Good idea to sell/replace 5D2 & ZE glass for GH1 & M glass?

F

FoodDude

Well-known member
Might be a ridiculous Q, but would it be a good idea to trade/sell my FF set-up for a GH1 set-up?

I am just very impressed with the GH13 footage and frame grabs so far. I am not really sure about how they compare to each other in low-light performance ( there is only 1 nice example of clean 1600 though).

If I were to replace my FF setup (a 5d2, ZE 50 & ZE 85), I would replace it with some nice glass as well to go along with the GH1; particularly the small yet very fast Cosina Voigtlander M-mount glass in 28/2, 50/1.1 & also 75/2.5 (heck, they even have a beautiful 35/1.2)... only thing I would be keeping and would work with either is my Isco 42 (hence, why I am not interested in getting wider lenses than a 35mm equiv. 50mm FOV).

Any opinions welcome.
 
Do your ZE glass have manual aperture rings? IE the aperture is not controlled electronically by the body. If yes keep them and get a adapter for them. If no, then sell them and get the same ones but with ZF mounts. Lenses with Nikon mounts and manual aperture rings are the most versatile as they fit on Canon's, m4/3s, RED (and of course Nikons) with inexpensive adapters. The Voigtländers are nice glass but not in same division as the Zeiss lenses. Myself I use old FDs currently as those were the easiest to obtain at good prices in Sweden last year when I got my GH1. Planning to move up to Zeiss eventually.

Something often overlooked here when it comes to talking about 'lowlight performance' is that it should be compared at same depth of field, not same aperture when to be used for motion image work. I can reasonable well keep things in focus unrehearsed with my 35mm at f/2.8. Equal field of view and depth of field on the 5DmkII would be a 70mm at a f/4-5.6 split aperture. The 5DmkII is certainly better at lowlight than GH1 - but... is it really two and a half step better? Never seen any test done this way.

Check "The Farmer's Flea Market" in my sig link for some examples of improvised focus pulling. Check 'Closing Time' for some lowlight shooting. Don't judge any focus on the last one though, it was the first time I operated a camera myself in ten years and I was slightly tipsy. I had gotten delivery of my GH1 that afternoon and was eager to do something, social life be damned.
 
I agree with Martti. This is why I got a set of ZF's to begin with. Now no matter what camera I go to from the GH1 I'll be able to use my lenses with any of them. Well almost. But what I learned when I was looking into lenses is you can easily put a Nikon lens on a Canon, but not the other way around. So if you liked your ZE's, sell them and buy some used or new ZF's. Or trade for some ZF's.
 
My advice is no don't get rid of the 5d2. The GH1 has come a long way with the hack, but it has a long way to go to be as consistent as the 5d.
 
GH1 is a 1.8x crop FOV imo

GH1 is a 1.8x crop FOV imo

Martti Ekstrand said:
Do your ZE glass have manual aperture rings? IE the aperture is not controlled electronically by the body. If yes keep them and get a adapter for them. If no, then sell them and get the same ones but with ZF mounts. Lenses with Nikon mounts and manual aperture rings are the most versatile as they fit on Canon's, m4/3s, RED (and of course Nikons) with inexpensive adapters. The Voigtländers are nice glass but not in same division as the Zeiss lenses. Myself I use old FDs currently as those were the easiest to obtain at good prices in Sweden last year when I got my GH1. Planning to move up to Zeiss eventually.

Something often overlooked here when it comes to talking about 'lowlight performance' is that it should be compared at same depth of field, not same aperture when to be used for motion image work. I can reasonable well keep things in focus unrehearsed with my 35mm at f/2.8. Equal field of view and depth of field on the 5DmkII would be a 70mm at a f/4-5.6 split aperture. The 5DmkII is certainly better at lowlight than GH1 - but... is it really two and a half step better? Never seen any test done this way.

Check "The Farmer's Flea Market" in my sig link for some examples of improvised focus pulling. Check 'Closing Time' for some lowlight shooting. Don't judge any focus on the last one though, it was the first time I operated a camera myself in ten years and I was slightly tipsy. I had gotten delivery of my GH1 that afternoon and was eager to do something, social life be damned.
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In 16:9 mode, the FOV in stills is alot wider due to the larger sensor dimensions. IMO, the 35 is closer to a 50 than a 70mm. Same for aperture, think of GH1 as a 1.8x.
 
Keep the 5D. I just sold my gh1 to go canon, and even with the GH13 hack I don't regret it
 
You can get both for the price of a 5D...GH-1 for shots you can manage without a crane/monitor and 7D/550 you need a monitor/crane with.
 
Adventsam said:
Otherwise you wouldnt make that comment?:furious3:
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they're both good cams but I'm really enjoying the canon. If someone is looking for opinions from users who've had both, I'm happy to answer honestly. Both have advantages and disadvantages.
 
dmpsk8 said:
they're both good cams but I'm really enjoying the canon. If someone is looking for opinions from users who've had both, I'm happy to answer honestly. Both have advantages and disadvantages.
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Agreed, from someone who owns both the 7D and two GH1(3)s.


But given the price/performance of the GH1 and T2i, the best solution may be to own one of each.
 
Yeah.. the 5D2 is better built, better controls aesthetically, and is consistent and no need to test/fiddle with new settings.

But I also take into consideration the size/length/weight of lenses with anamorphics. Adding my Isco 42 or any anamorphic adapter automatically adds weight and 5-6" in length.

ie: my old C/Y 100/2 + Isco 42 + 5D2 is super long and heavy for easy run and gun shooting ...as compared to a similar FOV of using a short Voigtlander (or any other 50) 50/1.1 + Isco 42 + GH13 ..catch my drift? ...using a M4/3 sensor camera adds about 2x to the lens, and M lenses are considerably shorter and lighter than SLR varients as well. Every single bit helps in weight/length when considering using it with anamorphic adapters.

The only thing that is really holding me back is the GH13 low-light performance. We all know the 5D2 is awesome at night. If the GH13 is the same or comes close, then I would def put my foot down and replace my 5d2 for one ;)
 
It's hard to do without the 5D mkII excellent image, low noise and FF aspect. I would regret replacing it with a GH1.

There is not one camera that has it all but considering all options a 5DMKII or 7D makes more sense. Despite that I will add a GH1 or GH2 when it arrives to my camera setup. Just because it's an excellent video camera.

I do both stills and video with my cameras and it that aspect the GH1 can't compete with a 5DmkII or 7D.
 
Ian-T said:
You can get both for the price of a 5D...GH-1 for shots you can manage without a crane/monitor and 7D/550 you need a monitor/crane with.
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+1 all the way. Ideally I'd like all of em. GH1, 7D, and 5D, and start mixing aesthetics.
 
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