GH3 Budget Lens for Interviews (beginner)

[johnnytightlips]

Hey all. I appreciate any help you could offer.

I'm working on a project where 90% of shots will be sit-down, controlled lighting interviews with a GH3. My max budget for a lens is $700. This is my first step into the micro 4/3 world.

I've been doing a ton of research and it's become quite overwhelming! I don't want to get the "wrong" lens. My needs are relatively simple--not looking to break the bank but want a nice-looking shot for interviews. Decent shallow depth of field.

Any ideas? I know this question must be asked a lot so thank you again for your help.

 

[kwoff]

The Olympus 45mm 1.8 is a very nice micro 4/3 lens at $399:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/805165-REG/Olympus_V311030SU000_M_Zuiko_Digital_ED.html

Kevin

 

[David W. Jones]

Do you have any lenses or audio gear now?

 

[greytail]

Is this lens fully compatible with an AF100? Doesn't it need an adapter and will the adapter transmit the lens info to the camera?

 

[Bruce Foreman]

Is this lens fully compatible with an AF100? Doesn't it need an adapter and will the adapter transmit the lens info to the camera?

No adapter needed. It should mount, function fully, and communicate with the camera. As I understand it, the AF100 is fully compatible with the m4/3 system and any "native" m4/3 lens that will function on the GH series should function on the AF100.

However to be sure you might post this question in the AF100 forum on this site.

 

[johnnytightlips]

Do you have any lenses or audio gear now?

No, this is my first lens. I haven't bought any audio equipment yet as I'm waiting to see how well the audio on the GH3 handles. It's my understanding that I'll most likely need to get external sound equipment, like a mixer and digital audio recorder. My audio budget maxes out at $1000. Wish I could budget more as I know how important it is to have great sound. I was going to buy audio equipment after buying the right lens.

 

[johnnytightlips]

The Olympus 45mm 1.8 is a very nice micro 4/3 lens at $399:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/805165-REG/Olympus_V311030SU000_M_Zuiko_Digital_ED.html

Kevin

This looks like a great lens, thanks! Pardon my ignorance, but would I need an adapter with the GH3? I know greytail and Bruce Foreman were just discussing adapters and the AF100, but I'm not too familiar with what an AF100 is...

 

[mcbob]

Some that I use frequently in that budget & purpose:

Olympus OM 50/1.4 - full manual, maybe $150 with adapter.
Leica Summicron-R 50/2 - same as above, $400 or so

Leica DG 25/1.4 - complete control, $500 or so

Sigma 50-150/2.8 - effectively full manual, excellent if there's ample room, $500 or so

Vivitar Series 1 28-90/2.8-3.5 - full manual, beautiful glass, not overly sharp. $50-100

 

[Bruce Foreman]

This looks like a great lens, thanks! Pardon my ignorance, but would I need an adapter with the GH3? I know greytail and Bruce Foreman were just discussing adapters and the AF100, but I'm not too familiar with what an AF100 is...

No adapter needed, Olympus m4/3 lenses fit directly on the GH series cameras and function fully. Olympus IS (image stabilization) is in the Olympus camera bodies where Panasonic IS is in the lenses. So you will have no IS with that 45mm on your GH3.

That's OK because what you WILL have is one of the best designed cleanest performing "portrait" perspective lenses I've ever used. It has excellent image tones and does NOT get "soft" when you have to use it wide open. It is worth every penny of it's price, although you'll be amazed at how small it is for an f1.8.

Go here to see a gallery of images done with this lens and in the second group is one of this lens on a Lumix G2.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-media/product-gallery/B0058PL9QG/ref=cm_ciu_pdp_images_dav

 

[johnnytightlips]

No adapter needed, Olympus m4/3 lenses fit directly on the GH series cameras and function fully. Olympus IS (image stabilization) is in the Olympus camera bodies where Panasonic IS is in the lenses. So you will have no IS with that 45mm on your GH3.

That's OK because what you WILL have is one of the best designed cleanest performing "portrait" perspective lenses I've ever used. It has excellent image tones and does NOT get "soft" when you have to use it wide open. It is worth every penny of it's price, although you'll be amazed at how small it is for an f1.8.

Go here to see a gallery of images done with this lens and in the second group is one of this lens on a Lumix G2.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-media/product-gallery/B0058PL9QG/ref=cm_ciu_pdp_images_dav

Oh wow, those are beautiful! Thanks for the info!!

 

[johnnytightlips]

Some that I use frequently in that budget & purpose:

Olympus OM 50/1.4 - full manual, maybe $150 with adapter.
Leica Summicron-R 50/2 - same as above, $400 or so

Leica DG 25/1.4 - complete control, $500 or so

Sigma 50-150/2.8 - effectively full manual, excellent if there's ample room, $500 or so

Vivitar Series 1 28-90/2.8-3.5 - full manual, beautiful glass, not overly sharp. $50-100

Great info, mcbob--thanks! Really liking the Leica, especially.

 

[Sol M.]

As mentioned the Olympus 45mm is mighty fine. If you'll be shooting in closer quarters then the Panasonic 25mm f/1.4 is quite nice as well. For ~$500 it might just have the best price:quality ratio of any fast 25mm lens for M4/3.

Of course there are also numerous manual/legacy options out there that would be great for video (and less expensive in some cases) but I think the first thing you need to determine is what focal length will fit the type of shooting you'll be doing.