GH4 and Sigma 18-35

F

fromdecember

Member
I am new to the M4/3 world and coming from Canon and BMCC. I have the Sigma Art 18-35 EF, and a cheap adapter with the GH4 but I hate it because I can't change aperture.

Why is the Sigma 18-35 and speedbooster combo so popular with the gh4 if you cannot change aperture once it's on the adapter and gh4?
 
I kept my canon body to adjust apertures. and have an IRIS'd adapter and that works pretty well. and and have the "LENS TURBO" (chinese speedbooster) and it works well, but slightly softer here and there. and and and Variable ND Filter to cut light if needed instead of changing aperture (I realise there is a world of diff tween changing ap and nd filter, just saying)
 
The Nikon Speedbooster as aperture control? If so, wouldn't it be a better option to sell the EF mount I have and purchase the Nikon version and get speedbooster?

I don't have many lenses and am not sure what the best options are for video. I'm still searching. I only have the Tokina 11-16 (ef), Sigma 18-35 Art (ef), Rokina 85mm (ef, but manual), and canon 50 1.8 (ef).
 
Yes, there are many Nikon adapters that provide aperture control (including the Speed Booster) because it can be accomplished mechanically (rather than electronically like for Canon EF lenses).

If you're looking for a lens mount to invest in, Nikon is a good option because you can mount them on many different camera systems (Micro 4/3, Sony E mount, Canon EF, etc.) with a simple adapter.
 
Any lenses I should get, besides the Sigma 18-35?

A few I've come across, but not sure of the quality in video:

Panasonic 45-150
Panasonic 12-35
Panasonic 14-140
Panasonic 35-100

I'm not sure which would be the best option out of those. I've also heard go for older Nikkor lenses, but I think I've seen quite a bit of vignetting on those(?). Any good recommendations, if any other than what I mentioned, or out of those I mentioned which would be first in your pick? (well, second after the sigma)
 
Well, I went 12-35 2.8 for my all purpose 4k and run and gun: wide shots, some zoom, low light, less than 1000, auto focus, aperture, really clean and sharp. Kinda depends on your budget and most needed type of shots
 
and I have no experience with green screen, someone else chime in? :D

for short films, (depending on your spending budget) from you list, I MIGHT pick the 14-140 for the range of wider to zoom? just an idea
 
I think you should probably stick with some cheaper Panasonic glass until you learn more about lenses. Maybe a 14-140 or even a basic 14-42.
I don't mean to be insulting, but it sounds to me like you are buying glass based just on what you've heard is good, without really understanding why it's good and why you feel you need it. Otherwise you're just spending big money for no reason.
 
I just ordered the Fotodiox Nikon mount speedbooster, and my next purchase is going to be the sigma 18-35 for my GH3. I already have the panny 12-35 and like it OK, but I find myself missing more on the wide end. The longer lenses I feel are not much of an issue for the m4/3 mount, since you get that plenty - I have a whole bunch of Nikon lenses so I'm completely covered there. It's wide that continues to be a problem. I mean, the 12 on the 12-35 is not very wide for smaller spaces, and there aren't a whole lot of choices, they all have some compromise somewhere, whereas on the long end there are tons and tons and tons of choices. If I were you, I'd look more to the wide end for a careful purchase, because the long end is going to be easy and relatively cheap with adapters. The panny 7-14 is too slow at f4 for interiors for my purposes, though if someone comes through on the rumored 2.8, I guess that would be swell. The rest of the 7 - 12 range is various Rokinons and the like, but fisheye distortion starts becoming a problem, and they're generally not terribly fast either. So that's what I'd look to: getting a decent option on the wide end, since for narrative work that's going to be important.
 
I don't understand lenses and do just see what people say, but I also don't want garbage footage. The Sigma 18-35 looks great, as does my Rokina 85mm. Right now the lenses I have are Sigma 18-35, Rokina 85mm, Canon 50mm 1.8, and Tokina 11-16.
 
The Fotodiox version has a number of issues and is not worth considering right now. They're going to have to junk this first batch and re-design.

 
OldCorpse said:
I just ordered the Fotodiox Nikon mount speedbooster, and my next purchase is going to be the sigma 18-35 for my GH3. I already have the panny 12-35 and like it OK, but I find myself missing more on the wide end..... It's wide that continues to be a problem. I mean, the 12 on the 12-35 is not very wide for smaller spaces, and there aren't a whole lot of choices...
Click to expand...

apart from the mixed reviews on the Fotodiox focal reducer, you're not going to get a wider than 12mm lens with the 18-35 x0.72 reduction. Good pairings I've found with the Metabones Nikon-m43 SB are the Tokina 11-16/2.8 (~8-12/2) and Sigma 10-20/3.5 and 4-5.6 (~7-14).

Olympus should be releasing a 7-14/2.8 pro lens soon as well
 
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