GH2 fast run'n'gun zoom (around f2.8) for gh2 in 4/3 or ETC mode (any more options?)

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den59

Well-known member
Dear all,

What I've been thinking is to summarize different run-and-gun lens options for GH2 for both 4/3 and ETC modes.

My personal wish is to find some budget zoom (maybe 500-1000$) which would be sharp enough (HD), wide (35mm stills), with long end about 150-200 (35mm stills).

So, what seems to be an option:

35mm cine zoom (1.9 crop factor):

  • Angenieux 20-120mm 3.0 PL. ~ 4000$, quite expensive for filmmaker on the budget. My guess it will be around 40mm (35mm stills equivalent) on gh2.
  • DigiOptical 18-50 T3 PL 4000$

16mm cine zooms (ETC mode, 4.9 crop factor):

  • 12-120mm t2.5 Angenieux. 500-1000$. in ETC mode will be around 50mm (still), not wide at all.
  • Angenieux 8-64 1.9 (37.4-300 ), wider, but not very wide.
  • 16OPF-12, 7.5-75 - russian zooms
35mm still (1.9 crop factor):

4/3 zooms (1.9 crop factor):

All of them are varifocal :(

TV/ENG zooms (ETC mode, 4.9 crop factor):

  • Canon J8x6B 6-48mm f/1.7 1500-2000$ used, infinity focus problems? B4->canonFD->m4/3
  • Canon YJ18x9B4 KRS 9-162mm f/1.8 500-1000$, infinity focus problems? B4->canonFD (from bumkicho)->m4/3
  • Canon YJ13x6B IRS 2/3"
  • recommendation on good TV lens, among others Canon and Fujinon 14x8.5 (cost around 500$), are aprox. 40-520
  • Canon J13x9B IRS can be bough around 200$.
canon ENG B4 lens on GH1 thread is here.
Some quotes from there:
- "CA is an issue even between film lenses vs CCD/CMOS lenses (made for single sensor) because good film lenses are made to focus at different depths to hit the different color layers of the silver on the film. Yes I know it is a smaller difference than 3CCD systems, but still there is some aberration when you use a film lens on an electronic sensor camera, and vice versa. " lvlinux
- some info on how to decode serial numbers of 2/3 TV lens here.
- advices on buying b4 lens on e-bay


Since in ETC mode size of the sensor used
is even less than 2/3, i guess the lens should start at around 7mm to be about 35mm equivalent.

"The problem with the c-mount is, that the lens needs to slip a few millimeters into the adapter. If your lens has a big ass, it wont fit to the adapter. Most Canon TV lenses I saw are thin enough. Some Fujinon wont fit." by aemonk.
"Keep in mind that ETC crop mode suffers from a fair bit more noise than the standard shooting mode." bradleysteenkamp
"with ETC you get the advantage of less rolling shutter" Ivangurba

So far Tamron and Olympus seems to be the best option, but if anyone can suggest something else, that would be cool.

p/s/ there's a good thread on focal length/angle of view comparison for different formats here.
p/p/s/ Philop Bloom's article on lens for AF100/GH2.
p/p/p/s/ thread on parfocal lens choice for AF100
 
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I'm curious about the comparison between the Olympus and Tamron. I've pretty much sold myself on the Tamron but I forgot about the Olympus. I understand that the focus throw on the Tamron is very short which is something I've dealt with in the past but is not preferable, is the Olympus the same way? It probably is because it has autofocus, but also is the Olympus focus by wire, or would it work well with a follow focus?
 
$500 is a bit too much for the Olympus. I've seen a couple go for $350 and a bit under. Just dig around and, like anything else, you'll find a deal.
 
good point, Ram S.O.S, but I don't know :)

What I don't like about these lens (Oly and Tamron) is that none of them has proper iris control. I have absolutely no clue how comfortable is it to control it via adapters...
 
den59 said:
good point, Ram S.O.S, but I don't know :)

What I don't like about these lens (Oly and Tamron) is that none of them has proper iris control. I have absolutely no clue how comfortable is it to control it via adapters...
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure you can get proper iris control with the Olympus via 4/3 to m4/3 adapter if i'm remembering correctly at the electronics still work with that adapter. With the Nikon mount Tamron we have to use mechancal control via the adapter itself.
 
If you are considering using ETC mode, I think you NEED to budget for great stabilization and investigate lenses with OIS...

It is tough if not impossible to get a steady shot handheld while ETC is on... (watch all the handheld stuff online for evidence).
The good looking stuff is usually on a tripod...

I highly recommend you try a setup locally and go back home to review the footage shakiness critically before investing, you may come up with a completely different list ...
 
there are very fast and wide TV zoom lenses with c-mount on ebay. They are ETC mode only because they do not cover the censor. Make sure to hunt something below 10mm. The problem with the c-mount is, that the lens needs to slip a few millimeters into the adapter. If your lens has a big ass, it wont fit to the adapter. Most Canon TV lenses I saw are thin enough. Some Fujinon wont fit. I really love to shoot with my tv zooms in ETC mode. They are so smooth to operate. Other then photo lenses, they are made to be adjusted while the camera is rolling.
check out www.componentgeek.com. He has a fix for fitting a Fujinon to the adapter ...
 
Keep in mind that ETC crop mode suffers from a fair bit more noise than the standard shooting mode. I'd say shooting standard I'm happy to go to iso 1600 or even 3200 is desperate. With crop mode I'd say 800 iso. It is of course a personal thing but worth keeping in mind! I've got a Canon 17-102 f2 tv lens which is good but wont focus to infinity on my GH2 so it's a pain to use. Plus, it's very heavy!

I liked the Tamon 17-50 f2.8 but, as mentioned, the focus range is very small which can make it tricky to use, takes a fair bit of practice. I think I'd be very keen on the Olympus with adaptor as you can at least properly control the aperture and will have some autofocus which, although fairly slow, might be nice for stills shooting.
 
bradleysteenkamp said:
Keep in mind that ETC crop mode suffers from a fair bit more noise than the standard shooting mode. I'd say shooting standard I'm happy to go to iso 1600 or even 3200 is desperate. With crop mode I'd say 800 iso. It is of course a personal thing but worth keeping in mind! I've got a Canon 17-102 f2 tv lens which is good but wont focus to infinity on my GH2 so it's a pain to use. Plus, it's very heavy!

I liked the Tamon 17-50 f2.8 but, as mentioned, the focus range is very small which can make it tricky to use, takes a fair bit of practice. I think I'd be very keen on the Olympus with adaptor as you can at least properly control the aperture and will have some autofocus which, although fairly slow, might be nice for stills shooting.
Click to expand...

But with ETC you get the advantage of less rolling shutter too. I agree with the Tamron (plus ETC) and I happened to get the same Canon Tv lens (waiting to get my hands on it and try to dismantle the motor), I'll see if I get the infinity problem too. The Oly looks great but I'm considering the 12 60; little slower but covers all the range I need and a little denoising post will take care of the most needed takes.
 
Thank you everyone for valuable advices, I added them in first message so everything is in one place.

J Bellari said:
If you are considering using ETC mode, I think you NEED to budget for great stabilization and investigate lenses with OIS...
Click to expand...
that's something I don't quite understand. If we are talking about similar angles of view, say, 61. That will be 35mm on Stills, 18.4 on GH2 and 9.4mm on 2/3''. In all cases stabilization issues should be the same, no (considering the same 2K resolution)?
Of course if we take 120mm Angenieux which will become in ETC probably around 500mm in Stills equivalent, then yes, one will have stabilization problems.
Or am I wrong?

Ivanhurba said:
...The Oly looks great but I'm considering the 12 60; little slower but covers all the range I need and a little denoising post will take care of the most needed takes.
Click to expand...
12-60 looks perfect. Why don't they put iris control ring on their lens? :)
The thing is I would like to shoulder mount GH2 via additional rig and balance etc. In that case I guess right hand is busy holding the camera and left hand is on zoom/focus/iris.
 
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By the way, among 17(16)-50/2.8, which one is considered the best for video: Tokina, Tamron or Sigma ?
 
den59 said:
What I don't like about these lens (Oly and Tamron) is that none of them has proper iris control. I have absolutely no clue how comfortable is it to control it via adapters...
Click to expand...

I just bought a Nikon mount 28-75mm f2.8 Tamron SP. That lens, and the Pentax version, has a manual aperture ring. And it's sharp.
 
I've got the Oly 14-54. I go hand held frequently. Sometimes with shoulder brace, sometimes without. Little issue with rolling shutter if you're somewhat sensible. I don't use a follow focus, but I don't think it would work well with one. Since we're talking run and gun, it does have an issue. There's an indicator on the lens that tells you the distance you're focusing to. It makes a little noise while you focus which can be picked up on a camera mounted shotgun in quiet conditions. Other than that, it works. It's not the best, but it's good for the money.
 
that's good to know that it is a sharp lens, but i guess for my needs it will not work, it's not wide enough, it's rather normal-to-tele zoom.
Must be hard to use in a quite small room for documentary.

GrahamH said:
I just bought a Nikon mount 28-75mm f2.8 Tamron SP. That lens, and the Pentax version, has a manual aperture ring. And it's sharp.
Click to expand...
 
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den59 said:
that's good to know that it is a sharp lens, but i guess for my needs it will not work, it's not wide enough, it's rather normal-to-tele zoom.
Must be hard to use in a quite small room for documentary.
Click to expand...

I pair it with the 14-45 Lumix. I use the Lumix for cramped shots, and when I need OIS and//or autofocus. I swop to the Tamron when I have have more time to spend on depth of field control and manual focus (head shots, etc). The Tamron has nicer bokeh than the Lumix tele-zooms's, although it is still not that great. I have a 35-80mm Tamron adaptall coming from England - the bokeh on that looks superb, but it's f2.8-3.8 which may prove to be a pain.
 
noone ever talks about it, but i love my Olympus 11-22mm f2.8-3.5

the 12-60mm gets all the attention because of it's longer zoom range, which is really nice, but i think the 11-22mm has near perfect distortion correction on the wide end, and is built like a tank. i wouldn't sell mine.
 
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