GH3 Dusty Lens Question

J

jimagine

Well-known member
OK, pun intended, but I see that you've got both the 12-35mm and 35-100mm.

My problem is I got the GH3s for a specific purpose and now after a couple days shooting I'm really liking...gasp, an MFT camera.

I've primarily only shot with Canon and and Zeiss primes and fast zooms over the years (and the Sigma 50mm which I think is the nicest 50 in the biz).

So I've got all the L glass etc and suddenly have to get serious about new MFT glass.

Of course if there was a real way to use the glass I have it would be wonderful but even if there were, I'm pretty fond of how Panny's implemented things electronically with their lenses - especially for a lot for the fast and remote work we do.

So MR. Lense, tell me how much you love, specifically, the 35 - 70mm
 
I think the 35-100 2.8 is a perfect match for the Gh3. A no brainer for sure.

I shoot my stills with the EOS system, and for obvious reason. Stills are 75% of how I generate income. This is what I do mostly:Pinnacle @ Moorpark-P2_Family Room Twilight.jpg (Still have to strip in fireplace and TV and make tweaks)

Back to the Lumix lenses.
I have both 12-35 and 35-100. All I can say is what a system! Compact and powerful! To think that I have a 24-200mm focal range between the two lenses at constant f/2.8 that fits into a fanny bag is amazing! The lenses are top notch quality as well. Plus, with the AF functions on the Gh3, they just open up opportunities that NO other DSLR I can think of has.

Both lenses are 58mm filter threads as well. Easy for packing filter solutions. The 35-100 does not extend with zoom, so it takes a mattebox perfectly. Keep in mind that Lumix glass is basically Leica glass (notice the yellow markings on the lens, same as Leica markings).

Here is the Gh3, the 12-13 and 35-100 all packed together. photo-2.jpg I don't think you can beat that footprint in size for the quality the system delivers.

I've done mostly video with the Gh3, but I have had the chance to shoot some holiday images of family with it and I am blown away with the Gh3 and Lumix lens performance. I shot this image in Jpeg mode and was astonished with the result:_1000758.jpg

I really can't wait for the next vacation I take. I spent 14 days in Spain early 2011 and took my 5d system. It was just too much to hump around the whole trip. And this is coming from a guy that used to shoot 8x10 and 4x5 view cameras. I see the Gh3 with these two lenses and the 20mm 1.7 as my out of country system going forward. I actually have come to call my Gh3 the "mini sensor 5d Mark III".

If you got the funds, I would not hesitate buying the 35-100mm. Then have some good manual glass for other video needs. I have some nikkors, Leica R, and of course my EOS glass all with adapters (redrock eos to m4/3 adapter). But really have yet to use them on the Gh3 as the Lumix glass just plain works as I need...Also, the Lumix glass works nicely on my Gh2 and Af100.
Lumix glass I own
12-35
35-100
14-140 (still a great lens for outdoor shooting).
100-600
7-14
20mm pancake.
I use them all...

Hope that helps! Happy new year!
 
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Thanks Dusty, it helps a lot.
Just love the interior. Looks like maybe a 5D, 50mm 1.2 image.

Your sense is my sense. I got the GH3's just to add to existing kits for the 60p, but after a little shooting, I'm just really liking it as an all around creative tool.
Your point about the f2.8 24-200mm package is exactly what's got me looking at these lenses.
I had mentioned that we've just started a 2 year project over multiple locations and seasons and a pair of these packages could be ideal for a lot of the situations.
A few months ago during the original planning I was convinced that I was going to add a pair of C300s, then we considered a pair of C100s, but with no 60p options I closed that door and started looking at the 1D-Cs

Then came along the GH3 and for the price of a C100 I can add two new kits with two 12-35s and two 35-100s.
And like you, I'm all for embracing the new focus implementations. Given the conditions that I shot in the snowstorm the other day, I had to rely on AFS for everything - and every shot was perfectly focused
I had to hit it twice in a few instances, but that was mostly due to the difficulty any system would have grabbing focus in a heavy veil of snow.
I'm still just finding the time to get familiar with the new design but I see incredible potential for so much of what we produce.

What lens did you use to shoot your son?
Again, if it's a Panny zoom, then I've been underselling the MFT thing for too long.
 
The interior is the Mk3 with my wonderful 17mm TSE then slightly cropped in. It's the reason I use the EOS is for the TSE lenses (17, 24, 45, and 90).

On the portrait that is the 35-100 at 35mm's at f/4.
THe 35-100 is easily my favorite lens on the gh3. It's like they were designed for each other. I forgot to mention that the ETC on the Gh3 is quite good. Lot's of rolling shutter, so lock off the shot or pan very slowly. SO my thoughts are that with the ETC, if you have the 12-35 and the 35-100, you have pretty much all the focal reach you could ask for in the Gh3 and they all will fit in a fanny bag.

Past few days I've been playing with the AF functions of the Gh3 and lumix G's. I too love the AFS as it's just dead on. Fastest AF camera I've ever seen or used. But I also have been playing with the other AF functions. You can actually get a really good racking focus just by tapping the screen on the Gh3. It would be great if Panny would include a memory feature that would allow you to select two points focus and then just tap anywhere on the screen to change points. But all in all, the AF will work for video nearly as good as a 1/3rd chip dedicated video camera.

Also... THE BATTERY is incredible! Lasts all day!

I think as time goes on the Gh3 will be a powerhouse. Hoping it gets hacked, but if not, no biggie to me.
The camera can and will moire. It's weird though. I shot some test real estate stuff last week and I saw moire on one roll, switched angles and didn't see it on the same pattern the next roll. Hopefully a firmware will come along and help it or maybe the mosaic filter will be adapted.

The camera packs incredible detail and there is just something about the file that blows me away! THe gradations are just SMOOOOOTH! I have not seen a single banding issue yet. Plus the DR is defiantly increased. THe low values mostly!
Enjoy!
I saw your farm video, streamed it to my 47 in and 72 in TV's and thought I was watching National Geographic material!!!!!!
 
Regarding the ETC, I was thinking just that...the 35-100mm covers and effective 70-400mm range with OIS.
One of my other favorite action lenses is the Sigma 100-300mm f/4 tank. As well built as any of my L glass and sharper than the equivalent Canon - AND it has a manual iris ring.
So a simple MFT adapter will actually cover 200-600mm without ETC. But it is a monster.

The battery is amazing. Both of the two days I've taken it out, the snowshoeing with dogs and the horses piece, all shot with one charge, several hours in very cold conditions and the camera was never shut off.

Agree the 35-100mm really looks like it was designed for the GH3 and the internal zoom, weather sealing, 2.8, OIS makes it a crazy good lens.

I'm psyched that the footage looked that good on your big screens. The demographic for this two year series of films is very much NGEO and they may be A cameras for a lot of it.
 
Sweet.

Jim, I'm exporting a series of tests that I will upload to my dropbox for you to look at. Everything is shot on the lumix 12-35 and 35-100. Most of the test is just getting familiar with the camera and functions. You'll see how the continuous AF handles for both lenses. There are ETC shots, software stabilized shots, then the test I did in the custom home at the end with available mixed lighting. I'll post as soon as it's uploaded (about an hour or so). It's nothing like your wonderful farm vids, but it shows what the camera can do in everyday available situations...
 
Here ya go Jim or anyone interested: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ssdqp2towrtmidp/Gh3 for DB (1920 x 1080).m4v
Make sure you download it (650mb's or so).
Uploaded at 10 mbits/sec just to save some space and such.

Some notes:
All edited in FCPX using only FCPX native color controls (the color board). Added music just because I hate hearing nothing while reviewing test footage. The test is just to get familiar with the camera and it's settings....

Everything shot up to 5:18 is IPB 50mbs. Auto focus is ON the whole time for every clip. Sometimes just by picking a focus point on the LCD, sometimes just letting the AF do it's thing. It was part of the test to that point.

@:42, you will see a rack focus from the tree trunk to the fall tree in the background. That is just using the touch screen between the two points. It does work believe it or not.

Take note at the shot starting at 3:24. A very long climb detail shot up a vine. That is the Gh3 in AF continuous just doing its thing on the 35-100 at almost it's nearest focus. I wanted to see how the camera would pick and choose AF. Pretty swell if you ask me.

Up to the 5:18 mark (or before the puppy shot), anything you see extremely close is ETC. I'll list some marks for reference. :34, :49, :56, 1:00, 1:39, 2:03, and 5:15. I found so far that for ETC, I adjust the sharpness up 2 clicks from where I might be shooting normal.

Starting at the sleeping puppy.
Sleeping puppy is fully in automatic mode, like a point and shoot.
From there are some mall shots I grabbed.
Everything is using AF again. This time I wanted to test the AVCHD codec. Nearly every shot is software stabilized. I think settings were standard profile with -3/-3/-1/0. But have a close look at the shot at 6:15 (has a mom and stroller in it). That is late day full sunshine. Take note how the little girl with pigtails enters the shade and just see that DR going on. Look at the white building in the background. Then look at the guy that enters the shot on the right with the white plastic bag, HIT PAUSE! Thats some pretty mondo DR for a $1300 prosumer camera, at least I think it is. Now look at the shot starting at 6:30. I shot that to see if the aluminum paneling would moire. It does, but I can live with it. Mosaic filter anyone????

Last set is the house test. All on the 12-35mm. Available interior lighting. Standard profile with -2/-2/-1/0. IPB codec. I should show you the tripod I shot this on! Maybe I will, but I would have to get it out and take a snap of it. Anyway... There is aliasing, there is moire, but it's not really all to bad considering the detail everywhere else. But it's the shot starting at 7:05 of the entry of the home that makes me pretty hopeful of the Gh3. There is just no banding and the gradations are smooth (even in a 10mb/sec render). I think the shot was at 800 ISO.

Also take notice at any shot with blue sky. I just have NOT seen any banding as of yet. Not sure how they did it, but it reminds me of my Canon XF 422 8 bit files.

All in all, I like the camera, even with it's aliasing here and there and moire that can pop up. The cameras strengths far outweigh it's weakness. Maybe with a firmware update or two, a hack, or even a mosaic filter in the future, any of the cameras shortcomings can be completely eliminated?????

I'm keeping the camera, and keeping the Gh2 as well. But so far, I'm reaching for the Gh3 before the Gh2 just due to the cameras build and it's ability to gradate color.

Peace and Happy New Year shooters!!!!!
 
I'm new here but I just wanted to chime in. The lenses I typically use on the 5D II/III are the 24mm F1.4L, 50mm F1.2L, 85mm F1.2L, 100mm F2.8L Macro, Zeiss ZE 50mm 1.4, Zeiss ZE 21mm 2.8. Just got the GH3 for Christmas and the Lumix Lenses on the GH3 are no joke. I was pretty amazed by the quality of both the 12mm-35mm, 35-100mm. They are outstanding lenses even in comparison to expensive primes. Very pleased with the results. I also purchased the Voigtlander 25mm F.95 and the Panny/Leica 25mm F1.4. I ended up returning the Voigtlander. The image was nice on the Voigt but honestly the Leica glass produced better color, contrast, and the Bokeh highlights are almost perfect circles and very, "not" distracting. The Voight is obviously better build, and can see in the dark but something about the image just seemed a little cctv/security lens to me Hard to put in to words but just like the image on the Panny/Leica better and more closely matches the look of the 12-35 and 35-100 any ways. I don't think you can go wrong with either the Voigt or the Panny/Leica 25mm glass as it's just a matter of preference really. But again the 12-35 and 35-100 Lumix lenses are the best DSLR zooms I've used. You may not like me for saying this but yeah, even better than the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Zoom Lens. I may end up selling some of my Canon gear as I mainly shoot video and when I shoot stills I'm not getting large posters printed where the resolution difference would be obvious between the 5D and the GH3. Long time Canon shooter but using the GH3 just felt very natural to me. The one gripe I have with the GH3 is the EVF. I guess it's the penalty you pay for going mirrorless.
 
Welcome Carlos to the forums.

Keep in mind that Panasonic bought Leica a while back (but since sold, I think???) But, take notice of the orange focal length engravings on each lumix lens. That there is a Leica thing. Same identical engraving Leica has been using for decades. Just saying....
Now that does not mean they are Leica lenses, but while panny owned Leica they learned a great deal about optics.
 
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...One of the reasons I bought the GH3 was to be able to take on pro photo jobs again.
( I turned down a $900 photo shoot in November because I knew my GH2 wasn't good enough for the job )
 
TheDingo said:
...One of the reasons I bought the GH3 was to be able to take on pro photo jobs again.
( I turned down a $900 photo shoot in November because I knew my GH2 wasn't good enough for the job )
Click to expand...
Honestly...
I've shot canon since the 1ds FF came out. I've had every full frame to date minus the 1dx and 1dc. I think the Gh3 can hang with all the canons so long as you stick to the lower ISO's for stills shooting. Next arch shoot I will shoot a test with the Gh3 zapped into my strobes and report back. I'm booked until April so far so the wait won't be long.

I've pixel peeped at least 50,000 arch shots on the Canon FF digitals. If the Gh3 had tilt lenses like my 17mm TSE for the canon, I probably would use it for my main work.
 
I do have a Jpeg shot of the Gh3 vrs the 5dmk3.

Here is the Gh3 shot at video settings:
Gh3 DVX.jpg
Iso 1200 at f2.8 1/60th sec lumix 12-35. I shot this thinking I'd use as an alternate angle, so the capture was only for sky. It got real cold so I bailed on the shot. Link to dropbox: https://www.dropbox.com/s/pu2akahwb6smtu4/Gh3 DVX.jpg



Pinnacle @ Moorpark-DVX.jpg
Then here is the 5dmk3 shot I took. Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/m6s2y217imd6r35/5dMk3.jpg

Shot Iso 320
F/13


So besides narrow focus, you can see how the Gh3 holds up at 1250 ISO in Jpeg mode :-)
 
squig said:
Hey Dusty are those Lumix zooms parfocal?
Click to expand...
Not really. Haven't really tested them trying to zoom in manual focus though. The 35-100 although does zoom without the slight iris glitch the 12-35 exhibits. I'll look at it and get back to you on that...
 
dustylense said:
All edited in FCPX using only FCPX native color controls (the color board). Added music just because I hate hearing nothing while reviewing test footage. The test is just to get familiar with the camera and it's settings....

Peace and Happy New Year shooters!!!!!
Click to expand...

Many thanks for sharing this. Very impressive functioning.

How did you do the crop in FCP X and did you use any kind of guide on your camera?

And you do know you can straighten clips like at 12 seconds? :thumbsup:
 
Thanks again for this. So is everything shot at -3 -3 -1 0?

How much did you add in post? Any more sharpening?

And everything before the interiors was 50MB?

Great interiors and the 12-35mm looks really clean.
 
No, in the garden shots the settings were -3/-3/-1/- but then a few shots at -3/0/-1/0 (The pan up on the tree trunk).

The garden shots are 50mbs and the interiors are 50 mbs. THe mall scenes are avchd 1080/60p. at -3/-2/-1/0

Interiors was -3/-2/-1/0

Everything in standard color profile.

No sharpening in post and just used the color board in FCPX.

I knew right off there was something funky about the All-I codec.
 
When I get back from location this week I'm going to do the next level testing, specifically to see whether there's any advantage to using any NR.
So far everything I've shot has NR -5, but I'd like to see how it handles some of the solids - lights and darks - and how much it softens the overall image.

It would be nice if Panny would address the All-I debacle. There shouldn't be an image price for shooting higher frame rates.
It's absurd really, makes the entire concept useless and counter productive.
 
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