GH3 Glass recommendation for GH3... Budget -> 1000 in total

S

Stab

Well-known member
I will buy a GH3 soon and with that I move to a new system (m4/3) and therefore new glass. It will be used to shoot corporate stuff, as wel as personal cinematic shorts.

After endless hours of searching and doubting, I dont know what to buy anymore :D

My budget is around 2000-2200 euro's. With the body costing 1200, there is at most 1000 to spend on glass. What I really want:

- Sharp! Resolution is important
- As fast as possible
- 12 mm end covered, 85mm end covered

I was tempted before to invest in old Canon FD / Nikor lenses but I'm starting to lean more towards new modern glass. Image Stabilization, autofocus, more contrast / sharpness are good things to have, although not the most important.

If you are in the mood, please think with me and share your thoughts :) Any help / insight is appreciated.
 
your not going to find anything fast that covers 12-85 for $1K. The best modern lenses going right now for M4/3 are the X zooms 12-35 & 35-100. I'd save up for those if IS and AF are that important to you.

I really like the 14-140 kit lens for its versatility but it is far from fast (4-5.6) You won't find any old glass that covers the 12mm end of things and the chepest electronic 12mm is the Oly 12mm 2.0 which sells for around $800 I think.

As far as 'modern' budget wides on the GH3 you can't beat the 14mm 2.5 pancake. Due to being a packaged kit lens you can find new ones parted from packages for under $200. No IS though.

I really like the Tokina 28-70 2.6-2.8 lens as a medium/tele zoom but it is neither modern nore have auto functions.

$1000 for a 12-80 range won't get you anywhere if your looking for anything faster than f3.5-f4 and even then you would be starting at 14-?? instead of 12.
 
As said, 12-80 is a pretty wide range and for that little money it's hard. But what about 14-85?

You said you have 1,000 Euros? That's about $1,300. For $1,350 you can get these:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/890622-REG/Rokinon_cv14m_n_14mm_T3_1_Cine_Lens.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/884101-REG/Rokinon_cv35_n_35mm_T1_5_Cine_Lens.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/895597-REG/Rokinon_cv85n_85mm_T1_5_Cine_AS.html

Or if you want to save a couple of hundreds get the Panasonic 14mm F2.5 instead of the Rokinon 14mm, which is not really fast. The Panasonic is not really fast either, but it's a bit faster and much cheaper. It's also pretty sharp:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Panasonic-L...98125769?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item3a7c9336c9

No IS or AF on the Rokinons but they are cine lenses. The 14mm F2.5 also has no IS and the AF is pretty slow in video mode.
 
High demands, tight budget;)

You may just fit in around E1000 with (new/used): Panny 14 2.5 (plus pannys/sonys wide angle converter for ultra wide angle stuff), Panny 20 1.7, Oly 45 1.8 plus either an old glass ~85mm or samyang 1.4.
 
brudney said:
High demands, tight budget;)
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Isnt that always the case :P

Yea maybe I should let the 12mm dream go :)

I cannot seem to find the Rokinon Cine lenses in the Netherlands. Maybe they are branded over here as Samyang? Will do some research.
Unfortunately electronic stuff in here is the same price in Euro's as it is in the US in Dollars. In other words, we are screwed :D

Thanks for the replies until now, will search & think some more.

I have definately heard good stories about the Panny 20mm and the Olympus 45mm. With this tight budget I can maybe skip a 35 mm? Or Would you guys recommend the skip the 45 mm in trade for a 35?
 
In Europe, search for Wallimex for the Rokinons. I think that's the brand they are sold under in some European countries. Or just import from BH. Maybe the cheaper Dollar will make it worth it.

If I were you I would avoid going only with the pancake type of lenses. They are a nightmare to focus because they are so small, let alone mounting a follow focus on them.
 
Adamsenoj said:
In Europe, search for Wallimex for the Rokinons. I think that's the brand they are sold under in some European countries. Or just import from BH. Maybe the cheaper Dollar will make it worth it.

If I were you I would avoid going only with the pancake type of lenses. They are a nightmare to focus because they are so small, let alone mounting a follow focus on them.
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I dont want to import, because if I buy it vver here, I get 21% btw (VAT) back + can decrease income tax next year.

Hmm thanks for the heads up on the Pancakes. Didnt know that.
 
Stab said:
I dont want to import, because if I buy it vver here, I get 21% btw (VAT) back + can decrease income tax next year.

Hmm thanks for the heads up on the Pancakes. Didnt know that.
Click to expand...

So if you have a registered business, don't you also get the importing taxes back?
Oh well, you need to figure what's more affordable for you. ;)


Yes, the pancake lenses are so thin that the focus ring is just hard to reach. You also keep getting your hand in the shot when trying to focus. I don't mind much with the 14mm since it's pretty wide and focus is less of an issue. But the 20mm for example is really a pain.
 
Adamsenoj said:
If I were you I would avoid going only with the pancake type of lenses. They are a nightmare to focus because they are so small, let alone mounting a follow focus on them.
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I have to differ here.

The Lumix 14mm f2.5 and the Lumix 20mm f1.7 are NOT a "nightmare" to focus. They are small, and they are "focus by wire" meaning there is no direct drive between the focusing ring and the focusing movement. So if one is used to conventional or vintage lenses with a good focus "feel" they will take some getting used to.

It takes some practice to get the feel of manual focus on them but I do it all the time. One solution is to set the camera for "single autofocus + manual assist". On the GH2 (and one user told me it works the same on the GH3) I press the shutter button halfway for autofocus and while holding that "halfpress" any pressure on the focusing ring causes the magnification assist to "kick in". Using the EVF I never fail to "nail" focus.

Yes, these lenses are really too small for follow focus. But I don't need it. Both of these lenses are pretty much MUST HAVE in my book. F2.5 on the 14mm has proven very useful in getting adequate exposure in interior settings without DOF getting very critical at all unless you get very close to your subject. F1.7 on the 20mm is fantastic.

Stab said:
Hmm thanks for the heads up on the Pancakes. Didnt know that.
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That was his opinion and not necessarily established fact except for the part about being small for follow focus. The auto focus is pretty good on both (I've had no problems) and the magnification with manual focus is something I find extremely helpful.

Add to these two lenses the Olympus Zuiko 45mm f1.8 and you may have most of your bases covered. I wouldn't be without these 3 lenses.
 
BillStrehl said:
Hi Bruce!

I have a manual Nikon 50mm f1.8 which I am happy with. Any reason I ought to consider the Olympus 45mm lens?
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I don't want to speak for someone but I am guessing the Oly 45 was mentioned as the OP wanted lens suggestions with AF. I could be wrong. Bang for the buck video lenses you can't beat the Nikkors adapted to the GH cams.
 
Hi stab - You can cover 14-200mm with f2.8-3.5 autofocusing glass for about 1200€. I use sharp, classic 4/3 lenses on my GH cameras, and they produce great images.

Try these:
Used Olympus 14-54 f2.8-3.5 for 378€: http://www.amazon.de/Olympus-Digital-14-54mm-Objektiv-Filtergewinde/dp/B0000ET9DG

Used Olympus 50-200 f2.8-3.5 for 746€: http://www.amazon.de/Olympus-Zuiko-...sr_1_1?m=A8KICS1PHF7ZO&ie=UTF8&qid=1355371307

Used Panasonic MA-1A adapter for 104€: http://www.amazon.de/Panasonic-DMW-...sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=A8KICS1PHF7ZO&qid=1355371392

Autofocus isn't as fast as with native Panasonic m4/3 lenses, but they cost a lot less than Panasonic X lenses, and slow autofocus is a lot better than no autofocus at all.

Here is an Olympus 11-22 f2.8-3.5 on my GH2. I absolutely love this lens:

P1010643.jpg

Hope this is helpful,

Bill
 
BillStrehl said:
Hi Bruce!

I have a manual Nikon 50mm f1.8 which I am happy with. Any reason I ought to consider the Olympus 45mm lens?
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Not really. I've had a couple of those and they are nice, pretty sharp with a bit of flare and softness wide open but I liked that for portrait work or any close ups of people. I even adapted one to the Canon T1i in order to get some measure of manual control at least over aperture.

The only reason to look at the Oly 45mm f1.8 would be for autofocus and other automated features that would work with the GH2/GH3. Also, for "sharpness nuts" (like me) that lens has extremely nice inherent contrast, color rendition, and is still very sharp wide open. It is a much "sought after" lens for those reasons. And like the "pancakes", although not as "flat" in shape, it is still surprisingly compact.

But that manual Nikkor is one heckuva GOOD lens and you're likely well "tuned into" it.
 
Bruce Foreman said:
I have to differ here.

The Lumix 14mm f2.5 and the Lumix 20mm f1.7 are NOT a "nightmare" to focus. They are small, and they are "focus by wire" meaning there is no direct drive between the focusing ring and the focusing movement. So if one is used to conventional or vintage lenses with a good focus "feel" they will take some getting used to.

It takes some practice to get the feel of manual focus on them but I do it all the time. One solution is to set the camera for "single autofocus + manual assist". On the GH2 (and one user told me it works the same on the GH3) I press the shutter button halfway for autofocus and while holding that "halfpress" any pressure on the focusing ring causes the magnification assist to "kick in". Using the EVF I never fail to "nail" focus.

Yes, these lenses are really too small for follow focus. But I don't need it. Both of these lenses are pretty much MUST HAVE in my book. F2.5 on the 14mm has proven very useful in getting adequate exposure in interior settings without DOF getting very critical at all unless you get very close to your subject. F1.7 on the 20mm is fantastic.



That was his opinion and not necessarily established fact except for the part about being small for follow focus. The auto focus is pretty good on both (I've had no problems) and the magnification with manual focus is something I find extremely helpful.

Add to these two lenses the Olympus Zuiko 45mm f1.8 and you may have most of your bases covered. I wouldn't be without these 3 lenses.
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Nice reply with firmly made points using the ALL CAPITALS IN GIANT BOLD LETTERS shouting style. But oh boy, did you miss the point? After reading all the explanations about focus by wire and how the focus work on the lens and how to use single autofocus + manual assist and yadda, yadda, yadda, yadda, I was sure you totally missed the point. I didn't say it's a nightmare to focus because it's not real manual focus or because how the focus works. I said that because the lens is just too small. It's an ergonomic problem. The lens is so thin that it's hard to access the focus ring, specially without getting your hand in front of the lens and in the shot. Now, my wife has much less of a problem with that, because well, she's a girl and has tiny hands. But I have a very hard time. Try to pull your own focus during a shot while you pan and tilt and tell me how that goes. Now, if you are one of those shooters who rely on auto focus then this is a moot point. I don't.
Of course it's my opinion. What else? But I have seen several people complain about this very same thing here.
 
yes I'm also not a big fan of the 20mm for manual focus - sharp and great lens for stills but manual focus for video - not a pleasant experience.
I would look very hard to try find a used 12-35mm lumix g lens - it has great I.S. and apparently very quick AF on the gh3 (if you need AF) - it's the perfect handheld lens.
Then I would pick up a used Nikon/Canon fd/Pentax 50mm 1.4/1.8 and used Samyang/Rokinon 85mm 1.4
 
ade4all said:
yes I'm also not a big fan of the 20mm for manual focus - sharp and great lens for stills but manual focus for video - not a pleasant experience.
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Exactly. It has nothing to do with the focus system. It's just ergonomics. I also like the 20mm. It's very sharp and at F1.7 it's really useful. I would buy it in a heart beat, but not as part of my main lens set. I would have it as a back up lens for when I needed the speed and the small size. The 14mm F2.5 is also pretty sharp and good.
 
Do the Panny 14mm pancake and the 20mm pancake take a variable ND filter? I have one that is 67 mm, could I use that with a 'step up' ring on these lenses?
 
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