Olympus...1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1301273992&sr=1-1
 
But there is the absolutely beautiful voigtlander .95 which I use all the time... simply stunning lens for the money!
 
Seriously, Panasonic uses electronic focus rings? That is garbage. I was pissed enough when Nikon switched to electronic aperture control.

How long will they be making cameras compatible with a lens bought today? 3 years? 5? Way to give your products a shelf life of 45 minutes, jackasses.

Nikon-to-M43 adapter and 30-year-old all-metal AI-s lenses FTW.

Kids today.

/end rant
 
Griffinity I have nearly the same setup as you. Minolta 50mm f1.7 and 28mm f2.8 but I have the lumix 14-42 instead. Which still has the electronic focus ring. Sadly there isn't as big of a selection of lenses in the old Minolta range as there is Nikon. Image stabilization is more common on newer lenses. While there are plenty of newer Nikon and Canon mount lenses that offer mechanical focus rings, many do not have the distance markings. Even if you find one of those lens with image stabilization, it won't work because it requires power and the lens adapters don't supply power to the lens.

So unfortunately the only way you are going to get image stabilization is to get a lens native to the micro four thirds format. Although there is a chance a 4/3rds lens might work. But I haven't checked to see if any have OIS on them and if that works with the m4/3 to 4/3 adapter. Might be something worth checking out.

Alternatively, you might consider putting the camera on a flycam nano or glidecam HD1000 if camera movement is desired. This should help reduce vibration some. Otherwise a tripod is a good thing. :)
 
I have almost all of the lenses mentioned so far and the Sigma 30mm F1.4 works the best for me so far. There is a Leica 4/3s 14-50mm F2.8-3.5 that has IS. I think it will work with the 4/3s adapter. However, it really isn't that much brighter than the 14-45mm lens or the 45mm F2.8 lens.

I am going to get the 25mm F1.4 when it comes out. It won't have IS but I can stabilize it in post processing if I film carefully.

Here are some of the lenses I use.

Normal Lenses
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FPbqhFt_oY

Telephoto Lenses
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cZ-w1qWdJY

Collection of lenses
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7q9nP0fKB4
 
I appreciate all the insight, everyone!

lpowell said:
The only prime lens with OIS is the Panasonic Micro Four Thirds 45mm f2.8, which lacks a mechanical focus ring:

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-45m...3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1301273739&sr=1-3
Click to expand...
What's that switch on the side of the lens do? (FOCUS: Full or Limit)

lpowell said:
The Sigma 30mm f1.4 Four Thirds lens has no OIS, but comes close to meeting your specs on the GH2. While it's focusing ring is not really mechanical, you can feel when it hits the focus stops and it has almost non-existent breathing:

http://www.amazon.com/Sigma-Olympus...1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1301273992&sr=1-1
Click to expand...
I like the look of this lens. I assume I need a m4/3-4/3 adapter ring? Will that pass along autofocus? Any adapter recommendations?

Thanks again!
 
roxics said:
Sadly there isn't as big of a selection of lenses in the old Minolta range as there is Nikon.
Click to expand...
Well, there is a lot though, esp if you include Minolta mounts. I have the Rokkor 24mm (amazing lens) 28mm 35mm 50mm (1.4 is amazing) 58mm 100mm and 135mm, plus a bunch of zooms, including the Leica designs, plus the Viviitar minolta mount 55mm macro, 90mm macro Series one. Add in the Sigma Mini wide II 24mm and the Vivitar close focus 28mm which are also amazing, you can have a whole range for a few hundred dollars (the 85mm and the 90mm Vivitar will cost $$$, though). I passed on the 45mm (pancake!), 55mm, etc--there's really tons to choose from.
 
My fave is the Nikon 35mm f1.8G DX...Sure no aperture control ring but you can use the adapter for this...focus is like silk and the lense is sharp as a blade...only downside you have to use your eyes to judge aperture. Either this or the Sigma 30mm. No ois.
 
Griffinity said:
What's that switch on the side of the [Panasonic 45mm f2.8] do? (FOCUS: Full or Limit)
Click to expand...
The description says "Minimum focus distance can instantly be changed to 150mm or 500mm."

I like the look of [the Sigma 30mm f1.4] lens. I assume I need a m4/3-4/3 adapter ring? Will that pass along autofocus?
Click to expand...
Yes, the Four Thirds version of the Sigma requires the M4/3 adapter from either Panasonic or Olympus. The GH2 does support auto-focus on the Sigma 30mm, though it's not as quick or smooth as auto-focus on Panasonic's native M4/3 lenses.
 
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