GH2 GH2 zoom lenses options

If you want stablization on a GH2, you need a Lumix OIS lens (or a tripod). The OS in a Nikon or Canon lens will be disabled when used on a GH2.

In terms of field of view, the Lumix 14-42mm mimics a 28-84mm zoom on a fullframe Nikon, and the 45-200mm Lumix mimics a 90-400mm.
 
hi maltess...
in looking too for good zooms for our gh2 ... looks easy from medium to tele, less option from wide to medium
in my search i set 2.8 as minimum. i like vey much this post, Video-Friendly Lenses for Lumix DSLRs: http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/859/video-friendly-lenses-for-lumix-dslrs,
this are my favorites:
- tokina 11-16 2.8
- nikkon 17-35 2.8
- nikkon 17-55 2.8
- nikkon 28-70 2.8
- 80-200 2.8

i will try to go to 11-166 as soon as possible, or 17-35

regards
 
maltess2 said:
thanks a lot, what about the 14 - 140 that comes as a kit with the GH2?
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This was my first lens with the GH2 and I like it a lot. Its sharpness, the 10:1 zoom range, the silent(and fast) auto focus plus the image stabilization (for stills) are all terrific - but at f4.0-5.8, it is not a very good choice for low light unless you use the flash (stills) or lighting (video).

Image stabilization for video is OK, but not as good as a camcorder.

Cheers,

Bill
 
I really like the Olympus 4/3 zooms - obviously the F2 ones are super nice, but the 14-54 and 50-200 f2.8-3.5 are much more affordable, match well, and are super sharp. No OIS though and the AF on the first gen ones I have is horrible. Not sure how much better the second gen ones they sell now are at AF.
 
maltess - I agree with Jesse. Olympus Zuiko and Panasonic Leica made some great 4/3 glass, if you can find it (some are discontinued). Sigma made a few terrific 4/3 lenses too -- pretty much all of which are discontinued. I bought a Sigma 18-50mm constant f2.8 for a little more than $200 on eBay a few weeks ago, and haven't used my 14-140 much since I got it.

And I just scored a $350 used Olympus 11-22 f2.8-3.5 to cover the wide end. Of course, you'll need a 4/3 to micro 4/3 adapter ($100 used at Amazon) to make these lenses work with the GH2 - and, as Jesse suggests, the autofocus may be slower (and louder) than on Panasonic m4/3 kit zooms. That said, my two 4/3 lenses together cost less than a single new 14-140, even with the price of a used adapter added in (got that on eBay too ;-)).

As an aside, because you said you were looking for affordable lenses and these are probably not on your shopping list, but Sigma also made some incredible telephoto zooms for 4/3, like this monster $8000 300-800mm, a comparatively "small" 50-500mm and a fast 70-200 constant f2.8. I certainly hope they bring a similarly wide range of zoom lenses to m4/3!

Other GH2 shooters whom I respect recommend the highly regarded Olympus 14-54 f2.8-3.5 II ($450 used on Amazon right now) and the even better Olympus 12-60 f2.8-4.0 instead of my Sigma 18-50.

For me, 4/3 lenses were the affordable answer to the lack of fast zooms in m4/3 world. If you're interested in high quality glass that works well (autofocus, autoexposure) with your GH2, I highly recommend scouring the used listings for these lenses on Adorama, Amazon, B&H, & KEH - as well as auctions on eBay and the for sale listings on fora like this one and the for sale sections at rental houses such as lensrentals.

Good luck!

Hope this is helpful,

Bill
 
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Thanks a lot for the information, I think i will get the pana 14.42 or 14-140 kit for the image stabilization for hand held shots and the I will look for one this nice zooms you mention

One question please, are the 14-42, 14 -140 good to achieve shallow deph of fiedls with the GH2, which one is better? is the gh2 in general a good camra for this purpose like the 5D is?

best regards
 
The short answer is yes - you can get shallow DoF with micro 4/3 cameras like the GH2 and kit lenses. It will not be as shallow as with a full frame camera like the 5D, but it will be shallow enough that you get the 'cinematic' look that people expect these days.
Here is an experimental video shot with the 14-42 that shows good use of shallow DoF: http://vimeo.com/27071910

Here are a couple of side-by-sides with the 5DmkII shot by GH2 shooters I respect, raitank in Japan and Mike Kobal in New York:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzPrYBhUvB8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIR0bze3Gqo

Bottom line is that the larger sensor of the 5D gives shallower DoF - but that the GH2, especially with the aperture stopped open on a fast lens and at longer focal lengths, is "shallow enough". You may struggle to get the effects you want with the 14-42 outdoors in daylight, however. That is what happened to Bill Voelker here - even with an ND filter to keep the lens aperture open. The lens is just too slow :-(

Cheers and good luck,

Bill
 
My stopgap fast normal zoom for GH2 and AF100 is the Leica D 14-50 2.8-3.5. It's everything-by-wire, but it does have very responsive and smooth action, a working aperture ring on the lens, and functioning OIS.
 
mcbob said:
My stopgap fast normal zoom for GH2 and AF100 is the Leica D 14-50 2.8-3.5. It's everything-by-wire, but it does have very responsive and smooth action, a working aperture ring on the lens, and functioning OIS.
Click to expand...

If I could get one of those for a good price, I'd sell the Sigma 18-50 in a heartbeat! :-)
 
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