GH2 Fast-ish zooms (Nikon mount?) and other lenses for event video

H

hank lepstein

New member
When I bought my GH2 a few months ago I thought I figured I would only be using primes. But I ended up making a video (with my parents Canon 7d, before I bought the GH2) of my cousin's Bar Mitzvah service and party and my family started showing it to a bunch of people and all of a sudden I've been hired to do Bar/Bat Mitzvah videos! (sorry for the boring story)

I actually just graduated from school, degree in commercial music and audio engineering, and I am really new to videography and photography. I bought the Gh2 because of the awesome video capabilities and ability to use all kinds of old primes. (And ETC mode is so damn useful)

But now that I'm looking at zooms I'm realizing damn... the selection is terrible. Everyone seems to mention the 14-140 but the reviews aren't very good and I really would like something f2.8 considering most everything will be inside or at night. I do have a Z96 led, and I'm prepared to use it :p

So I'm trying to figure out the Nikon lenses. I don't have a huge budget, but I can get what I need. It looks like the Nikon adapters are expensive... There's the F-series which is for lenses with aperture rings and then the G-series needs an adapter (novoflex?) with aperture ring control? Tamron? Sigma? I imagine I want something 28-75 or something in that range.

What I have: 50mm Super Takumar, 20mm pancake, 25mm cctv, 35mm cctv, few other m42 primes that are iffy in quality

What to get: fast-ish zoom, panasonic 7-14 wide angle, new samyang fisheye, glidecam hd-1000? (maybe that's for another thread), maybe an 85mm (jupiter 9?) prime

Thanks, this is a great forum- I've been reading it every day for months now. I didn't feel comfortable posting since I feel like such a noob. But I really need some advice!
 
tamron 17-50m 2.8 is a good sharp lens (not vc version) that will cover a lot of what you need. get nikon mount & relevant adaptor to control aperture
 
Thanks for the replies!

The Olympus looks like a good lens- but I think I want a constant aperture

Tamron 17-50 looks good as well. Not sure what VC stands for but I'm thinking it's a image stabilization thing? Which adapter would you recommend to use with it? Also any clips I should check out?

I was taking photos today with my 20mm and 50mm and I was thinking... it would be really nice to have that 14-140 right now. I'm guessing it has much quicker AF than the 20mm right? So I'm thinking I may buy one for daylight use and photos.. Probably bundled with a GH2 so I can have a 2nd camera that isn't a Canon :p
 
After testing my 50mm prime with ETC on, I'm thinking it's not quite long enough for what I need. Also, I imagine the 20mm pancake will be on my other GH2 at most times I think maybe the 28-75mm Tamron might be a better choice. It's about the same price which is good.

Are there any other lenses I should be looking at at around this same range? Also I'm still unsure about the adapters
 
Haha, sorry didn't see that you already have a camera light. I would go with the Tamron 17-50, it's an awesome lens. I was in the same boat trying to find a fast zoom lens and I did manage to find a couple of C-Mount lens. I can't remember which one I found that I really wanted but it could only be mounted on the GH2 (I have a GH1). I just did a quick google search and came across this.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/617463-REG/AstroScope_908006_12_5_75mm_f_1_2_C_Mount_Zoom.html

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAP...3225&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT#ht_4896wt_1398

I would search around on Ebay for a fast zoom c-mount lens if you have the time. I don't have any experience with C-Mount lenses so it may just be better to go with the Tamron 17-50.
 
Last edited:
Just get the 14-140 and some lights. There is nothing out there that tops it in terms of performance with the GH2. It WAS made exclusively to work with the GH1 and of course now with the GH2. Learn that in filmmaking, be it Hollywood or a Bar Mitzvah you need to learn to work with lights.
 
John Caballero said:
Just get the 14-140 and some lights. There is nothing out there that tops it in terms of performance with the GH2. It WAS made exclusively to work with the GH1 and of course now with the GH2. Learn that in filmmaking, be it Hollywood or a Bar Mitzvah you need to learn to work with lights.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice. I'm definitely going to get the 14-140. Probably bundled with another Gh2 I just need to find the best price. Panasonic seems to have some good deals direct but I need it soon. I can't wait to test out the range of that lens with the ETC mode.

I do need to figure out my lighting situation. I have a Z96 which is real nice and small, but that won't cut it.
 
NeoSlashX said:
Haha, sorry didn't see that you already have a camera light. I would go with the Tamron 17-50, it's an awesome lens. I was in the same boat trying to find a fast zoom lens and I did manage to find a couple of C-Mount lens. I can't remember which one I found that I really wanted but it could only be mounted on the GH2 (I have a GH1). I just did a quick google search and came across this.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/617463-REG/AstroScope_908006_12_5_75mm_f_1_2_C_Mount_Zoom.html

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAP...3225&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT#ht_4896wt_1398

I would search around on Ebay for a fast zoom c-mount lens if you have the time. I don't have any experience with C-Mount lenses so it may just be better to go with the Tamron 17-50.
Click to expand...

Nice! Those are fast. I really like my cheap little c mount primes. The thing that worries me about these lenses though is having to modify them. I see myself destroying them...

I actually already went ahead and ordered the 27-75. Seems like everyone is getting good results from the 17-50 and all the "vs" threads I've read about both the lenses is that they are pretty comparable in quality.

I do have one other option. I COULD buy a fast zoom for the 7d and use that. Yeah- the footage wouldn't match and it's definitely not anything I would put on my reel. But it would be nice to have a fast zoom with IS to shoot handheld...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top